Research from Volumental shows more consumers are buying footwear online. But they’re also bracketing the sizes and buying multiple sizes, and then returning what doesn’t fit. This burdens brands with managing returned products while also being a non-sustainable practice — given the energy consumption and packaging required. Sizing issues can also have a negative impact on conversion rates, and trigger cart abandonment.

In this FN Thought Leaders' Lab, fit technology experts from Volumental are joined by leading footwear brands to identify the challenges around footwear fit and sizing and the impact it has on returns, conversions, cart abandonment and average order volume.

The first half of the session will fully explore and analyze these challenges while the second half of the session will serve as a way to brainstorm solutions around this industry-wide problem with the goal of mitigating returns and building customer loyalty while putting into place more sustainable practices that can help the environment.

Featuring:
• Rick Lania, Sr. Manager, Digital Product Management, New Balance
• Mike VanGoethem, Senior Director/GMM, Global Product Creation, Red Wing
• Alper Aydemir, co-founder and CEO, Volumental
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    Rick Lania
    Sr. Manager, Digital Product Management, New Balance
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    Mike VanGoethem
    Senior Director/GMM, Global Product Creation, Red Wing
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    Alper Aydemir
    Co-founder and CEO, Volumental
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    Arthur Zaczkiewicz
    Executive Editor, Strategic Content Development, WWD & Fairchild Media Group
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz is the Executive Editor of Strategic Content Development at WWD. Zaczkiewicz was formerly Deputy Editor of Data and Analysis at WWD and has published a variety of content that includes data-driven reports, market analysis, breaking news, and industry insights.

    Prior to this role, Zaczkiewicz served as a Business Administrator with the County of Ulster, New York where he counseled business owners, produced events, and worked with public officials and businesses on a variety of projects. Previously, he served as a Community Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County. Zaczkiewicz is also a co-founder of the Kingston Land Trust.

    Prior to his work in Ulster County, Zaczkiewicz served as Director of Content at Argyle Executive Forum where he produced content for C-level executives across a variety of industries. He also previously served as Senior Editor of WWD and Financial Editor of Fairchild Publications where he led a team of editors and reporters covering the retail and fashion apparel industries.

    Zaczkiewicz is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a degree in journalism and also earned a Master’s in Social Work at Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work.