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Footwear Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jack Curran Jack Curran New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 42434

Revenue

$34.2bn

2024

$34.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

26,937

Businesses

3,300

Wages

$X.Xbn

Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

The Footwear Wholesaling industry has struggled to maintain a robust growth trajectory because of changing consumer behaviors, economic uncertainties and a shift toward online retailing. Manufacturers and retailers are increasingly finding their roles squeezed as they adapt to new business models within the supply chain, like direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategies. This has resulted in a diminishing traditional wholesale market size and the adoption of reshuffled strategies to stay afloat. Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.1% over the past five years and is expected to total $34.2 billion in 2024 when revenue will drop by an estimated 0.2%.

Trends and Insights

  • E-commerce acceleration reshapes traditional wholesale dynamics. The significant shift towards direct-to-consumer sales and e-commerce in the past five years has reduced reliance on traditional wholesalers, with brands opting to sell directly online, driven by consumer demands for convenience.
  • Wholesalers have enjoyed growth through women's and girls' footwear. Higher selling prices and the boost of fast fashion have benefitted this segment.
  • Wholesalers are located near large ports. This proximity allows easy access to affordably manufactured footwear from overseas, enabling competitive pricing and quicker inventory turnaround.
  • Price is crucial for footwear wholesalers' business success. Wholesalers have limited flexibility in pricing, but competitive per-unit costs can stabilize their sales.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $34.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Acceleration of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer models has been disrupting the industry expansion 

  • Over the last five years, there has been a significant shift towards e-commerce, reducing the traditional reliance on wholesalers. Many brands are now selling directly to consumers online. This change is partly driven by the growing demand for convenience, variety and faster delivery times.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Footwear Wholesaling in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Wholesalers will find opportunities with athletic goods stores

  • Footwear wholesale revenue will remain under pressure as consumers increasingly favor online shopping because of its convenience, exacerbating challenges for traditional retailers in adapting to the evolving market dynamics.

Biggest companies in the Footwear Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Nike, Inc.
7,014.6
802.6
11.4
Adidas Group
3,173.1
68.2
2.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Footwear Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Athletic footwear, Infants' footwear and Women's and girls' footwear (excluding athletic footwear). Athletic footwear is the largest segment of the Footwear Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

Women's and girls' footwear boosting luxury and fashion markets

  • Women's and girls' footwear (excluding athletic footwear) includes casual shoes, formal shoes, sandals, heels and boots designed for fashion and everyday use, catering to a wide range of occasions from casual to formal.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry wholesale footwear, including athletic shoes, made of leather, rubber and other materials. They purchase shoes from manufacturers and resell them to retailers with minimal or no further development or processing. Most wholesalers in this industry undertake sales and administrative activities, like establishing relationships with manufacturers and retailers.

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling athletic footwear Wholesaling infants' footwear Wholesaling women's and girls' footwear (excluding athletic footwear)Wholesaling men's and boys' footwear (excluding athletic footwear)Wholesaling footwear and shoe accessories

Companies

Nike, Inc.Adidas Group

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

OFFSHORINGLEAD TIMEWHOLESALE BYPASSRADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)FAST FASHION

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42434 - Footwear Wholesaling in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

E-commerce acceleration reshapes traditional wholesale dynamics. The significant shift towards direct-to-consumer sales and e-commerce in the past five years has reduced reli...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Wholesalers have enjoyed growth through women's and girls' footwear. Higher selling prices and the boost of fast fashion have benefitted this segment.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Wholesalers are located near large ports. This proximity allows easy access to affordably manufactured footwear from overseas, enabling competitive pricing and quicker invent...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Price is crucial for footwear wholesalers' business success. Wholesalers have limited flexibility in pricing, but competitive per-unit costs can stabilize their sales.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Nike and Adidas lead the industry with over 5% market share. They achieve this by controlling their manufacturing and distribution processes.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Nike, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Adidas Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Nike, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Adidas Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

US regulations profoundly impact the industry. These laws include safety and wage standards and strict controls on intellectual property to combat counterfeiting. They also s...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Competition impacts footwear wholesalers' profit. Stiff domestic and international rivalry leads to aggressive pricing, reducing profitability within the Footwear Wholesaling...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $34.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?

There are 3,300 businesses in the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Footwear Wholesaling in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Footwear Wholesaling market in United States are Nike, Inc. and Adidas Group

What does the Footwear Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

Wholesaling athletic footwear and Wholesaling infants' footwear are part of the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Footwear Wholesaling in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Nike, Inc..

How competitive is the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Footwear Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Shoe & Footwear Manufacturing in the US
  • Men's & Boys' Apparel Wholesaling in the US
  • Women's & Children's Apparel Wholesaling in the US
  • Shoe Stores in the US

International industries

  • Footwear Wholesaling in Canada
  • Footwear Wholesaling in Australia
  • Clothing and Footwear Wholesaling in New Zealand
  • Clothing & Footwear Wholesaling in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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