Payless was founded in 1956, in Topeka, Kan. on a revolutionary idea – selling quality shoes at affordable prices in a self-select environment. More than 50 years later, Payless continues the self-select model combined with leading customer service to provide a fun and engaging shopping experience for its customers.

Who We Are: Payless is the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere, offering a wide range of shoes and accessory items at affordable prices for every member of the family.

Payless ShoeSource vs competitors

Amid the fitness and sneaker crazes of the 1980s, Payless found success with its Pro Wings sneakers. Selling for just $15 to $20, the sneakers featured Velcro straps instead of laces - and with their price and practicality became a popular choice among schoolchildren. Payless ShoeSource Inc.

The discount shoe retailer announced last week it is planning up to 500 standalone stores across North America over the next five years. The company also has dropped “ShoeSource” from its name and will just be known as Payless moving forward.

Payless had uninspiring stores, me-too merchandise, look-alike marketing and did not execute well. Retailers that fail to become more remarkable are destined to experience a similar fate.

Given Payless's main target audience is families, such a seamless experience will bring much-needed convenience into their footwear shopping. “It will not matter if the customer is contacting Payless through the website or through social media or by going to a store or by calling on the phone.

While Payless offers lower priced goods, it still offers quality name brand shoes. Payless is able to over low prices because it only has a few employees in the store at one time (customers serve themselves) and because it stocks only those goods that the target population demands.

China China was the world's leading producer of footwear in 2022, with a total of approximately 13 billion pairs of shoes produced. China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia are leaders in footwear production, which highlights the domination of the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in this industry.

Nike, Inc. It is the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, with revenue in excess of US$46 billion in its fiscal year 2022. Nike, Inc. Headquarters near Beaverton, Oregon, U.S. Blue Ribbon Sports, Inc.

But it also faced profound challenges. Many malls and shopping centers were entering a death spiral, with falling foot traffic, store closings and underinvestment. People were increasingly buying shoes online, along with most everything else. Payless had underinvested in its information technology infrastructure.

Payless did not evolve with the market. The Payless private label shoe selection became less and less competitive, offering repetitive shoe offerings while other budget retailers seasonally offered up-to-date, fashionable shoes, at similar price points.

Payless has officially returned to the North American market after filing for bankruptcy in April 2017 and again in February 2019.

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