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 on for a few reasons why the price of barefoot shoes is higher than that of conventional shoes:

Expenses associated with starting a business/brand

At the start of a business, it is essential to invest a tremendous amount of time and money before it is even possible to start selling products. These include the costs of setting up a company, creating a website or e-shop, market research, product launch strategies, sourcing materials, shoe lasts and molds, personnel costs, setting up logistics and distribution channels, securing and maintaining warehouse space, and shipping from the factory to the company's distribution center, among others. Not to mention, proper marketing, without which no one will notice you today. Legislative, bureaucratic, and tax obligations make the entire process even more financially challenging.

Customer support is an integral part of both online and offline shopping today. We expect to receive a response, ideally immediately, but no later than within 24 hours, when we need advice on anything, including returning or complaining about a product. When this doesn't happen, or we don't like the response, we let the seller feel our anger appropriately. All of our questions, returns, complaints, feedback, or suggestions cost something.

Product development

Barefoot brands design completely new footwear that must meet strict criteria. This requires new and unconventional procedures that established shoe factories are not used to working with. It is also difficult to obtain thin, lightweight, flexible, yet durable materials for making these shoes. After the designer draws the first design, dozens of prototypes, trials, and subsequent adjustments are made. Sometimes, just a few millimeters can make a significant difference, and the whole process repeats until the shoe fits perfectly. All of these processes are expensive and often challenging for small businesses to handle. In the early years of a business, they finance everything from their own savings, but they can only grow with the help of bank loans or investors.

Quality and sustainability

Today, we focus a strong emphasis on sustainability. Brands and customers care about the quality of their products and how, where, from what, and by whom shoes are made. At SHAPEN, we follow the principles of sustainability and try to be the smallest possible burden on our planet. We do it with love, honestly, and fairly. By buying our products, you support not only traditional shoemaking craftsmanship or a young company of barefoot enthusiasts who are fulfilling their dreams. We ensure that the production of our shoes does not suppress human rights, pollute, or damage the environment. The people who make your Shapen shoes receive fair pay for their hard work, work in decent conditions without discrimination, and are provided with safety and health protection while working. We try to buy from local manufacturers and suppliers to reduce fuel emissions, support the local economy, and contribute to preventing global warming.

Another important factor influencing the price of shoes is production volume. Unfortunately, barefoot shoes are still purchased by far fewer people than conventional shoes. Only very few brands can secure the production volume to use mass discounts, which are common in the manufacturing of conventional shoes. 

Overall, although barefoot shoes are more expensive than conventional shoes, they are usually made from high-quality materials and sustainable production processes. Customers who appreciate these things are willing to pay a higher price for barefoot shoes, and the companies that produce them are proud to deliver a product that meets these standards.

If you want to contribute to supporting high-quality products made sustainably and under fair conditions, don't hesitate to give our shoes a chance. We would be happy if you shared your opinion on this topic with us on our Facebook or Instagram.

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