UK Footwear Retailing Market Report 2025
"Quality, affordability, and versatility have become top priorities when buying footwear, with fewer consumers finding the need to stay on-trend."
Bridget McCusker, Research Analyst
UK Footwear Retail Market – Trends and Insights
- Almost half of UK consumers say they are willing to pay more for locally-made footwear, drawn to its perceived higher quality and craftsmanship. Brands must effectively highlight British heritage and authenticity to justify pricing. Strategic investment in domestic manufacturing infrastructure and workforce development will be critical, allowing brands to meet consumer expectations and position themselves as leaders in quality and tradition.
- UK footwear retailers face growing challenges, as cost-conscious consumers increasingly delay purchases or cut back on spending. Quality, affordability, and versatility have become top priorities, with fewer consumers finding the need to stay on-trend. This shift has diminished the demand for impulse purchases, forcing retailers to refine their value propositions and to clearly demonstrate why their offerings are worth the investment.
- Technology is transforming the footwear sector, offering retailers exciting opportunities to enhance their product appeal. Smart tracking features allow brands to innovate with practical solutions like health and activity monitoring.
- Almost a third of shoppers are increasingly drawn to customised footwear tailored to their specific needs. By incorporating cutting-edge technology and design, retailers can tap into this demand for personalised products, fostering stronger customer loyalty and standing out in a competitive market.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
- The short-, medium- and long-term impact of inflation/supply chain issues on the footwear market
- The performance of the leading specialists in the market as cautious consumer spending influences demand
- Factors that have become more important when shopping for footwear, with many valuing practicality over staying on-trend
- Consumer interest in services like customisation, in-store technology and services geared towards promoting longevity of the footwear purchased
- Consumer behaviours towards footwear retailers with a key concern of better sizing guidance ranking high amongst footwear shoppers
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | May 2025 |
| Report Author | Bridget McCusker, Research Analyst |
| Market Data Range | 2019-2024(est) |
| Market Forecast Range | 2025-2029 |
| Consumer Data | 2,000 internet users aged 16+, April 2025 |
| Market Segmentation | Men’s, Women’s, Children’s |
| Channels of Distribution | Footwear Specialists, Sports goods retailers, Clothing specialists, Online-only retailers, Department Stores, Grocers, Other |
| Leading Retailers in the UK Footwear Market | Clarks, Schuh, Kurt Geiger, Footasylum, Office Holdings, Foot Locker, Shoezone Group, Pavers, Deichmann, Skechers |
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Opportunities for the footwear retailing market
- Locally-made footwear can drive interest in a brand…
- … but consumers must be prepared to pay a premium
- Customised footwear can combat consumer concerns over fit
- Footwear retailers can promote longevity with loyalty
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Market size & forecast
- Market predictions
- Spending on footwear is expected to fall as consumer confidence dips
- The distribution of footwear sales remains unchanged
- Graph 1: value sales of footwear by category, 2019-24
- What consumers want and why
- Footwear purchasing levels are stable in 2025
- Graph 2: footwear purchasing by category, 2021-25
- Online and in-store see consistent demand from consumers
- Graph 3: channels used to purchase footwear, 2021-25
- Footwear shoppers are prioritising quality
- Graph 4: important factors when buying footwear, 2025
- Quality is top of mind when it comes to services for footwear shopping
- Graph 5: consumer interest in services/innovations for footwear shopping, 2025
- Consumers seek better sizing guidance for footwear
- Graph 6: consumer behaviours towards footwear shopping, 2025
- Retailer activity
- Clarks commands the biggest share of the footwear market
- Graph 7: leading footwear retailers’ market share of all footwer retail sales (excl. VAT), 2023-24
- Adspend for footwear falls
- Graph 8: total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on footwear, 2020-24
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MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market size
- Footwear spending sees a softer year in 2024
- Graph 9: consumer spending on footwear, excluding repair and hire of footwear, 2019-24
- 2024 shows more modest growth following strong gains in previous years
- Market forecast
- Footwear market faces challenges as shoppers prioritise quality over quantity
- Growth in the footwear market remains subdued in 2025
- Impact of US trade disruption for footwear market
- Market segmentation
- Women’s footwear continues to account for the largest share of the sector
- Graph 10: value sales of footwear by category, 2019-24
- Footwear sales trends remain steady
- Channels of distribution
- Stronghold of footwear specialists weakens
- Graph 11: percentage breakdown of value sales of footwear, by distribution channel, 2024 (est)
- Market drivers
- Footwear inflation remains below CPIH
- Graph 12: overall CPIH and footwear inflation rate, 2024-25
- Trump’s tariff announcement worsens the UK’s already uncertain trading outlook
- Graph 13: GDP, 2021-25
- Uncertainty looms despite stronger financial wellbeing sentiment
- Graph 14: the financial wellbeing index, 2016-25
- Consumers remain cautious…
- Graph 15: recent and planned financial activity, 2025
- … as they continue to be impacted by price rises
- Graph 16: issues impacting consumers over the last two months, 2025
- Majority of Brits say the cost of living crisis is not getting any better
- Graph 17: perception of the state of the cost of living crisis in the UK, 2025
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WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
- Types of footwear purchased
- Footwear purchasing levels off in 2025
- Graph 18: footwear purchasing by category, 2021-25
- Young consumers are the main footwear buyers
- Graph 19: footwear purchased in the last 12 months, by generation, 2025
- Casual styles continue to dominate women’s shopping
- Graph 20: types of women’s footwear purchased, 2021-25
- Women are prioritising comfort when buying footwear
- Graph 21: footwear purchased by women, by age group, 2025
- Men’s footwear purchasing remains stable
- Graph 22: styles of men’s footwear purchased, 2021-25
- The casualisation of footwear is prevalent among male shoppers
- Graph 23: footwear purchased by men, by age group, 2025
- Trainers rule among young men…
- … as sneaker culture is important to this demographic
- Purchasing levels of children’s footwear have remained stable
- Graph 24: styles of children’s footwear purchased, 2021-25
- Clarks supports parents of school aged children offering a fit guarantee
- Channels used for footwear shopping
- While online usage is heightened, there has been a return to stores
- Graph 25: channels used to purchase footwear, 2021-25
- … although the in-store channel remains just as important
- Graph 26: channels used to purchase footwear, by age group, 2025
- Seamless multichannel experience is key for younger consumers
- Løci blends existing and new technologies in a traditional store format
- Retailers used for footwear shopping
- Footwear specialists see a dip in demand from consumers…
- Graph 27: type of retailer used for footwear shopping, 2024 and 2025
- … while clothing stores retain the lead for footwear shoppers
- Clothing stores hold appeal for all types of footwear shoppers
- Graph 28: footwear shoppers who have bought footwear in the last 12 months by retailer used, 2025
- Wide range of retailers popular for footwear with Amazon holding the lead
- Graph 29: individual retailers used for footwear shopping, 2024 and 2025
- Shein is a popular choice for younger consumers
- Graph 30: those buying footwear from Shein, by generation, 2025
- Clothing stores and sports retailers are the most popular with younger consumers
- Graph 31: type of retailer used for footwear shopping, by generation, 2025
- Retailers can help younger consumers stand out
- Represent launches its first running and training shoes
- Parents purchasing children’s footwear have a wide range of retailers to choose from
- Graph 32: footwear purchasing, by those with children, 2025
- Clarks launches Roald Dahl kid’s collection
- Factors that have become more important when shopping for footwear
- Footwear shoppers value practicality when shopping
- Comfort is king
- Graph 33: factors that have become more important when shopping for footwear, 2025
- Shoppers prioritise quality and price
- Resale value and staying on-trend have become more important to men
- Graph 34: factors that have become more important when shopping for footwear, by gender, 2025
- Practicality takes centre stage
- Graph 35: factors that have become more important when shopping for footwear, by generation, 2025
- Interest in services when shopping for footwear
- High levels of interest in longevity and personalised fit
- Younger consumers are more interested in services that promote durability
- Graph 36: footwear shoppers’ interest in services/innovations, by age group, 2025
- DPPs can provide more information on transparency for consumers
- Parents are interested in durability for children’s footwear
- Graph 37: footwear shoppers’ interest in services/innovations, by children in the household, 2025
- Crocs unveils limited-edition collection with Marimekko
- Exclusive collaborations rank high for trainer buyers
- Behaviours towards footwear purchasing
- Better sizing guidance is a key area for retailers to address
- Consumers want better fitting footwear
- High earners are keen to have smarter footwear
- Graph 38: consumer behaviours towards “I would be willing to spend more on footwear with smart tracking features (eg provides updates on mobility, health monitoring),” by income group, 2025
- Second-hand footwear needs to address quality concerns
- Graph 39: consumer behaviours towards “Concerns about quality makes buying second-hand footwear less appealing to me,” by age and gender, 2025
- Early access can further drive loyalty amongst consumers
- Graph 40: consumer behaviours towards “Early access to the latest footwear launches would encourage me to join a footwear retailer’s loyalty scheme”, by generation, 2025
- Parents in healthy financial situations would spend more on locally-made footwear
- Footwear can tap into localism
- Graph 41: consumer behaviour towards willingness to spend on locally made footwear, by financial situation, 2025
- New Balance expands ‘Made in UK’ collection
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RETAILER ACTIVITY
- Leading specialists
- Overall revenues grow among leading footwear specialist
- Comparing leading footwear retailers
- Crocs, UGG and New Balance continue to gain shoppers
- Graph 42: [no title]
- Clarks sees strong growth driven by strong collaborations
- Graph 43: Google search engine interest in “Clarks Wallabees,” 2004-25
- Clarks drives demand ahead of back to school
- Graph 44: leading footwear specialists’ number of transactions, 2023-25
- Some footwear specialists struggle amid a challenging market…
- … while others have fared better
- Retailers invest in the physical shopping experience
- Market share
- Clarks holds the biggest share of the footwear market
- Graph 45: leading footwear retailers’ market share of all footwer retail sales (excl. VAT), 2023/24
- Clarks holds top spot amongst rivals
- Launch activity and innovation
- Filmore looks to the future in latest campaign
- Camper’s Roku shoe sits at the intersection of circularity and customisation
- Brands building connections through community-focused experiences
- Birkenstock steps into wellness
- Dubai-based footwear brand DUHA launches Ramadan collection
- Advertising and marketing activity
- Adspend for footwear falls
- Graph 46: total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on footwear, 2020-24
- Axel Arigato leads in adspend for 2024
- Axel Arigato’s holiday campaign taps into nostalgia
- Adspend on cinema jumps from 2023
- Graph 47: total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on footwear, by media type, 2023 and 2024
- Clarks shows there’s no better feeling
- Leading advertisers allocate most of their adspend to digital and social
- Birkenstock launches ‘giant’ Spring/Summer campaign
- Schuh launches “Same, but different” to attract young shoppers
- Sport shoes and trainers account for the biggest share of the sector’s adspend
- Pavers helps women over 55 enjoy life with greater comfort and confidence
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APPENDIX
- Supplementary data – leading retailers
- Leading specialist footwear retailers: outlets
- Market forecast data and methodology
- Market size and forecast
- Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
- Forecast methodology
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Abbreviations and terms
- Infegy Atlas – coverage
- Consumer research methodology
- Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
- Snoop SpendMapper methodology
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