3D Foot-scanning Tech Is Changing The Game for Kids’ Shoe Shopping 

Getting children into the right-sized footwear while making the process fun and easy is a proven challenge. Kids’ feet grow at a rapid rate, requiring more than one new shoe size per year — making it essential for parents to get their children’s feet measured frequently and accurately. Many parents shop online for convenience, which adds to the challenge of correct measuring.

Manual measuring tools and the Brannock device used today require kids to measure their feet one at a time — and even then, only one dimension of measurements is recorded.

According to footwear industry statistics, only one in three children own a pair of kids’ footwear in the correct size. And wearing the incorrect shoe size can lead to long-term foot issues. To keep kids healthy with their growing feet, the foot-measuring process was long looking for an easier and fun way for the child to get complete and accurate measurements.

Tootsie 3D Foot-scanning Software for Kids

Aetrex, a global leader in 3D foot-scanning technology, recently launched Tootsie — the kids-specific 3D foot-scanning software to make footwear sizing for children accurate, easy and fun.

The software features Tootsie, a cute and friendly monster character that helps guide kids, parents and store associates through a 3D foot-scanning process that’s educational and entertaining. Tootsie talks to the customer on the scanner, helping kids to stand still and captures complete 3D foot measurements of both feet in seconds.

“Our goal was to design a kids-specific scanning software to keep the child excited and entertained during the scan process and to quickly measure both feet at the same time,” said Larry Schwartz, chief executive officer of Aetrex. “Shoe shopping for kids should be fun and not like going to the dentist like it was before Tootsie.”

The software collects 16 key foot measurements (including length, width, girth, instep height and arch height) to offer complete, accurate shoe sizing. Tootsie allows retailers to determine the best-fitting shoe size for children in-store and for parents to use later when shopping online.

The software also sends out email reminders to parents and children to come back into the store to get their feet scanned regularly — this helps ensure parents keep up to date with their child’s growing feet and continue to wear proper-sized shoes.

Tootsie at Tradehome and DSW

The Tootsie software program, available within Aetrex’s premier foot scanner, the Albert 2 Pro, is quickly gaining momentum within major retailers across the country — including Tradehome and select DSW stores.

Justin Kehrwald, president and chief executive officer of Tradehome, told Fairchild Studio that, “Often overlooked, kids’ unique foot development needs require special attention” and the incorporation of Aetrex’s kids-specific foot-scanning tech is both an “engaging and informative” experience for their customers, helping to “strengthen Tradehome’s reputation as a trusted provider of kids’ footwear.”

Kehrwald went on to explain, “We’ve found that kids are eager to learn more about their feet, which often translates to them becoming more interested in and excited about the shoes they put on their feet.  The friendly character and intuitive interface captures precise foot measurements and help kids understand the importance of proper-fitting footwear.”

Similarly, DSW boasts the Tootsie program as part of its elevated in-store experience and aligns perfectly with their strategy, “to make DSW the go-to destination for the whole family’s footwear needs,” said Melissa Blandford, senior vice president of stores and operations at DSW.

Moreover, the program helps build shopper confidence. “Parents love the confidence that comes with knowing their child’s feet are being measured with pinpoint accuracy, while kids enjoy the quick, interactive and fun scanning experience!” DSW also praises the seamless integration of Tootsie into its current selling program and helps elevate its customer experience. “With the support of our trained DSW store associates, we’re creating a more personalized and trusted shopping experience for families,” said Blandford.

Custom Foot-scanning Experience at Kids Foot Locker

With its mission to create an integrated branded experience in-store, Kids Foot Locker sought to develop custom-designed software characters for their consumers.

“In collaboration with Aetrex, we designed digital Stripers to help guide kids through the foot-measuring process in a fun and interactive way to help achieve a precise fit,” said Michelle Wang, vice president and general manager of Kids Foot Locker.

The custom-designed, 3D human characters, Nathan and Olivia, are a natural extension of the Kids Foot Locker brand. The characters are a nod to their sales associates, donning black-and-white stripes. Wang continues, “The measuring tools within the 3D-scanning technology makes identifying the proper shoe size easy and the shopping experience fun for everyone.”

Kids Foot Locker stores that feature the foot-scanning program also showcase a custom-designed kiosk for the Aetrex software which is branded and skinned with black with white stripes to match the store’s décor and brand feel for a fully integrated brand experience.

What’s Next for Kids Foot-Scanning?

The kids’ software is available as part of Aetrex’s Albert 2 Pro foot scanner, which also can capture pressure data underfoot. The company is currently working to add pressure data to the kids’ software with an option for kids’ orthotic recommendations.