Footwear Insight

"I have worn out my shoes the past few months; I really need some support back on my feet. I plan to seek out sales in my local footwear stores and get what my feet feel best in. For apparel, I plan to order new running wear and gym clothes for when I go back to the gym. I can't go in public with [the] rags I have now." Female, 52 "Must be done in as socially distanced a manner as possible. [I] likely will not bother going in to shop in person at all." Male, 26 "I'm expecting not to be able to try on sneakers or shoes or boots the way I used to before the health crisis." Female, 46 "I would like to be able to try on outside of the store to avoid close contact indoors." Female, 35 "Safe, socially distanced options." Female, 34 "My expectations will be that stores would be on top of health regulations. I will continue to shop [as] normal, just with a bit more caution." Female, 42 "I am not going to try anything on in stores. I am going to keep it in my house for two days and then I will try it on." Female, 44 "Significant social distance and mask requirements, or I'll take my chances purchasing online." Female, 42 "I'd like to have the dressing room attendant clean the room before I go in and aer I come out." Female, 29 "I have had a hard time purchasing apparel due to the pandemic. No dressing rooms are open and trying shoes on in most stores isn't available. I hope in the next few months we will be able to open up dressing rooms and it will make purchasing easier, and also returns." Female, 35 "I don't plan to try anything on in store. I'll purchase online and return or exchange if something doesn't fit correctly. As of right now, I'm trying my best to stay home as much as possible." Female, 35 "I'm nervous to go shopping in stores — I have been using online vendors with good return policies so I can feel safe if I don't like a product or it does not fit as expected." Female, 32 "I typically know what I like. I'd like to try things on but if I can't, I'll adjust." Male, 45 "I will rely on history of fit with shoe brands that I feel comfortable with, and purchase my normal size without trying on." Male, 38 "When I need to buy these items, I prefer to try them on before purchasing. I will attempt to find a retailer that I am able to try the items before purchasing." Female, 35 "Either order online, or in store with normal procedures." Male, 31 "Footwear necessitates on-site trying, hence I haven't been able to buy any since the coronavirus health crisis. I plan on changing this once the shops are open and I feel comfortable walking into stores and speaking to representatives." Male, 32 "I would like to be able to try footwear and apparel. If I can't, being able to return items that don't work is paramount." Male, 42 "I expect to be able to try on footwear. Most places here still have dressing rooms closed. I would expect to try clothes on at home but be able to return them if needed." Male, 51 "I have no problem at all trying on footwear before I buy it. I won't purchase otherwise." Female, 33 "I do not plan to try it on. I will get what I think will fit, try on at home, and return it if it doesn't work or fit." Male, 29 "I expect the stores to maintain a clean and safe environment by sanitizing aer each use. Also, possibly having an associate personally assist each customer to ensure the customer is not handling un-sanitized items." Female, 45 "At this time, I don't really know what to expect. If stores remain open, I would assume social distancing rules will be in effect. So I'll just go in, try on the shoes to make sure they fit, then leave." Female, 32 "Hopefully they'll let us try them on. It would be nice if a sanitizing spray was available for everyone to use before and aer. No socks will be available to test with the shoes." Female, 33 "Probably just go alone and take extra precautions when I return home." Male, 37 "I expect disposable socks to be more readily available." Female, 27 "I do plan on purchasing footwear itself in store because I need to feel the shoes on my feet. I would like to have zero assistance from associates to maintain as much space as possible. And make Lysol wipes available. I will wear a mask." Female, 39 "I am concerned about having to be out to buy shoes. I prefer to try shoes on before purchase, but realize that this method will involve more cautious steps. I have not been a fan of ordering shoes online in the past because my shoe size ranges anywhere from 7.5 to 8 or so depending on the brand or shoe style." Female, 43 "I will do a lot less trying on in store, and [will] definitely be sure to wash or sanitize anything before use." Female, 30 'I don't expect to try it on. I would hope they would have some kind of disposable sleeve." Male, 43 "I like to have a chair or bench available so I can sit and try on. I will otherwise shop as normal, just doing my best to keep distance between myself and others. I need and love shoes, and am all set to purchase," Female, 30 "I understand that many establishments are not allowing items to be tried on. I will purchase and return if needed." Female, 29 "I will likely stick with the same brand that I am currently using, therefore, I will not have a need to try them on." Male, 49 TRENDINSIGHT We surveyed 403 consumers. Here is what they told us. If you plan to purchase new footwear and apparel in the next month or two, what are your expectations about trying on footwear or apparel in the stores before you buy? "I want to be able to try on shoes physically. I want a salespersons input. I have been running a lot and know my shoes aren't quite right and are old. I want in person recommendations for what will work. I am not sure what the safety precautions will look like which is kind of why I have put it off so far. FEMALE, 43 "I already have 'go-to' shoe brands and styles and just buy online. If I needed to try on, I expect I could go to a specialty store and adhere to mask and sanitizing protocols and try on shoes. Clothing I might be hesitant to try if I thought a store had high traffic." MALE, 52 "I plan on trying them on but not running around the store." FEMALE, 47 "I assume most places won't have fitting rooms open for apparel, so I'm expecting to need to purchase items and return if I don't like them. I think shoes will be a similar story. this is fine for me - but will probably result in less impulse purchasing on my part. FEMALE, 25 "Less try on, easier return policy." MALE, 30 "I'll buy from those with free return policies or those that have forgiving return policies (100 miles, give it a sweat, etc.)." FEMALE, 33 32 • Footwear Insight ~ July 2020 footwearinsight.com

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