They Are shoe-ins: A second local family stars in Rack Room ads

Feb 06, 2013 (News & Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- On a whim, Jenny Bradford of Jamestown decided to submit a photo of her family for a Rack Room Shoes national advertising contest.

"I didn't think much about it after that," Bradford said.

A month later, she got a call letting her know she had won. The Bradford family, which includes Ben and Jenny Bradford and their children, Brooke, Alyssa, Braden and Avery, were selected from 7,400 applicants. The family is now featured in Rack Room Shoes' newspaper inserts, on the company website and throughout in-store signage in nearly 400 stores nationwide.

The Bradfords are the second local family to win Rack Room Shoes' Models Wanted national contest. Greensboro residents David and Rhonda Lin and their children were featured in the store's 2012 holiday advertising campaign. Through its Models Wanted contest, Rack Room Shoes showcases real customers, rather than professional models, in its advertising.

Jenny Bradford was shocked when she learned that her family was chosen. Her husband, Ben, was more shocked.

"Ben didn't even know I'd entered the contest," Jenny Bradford said with a laugh.

Ben Bradford said his first response was, "What have you gotten me into " "He kind of runs from cameras, but once he heard all the details, he got excited, especially for the children," Bradford said.

The couple's oldest children, Brooke, 12, and Alyssa, 10, have done a little modeling for companies such as Hamrick's.

"Modeling seems to come naturally to them," Jenny Bradford said.

Their son, Braden, 6, surprised them the most.

"Once he was in front of the camera, he rocked it," Jenny Bradford said. "I didn't think he had it in him." Avery, 18 months, also did well, taking naps in his portable crib in between shoots, and Ben Bradford was a good sport, too.

"He was quite the trooper," Jenny Bradford said.

The Bradfords' photo shoot was Dec. 3-5 in Charlotte.

"It was basically an all-expense, three-day getaway," Jenny Bradford said.

The family stayed in the vice presidential suite at the Marriott, and meals and local transportation were provided.

"The kids were thrilled because they'd never been in a limousine," Jenny Bradford said.

The family also had their hair and makeup done.

"Me and the girls loved that," Jenny Bradford said.

A Wii, balls, scooters and other toys were provided for the children.

Ben Bradford took time off from his business, Blue Haven Pools and Spas, to participate.

Each member of the family received a $250 Rack Room gift card. Rack Room also gave the family a memory book filled with photos and mementoes from their photo shoot.

So far, friends and family who have seen the ads have been complimentary, and Jenny Bradford sent a news clip from the photo shoot to her children's teachers, which they plan to share with the whole class.

"It's all been very exciting," Jenny Bradford said.

The ads will run through March 11.

Jenny Bradford said the biggest benefit to doing the photo shoot was the family time.

"We are a very busy family, constantly going and many times in different directions," she said. "It was nice to have that time together as a family and have fun." Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 ___ (c)2013 the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.) Visit the News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.) at www.news-record.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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