What make as social shoe well "social"

[tasche]

I'm trying hard to devide my line of shoes in to categories and one of the categories is social but what defines a social shoe anyways/ How would I decide what goes in the social vs the regular latin/salsa or ballroom/smooth section.

Do it define it by the level of practicality?

 

[Chris Stratton]

Why is social one of your category choices if you can't define its characteristics?

I would think all-around might be a better choice, though there only seem to be examples of such shoes for men - women are stuck with a compromise for one set of needs (ballroom vs latin) or the other.

 

[tasche]

I can partially define it but not completely. I have this situation where some styles are neither latin nor ballroom. All around in merchandising terms isn't a great term nor is "combo" so social is the best I can think of right now. A better term would be appreciated.

I should add that social is not a category "yet" If I can find a good way of defining what is and is not "social" then I wont use it. Its just there are a few misfit styles

 

[Chris Stratton]

I can partially define it but not completely. I have this situation where some styles are neither latin nor ballroom. All around in merchandising terms isn't a great term nor is "combo" so social is the best I can think of right now. A better term would be appreciated.

General Purpose? Universal?

Out of curiousity, is there any reason you have to carry the whole line? If a shoe is something of a misfit, perhaps it would be better to leave it out?

 

[ratherbdancing]

I have seen some places list womens shoes as social before. Typically they just have shorter heels, thicker heels, or are unusual fabrics or colors. Basically they cant be used in competition. This section also typically includes practice shoes and dance sneakers.

 

[tasche]

The misfit shoes are the cutest =D and the most unique I guess you would say like peep toe spectator pumps with a smooth style instep strap. For me probably most shoes that dont also comein pratical flesh or black should be in the social section. Perhaps I should call thme "bling-bling" shoes



I mean what kind of shoe would you call this anyways?

 

[pygmalion]

Cute? :roll: Actually, those look like retro swing shoes to me.

I've seen a couple sites where there are "social" shoes, swing shoes, Argentine tango shoes, salsa shoes. Meaning, a lot of sites divide out the social dance shoes like you're planning to do, tasche, under different names. Could you give a couple more samples, so we can figure out what to call them?


(An aside. Eeek! With all the hurricane uproar at my house, I forgot to PM you for that catalog. PM on the way. 8) )

 

[tasche]

Well I am going to have to have a special section called xmas tree for this one



At first I was going to offer only the shoes that I thought ppl would like but it turns out that ppl love shoes I turn my nose up at so I'm giving them the choice

I hesitate to call something swing or tango if it doesn't have some practical attribute that lends itself more to that dance. I.e leather soles for swing or stiffer shank/higher heel for argentine tango. Though I think for the mens shoes I am going to have to have a category for swing as some of the styles are so retro that they could hardly be called anything else but I may just put them in with the latin styles as there are fewer mens styles than ladies

 

[pygmalion]

special occasion shoes?

(just brainstorming here. Feel free to chime in with other ideas. 8) )

 

[tasche]

LOL dh says if theres more than one color on the shoe call it social

 

[pygmalion]

I think social works just fine. Competitive dancers will know what it means, and newbie dancers won't care. They'll just buy whatevers cute. (Hmm. Kinda like me. LOL. )

 

[pygmalion]

And oh, by the way, I think the Christmas shoes will sell just fine. People wear weird things at Christmas. Everybody (who celebrates Christmas) has some strange red and green sweater, or necktie, or hat in the closet. Why not dance shoes? I bet you'll get more response than you think on that item, tasche. 8) :lol:

 

[tasche]

You've never seen the xmas shoes in real life in full sunshine LOL

Ok so there not that bad but your footwork better be fantastic when wearing them LOL

 

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: :lol: I have some pretty loud sweaters, sweatshrts, T-shirts, a couple dresses, some earrings ... What harm can one pair of Christmas shoes do? I could keep them for a long time, so why not?

 

[pygmalion]

Oh yeah, and to answer the original question. What makes a shoe a social shoe to me is the ability to walk in it outside without destroying the shoe. Either that, or a low enough cost that I don't care when I'm ruining the suede bottoms.