Why are barefoot shoes more expensive than regular shoes?
Barefoot shoes are often considered expensive, but few people realize how much costs are associated with their production and sales. Barefoot shoe brands struggle with high costs because what they do differs from conventional shoe manufacturing and practices. Additionally, they must make a significant effort to get their shoes onto our pampered feet.
Read up on some reasons why the price of barefoot shoes is higher than the price of regular shoes:
Expenses affiliated with setting up a business/brand
When starting a business, it is essential to invest a huge amount of time and money before it is even possible to start selling your products. These include the costs of setting up a company, setting up a website or e-shop, market research, product launch strategies, procurement of materials, shoe lasts and molds, personnel costs, setting up logistics and distribution channels, securing and maintaining warehouse space and transport costs from the factory to the company's distribution warehouse, etc,.not to mention proper marketing, without which no one will even notice you today. Legislative, bureaucratic and tax obligations make the whole process even more financially demanding.
Customer support is now an integral part of both online and offline shopping. We expect that when we need advice on anything, we will ideally receive an answer immediately, but no later than within 24 hours. This is especially true when we make returns or raise complaints about the goods. If this fails to happen, or we are dissatisfied with the response, we let the seller feel our anger accordingly. This is reflected in the cost of the product itself in such a way that our questions must be addressed by a well-trained and motivated person who is always kind and helpful. Every single question, return, claim, complaint or suggestion costs something.
Product development
Barefoot shoesbrands design brand new shoes that must meet strict criteria. This requiresnew and unconventionalprocedures that well-established shoe factories are not used to working with. It is also no easy task to procure thin, lightweight, flexible, but durable materials for the production of these shoes. After the designer draws the first draft design, dozens of prototypes, tests and subsequent modifications follow. They subtract, shift, or sometimes literally add millimeters and the whole procedure is repeated until the shoe fits perfectly. These processes are costly and often very difficult for small companies to manage. In the first years of business, they finance everything from their own savings, but they can only grow with the help of bank loans or investors.
Quality and sustainability
Our new focus is on sustainability. Brands and customers care about the quality of their product, but also on the fact thathow, where, from what and by whom the shoes are made. We at SHAPEN also adhere to the principles of sustainability and try to minimize our footprint on our planet as much as possible.. We do it with love, honestly and fairly. By purchasing our products, you are not only supporting the traditional shoemaking craft or a young company of barefoot enthusiasts who are fulfilling their dreams. We make sure that the production of our shoes does not suppress human rights, pollute or cause harm to Mother Nature. The people who make your Shapens receive a fair wage for their hard work, work in dignified conditions without discrimination, and enjoy full care of occupational health and safety. We strive to buy from local manufacturers and suppliers to reduce fuel emissions, support the local economy and do our part to prevent global warming if only in small measure.
Another important factor affecting the price of shoes is the volume of production. Unfortunately, barefoot is still bought by far fewer people than regular shoes. Very few brands are able to secure the volume of production that they can take advantage of the bulk discounts that are common in the production of conventional shoes.
Overall, although barefoot shoes are more expensive than conventional shoes, they are mostly made with high-quality materials and sustainable production practices. Customers who value these things are willing to pay a higher price for barefoot shoes, and the companies that make them are proud to supply a product that meets these standards.
If you want to contribute to the support of quality products, produced sustainably and in fair conditions, do not hesitate and give our shoes a try. We will be happy if you share your opinion with us on this topic on oursocial media - FacebookorInstagram.
