Independent kids’ shoe retailer, My First Steps, go live online this week (31st March) with Sizewise, a new piece of technology that will revolutionise shopping for kids shoes online.
Based in Ennis, MyFirstSteps.ie will be the first Irish retailer to offer Sizewise on their eCommerce site, joining the ranks of bluechip UK brands such as StartRite.
Founded in 2023, by Quin woman, Alison McGrath, My First Steps are children’s shoe specialists with two ‘super store’ branches (Ennis & Galway) and a digital flagship store (www.myfirststeps.ie).
Alison was inspired to create My First Steps after the birth of her two children, and having spotted a gap in the market for shoe brands she would want to buy for her own children, that not only look great, but are good for their feet and always the perfect fit.
Alison said: “Studies have shown that up to 83% of children are wearing shoes that do not fit their feet. By ensuring a well fitting shoe for your child, you are protecting them from the risk of a lifetime of foot problems – from blisters, pressure sores and ingrowing toe nails in the short-term, to feet deformities like hammer toe and knee and posture problems in the long-term.”
“We pride ourselves on our expert fitting service in store, and we are delighted to be able to extend this level of accuracy to our eCommerce store with the help of SizeWise.”
SizeWise (https://www.sizewise.ai) is an award-winning precision scanning technology that brings convenience, accuracy, and trust to online shoe shopping. Consumers can scan for size with ease from their mobile device. By providing highly precise size recommendations, SizeWise helps families find the perfect fit, reducing the hassle of returns and ensuring comfort and healthy foot development. With SizeWise, shopping for the right size is easier, smarter, and more reliable than ever.
Announcing the news of this partnership, CEO of SizeWise, Alan Power, said: “We’re delighted to partner with My First Steps, a leading footwear retailer in Ireland. It is a natural fit for us. They truly care about helping parents find the right shoes for their little ones, and that’s exactly what we do at SizeWise. Together, we’re making it easier for families to get the perfect fit the first time—saving time, reducing waste, and ensuring kids are comfortable and supported as they grow.”
Key Facts about Buying Kids Shoes
- A child’s foot should be measured every time they get new shoes
- Research by Glasgow Caledonian University shows that:
- 83% of children starting school are wearing shoes that are too small
- Only 6% of parents check their child’s feet when they buy them a new pair of shoes
- 1 in 10 parents say their children have continued to wear shoes that are too small for them
- Half admit to only buying new shoes when their children complain their feet are hurting.
- Only 40% of parents interviewed as part of the research took into account whether the shoes on their offspring’s feet were well fitting and supportive.
About SizeWise:
- SizeWise is an award winning technology company that uses AI, ML and computer vision technologies to transform online footwear sizing.
- Awarded eCommerce Software Tool or App of the Year Award at the 2024 eComm Live Awards.
