Sell shoes online, with fit answered before the box ships

1. 01

   Choose a size system and convert it

   Pick the system your lasts are made in, then give US, UK and EU equivalents and the foot length in centimeters for each size. Conversions differ between brands, so foot length is the number that settles it.

2. 02

   Plan the size grid before you buy stock

   Ten sizes in three colors is thirty stock counts per style. Every combination is an option with its own stock, so start with fewer colors and the sizes that sell most.

3. 03

   Write fit notes like a shop assistant

   Say if a style runs large or small, whether it suits wide feet, how much room there is in the toe and whether the leather stretches. One honest line here saves an exchange.

4. 04

   Photograph every side

   Side, front, back, top, sole and a pair on feet. Add close-ups of the stitching, the lining and the tread, because buyers look at construction to judge the price.

5. 05

   Make exchanges simple and clear

   Say how to send back unworn pairs, whether the box must be undamaged and who pays postage. EU and UK customers can usually cancel within 14 days, and Cornerrr can draft a refund policy page that you adjust.

6. 06

   Ship the shoe box inside another box

   Customers keep shoe boxes, so ship them inside an outer carton and set a fixed rate that covers the size. Add the tracking number and the customer gets the shipping email.

• Material labels on shoes in Europe

  In the EU and UK, shoes must be labeled with the material of the upper, the lining and sock, and the outer sole, using words or pictograms. Give the same materials in each listing.

• Returns are part of the cost

  Shoes are among the most returned items bought online. Budget for return postage and for pairs that come back too worn to resell, and set your prices with that in mind.

• Care and resoling

  If your shoes can be resoled, say so and say how; it’s a strong reason to pay more for a well-made pair. A care page for leather and suede cuts down on “my shoes are stained” emails.

General information to help you get started, not legal advice. Rules differ by country, state and product, so check the ones that apply to you.