A Brand Favorite, StrutFit Sizing is a Good Fit For Retail

“Shoppers can then see all the products available in the store, and their recommended size in all those products,” explains CEO & Co-founder Ang Nayyar. “They can seamlessly purchase without trying on lots of different sizes, and if they decide not to purchase immediately, the shopper can still take their scan home with them and continue their buying journey online.” StrutFit’s recommendations remain available with any of the company’s retail partners.

Nayyar reveals that sizing varies from brand to brand, as well as within a brand. StrutFit’s database of consumer feedback is an always-evolving tool to minimize returns caused by poor fit. The CEO sat down with Footwear Plus to share how the tech can be a boon to retailers, both online and in-store.

Retailers want to focus on delivering the best product and customer experience. Sizing is an unfortunate hindrance in this process, and often a hindrance that is hidden and hard to solve for. StrutFit has been solving sizing problems for retailers and brands for 8 years. We understand the specific challenges retailers face, we have developed methods and formulas to overcome these challenges for them, and ultimately we have a platform which can deliver sizing seamlessly across a retailers’ various channels.

A retailer can come to us with no experience in sizing and no knowledge about how their shoes fit, and we can still guide them through the entire journey and add value to them with every step, pun intended.

How can poor fit affect a business?

Poor fit will affect a business in two main ways. The first you feel initially, which is the returns cost and revenue loss. Selling 10,000 pairs of shoes and expecting 3,000 of them to come back is not the most sustainable business practice. The second hidden way it will effect your business is loyalty and word of mouth. A poor fit will result in a customer not returning to purchase your brand. For new brands, this is potentially devastating — turning a would-be loyal customer into a brand detractor.

Are there a lot of consumers wearing the wrong sized shoe?

We recommend a balanced fit for customers. However, some customers prefer a more snug fit, or a more spacious fit. This depends on many factors, and is ultimately a personal decision. On our results page, the consumer can adjust the sizing recommendation based on their preference for fit and toe space. We give them all the information they need to make an informed decision.

If a customer deviates from any of these sizes, they are likely wearing the wrong size, but again, some customers are just used to the wrong size, so for them, it’s the right size. It’s hard to convince someone to go with a different fit to what they’ve been wearing for many years.

How can sizing vary between brands, and how can your tech help sort it out?

Sizing varies immensely between brands, but not only that, it can vary a lot within a brand! Different styles fit differently for the same brand. At StrutFit, we have come across this fundamental problem time and time again.
Often, the retailers and brands themselves don’t know these differences. So, we have developed methods to elicit variances in fit between styles and brands. We have a robust way to test our findings, and then an on-going process to refine the fit based on customer measurements, feedback, and returns.

Safe to say, if you want to get on top of your sizing problems, come speak to us. We have a number of packages that can help you understand your fit, and ultimately we can also help you deliver sizing seamlessly using our technology.