Do you wear wide shoes?

**i.m.cheap** · 11-13-2007, 08:36 PM

I have been thinking about a small business. I used to manage a retail shoe store. I would like to open a "niche" store, selling only women's wide and extra-wide shoes. Many of the chain stores and department stores ignore this segment of the market. I should know, I wear a 10W and have to order most of my shoes on-line. I think Wichita, population 300,000 could support such a store.

How many Frugal Villagers wear wide shoes?

**baronmom** · 11-13-2007, 08:55 PM

I do. I hate shopping for shoes. I have a heck of a time finding them where they fit properly. Most of the time I end up getting shoes that are a size too big. I wish more stores would carry wide shoes.

**anna021** · 11-13-2007, 09:58 PM

I'm a 10 W too, and yes I do purchase most of my shoes online, most shoe stores that carry wide shoes consider themselves specialty stores, so you know what that does to the prices, straight through the roof. OY!

**JerryG** · 11-13-2007, 10:32 PM

like a 7 EE. The back of the shoe slips off 1/2 the time. I actually get better shoes in the men's department. Ugly, but functional.

**jamie79** · 11-13-2007, 10:37 PM

I have wide feet and two different size feet also. I hate shoe shopping. I wear mostly sneakers or barefoot I would love to find a store the caters to wide shoes that are reasonably priced

**Kitten20** · 11-13-2007, 11:34 PM

I wear 10W also. I usually end up buying the next size bigger or paying an arm and a leg for shoes, which is why I only keep 1 good pair around. Oh, and my slippers.

**Libby** · 11-14-2007, 12:45 AM

10W here too and tired of the nice looking shoes looking nice until they're on my feet

then they just look ugly! Im afraid to buy shoes online cuz they wont fit properly. If its a dressier slip on summer heeled shoe - maybe a 9.5W will get me through.

**TheRootedNomad** · 11-14-2007, 07:02 AM

9W here for the most part. Sometimes a 9 1/2 but mostly a 9. I would also love to find a reasonably priced shoestore that caters to wide widths. Dress shoes are generally the biggest problem for me especially when the pointy toe heels are in.....forgetaboutit. I'm short and if I'm going to wear heels I want them to be H.E.E.L.S and it's really hard to find a pair that fits right.

As a side note you may also want to consider boots that have wider calf room. I have guy/athlete type calfs as do most of the women on mom's side of the family and boots that actually fit on our calves (even when we're in good shape) just don't happen around very often. I've laid out some bucks on boots that actually fit that I wouldn't have laid out for any other piece of clothing.

Good Luck!!!! It sounds like an awesome idea!!!

**Holly** · 11-14-2007, 07:04 AM

81/2 wide here. I get mine at Kmart
only place I find that size

**cherrie79** · 11-14-2007, 07:38 AM

Wide here too...
You also know how hard it is to find a boot, with a calf size bigger then the average 13-14 inch! Of course online you can find everything, but I so like buying shoes in a store setting, so I can try them on. Good Idea!

**ktsmama** · 11-14-2007, 08:30 AM

I wear a 10w. I hate shoe shopping!! Dress shoes are especially hard to find.

Good Luck!

**kittykatstrong** · 11-14-2007, 09:15 AM

I wear a 9W.

Katy

**mom2bobsarah** · 11-14-2007, 09:47 AM

9W here and I like others end up buying a 9-1/2 reg in hopes that they fit right (most of the time they do not) I love my birkenstocks and this is what I live in, but I have a heck of a time finding dress shoes. I bought a pair awhile ago for a Christmas party from Payless and I love them but they are not holding up very well since they are the only dress shoes I own. Reminds me that I need to start looking for this years Christmas party.

**i.m.cheap** · 11-14-2007, 02:22 PM

Many people do end up buying a larger size in a medium width, but then the arch length is not quite right. It will be a couple of years at least before I could do anything. I want to get through school first.