The effect of imported shoes on domestic producers: the case of large mechanized footwear producers in Addis Ababa

This study was conducted to assess the effect of imported shoes in domestic footwear producers. The effect of imported shoes assessed from price, quality product design/style, availability, fashion, range of variety and the opportunity that import pressure create. In order to attain its objectives the study collected data from 109 respondents of ten large and mechanized footwear factories in Addis Ababa using open-ended and closed-ended questionnaires. The data was analyzed with the support of statistical packages for social science and Microsoft excels software. The finding indicated that imported shoes have an advantage on domestically produced ones from price, design, range of variety, fashion, and interns of quality of comfort. Regarding durability, domestic producers’ shoes have an advantage. The study indicated that the domestic producers consider competitive pressure from imports as an opportunity to improve performance. It was revealed in the study that low price, high quality using attractively designed shoes and availability and delivery are strategies used by foreign competitors to influence the domestic footwear producer.