Hello everyone, my name is Foya Joap, a 26-year-old British boy. In 2019, my partner and I started our own shoe brand. We sell sneakers online. There are only 12 people in our company at present, but our annual turnover has reached 2 million pounds.
Many friends around me also want to start their own shoe brands, but they don’t know how to find a good shoe manufacturer in UK to help them produce shoes. Ok, today I will share how to find a good shoe manufacturer in UK.
There are several ways to find a shoe manufacturer in UK:
1. Search for local manufacturers:
●You can use Google to search for “footwear manufacturer in UK” and make a list of companies that come up. You can also try searching for specific types of shoes, such as “sneaker manufacturers UK” or “boots manufacturers UK.”
●Visit the websites of the companies on your list and look for information about their products and services. Pay attention to whether they manufacture the type of shoes you are looking for and whether they have experience working with brands or designers.
You also need to know what brands they work with.
●Check the company’s production capacity and capabilities. Make sure they can produce the quantity of shoes you need and the necessary equipment and expertise to manufacture the type of shoes you want. It is better if you can visit his factory in person.
●Consider the location of the manufacturer. Finding a manufacturer in the UK can be helpful, as it can make it easier to visit their facility and communicate with them in person.
●Contact the companies on your list and ask for more information, such as quotes, lead times, and minimum order quantities. You may also want to ask for references or case studies to get a sense of their experience working with other brands or designers.
●Evaluate the quotes and other information you receive and choose a manufacturer that meets your needs and budget. Be sure to carefully review any contracts or agreements before signing.
2. Research online directories and marketplaces
Some many online directories and marketplaces list shoe manufacturers in the UK, such as the Fashion United directory and the Thomasnet marketplace. These can be a good place to start your search.
3. Ask for recommendations:
If you know people in the fashion industry, you can ask for recommendations for shoe manufacturer in UK. They may be able to provide you with the names of manufacturers they have worked with in the past.
4. Attend trade shows:
Trade shows are a great way to meet and connect with shoe manufacturers. Some popular trade shows in the UK that focus on footwear include Moda Footwear, Footwear Friends, and The London Footwear Show.
5. Contact the British Footwear Association
The British Footwear Association is a trade association that represents the interests of the UK footwear industry. They may be able to provide you with a list of member manufacturers or connect you with a manufacturer that meets your specific needs.
The British shoe industry has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. In the past, the industry was centered in the Northamptonshire region of England, known for its leather production. The industry has undergone many changes over the years, with the rise of mass production and globalization leading to a decline in the number of small, independent shoe manufacturers.
Today, the British shoe industry is still an important part of the economy. Still, it faces challenges such as competition from low-cost producers in other countries.
So now, many British shoe companies use overseas factories to help them produce products, not the shoe manufacturer in UK.
In the beginning, a local British shoe manufacturer made shoes for me. After that, I tried shoe factories in Italy and Vietnam. But now I work with a Chinese shoe factory.
Why did I choose a Chines shoe supplier?
There are several advantages that Chinese shoe manufacturers have, including:
●Cost: China has lower labor and production costs, which allows Chinese shoe manufacturers to offer lower prices for their products.Their costs are much lower than those of shoe factories in the UK and Italy.
●Scale: China is the world’s largest producer of shoes, with a significant portion of global shoe production occurring in the country. This scale allows Chinese manufacturers to produce shoes efficiently and in large quantities.
●Technology: Many Chinese shoe manufacturers have invested in advanced technology and equipment, which allows them to produce high-quality shoes quickly and efficiently.
Many of Adidas and Nike’s products are also made in China. They choose Chinese shoe suppliers not only for cost reasons but also to consider quality.
●Supply chain: China has a well-developed supply chain, with many raw materials and components suppliers. This allows Chinese shoe manufacturers to access various materials and components at competitive prices.
●Export focus: Many Chinese shoe manufacturers are focused on exporting their products to other countries, which allows them to tap into global demand for their products.
If you ask how to find a Chinese shoe manufacturer, I can give you two simple methods:
●You can use the hashtag #shoefactoryinchina or #shoemuafacturerinchina (no spaces between words) to search on Linkedin and see many Chinese shoe suppliers.
●Shoe suppliers are also available on Instagram. You can use the hashtags #shoefactoryinchina or #shoemuafacturerinchina (no spaces between words )to search on Instagram.
I hope these tips of Foya Joap are helpful to you.

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