A bearded inspiration to us all, Forrest Gump once became the first fictional character to run laps back and forth across the United States. Wearing a single pair of shoes, he just kept running.
Like Forrest Gump, more men than women will go the long haul when it comes to athletic footwear brands, according to an April 2014 NPD online survey. The survey suggests that when men go to tie their shoelaces, they want to be sure their athletic shoes are most ready for the journey. The value of necessity and proven performance trumps that of style and uniqueness.
“Necessity is the predominant motivation behind shoe purchasing for men, and their brand loyalty is strong and steady,” the study said.
The rankings placed Nike first for awareness and ownership above New Balance, Adidas, Reebok, and Sketchers, in that order.
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“When it comes to footwear purchases, men typically turn to the brands they already own and trust, but casual footwear is a place where they are willing to experiment with the brands,” Marshal Cohen, NPD chief industry analyst, said.
Additionally, American men have increased dollars spent on footwear, with the U.S. men’s footwear market growing by 8% the past two years.
While men have traditionally been loyal to athletic shoe brands, the study suggests that they will begin to branch out as they become more interested in styles and trends for casual footwear.
Or, like Forrest, perhaps they will simply try a new brand “for no particular reason.”