Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1530439
footwearinsight.com November/December 2024 ~ Footwear Insight • 21 If you shop at a local footwear store, what is your favorite thing about shopping there? Supporting a small business, normally someone in my community. Female 39 e customer service and return policy. Female 34 Kindness. Female 48 Trying the shoes on and feeling them. Male 29 Supporting small business. Female 51 Getting it sooner. Male 54 Getting help and learning about other shoe options. Female 38 Input and guidance. Female 34 e customer service. Female 24 Knowledge of people working on fit, stride, comfortability. Female 36 Overall selection and best price. Male 44 I've been going to one store pretty regularly. e guys know me well and it's almost like they have what I'm looking for already waiting for me. Male 33 at it supports the community even if it is a few more bucks for the shoes. Male 33 Supporting the locals and having a relationship with them on more than a customer/seller basis. Male 48 Assuring good fit. I hate having to make returns. Female 32 I like knowing I get time with the store associate and their recommendations. Female 38 e personal touch and immediate purchase. Male 38 Being able to fit them live with an expert. Female 37 Knowledgeable staff and good selection. Female 48 e personal aspect of the sales associates knowing me and my personal preferences. Also, smaller businesses usually try harder to make the customer feel special and good about their purchases. Female 51 I like how they take the time to watch me walk, fit me, and show me different options for style and fit. Female 42 Getting to know them and them knowing me. Male 52 Friendly staff always willing to go above and beyond to help. Female 39 Proper knowledge from associates, better customer service, more detailed in some shoe selection depending on the application. Male 30 It supports local business owners and the staff that work here. Male 50 eir return policy and pricing. Male 37 Knowledgeable sales associates both on product AND local events, clubs, culture relevant to the footwear category. Male 28 Getting expert advice from employees. Male 36 I like the personalized experience and I love shopping locally. I also like returning to that same store and knowing that those inside likely know me/remember me as well. Female 22 Sometimes you see shoe brands that are less known and have a very appealing look to me. And, you can sometimes get them at a better price. Female 37 The community aspect. The local store has a local feel and small business support is a factor for me. Female 32 They are very friendly and will be honest about different shoes. I had an instance where the associate told me he didn't like a certain line because of how it felt on his foot. First-hand experience. Male 36 The people know me, my feet and my situation and can better recommend products because of that. They make me feel like they care about me. Female 36 Selection and attention to what I need. Male 54 Great, attentive staff who help to find what will work for you, and who are interested in the same activities, so they have good advice. Female 36 Getting a fitting, talking with someone who hopefully knows more about the shoes of interest than me, supporting local. Male 46 Convenience. Male 29 Thoughtful recommendations. Female 32