This first offering from Ninety Nine Products is built for runners at every level. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting out the Point is built on the best practices of the world’s best running shoe companies.
Source: NinetyNine Products Point | Chalk
The head nod… it’s a silent gesture. A move that allows brothers to acknowledge each other without ever having met or talked before; the head nod is peaceful and omniscient. The transfer of energy in a head nod is akin to aligning your third chakra at the solar plexus. The head nod is a transfer of power and intelligence to a brother.
That’s what this post is.
Yesterday I posted about the company Good Things:
Insider Ties: Ep. 178 | Good Things, 99 and a Really Dope Concept
That post was a head nod. This post is a smile, with a head nod. I get to deliver information about a sneaker brand founded by a Black man who fought for every company he gave his energy to: Nike, Yeezy, Cole Haan… I’ve never worked for a brand. I’ve always been an outsider and my distance has made my life difficult. I know what NinetyNine products will encounter. When you decide to step away from the familiar and safe to create something completely original that you own, you look crazy.
I reached out to websites for coverage. I didn’t do what NinetyNine is doing. The brand is relying on self by shining a light on others:
We… use 99% of our marketing budget to celebrate, uplift and raise awareness to the people we think deserve more applause in our everyday lives. We sponsor Health & Wellness events and offer discounts. We are learning that different groups have different needs so we are flexible in how we support those doing the real work.
I did a search on Hypebeast for “NinetyNine+Products,” no information on the brand.
I did a search on Complex for NinetyNine, no information on the brand.
I did a search on Nice Kicks for NinetyNine, and just like when I ran Sho-Shot and ARCH, my two footwear companies, I found the same thing, nothing.
These are the industry standards for sneaker culture. Go to any of those websites and what happens is coverage of Nike, Jordan Brand and adidas. Those companies drive engagement… I understand that. It’s hard to have a business built on sneaker culture when you don’t generate ad revenue and sponsorships. Let’s deviate for a moment and look at a little math. Complex in 2018 generated 200 Million dollars in revenue.
No mention of NinetyNine on their site… Does it hurt Nike and adidas to talk about a guy that helped create the shoes that helped give you that revenue? The products the founder and CEO, Jeff Henderson designed and created can be found all over those websites. As long as Jeff works for the bigger brands in the culture, it’s all love.
Ramm (I need to chant for a moment because I’m getting irritable. Ramm is the chant used when meditating to align the solar plexus chakra). I’m looking at NinetyNine’s Point trainer in the Chalk colorway and I see a hint of yellow. Yellow is the color of the 3rd chakra and it’s a bold color to lead with from a new brand. Here is the thing though, taking on the challenge of launching a new brand is difficult and leading with a product that is easy, basic black or white, is safe. NinetyNine made a less bold model in their Whiteboard colorway:
The first release from NinetyNine, The Point, in Whiteboard and Chalk, is in celebration of educators, hence the names. I led with The Chalk because it hints at the direction of the company, bold, different, purposeful and allows me to create a post on chakra, chakra colors, and alignment. This post allows me to do a virtual headnod. When you think about it a headnod happens prior to meditation on some instances. It’s a sign of respect and thanks. The teacher in me thanks NinetyNine for the acknowledgement. The brother in me sees the light in this company and is sharing it with you.
Oh, I almost forgot, this shoe has a damn full length carbon plate for 99 bucks!!!!!
What you thought I was going to forget to mention some sneakerhead stuff?
Here is the link: https://www.goodthin.gs/collections/ninetynineproducts