Assessment of influential factors for purchasing gent's shoes - understanding the basic comfort properties

There are many factors that have a great influence over customer's decision in case of choosing gent's shoes and also several features are related to comfort properties of shoes. The aim of the study was to identify the most influential purchase factors of gent's shoes along with disclosing frequently considered comfort factors through target sample population and experts. Two questionnaire experiments were performed among selected respondents and four experts' opinions were observed. The number of total interviewees who provided their preference of choosing factors during shoe purchase was 72 and the interviewees gave their feedbacks especially on basic comfort properties after wearing three pairs of sample shoes for a period of two months. Bar chart, pie chart, Pareto analysis and average weighted method were followed for assessing data. Style, comfort, price and colour were the top four factors that were suggested by the respondents respectively and style, comfort, color and price were considered by the experts at the time of purchasing new shoes, respectively. On the other hand, breathability, proper size and fit, light weight, flexibility and appearance were selected as the most considered factors regarding shoe comfort, whereas experts suggested size and fit, cushioning, flexibility, light weight, breathability, arch support and toe profile shape, respectively. Those who wore sample shoes made of synthetic upper materials and narrow fitted in the forefoot region during the experimental period, tended to perceive them as very uncomfortable.