Retail Associates

Retail is a demanding line of work, especially when it comes to your feet. Whether the position is cashier, sales associate, receiver, stocker, or even manager, your work will have you spending the majority of your shift on your feet walking and/or standing for long periods of time. This by itself puts a lot of strain on your feet, and many associates will end their shift with at least some degree of soreness and foot fatigue.

Consider also that the flooring in almost all retail storefronts is either tile or concrete. Even carpeting — where present — is usually thin and laid directly over the hard subfloor in most cases, which provides hardly any relief for your feet. This means that not only are you putting strain on your feet just by spending your entire shift on them, but it also means that the surface you work on is making it worse. Without the pressure relief and shock absorption that thicker carpeting or "squishier" floors will provide, none of the pressure you place on your feet throughout the day has anywhere to dissipate to. Your foot bears the entire brunt of this strain throughout every shift.

The bad news? Retail environments are terrible for spending long periods of time standing and walking, but that's what is demanded in most retail positions. The good news? A good pair of insoles goes a long way to making each shift more comfortable and better for your feet.

When it comes to retail work, a good insole will perform two primary functions:

1. The insole will support the heel and arch of the foot, helping to distribute pressure more evenly across the foot in order to eliminate sore spots while also ensuring proper foot support and stability. A flexible or semi-flexible support ensures good support without creating too much rigidity for long periods of standing or walking.
2. The insole will provide cushioning throughout, which will help alleviate pressure and mitigate impact shock on the foot during your day-to-day routine, ultimately decreasing overall foot fatigue while also helping to prevent foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

Between the support and cushioning, a proper insole will ensure that your feet make it through each shift happier and healthier than before.