Of all 941 respondents, 80% have said they are very (55%) or somewhat likely to purchase (25%) new shoes this next holiday season. The remaining 20% are not likely at all to purchase shoes, but this percentage has decreased from 34% as compared to the 2020 survey. Additionally, 40% of the participants are planning to spend about the same amount of money on shoes this holiday season, 39% more money, and 21% less money.

The majority (72%) is planning on making their holiday shoe purchases online. This trend remains steady, as compared to 2020, with a minor shift of 1% towards shopping online this year. Among the 677 participants preparing to buy shoes online, 37% intend to shop on Amazon, 32% on the shoe brand’s website, 20% from a retailer’s website, 8% on Zappos or another shoe website, and 3% somewhere else online. The survey highlights that since the 2020 holiday survey, respondents’ preferences are moving away from Amazon (44% to 37%) towards the shoe brand’s website (19% to 32%).

Between the 264 respondents who plan to shop in-person, 45% expects to do it at a footwear store chain (like Famous Footwear or DWS), while 34% are programming to shop at large mass retail shops (like Target, Costco, Walmart) and 21% at department stores (like Macy’s or Nordstrom). Most respondents aged between 50 and 64 years old (68%) stands out for planning to shop at large mass retail stores.

As for the type of footwear, there has not been a significant change from last year. Of those surveyed, 45% have said they wish to purchase casual shoes, while 33% plans to buy athletic shoes, and 22% fashion/dress shoes or boots. Men are most likely to acquire casual shoes (49%) or athletic shoes (38%), while women are split between casual shoes (40%), fashion/dress shoes (32%) or athletic shoes (28%).

Considering the supply chain disruptions, which have made retailers start their holiday marketing earlier, more than half of the respondents (52%) are expecting to shop between now and Black Friday, 32% plan to do it between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and 16% will do it sometimes in December, closer to Christmas. Those aged between 18 and 29 are most likely to do it between now and Black Friday.