Leading shoe retailer Begg Shoes reported a significant increase in formal shoe purchases at the start of 2022, suggesting weddings and events could be back on the cards this year.
The family business sells over 80 global footwear brands online and at its nine locations in Scotland. It says demand for women’s shoes and second-hand clothes for spring 2022 has tripled compared to the same period last year.
Begg Shoes Managing Director Donald Begg says: “The increase in demand for dress and second-hand shoes is also reflected in the UK Google search data we are seeing for wedding shoes. People are also ‘exchanging’ with higher quality purchases compared to the same time last year, and encouragingly, we are seeing an overall increase in the number of customers returning to our stores.
Along with seeing the telltale signs of a return to the pre-COVID era, the company has also noticed a continuation of the big outdoor activity trend originally sparked by the shutdowns. Showing confidence in continued interest, the company has added new ranges from outdoor brands such as On Running, Lowa and Gore-Tex.
Begg adds: “Many of our stores are located in locations with access to rich countryside and have long been destinations for outdoor enthusiasts. We saw a double surge in demand for outdoor footwear when lockdowns were first introduced, and there’s no sign of going back to the pre-COVID days. We view this sustained interest in outdoor footwear as a more lasting lifestyle change than a fad during the pandemic.
The company also says its online business helped bolster sales when customer movement was restricted, helping it recover strongly. A recovery that now allows it to offer its largest collection of spring shoes to date and almost a third of additional shoe stock for summer 2022.
