Shoes are essential accessories for many consumers, and the demand for footwear is rising. According to Statista, U.S. footwear sales are projected to reach $508 billion by 2027. This growth isn’t just happening in physical retail; eCommerce has played a pivotal role, especially during the pandemic.
In 2020, online shoe purchases skyrocketed by 69%. Even as physical stores began to reopen, online sales grew by 7.4% in the following year. However, this surge in sales comes with its challenges—particularly regarding customer confidence in selecting the correct size.
A survey by the National Confederation of Managers and Shopkeepers (CNDL) revealed that 1 in 10 consumers still hesitate to buy shoes online due to sizing uncertainties. This hesitation is understandable; shopping online lacks the tactile experience of trying on shoes in-store. Even with detailed product descriptions, many consumers still struggle to visualize how a shoe’s shape will fit their foot.
Many retailers have turned to size solutions to address this common concern. These innovative tools utilize user-provided data to recommend the ideal shoe size, bridging the gap between online and in-store shopping experiences. Like asking a sales associate for help, virtual fitting rooms empower customers to make informed decisions.
How does the Size & Fit Advisor for shoes work?
As mentioned previously, Sizebay developed the Virtual Fitting Room to resemble how size recommendations occur at a physical store.
In the first step of the tool, the customer chooses a brand of footwear that he usually uses, remembering that e-commerce can completely edit the order of the brands that appear in the list.
In the second step, the Virtual Fitting Room asks what type of footwear the user uses most frequently. The available options include sneakers, sandals, soccer shoes, casual shoes, and flip-flops, each with different measurements.
The tool then needs to understand the user’s foot shape. This can range from narrow to regular to wide, and knowing this is important because, depending on the shape of the shoe sold, it can fit the customer’s foot too tight or too loose, which can ultimately cause discomfort.
To finalize the recommendation with the information provided, we ask the number that the user uses in the shoe type that was previously chosen.
Then, we cross this information with the measurements of the product being tested, and we are finally able to generate a size recommendation! We take all this into account to propose the size that best fits each foot shape.
Our algorithm searches for those measurements in the Product Measurements Table. The eCommerce provider provides Sizebay with this size chart, which our team created and approved by the store.
In addition to receiving the ideal recommendation, the user can also try on other sizes to know how tight or loose each size would fit on their foot.
That’s how the Virtual Fitting Room allows the consumer to try on every size virtually, minimizing doubts about the size of the piece and reducing the cart abandonment rate.
Now that we’ve explained the size advisor and how it works, can you understand why this is an essential tool for improving the shopping experience on your e-commerce store?
Reasons to Implement our Size solution for Shoes
Optimize the Shopping Experience
In today’s competitive retail landscape, providing an exceptional shopping experience is crucial for enhancing brand recognition and driving growth. Many customers experience uncertainty when it comes to choosing the right shoe size, which can lead to frustration and abandoned carts. A Virtual Fitting Room offers personalized sizing recommendations, instilling confidence in customers and ensuring a smoother purchasing process.
Reduce Exchanges and Returns
Returns and exchanges in footwear eCommerce can be costly, often exceeding the expenses associated with clothing returns due to the bulkiness and space requirements of shoe packages. With a Virtual Fitting Room, customers can make more informed decisions about their size, significantly reducing the rate of exchanges and returns. This improvement translates to better overall eCommerce metrics and increased profitability.
Promote Environmental Responsibility
Lowering the rate of exchanges and returns not only enhances your e-commerce performance but contributes to environmental sustainability. By minimizing resource use and reducing carbon emissions associated with logistics, your brand can appeal to eco-conscious consumers. According to Statista, approximately 69% of consumers have altered their purchasing habits due to climate change concerns. Implementing a Virtual Fitting Room demonstrates your commitment to environmental responsibility.
Stand Out from the Competition
As online shopping continues to rise, so does competition among brands. In a crowded marketplace, investing in technologies that enhance the shopping experience is vital to capturing customer attention. A Virtual Fitting Room can set your brand apart, making it a go-to choice for consumers seeking confidence in their footwear purchases.
Results from the Size & Fit Advisor Implementation
Pontão Calçados, a retail brand established in 1994, launched its e-commerce platform in 2021 to expand its reach across Brazil. Understanding the need for a personalized shopping experience, the brand adopted Sizebay’s solution.
In August 2022, after implementing our tool, Pontão Calçados reported remarkable outcomes, including:
To learn about Sizebay’s flexible and competitive plans, click this link and schedule a conversation!
