About the Society of Shoe Fitters

The Society of Shoe Fitters (SSF) was founded in 1959 as a not-for-profit making organisation, consisting of members from manufacture, retail and healthcare. It assists both the trade and public in their understanding of well-fitting shoes, shoe fitting and foot health. 

Whether you are a shoe retailer, Podiatrist, healthcare professional with an interest in footwear or member of the public the Society of Shoe Fitters aims to help you with your enquiry.

Members are mainly in the UK, but it is possible for individuals overseas to become members. There are usually between approximately 250-400 members and students at any time throughout the U.K.  

To become a member of the SSF, individuals must complete the SSF shoe fitting course. The course consists of on-line learning modules. Upon successful completion of the course members can use the letters M.S.S.F.  Members who have contributed significantly to improving and developing the SSF may be chosen to receive a Fellowship (F.S.S.F).

Our funding

The SSF is a registered charity (1178413) with no government grants or other  funding. The SSF is reliant on membership subscriptions and filling our courses to fund the society’s activities. We receive occasional donations from the public.  

Once the course has been completed there is an annual subscription fee. If a subscription is not renewed a re-joining fee is applicable.

Membership

Being a member of the SFF connects you to a network of members, healthcare professionals and industry.  Membership categories are:

Individual- open to all those who have successfully completed the Society of Shoe Fitting course.

Lifetime – open to individuals who have successfully completed the Society of Shoe Fitting course and wish to pay a one-off lump sum for lifetime membership.

Associate (Corporate) – open to foot health companies and shoe brands who support the work of the SSF.

What do we do

The SSF promotes Members at every opportunity and members may promote themselves on the website’s Register of Members.

Our members benefit from the use of the SFF logo and the assurance that they can promote themselves as a knowledgeable shoe fitter.

We assist and advise the public with footwear enquiries and where they can go for a professional fitting service.

Code of Practise for Shoe Fitters

Shoe fitting' is the professional way to sell shoes. Like all professions it has its Code of Ethics. This code was formulated by the Society of Shoe Fitters over 60 years ago and is as important today as it was back then.

The Code requires you to:

• Never knowingly sell shoes if you are not satisfied that the shoes are a reasonably good fit.
• Never sell a pair of children's shoes without the child being present.
• Never give the impression that the measuring devices you use give a precise measurement - it is only a guide!
• When working in a retail environment, members should not criticize the fit of shoes purchased in another shop. If in your opinion damage is being caused, suggest reasons why you believe a different course of action would be appropriate and more beneficial to the customer.
• Where members work in a clinical capacity, they will continue to provide footwear and fitting advice as part of their routine or MSK practise.
• Unless you are a qualified health practitioner you are not qualified to diagnose and suggest treatment for medical problems, refer to a medical professional.
• In a retail environment never recommend a particular brand of shoe - or state their shoe size. A particular brand/style does not suit everyone, from season to season the Last shape of the shoes may vary.
• Clinicians as part of their practise will need to guide their patients regarding appropriate footwear and in some instances to specific brands.
• Shoes must be tried on.
• Never attempt to impose your views on your customers. Remember that you can only use your knowledge to persuade a customer.
• Always be open-minded and ready to learn from the experience of other shoe fitters. You will find that you will never know all the answers. This is one reason why shoe fitting is so interesting and will always present a challenge.

History of the SSF

The SSF was created by shoe fitting specialists within the National Shoe Retailers Council (NSRC).  The NSRC was an influential association of independent shoe retailers which embraced shoe retailing in the UK.  Shoe fitters amongst the membership had called for the universal adoption of higher standards of shoe fitting as a condition of membership.

In May 2018 the Society was granted charitable status and is now Charity Registration number 1178413.

In 2023 the Society of Shoe Fitters teamed up with the Healthy Footwear Guide
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