Everybody reading this article will own shoes, demonstrating how popular the market for shoe manufacturers is. This article will take you on a journey to understand the market for shoes, as well as teaching you how to choose the perfect shoes supplier in China. It will begin by outlining the popularity of shoes, explaining the reasons that they are a wise investment. Then, it will look at current and common shoe trends, helping you to know the types of purchases that can work particularly well, as well as giving you the opportunity to think about the types of shoes that may work best for you to purchase. After that, you will be able to read the top reasons that you should invest in shoes. Next, you will be able to read the steps that you should take to choose the best supplier, as well as key questions that you should ask them to make sure you are making the best decision. By the time you have finished reading this article, you will have an in-depth understanding of everything you need to know about the shoe market, as well as the steps that you need to take to choose your ideal supplier and place an order.
Popularity of shoes
Shoes are worn all over the world for practical and fashionable reasons. Because of this, they are one of the most popular items of clothing on the planet. The great news is that this makes them a fantastic investment for anybody looking to buy them in large quantities, as they sell brilliantly.
We see shoes all the time, whether it is on the street, in the media, online, or in shops. The result of this is that they are at the front of consumers’ minds, helping to easily tempt them into making a purchase. They are also seen as a key part of any outfit, often helping to accessorize any look and playing a big part in people’s style choices. As well as being seen as stylish, they are also seen by many people as functional items, encouraging a wide range of people to buy them around the world.
With different styles, looks and brands, people regularly see others wearing shoes that they love, meaning they are a popular talking point, as well as a desirable product.
Types of shoes
There are many types of shoes that you can buy, each with their own purposes. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Heels
Heels are a type of shoe with an elevated back, often worn for more formal occasions and being bought for times such as weddings. They are often accompanied by a dress and due to the fact that they are usually associated with an exciting time, people are sometimes willing to pay more for a pair of heels that they love.
Boots
Boots are a common type of shoe that can go with any outfit and fit a range of looks. They sometimes have a raised heel, however this is not essential. They can come in a range of materials with a variety of appearances meaning there are many kinds of boots to choose from.
Hiking boots
These shoes are designed to protect the foot and ankle while walking for long periods of time. They are often waterproof, keeping walkers’ feet dry when they are outside for long periods of time, in any weather. People buying these typically enjoy physical activity and like to be outdoors.
Trainers
This type of casual and comfortable shoe has become more popular in recent years. It can be worn with any everyday clothing, as well as helping people to stay comfortable while walking around. There are many different brands and appearances of trainers, ranging from different styles and shapes, to different colours. For example, you can get
Sports shoes
This can include trainers, or even sport-specific shoes, such as football boots. They are designed to make a person more comfortable while they perform sports, as well as coming in many different looks and appearances, which allows people to choose the type of sport shoe that they love most.
Children’s shoes
Children’s shoes are a common purchase due to how often they need purchasing again as the child’s feet grow. Instead of having shoe laces, these tend to use Velcro, making them easier to fasten and allowing children to put them on without assistance. Because they are smaller, they are easier to store in large quantities and cost less money to ship, which can be an interesting point to think about when choosing which type of shoes to stock.
Shoe trends
Shoe trends are one of the best ways to understand the most popular types of products available on the market. It is important to understand these, to give you awareness of the kinds of products that are likely to sell best.
To find the latest shoe trends, you should look at fashion press, such as magazines and in the media, helping you to spot popular choices. It is also a great idea to look at the kinds of shoes that famous people wear. This can have a great impact on the sales of certain shoes. As an example, if a social media influencer with a large following starts wearing a particular type of shoe, it can quickly raise the profile of these products. Very quickly, their followers will start to search for this type of shoes and look for ways to purchase them.
By understanding the latest shoe trends, doing research to make sure you are able to purchase and stock them in time, and promoting the ways that people can buy them, you are able to profit greatly from buying these from the best shoes supplier in China for your needs.
Who buys shoes?
Simply put, everybody buys shoes. We buy shoes for ourselves at many times throughout our lives, as well as buying them for others and for children.
We will now take a look at the reasons that a person may buy a pair of shoes:
- For a job interview or to wear in the workplace
- For everyday use
- For a specific sport or to do workouts in
- For a friend
- For a party or social occasion
- For a child or baby
- If their old shoes wear old
- If a pair of shoes no longer fits
With so many types of people buying shoes for so many reasons, it shows the ability to capture customers’ attention if you stock the products that they need.
Why invest in shoes?
Finding a shoes supplier in China is a great idea for anybody looking to invest in a profitable industry. The reason for this is that people need to regularly buy new shoes. Let’s take a look at this in more depth.
Regular purchases
Those of all ages typically own multiple pairs of shoes for different occasions. As an example, children require many different pairs of shoes because their feet grow so quickly, meaning they do not fit them for long. Adults also wear shoes out quickly, meaning they require replacing on a regular basis. This means that anybody looking to purchase and stock shoes can benefit from regular customers, as they are not a once in a lifetime purchase.
Different styles
There are many different types of shoes that you can choose to buy, depending on your preferences and the types of shoes that your target audience prefers.
Long-lasting
There is no expiry date for shoes, meaning there is no pressure to sell them by a particular time. This makes it a more safe investment, as you can store stock for longer periods of time if sales are slower than anticipated, as well as being able to sell them on to others if needed. Choosing shoes that are likely to remain in fashion for a long time is another way to make sure it is a long-term investment, reducing the risk of purchasing products that cannot be sold.
Choosing your shoe supplier
These steps will help you to choose your shoes supplier in China, making the process as simple as possible:
1. Understand your target market
Take time to understand the types of shoes that your target market buys. You can do this through internet research, questionnaires and any other methods of market analysis. By doing this, you will be able to know the most important factors based on what people want to buy.
2. Research potential products
Now you know the types of products that you want to search for, it is time to begin researching. Looking online is a fantastic way to begin this journey, as there are many platforms available that allow you to search for and compare countless different options. This stage is important to see if there are any particular items that stand out to you, or any types of products that you decide you want to avoid.
3. Make a shortlist
Note down your favourite suppliers, writing notes that you can look back at, for example, any advantages and disadvantages of what they can offer. You should list your favourite suppliers, getting a list of at least three that you will then look at in more detail in the next step.
4. Eliminate any unsuitable options based on requirements
From your shortlist, you now need to go back through your favourite options and eliminate the ones that are least suitable. When doing this, compare your objectives and the market research that you did to work out which would least suitable. At this stage, you should ask any questions to the suppliers to make sure you have all of the necessary information to make a decision and choose your favourite.
Here are some of the most important questions you should ask your supplier to make sure they can offer what you need:
- What is your minimum order quantity?
- What is your maximum order capacity?
- Are you able to quickly increase or decrease order quantities?
- What is the cost per unit?
- Does the cost per unit change with the quantity?
- How long does delivery take?
- How often can I place top-up orders?
- How are products packaged?
- What is the process if products arrive damaged?
- How much storage space will I need?
- What materials are used to create the shoes?
By asking these questions, you will be able to find out any key information that may influence your decision. This means you will become aware of any issues, for example, if delivery takes significantly longer than you need. You will also become aware of any selling points that make the supplier particularly desirable to work with.
5. Speak with your chosen shoes supplier in China
Make sure you have an in-depth conversation with your favourite supplier, sorting out any issues that you may have and organising any specific requirements. Getting in contact with them to do this is the best way to make sure that the process will run as you expect once you place an order, as well as setting expectations and testing how effective their communication is.
6. Place an order
Once you have all of the information that you require to be confident in your decision, it is time to place your order. It really is that simple!
Time to get started
Now you know the benefits of purchasing shoes, it is time to begin the search for your perfect shoes supplier in China. Make sure you follow the steps in this guide to make it as simple and enjoyable as possible.
