The Indian footwear market is growing annually by 4.85% (CAGR 2024-2028). The rise of online shopping platforms and social media marketing has expanded consumers’ access to a broader range of shoe brands.
Numerous brands are selling shoes nowadays, intending to give consumers an aspirational lifestyle. In this blog guide, we share how to sell Print On Demand shoes Online in India and make a profit.
Are shoes a high demand?
Customers prioritize comfort and functionality, which leads to a high demand for athletic shoes, sneakers, and casual footwear.
The global footwear market is projected to reach a revenue of US$412.90 billion by 2024, with an annual growth rate of 3.43% (CAGR 2024-2028).
The rise of online shopping and sneaker culture has further boosted demand in recent years.
How to Sell shoes online India
The online shoe selling business in in India has several options. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Identify Your Niche
Find out if you want to sell sports shoes, formal shoes, casual wear, or a mix. Consider targeting a specific demographic.
Research competitors’ pricing, marketing strategies, and customer reviews to get ideas.
Analyze marketplace
Look for successful E-Commerce marketplaces like Amazon or Flipkart. These marketplaces show you best-selling niches and analyze their products and offerings to find trending products.
Use Google Trends
Google Trends is the best free tool for tracking trends. This tool helps you see search volume trends for keywords related to your niche.
Identify niches with rising search interest, indicating potential growth. It even lets you compare two niches to understand which one is more profitable.
Step 2: Source Your Products
When starting a shoe business, one of the most critical decisions you’ll face is how to source your products. Here are the best methods for sourcing products.
- Manufacturing,
- wholesale,
- and Print On Demand
Each has its own set of advantages and challenges. Understanding these methods can help you choose the best approach for your business goals, budget, and market.
Aspect | Wholesale | Manufacturing | Print On Demand |
Initial Investment | High | High | Low |
Customization | High | Low | High |
Risk of Unsold Inventory | High | High | Low |
Profit Margins | High | Moderate | Good |
Complex | Complex | None |
Manufacturing Your Own Shoes
Custom manufacturing involves creating shoes from scratch based on your unique designs and specifications. This process includes everything from designing and prototyping to selecting materials and overseeing production.
Wholesale Sourcing
It involves purchasing pre-made shoes at a discounted rate from manufacturers like Print On Demand and Dropshipping service providers. You then sell these shoes through your online store, Marketplace, and Social media pages.
Print On Demand
Print On Demand is a model where products are created and shipped only after an order is placed. This method allows for custom designs and minimal upfront investment.
Choosing the right sourcing method for your shoe business depends on your specific needs, budget, and market strategy.
👉Check out our Print on Demand blog posts to learn more details about how it works in India.
Dropshipping or reselling shoes - Another methods you can choose
There are two popular business models you can also consider for selling your shoes online.
- Dropshipping
- and Reselling
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method in which an online store sells products without owning or handling Inventory, packing, or shipping.
When a customer places an order, the online store(merchant) forwards it to a third-party supplier, who ships the product directly to the customer.
Anyone can start a dropshipping business in India without handling inventory and shipping.
Advantages of Dropshipping
- Low Startup cost
- Reduced risk
- Easier to experiment with different Products
- Dropshipping is scalable
- No need to hold inventory
Reselling
Reselling is a business model where individuals or companies purchase products from suppliers or wholesalers and then sell them to customers at a higher price to make a profit.
Unlike dropshipping, where you don’t handle the products directly, reselling involves managing and controlling the inventory yourself.
Benefits of reselling
- Potential for high profit margin
- Control Over Stock
- More control over product branding
Step 3: Select the best site to sell shoes online
Choosing the right platform to sell Print On Demand shoes online is crucial for the success of your e-commerce business. There are many ways available to sell your shoes online.
a) Creating your online store
Building your own online store gives you full control over your brand and customer experience.
Choose an e-commerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce to completely control your online store.
These platforms are also easy to use and provide customizable templates.
Pros | Cons |
User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, ideal for beginners. | Monthly subscription fees. |
Wide range of built-in features and functionalities for managing your store. | Requires some technical knowledge to manage orders. |
Highly customizable, offering greater control over the look and feel of your store | Transaction fees apply. |
b) Selling on marketplace
Selling Print On Demand shoes on established marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho provides access to a large audience with built-in traffic.
They also handle customer services and payment processing.
Pros | Cons |
Wide Customer Base. | Limited control over branding. |
Easy to set up and manage your product listings. | High competition. |
It simplifies order fulfillment and helps to advertise products. | Fees can reduce your margins. |
c) Selling through social media platforms
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram are increasingly becoming effective sales channels for POD products.
These platforms offer shopping features and advertising tools to reach and engage potential customers.
Pros | Cons |
Connect directly with your audience | Platform Dependence |
Targeting options to reach specific demographics. | Setup Complexity. |
Ads that link directly to your product pages | Required to maintain an active presence. |
Step 4 : List your shoes
After choosing an site, you must list products on your online store. Here are some tips to set up your Ecommerce store.
- Add high-quality images and product mockups to your online store.
- Add an impressive product description on your product page.
- Use optimized SEO product titles and relevant keywords on your product details.
- Use FAQ questions on your products page. It creates a better understanding of your products for customers.
- Add videos about placing an order at your store.
- Develop help guides for topics such as placing orders in your online store, price details, product details, and more.
Step 6: Setup Payment Gateways
We have listed some of the top reliable payment gateways that you can consider for your online store.
- PayPal: Higher fees than Indian gateways
- Stripe: Limited adoption in India currently
- Amazon Pay: Seamless for Indian e-commerce customers
- Razorpay: Great for startups and SMBs, easy to integrate
- ApplePay: Limited adoption in India currently
- InstaMojo: Good for freelancers, individuals, and small businesses
- Cashfree: Used by many Indian marketplaces
- PayU: Caters to Indian merchants and consumers
- Paytm Business: Wide reach, popular with Indian consumers
- CCAvenue: For large enterprises and eCommerce sites
👉Check out the best payment gateway India guide to learn more factors about scaling your dropshipping business.
Step 7: Promote your products
Marketing strategies are the backbone of your print on demand shoes business success.
A well-defined marketing strategy helps you find a targeted audience, understand market trends, and increase brand awareness.
There are various marketing Techniques available to promote your products.
Email Marketing:
Email is an excellent marketing tool. It is a great way to increase brand awareness, increase traffic to your site, and improve sales.
This marketing channel enables you to keep customers on your email list informed about new product launches, services, and programs, such as sending Newsletters.
Content Marketing:
Content marketing is a powerful tool for attracting customers, building brand awareness, and ultimately driving sales in your Indian e-commerce business.
- Finding the Right Channels—To start content marketing, you need to find the right social media channels to share your content, such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
- Planning content – You can share educational and promotional content through Blogs, How-to videos, and infographics.
Social Media Marketing:
This method allows you to interact with customers, strengthen your brand, boost sales, and receive feedback about your products.
With social media marketing, you can run Ads that drive potential customers to your business, such as Instagram Ads and Facebook Ads.
You can partner with popular social media users to promote your products and services.
Also, 34% of Indians choose brands based on social media influencers’ suggestions and
43% of the audience are at least checking out recommended products/services by the influencers.
Pay-Per-Click Marketing:
Advertisers pay when customers click on their ads as part of this marketing strategy.
It is a cost-effective marketing strategy because you only pay when customers reach your products. It also helps to enhance brand exposure.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
SEO improves your website’s ranking in search engine results pages. It increases organic traffic and Optimizes User Experience.
It generates more leads and sales and a high return on investment for your business.
👉For detailed information about promoting your online store, check out our 9 Marketing Strategies for Dropshipping blog guide.
These steps will help you start your online shoe business in India with low investments.
Tips to Sell Shoes Online
Selling shoes online successfully requires more than just listing your products on a website. Here are some top tips to help you boost your sales and expand your reach.
1. Effective Product listings
- Provide clear, high-resolution images of your shoes from various angles, including close-ups of details and textures.
- Show the shoes being worn by models to help customers visualize how they will look in real life.
- Use a consistent style and background for your product photos to maintain a professional appearance.
- Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews and ratings to build credibility and trust. Engage with customer reviews by addressing any issues or thanking them for positive feedback.
2. Customer Experience
- Ensure your website is easy to navigate, with clear categories and search functionality to help customers find products quickly.
- Optimize your website for mobile devices to provide a seamless shopping experience on smartphones and tablets.
- Streamline the checkout process to minimize steps and avoid cart abandonment.
- Offer various payment methods, including credit cards and digital wallets.
3. Analytics and Feedback
- Use analytics tools to track key metrics such as conversion rates, average order value, and customer acquisition costs.
- Analyze sales data to identify trends and adjust your strategies based on what is performing well.
- Collect feedback through surveys, reviews, and direct customer interactions to understand their needs and preferences.
Final thoughts
Selling print-on-demand shoes in India provides a promising opportunity for entrepreneurs in 2024. If you keep up with what’s popular, design shoes that people actually want to buy, and use innovative marketing tactics, you can build a profitable business online.
The key to doing well in this business is making sure you’re offering high-quality products and making it super easy for your customers to shop.
To beat the competition in the online world, it’s essential to stay on top of trends, connect with your customers, and keep bringing in new and exciting products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is shoe a profitable business?
Yes, the shoe is a profitable business. Selling shoes online can get you a profit margin of around 20 % – 24%.
Can i sell shoes on amazon?
Yes, you can sell shoes on Amazon. Just create a seller account and list your products.
How to sell custom shoes?
To sell custom shoes, you have to follow several steps.
- Create unique designs to offer customization options.
- Find a manufacturer or use a print-on-demand service.
- Create a seller account on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, or your own website.
- Add detailed product descriptions, high-quality photos, and pricing.
- Market your shoes through social media, ads, and SEO strategies.
How to start selling shoes?
Selling shoes online has several steps.
- Understand your target market, competitors, and trends.
- Decide if you’ll buy wholesale, design your own, or use a print-on-demand service.
- Choose where to sell (e.g., Amazon, Shopify) and set up your store.
- Create detailed listings with high-quality photos and descriptions.
- Promote your shoes through social media, ads, and other marketing strategies.
Is there print-on-demand for shoes?
Yes, there are print-on-demand services for shoes. Many Companies offer custom shoe printing, which allows you to design and sell personalized shoes without holding inventory.
Content Writer, Blog Editor at Qikink
