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FDRA represents 95% of the footwear industry, working from footwear design through to retail to help the industry evolve and advocate for policies that grow the sector. AlixPartners advises footwear manufacturers and retailers on digital-first retail strategies across the value chain. We partnered to research current consumer trends; the results will help inform footwear companies on how to meet the consumer where they are in 2025.

Back-to-School Footwear Survey

It’s already back-to-school for worried shoppers. The BTS season kicked off early as parents attempted to beat expected price increases and low inventory in fall: A quarter of consumers planned to start back-to-school shopping before June 15. Another 22% said they will have crossed it off the to do list before July 4. Altogether, 48% planned to have finished back-to-shopping by July 4.

As a bigger-ticket item, shoes are a particular pain point for parents. This year, some stockpiled thrifted shoes or shopped last-season sales to ward off fall and winter purchases as their children grow. The big problem—tariff-driven inflation—does have some remedies, provided manufacturers are willing to go deep into sourcing and do the work to achieve more flexible supply chains. Kids might already be walking toward fall, but footwear companies need to pick up the pace.

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$150-200

19% of consumers plan to spend this much per child, up 4 percentage points from 2024

85%

ranked quality/durability as #1 driver of purchase decision

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Spring Footwear Survey 2025

For the first time in the four years we have run this survey, consumers have signaled they plan to spend less on athletic footwear—the segment with the greatest endurance, usually. After two years of stubborn inflation, consumers are now faced with the prospect of pass-through costs from tariffs, and the wear is showing.

Spring Footwear Survey 2025

Back to School Footwear Survey 2024

They stepped up in June, and now it’s time for kids to go back to school. We know that they’ll be wearing crew, not ankle, socks, but their choice of brand-new shoes will come down to careful budgeting and research by their parents. Americans prioritized spending on summer vacations this year, and spent a record $14.2 billion during Amazon’s Prime Day promotion, but are wary of higher prices in the essential footwear category.

Back to School Footwear Survey 2024

Spring 2024 Survey: Where to for footwear?

Spring is traditionally a time for new spend, as consumers plan around seasonal holidays and warmer temperatures. In order to get a current read on consumer priorities and purchase behaviors, we surveyed over 1,000 U.S. footwear consumers aged 15 and older between March 19 and March 21, 2024. While the data did not show support for a strong 'occasion-wear' comeback, we saw strength in the athletic segment and around sales events that allow customers to stick with preferred brands. Continue reading for considerations around how retailers can strategize to make the most of consumers’ purchase events and maintain brand loyalty.

Spring 2024 Survey: Where to for footwear?

Related content

Bloomberg's The Close: Shoppers to cut spending

AlixPartners' Bryan Eshelman recently discussed the results from AlixPartners’ US Consumer Footwear Survey. He noted that almost 80% of shoe shoppers say they will walk away from a purchase because of price. The results just confirm what we’re hearing across the industry – consumer confidence is slipping, and price sensitivity is peaking.

Bloomberg's The Close: Shoppers to cut spending

As Footwear Costs Soar Amid Tariff Pressures, New Report Says 78% of Shoppers Have Abandoned Purchases Due to Sticker Shock

Fresh consumer research from AlixPartners has revealed a whopping number of shoppers who are walking away from footwear purchases due to high costs. “Price is top of mind for consumers shopping for shoes, with 78 percent saying they have walked away from a shoe purchase due to cost, up 12 percentage points from last year,” the report’s authors said. The findings were from the Spring 2025 AlixPartners U.S. Footwear Consumer Survey, which was conducted in partnership with the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.

As Footwear Costs Soar Amid Tariff Pressures, New Report Says 78% of Shoppers Have Abandoned Purchases Due to Sticker Shock

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