Consumers Preferred Physical Stores for Shoe Purchases

Retailers must balance physical store experiences and digital inventory to capture shifting consumer preferences.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Retail

Isometric editorial illustration of a pair of sneakers on a display plinth, reflecting consumer shopping preferences. — A 2026 industry study shows that 34 percent of U.S. consumers prioritize physical retail experiences when shopping for footwear. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you prefer buying shoes in a physical store over buying them online?

Data gathered between August 2025 and August 2026 revealed that 34 percent of Americans exclusively or mostly shop for footwear in physical stores. This segment equals the proportion of consumers who split their purchasing habits evenly between digital and brick-and-mortar channels.

Why it matters

These habits underscore why footwear operators must prioritize a dual-channel strategy to remain competitive across diverse geographic markets. Understanding where customers prefer to interact with product inventory is essential for managing overhead costs and store foot traffic.

A survey conducted from August 2025 to August 2026 found that 34 percent of consumers prioritize in-store shopping, matching the percentage of those who use a split-channel approach. Meanwhile, 27 percent of Americans rely on online-only shopping for their footwear needs.

The players

YouGov

A global online market research firm that provides data-driven consumer insights and public opinion analytics.

The details

The preference for physical retail is especially pronounced in Hawaii and Kansas, where 39 percent of shoppers favor in-store visits. Conversely, Maryland and Delaware record the highest online shopping engagement at 32 percent each. Operators must weigh these regional disparities when allocating marketing budgets or determining store footprint requirements in specific markets.

The YouGov study tracked footwear shopping habits from August 2025 to August 2026.

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Sept. 25
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Market Landscape

The persistent preference for physical stores mirrors the broader industry trend of omnichannel integration where consumer habits are far from monolithic. Footwear retailers must reconcile these findings with documented shifts in commerce to ensure their inventory availability matches local demand.

Footwear operators should analyze their local store performance metrics against these national trends to determine if their physical footprint aligns with regional buyer preferences. Decisions regarding lease renewals or digital platform investment should be informed by these specific regional shopping tendencies.

The takeaway

The data confirms that physical stores remain a primary touchpoint for a third of the market, necessitating a balanced physical and digital retail approach. Operators should monitor their own regional sales data to determine whether to lean into brick-and-mortar investment or e-commerce expansion.