Source: https://arch-usa.com/replacing-the-air-force-1-after-losing-a-nike-account/
In February 2021, I reported on Nike removing accounts from retailers. In that video I showed the Air Force 1 all white as one of the best-selling models of any shoe released. It’s common knowledge that almost everyone has a pair of Uptowns. The classic all white is a year-round staple, but as Nike removes accounts it’s becoming harder to track down a pair. My own sales of the shoe, as reported in the May 21 Report, the shoe can be sold consistently at a markup of 30 dollars over retail. This dominance is both a matter of dope design and peer pressure. Young people might laugh at someone in an all-white pair of anything but Forces. Old heads might be more receptive, but they’ve been wearing the all-white model from Nike for so long, they need an image or some merchandising to take a chance on a different style. Those people in the middle may be the most responsive group, but they are also a bit more thoughtful, so the option has to be all white and either elevated or eco-friendly.
How does a retailer that caters to the urban consumer attract a new buyer with an all-white model? How does a brand overcome a history in Hip-Hop directly tied to buying “Two pair” of the classic Nike shoe? The first step is knowing that there are alternatives available. Let’s get to it. The shoes below are in alphabetical order by brand and meet the criteria of being basketball/court-based models:
