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Foot Health
Q: Would it help them if there were half sizes? they do not realise that the size and fitting they order may still be
completely unsuitable and if they had just gone into a shop for someone
A: Costs more to produce, as you require more lasts. to look at their feet, a potential problem could have been spotted and
Q: Would the universal application of the Continental shoe sizing system treated before it becomes too serious.
help?
Q: What percentage do they add to the price of shoes because of the risk
A: No. Keep English sizing. The greater the choice, the more feet will be of necessitating a return?
fitted comfortably. Bear in mind that only one third of the population
has average feet – therefore two thirds need something more. A: Will vary considerably. Some suppliers competing with their own
outlets consider the costs of return worthwhile, because they have cut out
Q: Does inconsistently sized stock present a big problem to a retailer and the middleman, and can make the profit the retailer would have made.
how does a shoe retailer deal with the problems of inconsistent shoe sizes
and the apparent lack of a system? Q: Do they feel that consumers were deterred from online purchases
because of sizing problems?
A: Thank goodness many are! What is infuriating is using the time and
services of a retailer and then incorrectly assuming they are going to buy
a well fitting pair of shoes online with that information.
Q: How does their website ordering system try to ensure that buyers get
the right sized shoes first time?
A: These vary from supplier to supplier, some basic, some sophisticated,
but regardless of the scale and size recommendations given, there can
never be a substitute to putting shoes on feet and looking at the person
walk – assessing if they have a high instep, low ankle bone, flaccid feet,
overlong or short toes, diabetes, pronation, supination…. etc.
Q: Bearing in mind the considerable problems in sizing, should children’s
shoes be sold online?
A: The SSF cannot condone selling children’s shoes online. Children’s
feet are precious – they are the hardest working part of a body and if
malformed will affect the gait of the child to adult, which in-turn ‘throws
out’ other parts of the body. This leads to pressure on joints, trapped
nerves etc. Even migraine has been attributed to ill-fitting footwear.
A: If the staff are not trained properly and do not keep themselves familiar There are many checks a qualified shoe fitter will do before selling shoes
with the stock on the shelf, then probably yes, the inconsistency of the size to a child and these are all done with their eyes and hands, asking a child
and fitting is off-putting in the selling and fitting process. But, if staff to stand, walk, etc.
know what they are doing and communicate with one another, then they A fitter will have the experience of seeing and comparing dozens of
should be able to sell stock that is possibly too large or too small, by pairs of feet walk into their shop, and the knowledge gained from their
informing the customer accordingly and/or making adjustments – and training. A one day course may show how to put shoes on a child and
that is why we advise our students not to give the size and fitting handle a gauge, but there is no substitute to the information contained
information to the consumer. A. they will take it as gospel and think within our course material, our Workshops, and years of ‘hands-on’
every pair of shoes they buy should be that size and fitting. B. they are experience and the comfort of knowing there is a body of experts to back
rude and cheeky enough nowadays to use the knowledge of the staff in- them up and on hand to assist with any concerns. Yes, have a website,
store and then walk out and buy online! show the public what you can offer, but always encourage them to shop
in-store…and when they do…know your stuff and make it worth their
ON-LINE SHOE SUPPLIERS while!
Q: How do shoe sizing problems affect on-line retailers and their costs and
revenues, given that a wrong size dispatched by post or courier has to be Contact: The Society of Shoe Fitters Tel. : +44 (0)1953 851171
replaced if it is wrong, at cost in time and delivery costs? Email: secretary@shoefitters-uk.org Web: www.shoefitters-uk.org
A: Online retailers always bargain on the public being too lazy to pack up
and return stock. Overall it is not cost effective for the consumer, and it
would be interesting to see how profitable for the retailer. All retailers do
Tell us your views
need an online presence now. It is a showcase, another window to their
Footwear manufacturers, retailers or suppliers are invited to have
business but, selling shoes online to certain age groups can be considered
their say on this issue. Please e-mail your comments to
unethical and risky. Because people are ignorant about how shoes affect
cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com. Your views will be published in
Footwear Today www.footweartoday.co.uk
their feet, the way they walk, and the long-term damage that can be done,
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FOOTWEAR TODAY
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JANUARY 2010
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