Socks: More than Just an Accessory
How many socks are too many socks? On average, people own 10-20 pairs of socks, including regular, dressy and sporty ones! Therefore, understandably, they have an entire drawer dedicated to them.
Socks may be an underrated accessory and sometimes even an afterthought. However, any look is incomplete without the perfect pair. They reduce friction between the feet and the shoe by providing a layer of cushion. Importantly, they keep your feet clean, dry and protected.
Apart from being an accessory, socks have also become a medium of expression and an extension of one’s personality. Classic and fun socks that stand out in a crowd have been garnering particular interest as they increase the happiness quotient of both the owner and those around them.
The present-day work-from-home culture has resulted in an upsurge in online sales of socks. Remote working has forced people to literally ‘hang in their boots’ and switch to wearing socks for pure comfort. Further, people have become more focused on health during the pandemic, with diabetic and compression socks also gaining increased interest.
Lubeina Shahpurwala (Co-founder of Mustang Socks) remarked that the humble sock had become a fashion statement and athletic necessity.
Why Customized Socks?
For any business, customization helps connect with the customer and understand their preferences. Today, sock subscriptions and personalizations have become the “next big thing”. Companies are shifting from a mass product appeal to a more specialised approach. With the varying needs of customers, the need of the hour is to provide perfectly fitting personalized socks.
The ‘evolved customer’ has also brought about the burning need for ‘hyper customization’. While personalization has become a norm, technological advancements have made it possible for many brands to provide customers exactly what they want, when they want. The book titled ‘Custom Nation’ emphasises that “Millenials” (in the age bracket 13-31 years) are particularly attracted to the concept of customization. The highly digitally savvy generation are used to everything being altered to their likes and dislikes and consequently in every aspect of their lives.
This occurrence, of course, is no different in the basic sock. Satisfying each customer’s unique needs, socks are no more the erstwhile utility-focused protection for the feet. In fact, “Socks are the new shoes,” voiced Randy Goldberg (Founder of sock company Bombas).
Types of Personalized Socks
Adding the element of customization is what will make sock owners into happy customers and thereafter repeat customers! As per a Deloitte research study, one out of every five retail customers consciously pay an additional 20% more for exclusive and personalized products. Further, customization generally tends to enhance the customer’s opinion of a brand and its products. If done well, it helps achieve customer satisfaction, trust and loyalty as well.
With customers ready to pay a premium for personalized socks, let’s look at the occasions and reasons calling for such customization.
- Life Events: Be it birthdays, weddings, promotions or even a new addition to the family, tailor-made products are always welcome. You can choose to make them for yourself or hand them out as goodies as well.
- Sports Leagues: Socks are an integral part of each sport, with each team coming out with their theme and colours to help build camaraderie and fan following. Any avid supporter would look to own a pair created in support of their favoured team or player.
- Corporate Gifting: Custom made gifts from companies is an age-old method to boost morale and develop employee engagement. Simply inserting company logos, taglines and insignias and handing them out at conferences, trade shows, contests, etc., acts as an effective strategy for brand connect. It also helps generate leads by creating brand recall.
- Season is the Reason: Holidays are a great reason to support comfortable and customized socks. Be it Christmas, Halloween or St. Patrick’s day, the quirky, wacky and colourful socks are always a big hit.
- Fandom following: If you are an ardent follower of Marvel comics, the Harry Potter series, the Star Trek movies or anime cartoons, the eagerness to own a sock in that theme would always be high. (Pssst… Any of you Potter fans looking to have a colourful sock collection like Dobby’s?)
Hence, personalized socks not only create a sense of satisfaction but unites people from diverse backgrounds.
The How of Customized Socks?
Here are the simple steps to creating personalized socks :
- Ideation – Create and share your design
- Selection – Choose from the available colours, material and size options
- Intermission – Wait while your socks are being carefully crafted
- Admiration – Sit back and marvel at your creation
While ordering customized socks, customers, through their creativity, end up designing something completely unique. Importantly, the customer feels a higher sense of ownership when they have created something from scratch.
If your sock drawer is missing customized socks, don’t you think it’s time to pull up your socks? With Texsup, let your creativity flow and create your pair of personalized socks today!