A regional California-based specialty footwear and orthotic equipment retailer are helping customers extend the lifespan of shoe purchases.
In a recent conversation with Chain Store Age, Nichole Ramos, District Sales Manager of Lucky Feet Shoes, explained how the retailer is dramatically improving sales in the shoe care category by implementing Imbox footwear protection technology in its stores.
Imbox is an enclosed unit that treats all types of footwear with an organic, water-based treatment designed to provide shoes with all-season protection against water damage, dirt, stains, and colour fade caused by UV rays.
Throughout the 60-second process, customers can view the treatment process through the Imbox’s 24-inch screen and without a post-treatment waiting period, customers can walk out of the store wearing their newly treated shoes.
“Our shoe care/foot care items have always been a very low percentage of our total store sales,” said Ramos. “Within the three classes of categories we analyse – shoes, orthotics, and retail (shoe care/foot care), retail has been about 1.5 to 2 per cent of our total sales. This low percentage has mainly been due to the staff forgetting to offer it, or to certain products being unavailable.”
