Posted by kim on October 20, 2009
I just got home from BlogWorld in Las Vegas where I was a speaker and spoke about this very shoe blog! When I was in Vegas either this year, I took a tour of Zappos, and have recommended it everyone I know that visits there! And it’s free (and better than most other paying tours available in Sin City).
So when my friend took Squeak and I out to dinner on Friday night at the Wynn, he gave me one of the free books he received on his tour the day prior – Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More by Linda O’Keeffee (shown above and available at Amazon, $11.16). He thought I’d like it, and he was right!
Afterward hearing him talk about his experience and how the tour was even different (and sounded better) than the tour I took, I thought it’d be even more awesome for Squeak and I to tour it together. I immediately looked up Zappos‘ phone number and called. They don’t do tours on weekends, darn it. But the guy was very nice and suggested we simply email tours@zappos.com when we know the next time we’ll be in town to set up a tour for then. Cool beans, I will!
Posted by shoe addict on July 20, 2009
Guest Post by Jacqueline Bodnar
People in America may well own more shoes than any other people in the world. In fact, it has been reported that each person in the U.S. purchases an average of eight pairs of shoes per year, with the National Shoe Retailers Association reporting that the average per-pair price for their stores is $85. It is easy to see just how quickly people’s annual shoe expenditures can add up. Take a typical family of four. If they are buying the average number of pairs per year, that could add up to more than $2700. In today’s shaky economy, that just isn’t flying.
Shoe Sales Slump, Prices Rise
A few years ago, there may not have been a problem with people buying shoes as they pleased, but we all know that the economy has changed for the worse within recent years. The American Apparel & Footwear Association reports that shoe sales slowed in 2007, exhibiting a decline of 0.4 percent industry-wide. When you consider that nearly $60 billion is spent on shoe sales annually, even a small-percentage slump in sales can amount to a drastic reduction in earnings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 13.7 million people were unemployed in this country as of April 2009. Because so many people are having financial difficulties, shoe sales, among other things, are expected to continue to decline. And the news gets worse, because shoe prices have been rising, with some manufacturers citing oil prices and others pointing to the weak dollar. People are still in need of the product, but they are now looking for thriftier ways to purchase them. In other words, saving money is ‘in,’ in a big way.
Saving Money, Discounts Abound
One way that people can still have their shoes and wear them too, so to speak, is to opt for discount shoes, rather than paying full retail rates. While doing some price comparisons can save 10-25 percent off the price, there are places, such as online shoe store Shoe Metro, that sell shoes at 50-60 percent off the retail price.
Just how much money would the United States population save if everyone began purchasing their shoes from discounters, rather than paying full price? The number is shocking, especially when you look at it on a national scale. The average American family could save over $1300 per year. The country as a whole could be saving $30 billion annually. Think the U.S. economy could use an extra $30 billion floating around? That keeps a lot of money in the pockets of those who need it, during this current economic recession.
Bargain Shop, Walk in Style
Let’s face it – we are not going to stop purchasing shoes. We are a country that loves them. We have them for all seasons, sports, and everything in between. But we are also living in times when we need to pull back on spending and re-evaluate where our money goes. We have to make every penny count, right now, even though we need new shoes.
When it is time once again to buy new shoes, whether for summer, sports, or heading back to school or the office, do your yourself a favor: bargain-shop by checking out what discount shoe stores have to offer. You have nothing to lose and up to 50 percent off to gain.
Sources:
American Apparel & Footwear Association. ShoeStats 2008.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economic News Release. April 2009.
National Shoe Retailers Association. Mission.
Sun Sentinel. Shoe Sales in U.S. Lose Footing Thanks to Higher Prices. August 2008.
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Posted by kim on November 12, 2008
Janet from FantasticToe.com invited me to check out their site, and I must say I’m impressed! Fantastic Toe is a shoe community where you can share shoe pics, meet other shoe lovers, tell your shoe stories, and even organize your footwear collection. I just joined in less than a minute and invite you, my fellow shoe addicts to do the same – it’s FREE – so what are you waiting for? Visit FantasticToe.com now!
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