A Study on Innovation Strategies of Footwear Manufacturing Enterprises in the Current Era

Abstract

This study investigates the role of innovation strategies in the sustainable development of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on China's footwear industry. The sector faces significant challenges, including overcapacity, low value-added production, tariff barriers, rising labor costs, and shifting global supply chains. Innovation is posited as a critical pathway for SMEs to escape homogeneous competition and enhance value creation. Through a mixed-methods approach that combines case study analysis and industry data, this research demonstrates that innovation must be approached as a systemic strategy integrating organizational, technological, and cultural dimensions. The findings suggest that specialized digitalization, brand development, and cross-industry collaboration are essential for SMEs to achieve deterministic growth. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse on industrial innovation and offers practical insights for SMEs navigating contemporary market challenges.