How to Create + Sell Shoe Catalogs Online | Sales Layer

How to Sell Shoe Catalogs Online

Table of Contents

Setting up a digital shoe catalog doesn’t have to be a challenge.

The key to a successful ecommerce shoe catalog in this increasingly digitized landscape? Preparing your catalog so it works across all channels, online and offline, and quickly adjusts to changes in customer demand, trends and seasons.

Everything an ecommerce footwear catalog should include

Structure and categories

Navigating a shoe catalog should be quick and intuitive for any buyer. This is a product that customers search for with a clear idea in mind, so they expect to find the categories and filters that narrow down their search as quickly as possible.

If the manufacturer or retailer offers shoes for multiple target consumers, they should be clearly differentiated across the site. Example categories are:

Women’s
Men’s
Children’s
Baby’s

Within these categories, variants must be clearly labeled to be able to locate them by choosing the type (sports, formal, summer or winter...), height and sole, color, material and size.

The final volume of this information can be massive, which is why it is essential to have a well-structured catalog with a platform such as PIM (Product Information Management).

A PIM system centralizes all product content and makes it easy to edit, update and connect it with any sales channel.

Images

In the fashion sector, the product photography is the star of the show. Buyers expect to see detailed photography to compensate for not seeing the product in person. When it comes to shoes, they want to be sure of:

Type of laces or fastenings
Heel height
Lining and inner sole

The more detailed the product images in a shoe catalog are, the more likely a customer will be to make a purchase. Moreover, the number of returns is reduced, as they will have been able to get a reliable idea of what the product is like.

Sizing

The biggest enemy of online shoe sales is sizing. Many customers are reluctant to buy shoes online because they are concerned they will be uncomfortable or won’t fit properly. To reduce this problem, you can offer an easy exchange and return system for the customer, and have a detailed size chart.

This means more than just detailing what sizes are available for each model. It should be a table that is easy to consult and understand, linked in all the product sheets, with the exact measurements for each size and category.

Multi-language content

Having a PIM makes it easy to manage and translate product information into any language, which is ideal for launching new versions of a website, sending content to a foreign marketplace or preparing international catalogs.

Care information

Both for this reason and because durable products are more highly valued by customers, you should include information on specific care for each model on your product sheets.

Offering useful advice to the buyer that is catered to each shoe reaffirms confidence in the brand.

Lookbook

Many ecommerce shoe catalogs show high-quality photos in the product cards, but it’s impossible to tell how those shoes look on a real person.

Adding a shoe lookbook allows customers to see the products ‘in action’. A popular trend across ecommerce sites in recent years is to allow consumers to upload photos of them wearing the product to a lookbook gallery that other potential customers can view.

For your online footwear catalog to stand out amongst competitors, the key is to have all the content clear and accessible, up-to-date and ready to use.

Get it in no time with a PIM, the fastest way to centralize a product catalog for manufacturers and retailers. Get started with a free trial of Sales Layer.