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selling shoes

Discussion in 'Practice Management' started by lottie, Feb 23, 2014.

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  1. lottie

    lottie Active Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    Have any fellow podiatrists out there added selling shoes to their podiatry practice and if so how did you get on?
    I am thinking of selling shoes and wondered if it financially viable in this economic climate to even consider it....or coud it turn into a big headache:wacko:
     
  2. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    Hi,

    Do you know anything about shoe-fitting?
    Will you be selling specialist footwear?
     
  3. JamesSainter

    JamesSainter Member

    My concern would be the HUGE amount of space required. Also for each style of shoe you want to sell, you would need around 8 different sizes in stock at any one time. That is a huge investment to start out with.

    £50 a shoe at trade price X 8 sizes X 12 different styles for example (6 men 6 women) = almost £5000!
     
  4. JackieB

    JackieB Welcome New Poster

    I recently discussed a similar idea with an orthotist and investigated some options.

    Adding the inventory internally would require more staff and a close management of the stock.

    Another option is a virtual store with shoes that you selected yourself. One option is aStore from Amazon . It is free and allows you to create your storefront online stocked with products that you select.

    One downside to an online shoe store is that the patients won't be able to get their shoes immediately. However, with only a few days of shipping, the wait may be worth all of the additional costs for having the shoes in-house.
     
  5. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    One downside? How about the downside that they can't try the shoe on or get fitted for it!

    Podiatrists are the first ones to complain when other professions "encroach" on their turf - i.e. Physios start prescribing and dispensing orthoses, but are quite happy to encroach on others turf with no question!

    My opinion - not that its worth much - stick to what you are good at!
     
  6. JackieB

    JackieB Welcome New Poster

    I'm sorry - I didn't mean to come across disrespectfully. As shoes aren't being sold or fitted in the office presently, I thought a hand-picked selection in an online store might be an option to consider. Again, my apologies.
     
  7. Lab Guy

    Lab Guy Well-Known Member

    Lottie,

    Selling shoes to your patients would be a tremendous service that your patients would appreciate. Patients with foot problems (especially those requiring an extra depth shoe) find it challenging to select the most appropriate shoe for themselves and often times they are not fitted appropriately.

    Here in the USA, more than 50% of the Podiatrists dispense shoes for their diabetic patients (covered by Medicare) and many Podiatrists sell shoes to their patients for private pay. No inventory is required and if they do not fit properly then they are returned.

    Pedorthotic classes are taught here at the Podiatry schools as Podiatrists should be experts in shoe fitting. How many times do patients ask their Podiatrist what shoes they recommend or if their shoes fit properly? I also always look at is the shoes the patient is wearing as the shoes may be the wrong size for the patient or aggravating the foot problem.

    Your other option is to recommend a certain brand and provide the information to the patient on where to purchase the shoe. Selling shoes in your office is a benefit to the patient but understand there is little to no profit in it. You are providing a added service but the amount of time that is required eats up any retail mark-up on the shoes. You are mainly doing it to ensure your patients with significant pathology are fitted correctly in the most appropriate shoes.

    Fitting shoes is not rocket science, you can learn quick.

    Steven
     
  8. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    No disrespect taken at all...I was just asking the question :D
     
  9. Dr. Steven King

    Dr. Steven King Well-Known Member

    Aloha Jackie,

    Why sell shoes when you could sell orthotics at a highter value and you then could give the shoes away for free.

    Now which type of orthotic would be worth giving a free pair of shoes away with?

    Perhaps in the future with many shoes using less and less material and more and more foam you could just 3D print shoes in your office.

    A hui hou,
    Steve

    Spring Lever Carbon Fiber Orthotic Runner
     
  10. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    If you wish to sell shoes just remember a single brand wont do. Some of the brands that do sell to Podiatrists only have one last shape and it wont suit all.

    Even with the simple black lace school shoe, we carry three brands and offer 4 width fittings & 2 depth fittings to keep the clients happy and well fitted.
     
  11. Tkemp

    Tkemp Active Member

    I have a small display of different shoes for patients to look at. However, it would not be time efficient or economic to fit and sell shoes to patients (I know how long it takes me to chose and buy shoes).

    Instead I have a list of different brands at local retailers, where a full fitting is carried out, and recommend these to patients according to their needs. For example, I would refer a young cricketer with recurrent trauma of the hallux apex to a different brand of shoes than an elderly rheumatoid patient with prominent plantar MTJs.

    My patients appreciate being directed to the right brand and store, and I am saved much time, expense and stock room.

    If a patient requires custom made speciality foot wear, there is an excellent orthotists & prosthetist locally I refer on to.

    However, we all need to decide what is best for our individual circumstances.
    :drinks
     
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