Selling Shoes For Feet That Hurt
Shoe retailers are familiar with the shopper who wants shoes for hurting feet. The challenge is found in carrying the right shoes and fitting the customer correctly. An additional challenge is found in having shoes the customer wants to actually wear on those hurting feet. It’s tricky, but when footwear stores can meet these challenges, they stand out amongst the competition.
Some strategies for selling shoes for feet that hurt include training staff to fit professionally, networking with area podiatrists, and analyzing customer buying patterns. Each of these will affect the way a customer with foot problems perceives your store and influence their patronage.
Training Staff To Fit Professionally
The level of professionalism that staff exhibit during a fitting is a combination of training and attitude. The type of training your staff need depends on the types of shoes being sold but the attitude toward finding the right shoe for a customer affects every sale. Take advantage of training offered by footwear manufacturers and professional groups in your area. Encourage staff to be educated about the power of a well-fitted shoe and reward them for attending workshops. Commissions for sales don’t always reflect the time spent with a browsing customer so consider incentivizing all activities that lead to eventual sales.
Shoe Retailers Networking With Area Podiatrists
Podiatrists and other medical professionals are a natural connection for footwear retailers because you share a common interest in keeping people’s feet happy. It makes sense to have a list of recommended foot specialists available to refer customers to. It also makes sense to carry the items that they suggest to patients. Having inserts and pads in the same store as the shoes being fitted allows your staff to provide a perfect fit to customers. It will be mutually beneficial to network with the medical providers in your area.
Analyzing Customer Buying Patterns
ChainDrive has tools specifically designed for the complexities that footwear retailers face. The intelligent size analysis and multi-formula replenishment methods provide insight and enable action that keeps appropriate stock available. By carefully assessing the types of footwear being sold and the styles being asked for, it is possible to accurately predict what customers will be looking for. When your store is the source for shoes that don’t hurt, your sales skyrocket.