Exploring the Footwear Industry with Mr. Gumsole
This week was an exciting one for our capstone project team as we had the opportunity to interview Mr. Gumsole, a well-known shoe store in Cagayan de Oro City. Our goal was to gain insights into the footwear retail industry, understand their business operations, and explore how our website can enhance their customer experience.
Our Visit to Mr. Gumsole On our scheduled visit, we were warmly welcomed by the store’s staff since the owner was busy. The store itself had a diverse collection of running shoes, sports footwear, and casual sneakers neatly displayed on wire racks. It was fascinating to see how the store operates on a daily basis, catering to different types of customers, from athletes to casual buyers.
During the interview, we discussed several key topics: Customer Preferences: The owner emphasized that many customers look for high-quality but affordable shoes. Brands such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and Asics are among the top choices. Sales and Marketing Strategies: Mr. Gumsole relies heavily on word-of-mouth marketing and social media promotion. Facebook is their primary platform for engaging with customers and showcasing new arrivals. Challenges in the Business: One of the biggest challenges they face is competition with larger retail stores and online sellers. Maintaining customer loyalty is key to their success.
With the insights we gained, we are now refining our website’s design to align with Mr. Gumsole’s needs. We will be incorporating an online ordering system and enhancing the visual appeal of the product catalog. Additionally, we plan to revisit the store for further feedback as we progress.
Stay tuned for more updates next week!