Number of Footwear Merchant Wholesalers Businesses in the US (2000–2023)
As of 2023
11,274
footwear merchant wholesalers businesses in the United States
Number of Firms Over Time
Total Employment Over Time
Key Insights
- •The footwear merchant wholesalers industry has declined 16.2% since 2000 (from 13,458 to 11,274 firms).
- •The peak year was 2002 with 14,285 firms.
- •Recent trend (last 5 years): the industry is shrinking (-7.4%).
- •Employment: 170,425 workers in 2023 (-7.4% change since 2000).
- •Estimated 5-year survival rate: 59%.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Firms | Establishments | Employment | Entry Rate | Exit Rate | Net Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11,274 | 12,114 | 170,425 | 8.1% | 10.1% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 11,543 | 12,347 | 171,525 | 12.3% | 10.3% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 11,036 | 11,980 | 162,029 | 9.3% | 14.8% | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 11,664 | 12,621 | 181,532 | 8.3% | 12.6% | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 12,170 | 13,150 | 191,515 | 8.3% | 10.8% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 12,390 | 13,417 | 194,942 | 8.5% | 12.3% | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 12,945 | 14,024 | 200,348 | 10.1% | 11.6% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 13,160 | 14,284 | 199,738 | 9.4% | 11.1% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 13,408 | 14,574 | 200,498 | 9.9% | 10.4% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 13,461 | 14,626 | 201,054 | 11.4% | 10.1% | +2.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics (BDS). Entry/exit rates refer to establishment openings and closings.