
share
[ssba]
This Week in Startups: Shoefitr – Just The Right Size for Online Retail
Last July, during the Global TWiST meetup (#65) Shoefitr took top honors, they beat out some tough competition in particular Yoocasa. I was recently able to connect with Nick and Matt two of the founders and I thought this might be a good time to see what they’ve been up to. If you don’t remember they use 3D technology to take the pain out of sizing the right shoe when purchasing online..
Here’s the Q&A:
Can you describe Shoefitr for those who don’t know? Shoefitr is an application that shows how a shoe will fit by using 3D scanning technology to compare the internal dimensions of shoes.
Catch me up-to-date since your call-in? We signed an agreement with Running Warehouse and have been tracking the launch closely, looking at metrics and user feedback. So far a large portion of Running Warehouse shoppers use the application and 90% of the users find the recommendation helpful. Which is great because the user demographics for Running Warehouse is very informed and knowledgeable in their shoe selections because the site caters to experienced runners. We don’t publish specific metrics but we significantly increase conversion rates and are reducing returns.
What are the users saying about Shoefitr? Here’s just a few comments we’ve received:
“The ability to tell where it will fit looser or tighter without having to try it on is BRILLIANT!”
“The best and most complete shoe fitting advice on the web.”
“Super cool stuff, only thing better would be to have the shoe in my hand.”
“All the reviews said order 1/2 size up. I will follow this recommendation instead.”
“Love being able to compare the toe box fit”
Who is on your team and what do they do? There are 3 founders and we all went to Carnegie Mellon University. Matt Wilkinson, Breck Fresen and I (Nick End) were college athlete’s. Breck and I ran Cross-Country and Track and Matt played Soccer so we know the pain of poor fitting footwear. Matt and I are mechanical engineers and Breck has a degree in Computer Science. Like most startups we all wear multiple hats but primarily I handle customer relationships, Matt handles operations, and Breck handles software development. There are currently 6 people on our team.
So how did you get started? We all graduated and were working in the corporate world but were all still in touch. We came up with the idea from our bad experiences buying footwear online and our knowledge of 3D imaging and software development. Matt bought a 3D scanner and modified it. I worked out an agreement with a running store that allowed me to scan shoes after work. Matt compiled data while Breck was writing code to get the prototype up and running. It took about a year to get a good prototype. Once that was complete we applied to AlphaLab and we all left our corporate jobs and went full time in Jan. 2010.
Is AlphaLab a mentor based incubator? Yes, it’s very similar to a Y Combinator and Techstars, you get small funding, give small equity and they hold weekly presentations about things you know are important and some you never thought were important. For example we listened to a presentation about open source software that was eye opening. Our relationship to the AlphaLab team is still tight to this day and we meet regularly. But are now working with their parent company Innovation Works (a non-profit venture capital firm) that invests in tech companies in the Pittsburgh area.
So you don’t need funding? Not at the moment, we just closed a round with them. However, there may be other financing needs as we continue to grow the business.
Do you have any other agreements in the works? Yes, we are talking to many other online retailers one even said “ You have put your finger on one of the last great impediments to online retail”. So retailers are feeling the pain of online returns and we even have manufacturers like Mizuno, Brooks and several others sending us shoes to be scanned. We also will be providing Running Times Magazine with fitting data for their shoe review issue coming out in April.
How do you continue to get shoes to scan, do you still rely on that shoe store relationship? No, it’s a combination of retailers like Running Warehouse sending us shoes and manufacturers sending us shoes directly.
How many shoes have you scanned? Hundreds of shoes including over 600 different running shoe models
Do you account for shoe stretch? Yes, we do take the material stretch into consideration. We measure the stretch when the shoe is under weight which is a baseline new shoe. The way we view older shoes is each person breaks a shoe down in a particular way and other shoes will break down the same way. At some point the shoe you currently wear was new and if you like that shoe after it has worn down then you will like a shoe that fits similarly when new.
Are you branching out beyond running shoes? That’s the goal. Our next step is to move into general athletic shoes and then into dress shoes and women’s high heels are the ultimate goal.
I think you said your business model is Cost Per Action (CPA) based is that still the case? We started out that way but are changing things a bit. At first it seemed like clients wanted a CPA model but we have learned that some larger retailers want to accurately forecast their costs ahead of time so we are also offering a subscription model which allows them to control their cost a bit more.
The Shoefitr app currently only gives one recommendation will we see more in the future? Yes, the way the current application works is you find a shoe you want to buy and Shoefitr gives a fit recommendation. Version 2 will take your current shoe and give a handful of recommendations of shoes that fit similarly.
Are there any lessons you have learned that you didn’t expect? When you create a completely new product for a market place, trying to define your customer can be difficult. Is it the end user or a business. We also have to do a lot of educating the retailers and while Shoefitr is easy to understand we can’t reference another company or technology. We can’t say we are a better SAP or a better airline because no one else does what we do.
We have also learned that the B2B space is difficult because all the companies we work with have priorities and if our product isn’t on their competitors site it’s tough to move up on the priority list. It’s tough to be patient as a startup.
As many of you know I know longer do follow-ups for TWiST but this was one that Jason promised under my watch and I’m glad I was able to get it done. I’d like to thank Jason and Mark for letting me run this guest post.
more episodes
Notice: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/thiswee/public_html/wp-content/themes/supersimple/comments.php on line 6
Notice: Only variables should be passed by reference in /home/thiswee/public_html/wp-content/themes/supersimple/functions.php on line 92
Notice: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/thiswee/public_html/wp-content/themes/supersimple/functions.php on line 92
8 Comments
Nick End has red hair.
Good interview ginger :)
Great implementation and awesome tech, this is on my Top 3 Startups to watch in 2011 list. Cant wait to see this on every shoe site soon!
I was amazed with the technology use by Shoefitr it is excellent because a shoe will fit by using 3D scanning technology. And with the statements of the costumers, it shows that they are satisfied with this on line shoe fitting. Great work and more power.
great idea i’m sure most people struggle to get the right fit.
steroids blog
20
herve legers
herve legers 2011
herve leger
herve leger 2011
herve leger uk
herve leger for uk
herve leger sale
herve leger
herve leger bandage dress
herve leger bandage tank dress
herve leger banded
herve leger bandage dress sale
herve leger v neck bandage dress
herve leger strapless bandage dress
herve leger diane
herve leger dress
herve leger dress 2011
herve leger dress sale
pink herve leger dress
white herve leger dress
black herve leger dress
red herve leger dress
blue herve leger dress
grey herve leger dress
green herve leger dress
herve leger for sale
herve leger for cheap
herve leger white
herve leger skirt
herve leger swimwear 2011
nike air max 95
nike women
nike high tops
nike running
nike air max
nike dunk
nike ken griffey
nike ken griffey shoes
griffeys
nike griffeys
nike griffeys 2011
nike griffey retro
air max 2009
air max 2010
air max 95 shoes
air max 24 7
air max 24 7 cheap
air max tn
air max shoes for sale
nike air max shoes sale
nike running shoes
nike air max tn
nike ken griffey shoes sale
air jordan shoes
jordan shoes
jordan fusion
air jordan retro
jordan 11
jordan 2010
jordans shoes
new jordans
jordans 2011
jordan heels
jordan high heels
air jordan high heels
jordan heels for women
kids jordans shoes
jordans basketball shoes
air jordans basketball shoes
jordans for sale
air jordans women
air jordans men
cheap jordans
cheap jordans for sale
air jordan shoes 2009
air jordan shoes 2010
air jordan shoes 11
air jordan shoes 13
new jordan shoes Styler
Michael Jordan Shoes sale
Air Jordan High Heels New
tory burch flats
tory burch reva
tory burch reva flats
tory burch sale
tory burch outlet
tory burch handbags
tory burch handbags on sale
tory burch wallet
tory burch wallets
tory burch boots
tory burch shoes
tory burch shoes sale
tory burch for sale
tory burch flats sale
tory burch bags
tory burch bags on sale
tory burch on sale
tory burch boots
tory burch boots on sale
tory burch riding boots
tory burch boots for sale
Tory Burch Wallets for cheap
tory burch reva flats on sale
supras
supra shoes
supra 2011
supra footwear
supra skytop
supra skytop 2
supra skytop 3
supra skytop 2 gold
supra skytop 2 white
supra skytop white
supra sheos for sale
supra vaider
supras vaider
supra society shoes
supra society
supras vaider low
supra vaider low
supra vaider yellow
supra footwear stores
supras shoes
supras shoes for sale
supra shoes 2011
supra skytop shoes
supra shoes for women
supra shoes for men
timberland canada
timberland shoes
timberland earthkeepers
timberland boots canada
timberland boots
timberland shoe
timberland boot
mens timberland
timberland store
timberland footwear
timberlands shoes
timberland women
timberland for women
timberland
timberlands
timberland men’s shoes
timberland mens
women timberland boots
timberland boots for women
timberland 6
timberland 6 inch
timberland 6 inch boots for men
cheap timberland boots
cheap timberland shoes
timberland
timberland boots
timberlands
timberland boots for women
timberland boot
timberland mens boots
timberland womens boots
timberland pro
timberland shoes
timberland store
women timberland boots
cheap timberlands
timberland boots for men
timberland boots women
womens timberland boots
timberland boots womens
timberland boots men
timberlands for women
timberlands for cheap
mens timberland boots
timberlands boots
timberland outlets
timberland women boots
timberland cheap
womens timberland
timberland outlet
mens timberland
timberland womens
timberland boat
timberland chukka
6 timberland boots
cheap timberland boots for men
cheap timberland shoes for women
timberland roll top boots
ナイキ スニーカー ポイント貰える人気スポーツ用品 楽天で人気スポーツ用品を価格比較
ナイキ スニーカー
ナイキ ズーム ハイパーヒューズ 2011
NIKE ZOOM HYPERFUSE 2011
価格comで簡単検索!人気のアイテムをお得に購入
NIKE ZOOM HYPERFUSE 2011
NIKE HUARACHE 2010
SUPREME “Rashard Lewis” PE ナイキ ハラチ 2010 “ラシャード ルイス”PE価格comで簡単検索!人気のアイテムをお得に購入
NIKE HUARACHE 2010
NIKE HYPERIZE
ナイキ ハイパーライズ ポイント貰える人気スポーツ用品 楽天で人気スポーツ用品を価格比較
ナイキ ハイパーライズ
NIKE ZOOM HYPERFUSE
2011 ナイキズーム ハイパーヒューズ 2011 ポイント貰える人気スポーツ用品 楽天で人気スポーツ用品を価格比較
NIKE ZOOM HYPERFUSE
2011
NIKE ZOOM HUARACHE
TRAINER MID “Super Heroes Pack” Flash2011新!ナイキ ズーム ハラチ トレーナー ミッド ポイント貰える人気スポーツ用品 楽天で人気スポーツ用品を価格比較
NIKE ZOOM HUARACHE
NIKE AIR MAX WAVY【ナイキ スニーカー】【マックス ウェイビー一番流行】
NIKE ZOOM HUARACHE
NIKE AIR GRIFFEY
MAX 1 (MAN) ナイキ エア グリフィーマックス 1 ポイント貰える人気スポーツ用品 楽天で人気スポーツ用品を価格比較
NIKE AIR GRIFFEY
MAX 1
NIKE HYPERDUNK 2010
TB ナイキ ハイパーダンク2010 TB ファッショングッズなど人気のファッションアイテムが勢揃い
NIKE HYPERDUNK 2010
NIKE BLUE CHIP
SUPREME 2
NIKE BLUE CHIP
Timberland boots 6インチプレミアムブーツなど激安!直輸入・円高還元特価にてご提供中
Timberland boots
Timberland 6インチプレミアムブーツなど激安!直輸入・円高還元特価にてご提供中
Timberland
ティンバーランド 大人気Timberlandの靴が勢揃い!
ティンバーランド
Men
Timberland boots
http://www.timberland21cn.com/Products/category-c26_p1.html
Women
Timberland
http://www.timberland21cn.com/Products/category-c27_p1.html
Timberland
Down Jacket
http://www.timberland21cn.com/Products/category-c28_p1.html
Timberland
hat
http://www.timberland21cn.com/Products/category-c29_p1.html“>Timberland
hat
http://www.timberland21cn.com
Timberland 6インチプレミアムブーツなど激安!直輸入・円高還元特価にてご提供中
http://www.timberland21cn.com
ティンバーランド 大人気Timberlandの靴が勢揃い!
http://www.timberland21cn.com
Timberland
Roll-Top
http://www.timberland21cn.com/Products/category-s173_p1.html