Why Real-Time Footwear Inventory Matters More Than Ever

Footwear is one of the most challenging yet rewarding categories in retail. 

Margins are oftentimes pretty high, but you need to be careful in how you manage your inventory. Unlike simpler product lines, footwear comes with unique complexities that can make or break how profitable your business is. 

So, one of the best ways to make sure you have an exact pulse on your inventory is to arm your footwear business with real-time inventory visibility tools. And as it happens, we have some info we can share on that front. 

The Unique Inventory Challenges of Footwear

One pair of shoes can have upward of 13 different sizes, not to mention variations in widths and styles. Unlike compact items like T-shirts or sunglasses, footwear comes in boxes, making it bulky, space-consuming, and difficult to store in large quantities.

Retailers simply can't afford to carry extensive backstock due to storage limitations. 

While a store might comfortably stock multiple T-shirts in popular sizes, it's impractical to stock numerous pairs of size 7 or 9 shoes. This limited stock heightens the importance of ensuring precise inventory counts and continuous replenishment.

Count and Fill: The Lifeline of Footwear Sales

Footwear, like sunglasses and similar product categories, thrives on a count-and-fill approach. 

This strategy involves regularly replenishing stock based on real-time inventory checks, to make sure the most popular sizes remain available to customers at all times. Any gaps or inaccuracies in inventory can result in missed sales and disappointed customers.

Given that footwear shoppers rarely compromise on size when it comes to shoes, it’s essential that your inventory matches your customer demand exactly. Apparel on the other hand, has a little more leeway since people can get away with sizing up or down slightly without much issue. 

The High Cost of Inventory Misses

A single mismanaged footwear inventory issue can mean a significant financial hit to your brand. You will miss sales opportunities if your size run is incomplete or unavailable. 

Customers generally won't purchase shoes outside their size, and a broken size run means not only immediate lost revenue but also potential long-term impacts on brand reputation and customer trust.

Why Real-Time Inventory Visibility Is Essential

Real-time inventory visibility addresses these challenges by providing instantaneous insight into available stock, incoming deliveries, and ordering timelines. Sales reps can proactively inform retailers of reorder opportunities, which will reduce the risk of stockouts and improve your retailer’s overall satisfaction with your brand.

Give your retailers access to a real-time view of your inventory and they’ll feel confident that when they’re ordering from you, they’re going to get what they order. 

And, you’ll be minimizing the chance that a missed shipment leads to your retailers stocking would-be empty shelves with your competitors. 

Microsites for a Smarter Inventory Strategy

Brands can use RepSpark’s Microsites as an innovative solution for certain types of retailers (like gyms, wellness centers, tennis shops, and pro shops) struggling with storage constraints and inventory management. 

These retailers can keep minimal stock, often just one pair per size, and use microsites for customers to directly order additional sizes or styles.

Customers visiting these types of retailers can conveniently order exactly what they need, without placing undue strain on retailer stockrooms.

The Benefits of Real-Time Inventory Tools

In short, equipping your brand with real-time inventory tools brings these benefits: 

• Improved Sales: Retailers can confidently manage inventory levels and replenish popular sizes promptly.
• Improved Customer Satisfaction: Customers can trust product availability, which will boost your repeat business.
• Optimized Space: Retailers can efficiently utilize storage to reduce unnecessary backstock.
• Reduced Losses: Immediate visibility into stock levels minimizes the risk of lost sales due to inventory errors.

Hopefully you see that real-time inventory management isn't just an advantage in footwear, it really is more of a necessity. 

With precise inventory management and strategic use of tools like Microsites, wholesale footwear brands can achieve smoother operations, happier retail partners, and more profit.