Two large-name sites have come up with semi- to nearly-fully-independent entities to sell shoes online since Oct 2006.
- Gap –> PiperLime.com
- Amazon.com –> Endless.com
There are also three other major contenders out there.
- Zappos.com (the leader in the category)
- Shoes.com
- ShoeMall.com
It should be interesting to see how Gap and Amazon take on these somewhat entrenched players. Also of note, Amazon’s site offers free overnight shipping. At ~$20/pair, this is a significant investment to drive traffic.
(Note: the link between Amazon.com and Endless.com was noted by TechCrunch. All five outlets are reviewed at Trunkt.net)