SportsShoes.com has celebrated a major milestone, reporting 150,000 downloads of its first-ever mobile app just six months after launch. The Shipley-based retailer, which specialises in running and outdoor gear, introduced the app in August 2024 as part of its wider strategic expansion to enhance the online shopping experience.
More than just a shopping platform, the SportsShoes.com app serves as a hub for the running and fitness community. Customers receive personalised product and content recommendations tailored to their activity and preferences, with a standard shopping feed available as a secondary option. The app also features exclusive competitions with a range of prizes, further engaging users beyond the checkout.
One of the app’s key integrations is its membership options, allowing users to sync their England Athletics profile with their SportsShoes.com account. This innovative feature merges running and fitness data with shopping habits, ensuring a more personalised experience. Additionally, members of the Vitality Programme can access exclusive discounts on products thanks to a retail partnership formed between SportsShoes.com and health and life insurer Vitality in January 2025.
Established in 1982, SportsShoes.com offers over 17,000 products from 150 global brands, including running giants like Asics, Nike, Adidas, Hoka, New Balance, and Brooks, as well as outdoor favourites such as Salomon, Montane, Rab, and Patagonia.
Managing director Brett Bannister expressed his enthusiasm for the app’s early success, saying: “It’s amazing to see the positive response from the running and fitness community to our first-ever mobile app. The rapid uptake is a solid reflection of our commitment to provide the best online purchasing experience, helpful content, and unmissable competitions across multiple platforms. This early success also opens more doors to innovate and leverage tech to further connect, engage, and serve the running community and power our growth plans.”
The app’s launch was part of a broader £4.6m investment made by SportsShoes.com between 2021 and 2024 to improve technologies, processes, and facilities. The company replatformed its UK and international websites, significantly enhancing product discovery and personalised advice. These improvements contributed to a 22% increase in international sales in the first half of the company’s latest financial year.
With its growing digital presence and ongoing investment in innovation, SportsShoes.com continues to strengthen its position as a leader in the running and outdoor retail space. For more information or to download the app, visit www.sportsshoes.com, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
