Can footwear deals lure wary consumers this season? Retailers seem to be pulling out all the stops on good deals over the next few days.
That will be music to consumers’ ears, as they have been on the hunt for value since word surfaced from U.S. President Donald Trump that reciprocal tariffs would be implemented in April. The hunt for value has intensified as evidenced in the back-to-school shopping season, and that search doesn’t seem to have abated at all.
The latest Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index disclosed on Tuesday fell by 6.8 percent in November to 88.7 from 95.5 in October. The Present Situation Index fell by 4.3 points to 126.9, while the Expectations Index, an outlook six-months out, was down 8.6 points to 63.2. The latter has been below 80 for ten consecutive months, a threshold that signals a possible recession ahead.
The Conference Board’s chief economist Dana M. Peterson said that confidence levels are now at its “second lowest level since April,” and that consumers are now “notably more pessimistic about business conditions six months from now.”
A survey from Circana on Wednesday found that consumers plan to be more selective this holiday shopping season, with 81 percent expecting higher prices due to tariffs and stronger regulations on imported goods. Another 63 percent said that the cost of food will impact their shopping behavior this year as well.
“Purchase prioritization will be front and center for consumers this holiday shopping season,” said Marshal Cohen, chief retail advisor for Circana. “Holiday shoppers will be making more thoughtful and deliberate choices based on their budget and the value they get from the purchase, leaving less room for the impulse spending that is critical to holiday season growth.”
The Circana report found that apparel and accessories, which includes shoes, lead the list of top gift items at 56 percent.
The National Retail Federation, a retail trade group, is projecting 2025 holiday retail sales to grow between 3.7 percent and 4.2 percent over last year’s levels, with spending surpassing $1 trillion for the first time. Others, like PwC, said holiday spending this year will be lower than in prior years and could see the first notable drop since 2020.
Meanwhile, here’s a look at select retailers and some Black Friday specials to entice customers to begin their shoe shopping quests early.
At Academy Sports + Outdoors, the retailer offering athletic shoes for the family starting at $29.99, as well as up to 25 percent off for Nike apparel and footwear.
“Our private brands, including Magellan Outdoors, Brazos and Freely, are the best expression of value,” said the retailer’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer Matt McCabe. “Together with leading national brands like Nike, Adidas, Crocs and more, this holiday season we’re delivering great footwear products at undefeatable prices for the entire family.”
McCabe said, “We’re offering great Black Friday Week deals and Doorbusters, in addition to continuing to deliver everyday value” on items from comfortable slippers to boots for hikes, as well as sneakers.
Highlights from Academy’s gift guide include Nike Pacific shoes, as well as Nike’s Air Max 270 sneakers. And being an outdoor retailer, Academy has on sale at 30 percent off a Magellan Outdoors men’s Rubber Camp Boots in five style patterns. There’s also a Muck Boot Adults’ Filed Blazer Insulated Waterproof Hunting Boots that’s listed as a “Hot Deal,” with a price of $140, but listed as $79.99 once the item is placed into a shopping cart.
Academy stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day, and will re-open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. Shoppers can buy online, pick up in-store, or use DoorDash for same-day delivery.
REI kicked off its holiday sale running from Nov. 14-24. It offered coupons for 20 percent off one full-price item and extra 20 percent off one online REI Outlet item. A check of its website on Monday showed a 25 percent discount on a Brooks men’s Ghost 16 weatherized Road-running shoes to $111.73 as one example.
REI’s website also offers a runners gift guide, which includes a few different sneakers.
While REI stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and on Black Friday, the retailer will be offering a range of deals starting on Nov. 29 as specials for Cyber Week. The retailer going as far back as 2015 began closing its doors as part of hashtag #optoutside to encourage its employees to spend time with family during the Thanksgiving Day weekend and encourage shoppers to spend time outdoors. A decision was made to close all stores, distribution centers, activity centers, call centers and headquarters on Black Friday permanently in 2022.
Foot Locker, which plans to rightsize inventory under new owner Dick’s Sporting Goods, is offering deals across Nike, Jordon Brand, New Balance, Adidas and other brands. Early Black Friday discounts are up to 50 percent until Thanksgiving Day, then up to 60 percent off on select items online only for Black Friday and Super Saturday. There are also specials planned for Cyber Monday, as well as Cyber Week through Dec. 7. Similar discounts are also offered at Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports. The discounts at Champs are slightly higher, with up to 60 percent off through Thanksgiving Day and then up to 70 percent off online only for Black Friday and Super Saturday.
Nike is also offering up to 50 percent off on select Black Friday specials. There’s also an extra 25 percent off for certain items, such as a Nike Air Force 1 ’07 men’s shoe marked down from $115 to $72.97, with an extra 25 percent discount with the code BFRIDAY when ordered online. A glance at the brand’s website on Wednesday also show two women’s best sellers — the Nike Free Metcon 6 workout shoe at $125 and the Nike Zoom Vomero 5 at $170 — that are also available at 25 percent off using the same BFRIDAY code.
Adidas is marking down select items as much as 60 percent — available now — as part of its Black Friday specials for men’s, women’s and kids. The Black Friday specials end on Saturday. For example, a Gazelle shoe for women listed at $100 is available for $60 at 40 percent off, while a Samba OG, also for women, listed at $100 has a 20 percent discount to $80. In men’s, a Campus 00s Beta Shoe at $110 has been discounted by 60 percent to $44, while for kids, a Samba OG Comfort Closure Elastic Lace Shoe at $55 has been discounted 25 percent to $39.
Steve Madden started Black Friday specials early, offering 30 percent off sitewide and in its stores. And Crocs also began touting Black Friday specials at up to 60 perecent, plus special Doorbuster deals. It also is offering its Classic Retro Crocs shoe at $30. And recovery footwear brand Vktry has deals of up to 33 percent off all items sitewide through next Tuesday. Included in the sale is its Vktry recovery clog, featuring embedded carbon fiber for easier, more responsive steps post-game, and its Vktry carbon fiber performance insoles, featuring full-length, heel-to-toe carbon fiber baseplate that maximizes energy return and provides shock absorption.
At Zappos, some shoe styles, including sneakers, are up to 40 percent off. They include a women’s Comfortiva boot at 40 percent off to $74.97 to a Skechers faux-fur slipper featuring a indoor/outdoor outsole at 24 percent off to $45.89. A women’s Hoka Bondi 9 is listed at $122.50 from $176, or 30 percent off, while a women’s New Balance 327 is listed at $79.95 from $104.99, at 24 percent off.
Zappos has a Nike men’s Air Monarch IV is on sale at 29 percent off, or $59.99 from $85. In shoes, a unisex Crocs Classic Fleece Lined Clogs is 25 percent off, or $44.99 from $59.99, while a unisex Crocs Classic Glitter Clogs is 60 percent off, now at $21.99 from $54.99. And for kids, the Native Shoes Jefferson Bio-Bling for toddlers is 70 percent at $15 from $50, while Bear Paw has a wool-lined boot for kids at 45 percent off, or $35.74 from $64.99.
Bearpaw on its company site has a selection of women’s and kids’ wool-lined boots that are between 11 percent and 15 percent, although a women’s wool-line slipper is discounted at 23 percent off the original price of $64.99. Its women’s sandals have discounts that range from 25 percent to 50 percent.
