An AI shoe size assistant that checks the size and width you actually stock

What do shoe shoppers ask before they buy?

Shoe shoppers ask about size first: does this run true to size, should I size up, I'm a 9 in another brand. Then width, then use: is it good for running, for standing all day, for wet weather. Each question is about one model, and the answer can decide whether the pair comes back.

Most of the answers sit in places shoppers do not always find: the size guide, the conversion table between US, UK and EU sizes, a fit note on the product page, the available widths on each variant.

• Size: true to size, half sizes, conversions between sizing systems the store lists.
• Width: whether the model comes in wide or narrow, and which widths are in stock.
• Activity: running, walking, work, everyday, as described on the product.
• Weather and occasion: waterproofing, calf fit for boots, heel height for events.

How does an AI chatbot help a footwear store sell?

An AI chatbot helps a footwear store by matching the shopper's size and width to the variants that are actually in stock. Tycoon is built to read your size guide and fit notes, ask one short question when the need is unclear, then show cards with the right size and width already selected.

Shoes often have many variants: every size multiplied by every width and color. Stock is read live per variant for every answer, so Tycoon does not suggest a 10.5 wide that sold out this morning. When the exact combination is gone, it says so and can suggest the nearest option your catalog has. See AI product recommendations for how suggestions are built.

Example conversation · invented store

This illustration uses an invented store, "Trailbend Shoes", that sells running and walking shoes. It shows size and width being settled from the size guide, live stock being checked for the exact variant, and one optional offer after the pair is added. Names and details are invented; on a real store they come from your catalog.

Shopper: I need something for long walks. I'm a 9 but my feet are wide.

Assistant: Thanks, that helps. Two walking models come in a wide width: the Ridge Walker and the City Stride. The Ridge Walker's product page says it has a roomier toe box and a cushioned sole for longer distances. Will you walk mostly on pavement or on trails?

Shopper: Pavement, mostly.

Assistant: Then the City Stride fits that better; it's described as a road and pavement shoe. Size 9 in wide is in stock right now, and I've selected it on the card. The size guide notes this model runs true to size.

Shopper: (taps Add to cart)

Assistant: It's in your cart. One idea: the store sells a two-pack of cushioned walking socks, which costs less than two single pairs. Bonus: they're the socks listed with this shoe. Want to see them?

Which questions does it ask on each footwear shelf?

Each footwear shelf has its own deciding questions, and Tycoon asks them in the order that matters there. Sneakers start with size and width, boots add calf fit and weather, heels and sandals add heel height and the occasion. It asks one question at a time and skips anything the shopper already said.

How does it handle sizing, exchanges and returns in a shoe store?

Tycoon answers sizing questions from your size guide, conversion table and fit notes, which it reads on install. Exchange and return questions are answered only when the shopper asks, from the policy facts you approved, such as the return window. It does not volunteer returns or cancellation while a shopper is deciding.

On Starter and up, for signed-in shoppers it can show the status of their own orders from the last 60 days when they ask, which covers "where is my exchange" questions; see support automation. When a question needs a person, like a defect, it hands off to your team.

What won't it do in a footwear store?

It will not give medical or podiatry advice. If a shopper mentions plantar fasciitis, bunions, diabetes or an injury, Tycoon is built to say it cannot advise on foot health, suggest checking with a professional, and show only what the product page states. It does not invent support or orthopedic claims.

It also does not guess a fit your store has not described, invent waterproof or slip-resistant ratings, or use false urgency about the last pair when live stock says otherwise. On Growth and up, unanswered questions become knowledge gaps you can fill; see how it learns.

What kind of upsell fits a shoe store?

In footwear, the natural add-on is something that goes with the pair: socks for the activity, a care kit for leather or suede, insoles the store sells, or the item that unlocks free shipping. Tycoon makes at most one offer per reply, saving first and bonus second, and none when the shopper is upset, skeptical or hesitant.

• Care kit: a suede protector after suede boots are added.
• Activity add-on: running socks with running shoes, or a bundle when it costs less (bundles on Growth and up).
• Free-shipping nudge (Starter and up): laces or a cleaning cloth when the cart is just under the approved threshold.

Can it help shoe shoppers in other languages and size systems?

Yes. Tycoon answers each shopper in the language they write in, across 16 languages, with right-to-left layouts for Arabic, Urdu and Hebrew. For sizing systems, it uses the conversions your own size guide lists, such as US, UK and EU, and does not invent a conversion your store has not published.

See the languages page for the full list.

Frequently asked questions