Source: Gift Guide | shop online at BIRKENSTOCK On several occasions I’ve walked into various retail locations and found Birks marked down. It’s a trend that struck me as disturbing. I initially thought of it as a flawed wholesale strategy rooted in buying into a brand’s own hype. The more I dug into Birks and…
Note: The RRA is based on my own sales numbers. This microset of data is meant to inform and I use it to make predictions about the sneaker industry. My ratio analysis consists of data pulled from utilizing third party marketplaces and wholesale relationships. The in-store analysis is my own research and does not reflect…
An analysis of website traffic can help with discussions on DTC and brand health. I’ve chosen sneaker industry websites, brands and retailers, with two exceptions. StockX and Stadium Goods are included in this breakdown to show how Nike is the tide that lifts all boats. The other brand website growth speaks towards the in-store observation…
STORE OBSERVATIONS: 1. Hibbett Sports and City Gear have serious inventory issues. One City Gear store’s Jordan Brand wall was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen for a chain with an account in good standing with Nike. It’s not just one store either. Almost every store has a shortage of Nike inventory. This…
The reason I can unquestionably state that resale is an indicator of brand heat is because I utilize my microset of data to compare it to the information available on footwear websites covering the industry. The resale here isn’t the hyped Sacai, Travis Scott, or Yeezy resale; it’s a more realistic vision of what’s taking…
The two charts above give the average price of the shoes I sold vs the average price of shoes sold on StockX and the Suggested Retail Price. Once again, my resale has to be considered as close to wholesale accounts as possible. Most of the product is arriving straight out of Nike doors and the…
This is Part 1 of the report for the first third of 2021. I’ve been busy adjusting to the rules at retail to offset resale. Most hyped general release shoes are released via retail Apps. In brick and mortar locations, stores are flagged for selling more than five pair of shoes at a time to…
Use this link to Purchase the SRRRA at 75% off until Black Friday The Store Re-opening Resale Report & Analysis (SRRRA) is a concise 4 month report built on a micro-set of data utilizing resale to gauge brand momentum & retail trends. I wanted to take a detailed look at the market for the months when…
I do not have the POS data for retail accounts, but I visit malls on a daily basis (masked up and social distancing of course). I also have access to my own data from resale and the last month and a half, have been the most profitable six weeks I’ve had in the last…
I’ve made a number of predictions on this channel and being correct isn’t often a good thing. This is not a prediction, but it’s a hypothesis. The goal is to engage in dialogue about what is happening within sneaker retail. This isn’t a case of something only taking place at one chain. I’ve begun going…
“We, as African-Americans, are the trendsetters … There would be no Nike and none of these brands if it wasn’t for us setting the trends… How is it possible that in most major cities in America, there is no African-American retailer that has a Nike account? How is that possible?” Source: Kickin’ Facts | Black…
picture from the Careers at FootLocker site I often share information that derives from unofficial visits to various retail locations. The conversations during these visits happen with sales leads, managers, district managers and in some instances regional managers. I am able to engage every person in a way that isn’t intrusive or threatening. The information…
The question that was posed in several stores was, “Do you think the way the sneakers are presented in the store contribute to the ability to sell the footwear?” In one store the most recent releases are presented inside of display cases like jewelry. In other stores the shoes are placed on tables by brand…
Under Armour adidas Champion Fila Reebok Izod Quick point out the Reebok. I know this isn’t a class and you can’t talk to me, but I’d like for you to tell me how long it took you to point out the Reebok. Now I want you to look at this picture below and guess where…
The Air Jordan 1 High OG ‘Black/Red’. dropped on Black Friday and missed its target completely. I headed out early on Black Friday. My goal was to see how difficult it would be to navigate sneaker retail outlets. The results were not surprising as I told a number of store managers prior to Black Friday…
It’s time for a revival of window displays, argues CallisonRTKL’s Ignaz Gorischek. Visual merchandising is important SOURCE: https://www.callisonrtkl.com/you-are-here/reviving-lost-art-visual-merchandising/ One of the better managers in a retail setting, Greg Garber, is often writing statements about the problems with sneaker retail. His point of view derives from over twenty years in the business and it would be wise…
Originally posted on Housakicks Chris, from ARCH, and I have been so swamped with work on both our sites and our e-stores that doing these shows has been impossible. We are aware of the current changes in the sneaker market and we wanted to tackle them one at a time. Today we’re exploring how the…
