Disability, Purpose
schuh Rolls Out Single-Shoe Purchases Across All Stores
At schuh, we’re more than just a footwear retailer, we are a brand committed to making fashion accessible and inclusive for everyone. This year, we’re proud to announce a significant development in our journey towards creating a more inclusive shopping experience. From Friday, 30th August, all schuh stores began offering single-shoe purchases, allowing customers who require only one shoe due to a limb difference or disability to buy just that – one shoe, at 50% off the pair price.
Neil Partington, our Chief Retail Officer, shared his thoughts on this initiative: “Creating an inclusive shopping experience is a key part of our business strategy. I am delighted to be able to roll out single-shoe purchases to all schuh stores. We have been doing it via our Customer Experience team for some time, but now, even more, people will have access to our hottest brands and products through this inclusive product offering.”
Improving Disability Equality
Our single-shoe initiative is more than just a service, it’s a reflection of our commitment to disability equality, a key part of who we are as a brand. At schuh, we’re constantly working to better understand, highlight, and support our disabled customers, employees, and the wider community. This initiative is aligned with our broader purpose pillars of fostering Diverse Talent, Mental Wellness, and Sustainability, which are central to our company values.
We’re proud to say that 10% of our e-commerce product imagery this year features disabled models or models with visible differences. And it doesn’t stop there, we’ve also made sure our social media content is more accessible with image descriptions and subtitles.
To further enhance our commitment to inclusivity, we’ve developed schuh Social Stories for adults and kids, designed specifically with the autistic community in mind. These resources provide a clear overview of what to expect from an in-store shopping experience at schuh.
Together with other initiatives, such as our quiet hours in certain stores, these efforts are part of our broader aim to make our shopping experience as welcoming as possible for everyone.
Investing in Inclusive Futures
Our commitment to inclusivity extends beyond our stores and products – it’s also about fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. Since 2022, we’ve been working with Liverpool City Council to offer employment trials and opportunities to young people with SEND (special educational needs or disabilities). This initiative was further expanded in 2023 with the introduction of supported internships in the North-West region.
To ensure our team is equipped to support all our customers, we provide ongoing disability confidence and neurodiversity training. Our goal is to ensure every schuh team member has the knowledge and practical tools to offer the best possible service, with the understanding and care our customers deserve.
Celebrating Diversity and Self-Expression
At schuh, celebrating self-expression and diversity is part of our culture. We’re committed to continuous education, driving change, and using our platform to amplify diverse voices. We believe that by fuelling progress towards accessibility and inclusion, we’re not just building a better brand, we’re helping to create a better future for everyone.
We’re excited about this new initiative and can’t wait to welcome even more customers into our stores! Whether you are shopping with us in-store or online, you can always count on schuh to bring you the latest styles and an inclusive shopping experience.
For more information about our single shoe purchase initiative or to explore our latest collections, visit us in-store or online at www.schuh.co.uk.