SHOECONOMY
The economics of the footwear industry from sales data to shoe jobs
Shoeconomy is powered by FDRA, the footwear industry's business and trade association representing over 95% of the entire shoe industry.
Each week, FDRA tracks and analyzes the "SHOECONOMY"—or footwear marketplace—to help shoe retailers and brands make better business decisions. It provides industry data around sales, prices, employment, and hourly wages as well as using media channels to host shoe executives discussing trends and operational innovations. Learn more at FDRA.org
The Economics of the Footwear Industry
By the numbers... COVID-19 Impact as of March 2021
187,200
Footwear workers nationwide
(Down from 333,626)
74%
of respondents to an FDRA industry survey see a stronger six-month outlook for both the economy and shoe shoppers’ buying power
53%
Most the of respondents to an FDRA industry survey believe it will take more than twelve months for their company’s sales to return to pre-COVID levels.
-20.7%
Shoe store sales tumbled in December from a year earlier in the wake of COVID-19
3.8%
Spending on shoes in January rose y/y to an annualized$90.8 billion
-2.1%
Retail footwear prices saw their eleventh straight y/y decline in January
By the numbers... as of March 2020 before COVID-19
$82.5 Billion
The amount Americans spent on shoes in 2019
333,626
Footwear workers nationwide
$19.32
Average hourly pay for shoe store employees
25 Million
Total pairs of shoes made in America
$3.3 Billion
The amount spent on footwear duties in 2019
99%
Percentage of all shoes sold in the U.S. that are imported
8
Average pairs imported per person in 2019
FDRA has created a digital learning center designed to help anyone working or furloughed to continue to learn and maintain their knowledge and skills during the COVID-19 crisis.
Our Digital Professional Development site offers a variety of resources, by issue area, featuring insights and training via videos, podcasts, articles, documents, memos, and letters to help you stay up to date with the latest and most relevant industry news.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
The Faces & Shoe Stories of Footwear Workers
Click on a story below to learn more about various jobs in the footwear industry.
Footwear Innovation
Watch brands talk about how the footwear industry is changing
how we design, develop, manufacture, and sell shoes…
Sign up for our FREE Footwear Retail Recap monthly newsletter
Looking for more information? Want to be more involved with FDRA? Visit our websites below to gain valuable insights on everything from sustainability to innovation data.
Shoesustainability.com is the industry’s news and resource center on how brands can reduce their environmental footprint, step by step.
Our newest site to educate on shoe intellectual property issues and eradicate counterfeit footwear.
To see all things footwear innovation, from design to PD to production to materials and retail, visit here.
FDRA’s Footwear Customs and Import Center is a one-stop-shop on footwear customs. Find customs and import docs, get key updates, request sample classifications, and access a digital IFI form.
This Footwear Sourcing and Compliance Center is a learning and resource hub with the goal of improving social and environmental compliance in footwear supply chains, as well as providing in-depth data, insights and analysis on global footwear production.
A fun and engaging podcast hosted by Matt Priest and Andy Polk. Each week, listen in on in-depth and dynamic conversations about the business of footwear with the people actually designing, making, marketing, and selling shoes.
Sign up for the footwear industry’s FREE weekly newsletter!
FDRA’s Week in Review brings you key footwear business data, updates and alerts each Friday.
EVENTS
March 18, 2021
April 14, 2021
April 26 — 27, 2021
Contact Us
FDRA is the footwear industry's business and trade association. FDRA supports nearly 500 companies and brands worldwide, representing 95% of total U.S. footwear sales, making it by far the largest and most respected American footwear trade and business association. Contact us if we can assist with your business, or you have questions about the content found on this site.
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