How to Start a Shoe Store Business?

Why Choose Shoe Store Business?

Everyone needs shoes. They're a commodity

that wear out and need replacing, and styles change constantly. Many women

watch their pocketbooks with other garment purchases but will splurge on a

great pair of heels. Shoes are a necessary clothing item.The retail shoe industry spans a wide array

of buyers. From people who require orthopedic footwear to ladies who crave the

newest ballet flat, there's a segment of the market that is open to new

sellers. Some areas take more training and knowledge than others, so take some

time to think about what types of shoes appeal and your long-term goals.

Stocking a Shoe Store

A shoe store is different from an apparel

shop when it comes to stock. While a clothing store can get away with stocking

one black sweater in small, medium and large, a shoe seller isn't so lucky. He

has to think in terms of carrying a good range of sizes but also about buying

sustainable, budget-friendly stock. For a women's black heel, this might mean

one pair of sizes 5 through 7, two pairs of sizes 7 1/2 through 9, and one of

size 10. It's also good to keep a liberal amount of the most common sizes:

women's 7 to 9 and men's 9 to 11. These sell out quickly, so multiple unit

purchases are advised.

Laying Out the Store

Shoe stores have different design needs

than most apparel outlets. They should be carpeted to minimize try-on damage to

the soles and must have plenty of both full-length and specialized, tilted shoe

mirrors to afford customers the best view of the products. Shoe customers want

their footwear to meld with both their wardrobes and their bodies and will

appreciate a store with lots of visual aids.

Comfortable chairs are also a requirement.

Most shoe stores have given up the hard metal chairs of years past for

comfortable seats that invite people to stay and browse. People need to sit and

try on shoes, so offer them a soft seat that reduces stress and calms nerves.

Many will take the time to try on multiple pairs of shoes just to take

advantage of the rest stop, which can turn into increased sales.

Advertising and Marketing

Shoes are one product that can be

cross-marketed with other businesses in the area. Speak to nearby shops or the

Chamber of Commerce to find out which stores would be willing to work out a

joint promotional deal. Options for this include lending shoes for fashion

shows,donating shoes for charitable

events or selling shoes for a dance studio.

Many shoe store display rack also drum up business by

offering discounts and deals. Dance shoe companies in New York City, for example, commonly grant a

10- to 20-percent discount to students of local dance studios. Regular

markdowns or preview sale events also boost business. Community-level

advertisement is probably the best way to grow a new shoe business, and

cross-promotion increases local commerce while building new relationships.

Product Specialization

Many stores are stocking wide-width and

plus-sized footwear. Others choose to carry extreme sizes such as 4s and 12s.

Think about the product you're selling and your audience. A store that sells

comfortable shoes for the sensible corporate worker might have more in the way

of wide widths and sizes, but a trendy boutique probably won't get enough of

that demographic's business to merit buying for it. Mission and demographic

targeting is important and is part of the preliminary business planning stage.