One quarter of shoes we own are never worn

A recent survey conducted by NCBI found that one in five people owns between 30 and 40 pairs of shoes but just over 44% admit to never wearing one quarter of those shoes. A further 34% do not wear half of the shoes in their wardrobe. These unworn shoes can now be donated to one of NCBI’s charity shops around the country in exchange for a 10% discount on Aetrex products and a free foot scan at participating outlets nationwide.

This new venture between NCBI, the national sight loss agency, and Aetrex Worldwide Inc, casual comfort footwear manufactuer, will create much-needed quality stock for NCBI’s 68 charity shops around the country, which sell quality clothes, footwear, toys and other items, raising funds for the charity.

Des Kenny, Chief Executive of NCBI, said that people should see the value in the shoes they no longer wear. ‘Our survey shows that people do not wear 25% of the shoes they own, which could be as many as 10 pairs of shoes. While they may not see any value in these shoes, NCBI certainly does. Our charity shops experienced a drop in donations of clothes and other items last year but an increase in demand for quality second-hand clothes and footwear. We would urge people to de-clutter their shoe collection and donate any shoes that are seldom or never worn to one of NCBI’s shops around the country.’

Shoes can be donated to NCBI’s shops or to stockists of Aetrex shoes in towns around the country. Donors will receive a free foot iStep foot scan, which provides an exact shoe size, as well as a 10% discount on Aetrex shoes, socks and insoles.

Gillian Quinn launched the Shoes for Sight Campaign in one of NCBI’s shops. Photo by Jason Clarke.