Online Shoe Store Business

5 Online Shoe Store Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 8th, 2024

Buying shoes should be as convenient as ordering a latte. Enter the online shoe store business—a straightforward yet promising venture in the world of ecommerce.

In simple terms, you create an online platform to sell a diverse range of footwear. Your work mainly involves curating shoe collections, managing inventory, and ensuring smooth logistics for timely delivery. You don’t need a physical store, which significantly cuts down on overheads.

Why should you consider this? The global shoe market is enormous, with a persistent demand for trendy, comfortable, and functional footwear. Leveraging digital marketing strategies like social media ads and influencer partnerships can elevate your brand visibility.

This business can start small with a manageable inventory and scale as you grow. If you have an eye for what consumers want and are willing to put in the effort, the online shoe store business offers a rewarding path to entrepreneurship.

In this list, you'll find real-world online shoe store business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online shoe store business that makes money.

1. Combat Flip Flops ($6M/year)

Combat Flip Flops is the brainchild of CEO Matt Griffin, an army veteran who witnessed the futility of armed conflict and wanted to make a positive impact. The idea came to him during a trip to Kabul, where he visited a combat boot factory that employed local workers. Inspired by their resilience, Griffin decided to repurpose the factory to produce footwear in order to create sustainable business and job opportunities in Afghanistan.

How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 2

Growing an E-commerce Company With a Positive Mission to $350,000/mo

Combat Flip Flops is an e-commerce business that employs artisans and entrepreneurs in conflict zones and has funded 217 years of school for Afghan girls and cleared 2814 square meters of landmines in Laos through direct-to-consumer sales and social media distribution.

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2. B Street Shoes ($720K/year)

Blake Barash, the founder of B Street Shoes, was inspired by street and sneaker culture in the San Francisco Bay Area. His passion for street art and custom designs led him to start painting shoes for fun and eventually launch his own business. From painting shoes in his bedroom to now running a 1,500 sq ft Studio Warehouse and employing 6 people, Blake's business has grown significantly.

How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 8

How I Started A $50K/Month Business Customizing Sneakers

Meet Blake Barash, a custom shoe painter who grew his business from his bedroom to now making $50k per month and employing six people.

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3. Meraki Design House ($180K/year)

Eman noticed that her intricately handmade shoes often sparked curiosity and questions about their Indian-inspired look. The appreciation for the handmade shoe’s uniqueness and their ability to take on the wearer’s footprint, and her instinct that many others would also value these qualities , led her to start Meraki.

How much money it makes: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0

How I Started A $15K/Month Asian Inspired Handcrafted Footwear Ecommerce

Meraki Design House founder Eman Bachani shares how she started a $15k/month Asian-inspired handcrafted footwear e-commerce company, with a focus on working with South Asian artisans and tapping into new markets during COVID through collaborations and influencer marketing.

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4. The Shoe Consultant Ltd ($48K/year)

Susannah Davda, the founder of The Shoe Consultant, came up with the idea for her business after realizing that aspiring shoe entrepreneurs lacked access to the footwear industry. With 22 years of experience in the industry, Davda started offering consultancy services, speaking engagements, and writing to help people start their own shoe brands. Through networking events and online marketing, she attracted clients and expanded her services, including launching an online course on how to start a shoe brand. Currently experiencing strong growth, Davda plans to further diversify her offerings and expand internationally by partnering with shoe business professionals.

How much money it makes: $48K/year
How much did it cost to start: $700
How many people on the team: 1

How I Started A $3.5K/Month Business Helping People That Want To Start Shoe Brands

Susannah Davda explains how she started a niche consultancy business helping people start shoe brands, earning $3.5k per month through personalized services and a highly successful online course.

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5. Estuary ($12K/year)

Mikey Young, a sneaker enthusiast and finance senior at Georgetown, realized during the pandemic that existing sneaker resale platforms were laden with fees and inaccessibility. Inspired by Phil Knight's "Shoe Dog," he launched Estuary, a fee-free resale platform, amassing $200k in inventory and 7 sellers by their February soft launch.

How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0

How I Turned My Passion For Sneakers Into A Successful Business

Estuary, a unique secondary marketplace for sneakers that eliminates hidden fees and connects buyers with exclusive products through a subscription-based model, has attracted over 7 subscribed sellers, sold over 30 pairs of sneakers and is on track to earn about $12,000 in ARR within a month of its soft launch.

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Read by 2,539 founders