Runners Sole
Runners Sole is a single-location specialty running and walking footwear retailer in Kamloops, BC, offering expert in-store gait analysis and fitting across running, walking, hiking, orthopedic, and children's shoes, supplemented by a Canada-wide e-commerce site and deep sponsorship of the local running event community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersKamloops, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Runners Sole does
Runners Sole is a single-location specialty retail business operating a brick-and-mortar running and walking shoe store at Unit 74, 1395 Hillside Drive in Kamloops, British Columbia, with an accompanying e-commerce storefront (shop.runnerssole.com) that ships within Canada at a flat rate of $15-$20 per order. The company sells running shoes, walking shoes, hiking footwear, orthopedic footwear, court shoes, sandals, and children's shoes in an unusually broad size range (women's 5 to men's 16) and width range (2A to 6E), positioning itself as a destination for hard-to-fit feet and gait-specific recommendations.
The business model centers on an in-person 'sit and fit' service in which trained staff perform foot length, width, arch height, and gait assessments to classify customers as pronated, neutral, or supinated and recommend appropriate footwear; sales staff operate on a non-commissioned basis, an explicit differentiator versus commission-driven competitors. The company supplements retail with event-driven community engagement, sponsoring and organizing local running events including the Kamloops Trail Festival (which it organizes), Dirty Feet Trail Series races, Boogie the Bridge, Bob Trudeau Memorial Spring Run Off, and Blackwell Dairy Fun Run, in addition to a long-standing community partnership with the Kamloops Ridge Runners dating to 1981.
The company has no disclosed technology platform beyond a standard e-commerce site, no API or integration surface, no app, and no disclosed proprietary technology. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time retail transactions on footwear, accessories, and apparel, plus a flat shipping fee on online orders. Ownership is private and founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or subsidiaries.
Runners Sole firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Runners Sole
- Legal name
- Runners Sole
- Website
- https://runnerssole.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Runners Sole is a single-location specialty running and walking footwear retailer in Kamloops, BC, offering expert in-store gait analysis and fitting across running, walking, hiking, orthopedic, and children's shoes, supplemented by a Canada-wide e-commerce site and deep sponsorship of the local running event community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Runners Sole industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Footwear Retail
- NAICS
- Shoe Retailers (458210), Shoe Retailers (45821)
- SIC
- Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performance Running Specialty Retail (CRAMACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor Performance Footwear & Apparel Retail (Trail/Hike) (CRAMACAI), Performance Footwear (Running, Training, Court) (CRAAAEAI), Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB)
Keywords
Where Runners Sole is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kamloops
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Runners Sole business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail footwear sales: In-store and online sales of running shoes, walking shoes, hiking footwear, orthopedic footwear, court shoes, sandals, and kids' shoes. The store specializes in expert fitting services as part of the sales process.
- Accessories and apparel sales: Sales of running accessories including socks, athletic apparel, and related gear. The store carries various brands and sizes including hard-to-find widths.
- Shipping fees: Flat rate shipping fee of $20 per order within Canada for online purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard shipping within Canada |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Runners Sole product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Runners Sole is a specialty footwear retailer that sells running, walking, hiking, orthopedic, court, sandal, and children's shoes in an unusually broad size and width range. The store differentiates through an in-person "sit and fit" service in which trained staff assess foot dimensions and gait and recommend shoes based on the customer's foot type and running/walking use case. An online store supplements the retail location with Canada-wide shipping.
Product overview
Runners Sole is a specialty running and walking retail shop operating as a single-location brick-and-mortar store in Kamloops, BC. The business centers on its core product line of specialty footwear spanning running shoes, walking shoes, hiking footwear, orthopedic footwear, court shoes, sandals, and children's shoes—available in a wide size range (women's 5 to men's 16) and width range (2A to 6E). The company differentiates through its 'sit and fit' expert shoe fitting service, which includes foot assessment, gait analysis, and personalized recommendations. The product portfolio also includes shoe accessories. Rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, the business operates as a unified retail offering where the footwear products and fitting services work together as a single customer experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Running shoes Specialty running footwear available across a wide size run (women's 5 to men's 16) and width range (2A to 6E), selected via expert gait analysis to match pronated, neutral, or supinated foot types. Sold to runners from beginners to ultra-marathon participants.
- Walking shoes Specialty walking footwear designed for comfort and support during casual and fitness walking activities, including hard-to-find widths.
- Hiking footwear Hiking shoes suited to trail and outdoor walking conditions, selected for durability, ankle support, and appropriate tread.
- Orthopedic footwear Specialized footwear designed for foot conditions including Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis, Morton's Neuroma, Hammer Toes, and diabetic foot care, including fitting for custom orthotics.
- Court shoes Athletic footwear designed for court-based sports activities.
- Sandals Casual and athletic sandals for warm-weather activities.
- Kids' shoes Children's running and athletic footwear in a range of sizes to accommodate growing feet.
- Shoe fitting service In-store "sit and fit" consultation with trained staff performing foot length, width, arch height, and gait analysis, and matching customers to appropriate footwear based on a 5-question personalized assessment. Provided at no additional charge as part of footwear purchase.
- Running accessories and apparel Running socks, athletic apparel, and related gear carried alongside footwear, including hard-to-find widths and sizes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Expert fitting service for all foot types - sizes 5-16 and widths 2A-6E
Companies that use Runners Sole
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Runners Sole technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Runners Sole partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kamloops Ridge RunnerscoreCommunity partner since 1981. The Kamloops Ridge Runners bring runners together with weekly group runs, coaching, race discounts, and social events. They organize the Bob Trudeau Memorial Spring Run Off and Blackwell Dairy Fun Run. Runners Sole supports this community organization as a key pillar of the local running ecosystem.
- Dirty Feet Trail SeriescoreSponsors multiple Dirty Feet trail running events including Trail Run #1 (Lac Du Bois), Trail Run #4 (Kenna Cartwright Park), Heartbreak 100k, and Beat the Buzzer. Provides race package pickup at Runners Sole location and serves as sponsor.
- Bob Trudeau Memorial Spring Run OffcoreSponsor of the 40th anniversary event organized by Kamloops Ridge Runners. This is the signature spring running event in Kamloops honoring community leader Bob Trudeau.
- Boogie the BridgecoreSponsor of Kamloops' largest celebration of movement. This signature event features running and walking with bands, inspirational chalking, and community involvement.
- Kamloops Trail FestivalcoreOrganizer of this 4x8km trail relay event at Harper Mountain. Runners Sole serves as event organizer, race package pickup location, and provides footwear gift cards as awards.
- Blackwell Dairy RunminorSponsor of the 39th anniversary event. Road race through semi-urban and rural Barnhartvale, part of Interior Running Association's Road Race Series.
- Candle Creek Half MarathonminorSupports this event organized by Wells Gray Outdoors Club in Clearwater, BC. Provides MC services and event support.
- Nicholas's Run for Youth Mental HealthminorSupports this memorial run raising funds for youth mental health through the Nicholas Zhou Legacy Fund at BC Interior Community Foundation. Provides bib pickup location.
- Summer Solstice Sprint TriathlonminorCommunity sponsor of this triathlon event in Kamloops.
- Get Happy Events (Get Corked)minorSupports Get Corked, a wine-themed running event at Monte Creek Winery organized by Get Happy Events.
- Miles for Smiles Cancer FoundationminorPartial proceeds from Kamloops Trail Festival go to this cancer foundation. Also supports Miles for Smiles Powder Run events.
- HOKAminorMajor sponsor brand for Dirty Feet events. HOKA provides demo shoes at trail runs and is presenting sponsor for multiple events including Beat the Buzzer and Dirty Feet Trail Series.
- Sole Pursuit RunningminorOrganizer of Walk in the Park (BC's longest running ultra trail race since 1992). Cross-promotional relationship with shared community focus.
- Red Tag Fitness and Matrix FitnessminorProvided grand prize treadmill for Kamloops Trail Festival draw prizes (over $10,000 in prizes).
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Runners Sole competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Forerunners: Vancouver-based specialty running retailer with a similar community-event-driven model and curated performance footwear assortment. Comparable to Runners Sole in BC running culture but anchored in a larger metro market.
Direct peers
- Marathon Sports: Independent specialty running retailer serving multiple U.S. markets with deep inventory and fitting expertise. Comparable to Runners Sole in assortment breadth and staff-driven fitting service.
- Running Room: Canada's largest specialty running retailer with physical stores across multiple provinces and a strong community-running-event model. Directly comparable to Runners Sole in product mix, fitting-led service, and event sponsorship strategy, but operates at national scale.
- The Trailhead: Independent trail- and road-running specialty store with expert fitting and event sponsorship. Closely mirrors Runners Sole's combination of running/walking/hiking footwear and community-event marketing.
- Fleet Feet: U.S.-based specialty running retail franchise renowned for expert fitting and gait analysis. Closely mirrors Runners Sole's 'sit and fit' service model and community-event-driven marketing, though at franchised national scale.
Broad incumbents
- On: Premium performance running footwear brand with a rapidly expanding DTC retail network. Represents both a wholesale supplier to Runners Sole and a structural risk to specialty running retailers' margins and shelf access.
- Sport Chek: Canada's largest sporting goods retailer. Competes with Runners Sole across running/walking footwear but as part of a much broader multi-category assortment, lacking the depth of running-specific fitting expertise.
- Mountain Equipment Company (MEC): Canadian outdoor and hiking cooperative with a broader outdoor apparel and footwear assortment. Competes with Runners Sole in hiking footwear but does not specialize in road running or expert running gait analysis.
Others
- HOKA: Performance running footwear brand partner of Runners Sole and direct competitor to its retail mission via HOKA's growing DTC store footprint. Relevant as both a supplier and a forward-looking competitive threat.
- Brooks Running: Running-specialized footwear brand with deepening DTC ambitions. Comparable to Runners Sole in brand affinity within the running community but operates as a wholesale supplier/competitor rather than a physical retailer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Runners Sole social profiles
Digital presenceRunners Sole financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Runners Sole leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Runners Sole funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Runners Sole M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Runners Sole
What does Runners Sole do?
Runners Sole is a specialty footwear retailer that sells running, walking, hiking, orthopedic, court, sandal, and children's shoes in an unusually broad size and width range. The store differentiates through an in-person "sit and fit" service in which trained staff assess foot dimensions and gait and recommend shoes based on the customer's foot type and running/walking use case. An online store supplements the retail location with Canada-wide shipping.
Is Runners Sole a public or private company?
Runners Sole is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Runners Sole founded?
Runners Sole was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Runners Sole based?
Runners Sole is headquartered in Kamloops, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Runners Sole make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail footwear sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and apparel sales and shipping fees.
Who are Runners Sole's main competitors?
Forerunners is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Marathon Sports, Running Room, The Trailhead and Fleet Feet. Broad incumbents are On, Sport Chek and Mountain Equipment Company (MEC). Others are HOKA and Brooks Running.
Does Runners Sole have an API?
No public API is recorded for Runners Sole.
What industry is Runners Sole in?
Runners Sole's product category is Specialty Footwear Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMACAA, Performance Running Specialty Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMACAI, Outdoor Performance Footwear & Apparel Retail (Trail/Hike). Its NAICS code is 458210 and its SIC code is 5661.