Title: Mass customising footwear: the left® foot company case

Authors: Matti Sievanen, Linnea Peltonen

Addresses: Tampere University of Technology, Institute for Industrial Management, P.O. Box 541, 33101 Tampere, Finland. ' Marimekko Oyj, Puusepaenkatu 4, 00880 Helsinki, Finland

Abstract: The Finnish footwear industry has had a difficult time since the end of the 1980s. The companies that have managed to survive are either innovative or specialised. Pomarfin is one such survivor. After a market analysis, the firm|s management concluded that individualism could become a dominant trend. Using modern technology combined with a long tradition of shoe manufacturing, Pomarfin succeeded in manufacturing mass customised shoes. Its new brand, left® foot company, is specialised in mass customisation. Early results of left® foot company are promising. It has become an international brand with outlets in many countries and continues to grow at quite a fast rate. This case examines how left® foot company operates and discusses some of its success factors.

Keywords: mass customisation; footwear industry; scanning; competences; Finland; shoe manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMASSC.2006.010446

International Journal of Mass Customisation, 2006 Vol.1 No.4, pp.480 - 491

Published online: 22 Jul 2006 *

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