Just Going To Put This Out There

[CompactCleaning]

So last night me and my mate were thinking about his next door neighbour who has one arm and got on to imagine if one leg etc and then I mentioned how annoying it would be if I had to buy two shoes I would be seriously annoyed and got thinking about a shop for people with one limbs like a shop that sells single trainers, single gloves, adapted jackets etc do you think this could be viable?

 

[vvaannmmaann]

These people thought so.
http://www.myleftshoe.ca/

 

[CompactCleaning]

Ok cheers I was thinking more along the lines of newer shoes them shoes looked dated we would stock all major brands such as Nike, Addidas etc aswell as jackets tshirts etc

 

[14A]

I think its fairly obvious to all that you and your friend were 'legless' (Sorry) when this chat happened.

I think their is a market, small in comparison to 'the normal footwear' market but still big in its own right. You may be able to become established in the industry but I cant help but think what 'real' benifits there are?

Pair of Reebok Classics - £40
Single Reebok Classic - Half price? £20?

Then how long does the other shoe sit around for until its sold? Combine this to the seemingly millions of different shoewear availible AND all those different sizes, I think you'll find that you end up offering a rather limited selection of shoes.

Good idea in theory but far too many problems would arise I'd imagine.

As a footnote (Sorry), what about making custom shoes? Ones that use a 'basic chassis' that can be visually altered.

 

[thetime22]

yeah i think there is a market. To say the market has been filled is just ignorant. IF us able bodied people with two arms and two legs had 3 shops servicing our needs.. well, that would hardly be filling the market. Go for it I say.

 

[shadesofblue]

sorry to put a dampener on this but the majority of people with one leg will use a prosthetic one - that prosthetic leg will still need a trainer on it

 

[14A]

The other point I forgot to mention was, whats really wrong with the current system? You buy a pair and only use one - Shoes are cheap enough (Its your desire for more expensive ones) so the only real issue is the waste of an unused shoe.

 

[Naughty Vend]

Your customers would just wait until the 50% off sales in regular shoe shops, perhaps even sell the other shoe onto a fellow amputee with the same size of feet as them but having the shoe on the other foot. Are you pulling our legs?

 

[SELDN]

Something like this would be a really good idea, but a shop front? No no no. An Internet store? Yes yes yes. If you think about it, it makes more sense then opening up a local store that only has a few people per county that would see use of such a store. This way saving you so much money in rent/managment. (where you would probbally see a loss.)

Online store is the way to go. But I wouldn't suggest starting off small. Perhaps a decent storage area the size of a 3 bedroom house (I pay £169 for my 3 bedroom) + £20,000 of goods to have a massive variety of items for people to choose from.

 

[SELDN]

The other point I forgot to mention was, whats really wrong with the current system? You buy a pair and only use one - Shoes are cheap enough (Its your desire for more expensive ones) so the only real issue is the waste of an unused shoe.

But if the person saves perhaps 30%-40% in not buying the other shoe, wouldn't that be attractive enough? Even if the original pair is on a 50% off sale, saving even more would be even better. Think about it... Pair of semi-decent shoes, £50. Waiting for sale makes that £29. But then take 30% of that? = £20.

I think the OP may be onto something.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Keep an eye out for my latest venture 'The Sound of One Hand Clapping Ltd' an online store selling single gloves for people with only one arm.

I'll also be selling left handed or right handed watches and rings.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

But if the person saves perhaps 30%-40% in not buying the other shoe, wouldn't that be attractive enough? Even if the original pair is on a 50% off sale, saving even more would be even better. Think about it... Pair of semi-decent shoes, £50. Waiting for sale makes that £29. But then take 30% of that? = £20.

I think the OP may be onto something.

Which customer gets to keep the box?

Wouldn't the manufacturers warranty be void?

 

[arcon5]

LOL

My 2cents

 

[CompactCleaning]

In this day and age everyone is looking to save money and for the next few years by the looks of it so that 50% off would be a god send to some. As someone has said a good pair of trainers one's which are in style will cost you around £50 so who wouldn't like to save £25

sorry to put a dampener on this but the majority of people with one leg will use a prosthetic one - that prosthetic leg will still need a trainer on it

But for them people that don't?

And no we wasnt wasted haha we was just chilling.

 

[SELDN]

Which customer gets to keep the box?

Wouldn't the manufacturers warranty be void?

Warranty? Haha... weren't we talking about shoes/trainers? Or have I missed something here?

Box? Who cares about a box? You can buy a set of dirt cheap custom made boxes from a box manufacturer (single shoe size) for around 10p a box.

What to do with the old two-shoe boxes? Sell 'em! I've seen people flogging shoe boxes off on ebay for a quid! You can start a little side store perhaps on ebay selling the boxes for 20p, delivery 50p, and walla! You've also made, if not anything, a little profit from getting rid of the older boxes.

 

[SELDN]

IBut for them people that don't?

And no we wasnt wasted haha we was just chilling.

OP, its a good idea, it just requires a fair amount of start-up costs and also, the main thing in a business so original, is marketing.

 

[CompactCleaning]

Yeh we new it would cost alot to setup on the scale we wish to setup on. But thanks for all the inputs guys and that selling boxes isn't a bad idea! cheers

 

[SELDN]

Yeh we new it would cost alot to setup on the scale we wish to setup on. But thanks for all the inputs guys and that selling boxes isn't a bad idea! cheers

Oh, and if you where to get in contact with the shoe manufacturers, you could tell them to send you them in brown, unmarked boxes. That way, the manufacturer would save small costs in not having them sent to you marked, and you would possibly sell them on for more as just plain brown boxes. (that people, for some strange reason, pay a pretty penny for judging by online box/storage outlets.)

.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Warranty? Haha... weren't we talking about shoes/trainers? Or have I missed something here?

Box? Who cares about a box? You can buy a set of dirt cheap custom made boxes from a box manufacturer (single shoe size) for around 10p a box.

What to do with the old two-shoe boxes? Sell 'em! I've seen people flogging shoe boxes off on ebay for a quid! You can start a little side store perhaps on ebay selling the boxes for 20p, delivery 50p, and walla! You've also made, if not anything, a little profit from getting rid of the older boxes.

Well Nike shoes for example come with a 2 year warranty...I'm not sure why you can't see the connection. It isn't just fridge freezers that come with guarentees and warranties.

As for the shoebox, my point was that most retailers won't issue a refund if the item is not returned in its original packaging.

 

[avantime]

You could also set up a website for monopods to pair up with people missing the other leg (and the same shoe size). That way you could contact your customers when you have bought in pairs of shoes and hopefully sell the other one quicker!

Just need to think of a catchy name now!

 

[LicensedToTrade]

You could also set up a website for monopods to pair up with people missing the other leg (and the same shoe size). That way you could contact your customers when you have bought in pairs of shoes and hopefully sell the other one quicker!

Just need to think of a catchy name now!

Sell The Other One
Two Left Feet
On A limp and a prayer
One foot in the grave
Footloose and fancy free

What am I doing, this idea is next to useless

 

[SELDN]

Well Nike shoes for example come with a 2 year warranty...I'm not sure why you can't see the connection. It isn't just fridge freezers that come with guarentees and warranties.

As for the shoebox, my point was that most retailers won't issue a refund if the item is not returned in its original packaging.

WOW!... You learn new things everyday. I'm pretty sure no-one in the right mind has ever heard of trainer/shoe warranties. Believe me. When one rips, people move on and get another. I'm sure if the majority knew about warranty, Nike/outlets would have gone bust by now.

It's like basic consumer rights... If you buy a packet of crisps from Sainsbury, eat it up and finish it, but disliked the taste, you could take it back for a full refund. But no one I know knows this. Infact, I only recently found out whilst board on Google. - Would I ever excersie that right now that I know? Probbally not.

.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

WOW!... You learn new things everyday. I'm pretty sure no-one in the right mind has ever heard of trainer/shoe warranties. Believe me. When one rips, people move on and get another. I'm sure if the majority knew about warranty, Nike/outlets would have gone bust by now.

It's like basic consumer rights... If you buy a packet of crisps from Sainsbury, eat it up and finish it, but disliked the taste, you could take it back for a full refund. But no one I know knows this. Infact, I only recently found out whilst board on Google. - Would I ever make excersie that right now that I know? Probbally not.

Perhaps for a £30 pair of trainers you wouldn't be fussed, but when you spend £250 on a pair of trainers you generally expect them to last.

 

[SELDN]

Just need to think of a catchy name now!

"The Right Foot."

 

[SELDN]

Perhaps for a £30 pair of trainers you wouldn't be fussed, but when you spend £250 on a pair of trainers you generally expect them to last.

OP wasn't talking about £250 trainers though. So really, it would be something to consider in a plan, but NOT be worried about. I'm pretty sure if someone that much money to blow on a single shoe, they would go to a professional/private shoe store and have his own shoe(s) lol, tailored to match.

.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

OP wasn't talking about £250 trainers though. So really, it would be something to consider in a plan, but NOT be worried about. I'm pretty sure if someone that much money to blow on a single shoe, they would go to a professional/private shoe store and have his own shoe(s) lol, tailored to match.

.

So on the converse side of your argument, if we are talking about individuals who don't have a lot of money to spend on shoes then they are likely to save money by simply buying cheap shoes and chucking the spare one in the bin.

 

[CompactCleaning]

Well Nike shoes for example come with a 2 year warranty...I'm not sure why you can't see the connection. It isn't just fridge freezers that come with guarentees and warranties.

As for the shoebox, my point was that most retailers won't issue a refund if the item is not returned in its original packaging.

Well it wouldn't really be hard to combat the warranty issue, I could offer my own warranty?

And as for the refund I would be the retailer so obviously if I send them in a brown box then that is my original packaging meaning that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Well it wouldn't really be hard to combat the warranty issue, I could offer my own warranty?

And as for the refund I would be the retailer so obviously if I send them in a brown box then that is my original packaging meaning that wouldn't be a problem.

If you were happy to offer your own warranty then go for it. All the best.

 

[HFE Signs]

I'm sure some would like the idea, you could market this by advertising on the amputee wards of all the hospitals.

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

Set up a swap shop website based on a dating script where one legged folk can connect with there opposite legged friends based on shoe size and style preferences

Also, do you offer a half price cleaning service if I only want the top side of the carpets cleaning?

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

Made me laugh because I had the same idea last year.

My son was hit by a car a couple of years ago (09/09/09 to be exact) and he spent just over a year with steel scaffolding around one leg. As a result he was throwing away one shoe everytime he brought a pair.

It always reminds me of the "Not the Nine O'Clock News" sketch where a group of one legged crooks pinch the shoes from on display outside a shoe shop.