If your manufacturing facility or your trade requires specialized footwear, it is important to set a realistic budget for work boots. As an essential part of their daily uniform, your employee's work boots need to be good quality, yet not break the bank. Researching boots pricing and costs can help you to make an educated decision.

Be sure to calculate all of your work boots costs before making any purchases. Include the difference in cost between women's boots and men's boots, maintenance of the boots, and the cost of replacements. Consider the following when setting your work boot budget:

1. Don't skimp on the material of your work boots.

2. One great pair of work boots is better than multiple pairs of O.K. Boots.

3. Research volume discounts when comparing boots pricing and costs.

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

Decide what materials best suit your needs

When setting your work boots budget, it is important to take the material into consideration. For the same boot, leather boots, for example, will cost you $10 to $20 more then for a canvas or nylon boot. The material, however, is not the place to skimp on price. Take into consideration what your employees will be wearing their boots for and how long you need them to last. If it means spending the extra $20 upfront to get another few years out of your work boots, then it is definitely worth it to purchase the better material.

I recommend: Ship My Boots shows a variety of different materials including leather, nylon, and rubber. Ebuild discusses the many materials that boots are made from and how each is beneficial.

Decide what features your work boots need to have

If your employees are going to be wearing their custom work boots every day, then it is important to consider every feature their boots need to have. Do they need to be waterproof? Fire resistant? Do they need to have ample tread? Rather than purchasing multiple pairs of boots for different assignments, consider spending more money on one pair of good work boots that would be appropriate for many types of tasks. For example, you can purchase a good pair of outdoor/indoor work boots for around $100. Other work boots that are fire resistant and that have ventilation can cost upwards of $150 to $200 a pair. However, boots pricing and costs vary based on features, so try and be all-inclusive when shopping.

I recommend: Construction Gear provides a detailed account of how to choose the proper work boot. Work Boot Warehouse has examples of everything from leather boots to steel-toed work boots.

Decide how many pairs of boots you need to order from work boot suppliers

You may be able to strike a deal with boot manufacturers if you plan on purchasing boots for your whole staff. The more pairs of boots you order, the more money you can save. When working out your work boot budget, be sure to calculate in wear and tear on the boots and factor in replacements down the road. When ordering from work boot suppliers, consider ordering a few extra pairs of different sizes for those that may need replacement boots before the rest. This will save you from having to place smaller orders and spending retail price.

I recommend: Shoe Leader explains the perks of ordering wholesale boots through them. Mountain Zone has some tips on taking good care of your boots so they will last longer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider the differences when ordering boots for men and boots for women. Are your male employees more likely to require replacement pairs sooner than your female staff? Keep these considerations in mind when making bulk purchases.

Another constantly changing part of fashion, boots seem to stick to a basic form, even though they are usually expensive, if they are of good quality, and are often worn only a few months out of the year for most people.

Whether you want to sell work boots, leather boots, women's boots, men's boots, boots for snow or boots for rain, for smart consumers, the quality, comfort, and durability of the boots come first, with fashion a close second.

Select the right boots for your store by asking these questions:

1. Who shops in your store?

2. How much are they willing to pay for quality items like boots?

3. How often do you sell winter (or rainproof) items such as boots?

4. How often do you sell work gear?

Action Steps
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Find solid investments in boots

Even if you're buying used (always a smart and responsible option) or discount boots, you can find boots that will last, and boots that won't. Steel toed work boots are a popular option among customers who work around heavy materials, but also among part of youth subcultures and the cautious average consumer. Leather boots (if you're okay with leather items) are usually pretty durable, although certain types cannot stand up to snow or rain.

I recommend: Well-known work boot suppliers like Dr. Martens (or Doc Martens) and Timberland offer steel toed work boots, industrial boots and hiking boots, but keep up with today's fashions, too. Timberland even offers custom work boots. Carhartt has been a long time favorite among construction workers. If you're looking for authentic British Wellington boots, for rainy areas or for the festival crowd, go with Hunter.

Find the same boots for lower prices

Now that you know the official prices for the boots you want, look for discounts.

I recommend: G&L Clothing are good suppliers of work boots, while Shopzilla, Wink and Zappos pretty much have everything.

Add fashion to boots

Research what is in fashion now by looking at magazines or fashion websites. This may not influence what you buy directly (you might not want to splurge for that pair of Chanel quilted riding boots until you absolutely know someone will end up buying them), but it will let you know the shapes and proportions that customers will be looking for in boots. Tall and skinny boots will be in style one year, and (you can usually count on it) short and stout ones will replace them the next.

I recommend: Style.com lets you search for pictures of and articles on the latest trends in boots for women. W Magazine is also easy to search. Focus on Style's "Quick Fix" answers fashion questions up to the minute.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Push boots in the winter, but have boot options available in other seasons, too. What about boots for women with nylons? Some boots look best worn with short skirts, anyway.
• •  Decide on payment plan options and layaway early in the season, before cold weather kicks in.
• •  If your store is a physical location and not a website, make sure you have comfortable areas, low mirrors, size charts, shoe horns and disposable socks available for trying on and walking around in the boots you sell.

Boots types and styles vary as much as types and styles of apparel. There are boots available that can meet any one's needs. Keeping a varied selection of boots in stock, including work boots and casual boots, enables you to serve any customer who comes to your store.

When you are ordering your inventory of boots, it is important to order different styles, sizes and colors of boots. Consider the following suggestions to help you get the selection you need to appeal to your customers:

1. Appeal to women with different types of boots, including a basic boot.

2. Provide men with the boots they need, whether the need is fashion or function.

3. Get the attention of parents and children by offering youth boots.

4. Accommodate working men and women who need specialized boots.

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

Order women's boots

Women's boots come in various styles. Outdoor boots, lace up boots, ankle boots, knee high boots, causal boots, Go Go boots and dressy boots are some of the possibilities. Ordering all these types in various colors and sizes enables you to sell boots to almost any woman who visits your store.

I recommend: ShoeBuy.com and Overstock.com are suppliers of women's boots. Both companies sell various types of women's boots, including work boots, casual boots, knee high boots, lace up boots and outdoor boots. ShoeBuy.com offers free shipping to you and for returns. It also offers a price guarantee. Overstock.com offers flat rate shipping and discounted prices.

Purchase men's boots

Cowboy boots, casual boots, motorcycle boots and custom boots are some types of men's boots. When you order men's boots, consider ordering size 12 boots and larger sizes. Many businesses don't keep a varied stock of these large sizes, which makes it difficult for some men to find shoes.

I recommend: Frye Boots offers a varied selection of men's boots. You can find casual boots and cowboy boots, among others, at this store. BootBiz.com sells numerous types of men's boots, including motorcycle boots and custom boots. This company offers various payment options, including credit card, PayPal and Google checkout.

Stock youth boots

Boots for children, including infants and toddlers, are often hard to come by. However, these items are popular with a lot of parents. Offering youth shoes that are modeled after adult shoes will be a hit with the kids, which will appeal to the parents.

I recommend: Boot Barn offers youth boots from numerous boot manufacturers, including Laredo, Harley Davidson and Durango. Styles available include motorcycle boots, leather boots and casual boots. Zappos.com sells a varied selection of youth boots, including infant boots. This company offers discounted prices, free shipping and a full one year return policy.

Offer work boots

Factories, delivery companies, utility companies, and some other businesses require employees to wear work boots. Offering a steady stock of steel toe boots, electric hazard boots and water proof boots may enable you to become the preferred boots provider to some large businesses in your area. Consider contacting companies that may require these types of boots to find out what you need to stock for them. While you are on the phone, you may want to offer them a discount to deal exclusively with your company for their boots.

I recommend: Justin Boots is a manufacturer of boots. It offers a varied selection of work boots, including steel toed work boots and electric hazard work boots in both women's and men's boot styles. Timberland sells numerous styles of work boots. Custom work boots, including anti-fatigue boots and boots with multiple safety features are among the boots sold by this company.