Athletic Footwear Education and Training

Thorough athletic footwear education and training will ensure your customers get the right fit every time
By Jessica Riendeau The athletic footwear industry encompasses a broad spectrum of different kinds of shoes used for different sports and activities. Athletic shoes are worn by men and women for everything from running and hiking to sports like basketball and golf.

When selling athletic footwear it's important to know how to help a customer find the right shoe for their athletic needs and also to ensure a proper fit. A salesperson's athletic footwear education and training should include the following:

1. Understand how to properly fit athletic footwear to a customer's foot.

2. Learning what style of sneakers are best for each sport or activity.

3. Keeping abreast of major innovations in the athletic shoe business.

Study guidelines to learn the proper fit of sneakers

Whether offering womens or mens athletic footwear, understanding the proper fit is essential. Every customer's foot is different, so it's important to understand how to fit running shoes properly.
Try:  Study the handy guides at Foot Locker which outline the exact fitting needs for each sport, as well as the International Shoe Sizing Conversions for each major brand.

Become knowledgeable about the proper use of athletic shoes

Know what style of shoe is best for each sport and what features help with accuracy, speed or maneuverability. Tennis shoes are lightweight with traction on the bottom to allow players to move easily on the court, while golf shoes have special cleats on the soles to give the golfer stability. Learn about different styles of athletic shoes to better serve all kinds of athletes.
Try:  Learn what features of athletic shoes are beneficial for specific sports with tips from Runner's World. EPodiatry.com provides a great resource about the various features of running shoes. Use its step-by-step anatomy of the running shoe to help customers find the best running shoe for their feet.

Stay on top of the latest athletic footwear trends and innovations with industry associations

In order to stay competitive, and keep your customers happy, it's important to keep up with all of the latest developments in the athletic footwear industry. Industry association involvement and trade show attendance will keep you and your staff on the cutting edge of both mens and womens athletic footwear.
Try:  Attend the Shoe Market of the Americas trade show to learn about the newest offerings in athletic footwear. Subscribe to the online newsletter offered by the National Athletic Trainer's Association. It provides regular news about athletic footwear, as well as information about upcoming athletic footwear and apparel conventions.

• Other great sources for athletic footwear education and training are top athletic footwear industry publications, such as Footwear News.