Independent Shoe Shops

Now facing huge competition from the Internet and high street chains, a large number of independent shoe shops in the UK are unsurprisingly finding things difficult. Is it possible for them to remain and prosper in modern times?

With a recent survey revealing there are now only four hundred independent shoe shops in the United Kingdom, compared with ten times that just fifteen years ago, times have never been more difficult for the smaller retailer.

Many independent footwear shops have been slow to go online, with most of them still not having a website in place.

Although a small shop won’t be able to compete with the main online shoe retailers, a website should be something every shoe shop owner gives very serious consideration to.

A full-blown transactional website is likely to set you back many thousands of pounds, but a basic site with your contact details and a little more information about your shoe shop can be purchased for much less and can be a great way to send visitors to your shop.

Of particular importance for the local shoe shop owner is Google Places, and something every independent store should ensure they are listed on. Businesses can be registered on Google free of charge and will then mean you will show up on searches for your area. This can be a great way to promote your shop online. For more details, just Google the words ‘Google Places’.

Although you don’t need a website to use Google Places, if you do have one, this can be linked to your listing so potential customers can {discover|find out much more about your business and see pictures of your store, etc.

The Internet has undoubtedly been a factor in the declining number of independent shoe stores, but the fact is, it’s here to stay, and will only get bigger. Independent retailers should therefore look for ways to use the Internet to their advantage, rather than the “ignore it and hope it’ll go away” mentality that some have adopted previously.

An email list can also be a great way to develop your business. Anyone visiting your website should be encouraged to enter their email address. You can then email your customers with new offers, promotions, etc and it can be a great way to keep in-touch with them. Why not extend the idea and ask customers for their email address when they visit your store? Incentivising them with items such as discount coupons can greatly increase the number of people signing up.

Finding a niche market is also a key way that the Internet can work for your business. Instead of chasing the same market as everyone else, why not focus on something less-competitive, such as extra large shoes, or vegetarian shoes? These are both widely searched for terms, yet only have a fraction of the competition that the mainstream footwear stores face.