It was the first animated series from the Western world to be shown in the former Soviet Union in 1989 and became so popular there that it sold over 25 million Shoe People books.

Every night when the shoe mender locks up the shop, he makes sure the back room door is shut.

The Shoe People was broadcast in the United States on Nickelodeon as a segment on their pre-school TV series Eureeka's Castle.

The same FilmFair copyright screen can also be seen on the 1992 version of the said programme, also on Nick Jr. UK, when they aired the later series in spring 2002.

Other products included books and plush toys along with a special edition chocolate bar issued by Cadbury.

A children's educational computer game, First Class with the Shoe People, was released for various platforms in 1991 by Gremlin Interactive.