Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get equipment to store and protect individual and wholesale shoes

There are two basic kinds of storage units that can or need to have. There are supplies to preserve shoes prior to selling (primarily shoe trees). Then there are storage units you could sell directly for consumers to use after purchase.

I recommend: The Container Store has all different types of shoe storage units for any place, be it in the closet, under the bed or on the floor. Request wholesale information about the shoe trees available from Shoe Shine Express. Neat Containers has a popular shoe storage system that can be customized for your business or your customers' space.

Stock cleaning supplies for footwear

Shoes that are kept clean and polished will last much longer, reducing the need to purchase new shoes sooner than later. Shoe sellers who provide these protective supplies can build a more trustworthy relationship with their clients.

I recommend: Kiwi Shoe Products has many shoe care supplies, including polish, dyes, shoe cleaners, waterproofers and suede care products. Liberty Industries carries a wide supply of mechanical shoe cleaners, like heavy-duty brush machines, wet shoe scrubbers and vacuum shoe cleaners.

Provide repair and replacement parts for women's and men's shoes

Repairing shoes may be as simple as replacing the laces, or it may involve actual repair to the body. Shoe stores definitely want replacement laces for sale, and perhaps simple repair supplies that consumers can use themselves. Those in the shoe repair business will need to stock up on all repair supplies.

I recommend: Louis Birns and Sons has a whole catalog of shoe repair supplies, including heel pads, threads, tongue pads and Velco products. Concord Enterprises carries many types of shoelaces for different types of women's and men's shoes.

Find socks to go with your footwear

Shoes and socks go hand in hand. Whatever footwear you are looking at, you better have the right type of socks to go with them.

I recommend: Sock Wholesalers sells countless varieties of socks directly to retailers at wholesale prices. Creswell Sock Mills offers a variety of socks for both men's and women's shoes, along with specialty logo socks and diabetic socks.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Recommend any extra supplies for shoes, like laces and cleaners, to your consumers at the register.

Guide to Shoes

Use the Internet to make your shoe business more profitable

By Betsy D. Vanderslice

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire a professional for the initial design of your shoe business website

If you are not Internet savvy, you are not alone. But there are plenty of professional web designers who can build a web page for your virtual storefront, which will draw customers like bees to honey. They may also be willing to give you some training on how to maintain and update the site.

I recommend: Get eight free bids at the WebDesigners-Directory from web design firms in your area or across the nation. Finer Design builds websites for small companies, large corporations and everything in between. Visit their site for a free quote on your project.

Shift the advertising budget for your shoe business to where it will be most effective

Now that you have a website, you can use the Internet to drive business to it. It does not matter if you sell womens' shoes, mens' shoes or childrens' shoes, using the Internet to advertise ensures you reach exactly the person who is interested in your product. Additionally, many forms of Internet advertising only charge you per 'click', which means you only pay when a potential client views your ad.

I recommend: Advertise on Google and Yahoo sponsored links for a flat $99 per month on Wpromote, Inc. Advertise on a pay per click basis on BidVertiser.com. You can choose the category where you want your ads to appear and even choose regional advertising to continue driving business to your physical store front.

Purchase wholesale shoes for your business on the Internet

The wholesale shoe business also uses the Internet to boost their business. You can find deals from around the world, which will give you better bargaining power at purchase time.

I recommend: TradeKey.com gives you instant access to importers and exporters all over the globe. Simply complete their form to let them know what products you are looking for. You can order by the case at Avenue Shoes, Inc. Let them know if you looking for a particular style or peruse the website categories to see what they have to offer.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Do not be afraid to use the Internet to expand your shoe business. It is quite easy once you get over the learning curve. You only have customers and money to gain.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read magazines that cover the latest footwear for specialized markets

Shoe magazines offer retailers who specialize in particular styles the latest shoes news and trends. Shoe periodicals cover shoes for every type of customer, be it athletes, workmen, businesspeople or fashion designers.

I recommend: Sole Collector covers the latest trends in athletic sneakers, keeping up with the biggest names like Nike, Reebok and Converse. Running With Heels, an online magazine, provides the latest news and styles in women's shoes.

Follow blogs and subscription feeds on the latest designer shoes and fashion trends

Blogs are fast becoming a leading source for up-to-the-minute information on all kinds of things, including shoe trends. People with their eyes and ears in the fashion world have a new place to get their information out quickly. Those who follow shoe blogs can get a leg up on the latest trends.

I recommend: Shoeflyer.com contains multiple bloggers on shoe trends in all different styles, with a list of the most popular blogs. ShoeBlog contains forums on topics for a variety of women's designer shoes, including Prada, along with other specific shoe designs like diabetic ones.

Familiarize yourself with the latest trends in children's shoes through newsletters, blogs and more

Shoe styles for children and teens change quickly, perhaps more than any other age group. Kids are always looking for the latest fads and trends, and shoe retailers selling shoes to children must keep up with those trends to stay competitive.

I recommend: WordPress.com contains several blogs on children shoe trends, from shoes for infants and toddlers to prom shoes for teens. Sign up for MomFinds weekly newsletter and stay on top of the latest youth trends for families, including shoes. Review Zappos.com’s FAQ page that includes answers to questions on popular trends and style of youth footwear.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Stay in the know with the footwear that never goes out of style. Particular brands have a loyal following and keeping them in stock will ensure your shoe business of regular customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Boots

Boots are shoes that cover the entire foot up to the ankle; some cover as high up the leg as the knees or thighs. Boots can be worn by anyone for work, dressy occasions or to protect the feet against the elements.

I recommend: Shoe-Design provides an excellent glossary of shoe terms, including a definition of boots.

Shank

The shank of a shoe is the portion of the sole that is between the heel and the ball of the foot. This is the part of the shoe that supports the weight of the person wearing the shoe.

I recommend: SHOEBACCA has a great glossary of shoe terms. Look at its definition of a shank.

Sneaker

A sneaker, also called a gym shoe or a tennis shoe, is a shoe with a flexible, rubber sole that makes it comfortable for various physical activities such as walking, running, playing a sport or various leisure activities.

I recommend: Apparel Search Company has a detailed definition of the term sneaker.

Air mesh

Air mesh is the lightweight mesh material on gym shoes that allow air to get in, making the shoe more comfortable.

I recommend: Fog Dog Sports has the definition of air mesh for shoes.

Sole

The sole is the part of the shoe that makes contact with the ground as a person walks. It can be made out of different materials, such as rubber. Another name for the sole is the outsole.

I recommend: Running With Heels gives a definition of a sole in its glossary of shoe terms.

Insole

An insole lays inside the shoe on top of the sole. This is the part that your foot rests on and is usually padded for added comfort.

I recommend: Shoe Glossary explains what an insole is in its extensive shoe glossary.