Archive for shoes – Page 2

Allbirds: Eco-Friendly, Minimalist Shoes

 

Allbirds co-founder Tim Browncdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1104/4168/t/980/asset...

As Americans, most of us can say we own one, if not multiple pairs of shoes. For Tim Brown, founder of Allbirds shoe company and former professional soccer player, an over-abundance of shoes prompted his desire for a change in the shoe industry. As Brown progressed in his soccer career, he realized that the numerous shoes he received from his sponsor were “completely unnecessary.” Due to Brown’s experience with an over-abundance of shoes as a soccer player, he let this drive his vision for the Allbirds shoe company. Brown envisioned a shoe that would innovate in reverse. Instead of choosing to add to already technical and detailed shoe designs, he chose to “strip back the shoe and create something simple and natural.” The foundation for Brown’s Allbirds company was one that innovated in reverse. Not only did Brown aim to create a minimalist shoe, but he furthered his efforts by committing to sustainability. Brown continued this vision of minimalism as he chose to use renewable, sustainable resources to build his shoes. For example, Brown and Zwillinger (engineer and renewables expert), crafted a shoe which incorporates eucalyptus fibers containing cooling properties. This creates a running shoe which naturally cools your sweaty feet. Below is a picture of these shoes made from eucalyptus trees.

Men's Tree Runners - Wheat (Dark Beige Sole)“Allbirds: Tree Runners”

 

EVERY part of these shoes are comprised from renewable resources. The laces are crafted from consumer plastics, the insole of the shoe is made from castor bean oil which emits less carbon than petroleum based foam, the mid-sole is made of sugarcane from Brazil, and the upper is made from the eucalyptus tree fiber.

 

The royal crown of Allbirds consists of their use of marino wool shoe material. In continuing with their mantra of sustainability, Allbirds uses marino sheep wool as the majority of their shoe material. In New Zealand, where the company is based and Brown’s home, sheep outnumber humans 6:1. Using sheep wool reduces the use of energy by 60% compared to that of most shoes on the market.

One of the entrepreneurial traits that Brown exudes is passion. It was quite evident through my research of this company that Brown has a profound passion for protecting our earth yet providing style in a simple way. I love how he thought creatively about the simplifying of shoes rather than trying to add to an already very complex shoe industry. By stripping down the shoe to its basic function and fashion, Brown was able to create a product which people thoroughly enjoy due to its performance and contribution to our plant.

“Mother Nature is our muse. Building on her handiwork, we’re finding new uses for materials that exist right in front of us. Like wool from merino sheep, who have the best hair in nature.” – Tim Brown

Brandon Webb

Brandon Webb is a 19-year-old entrepreneur that started the company Hypluxe. Hypluxe is a sneaker reselling company that aims to resell limited edition shoes to the public. Brandon Webb has been reselling sneaker since he was young and has been taking advantage of a market worth over $1 Billion that also offers profit margins of up to 1000%. Webb’s business targets the release of sneakers that are collaborations between celebrities and big companies like Nike, Adidas, and designer brands. Some popular examples of sneaker collaborations are Addidas and Kanye West’s Yeezy and Nike and Travis Scott’s Air Force One. One instance that Webb has given for his profit margins was his purchase of 100 pairs of Nike x Off White Jordan sneakers. At the time of release, the Nike x Off White sneakers cost $190 and were then sold for $1000 over the original price; this is due to the quantity of Nike x Off White shoes that were released. Due to the minimal supply, the resale price was drastically inflated. But how is Webb able to obtain these shoes if they are so limited? Well, Webb uses a highly developed bot technology that can purchase large quantities of shoes before the stock has run out. While this isn’t the most ethical form of obtaining sneakers, it is very effective for making a profit as even fairly common collaborative sneakers can be sold for a hefty profit.

Brandon Webb has taken his extensive knowledge of sneaker reselling and is now offering a guide on how to make profits that are in the six-figure range. Brandon Webb has advised hundreds of college students and shoe enthusiasts into making thousands a month just by selling shoes as a side job. One thing that is super beneficial about the sneaker reselling market is that it is risk-free, this is because if you are unable to sell a shoe for a profit, you can always return it for free. Brandon Webb is just one example of the vast opportunities that are available in the shoe resale market. Webb’s story is an inspiration because he shows that you can never be too young to make your first six figures.

Sneaker Empire: Keith Adam

Background of Sneaker Reselling

Many young teenagers dream of starting their own youtube channel, and one day making a career out of it.  That’s where it all started for 19 year old, Keith Adam, about three years ago.  Keith has a passion for buying and selling sneakers.  Not your every day Walmart sneaker, but instead very limited high demand sneakers like Kanye West’s “Yeezy”, and Jordan basketball shoes.  These shoes sell out instantly online and in store, and resell on the aftermarkets like Ebay, StockX, and other sites for sometimes up to 10 times the retail value of the shoe.  This business is very similar to those who flip real estate.  They typically buy the property for a low price, and end up selling it for a much higher price and earning profit.  This high profit margin makes reselling sneakers very appealing to young entrepreneurs.

Starting on Youtube

In 2016, Keith began his youtube journey at 16 years old.  He started producing videos with tips on how to get these limited shoes online and in store before they sell out.  His first videos did not immediately gain much popularity in views, and he rarely made any money on youtube.  After about a year making sneaker videos on youtube, Keith began to gain a following and produce interest in his channel.  His following was mostly marketed to other teenagers like him, who have a passion for sneakers, and wanted to find a way to make extra money from home.

Finding Ways to Innovate

About two years ago, Keith wanted to find a way to set himself apart from other sneakers Youtubers.  He started off using social media to promote himself and gain a bigger following from teenagers.  Keith did a lot of research to figure out a way that he could earn money outside of youtube.  This is where he discovered an app called “Discord.”  Discord is an app that is typically targeted toward video gamers.  It is a platform where groups can form and share ideas, create channels, and communicate through messages, video chat, and voice chat.  This was appealing to Keith, because it allowed him to charge his fans a monthly fee, similar to subscriptions like Netflix, in order to access his reselling information.  His focus was to continue using youtube and social media for small bits of information on reselling, but to focus on a paid subscription to Discord in order to gain full access to his content and reselling advice. He began offering his service through Discord for a small fee of $15 per month.  He used his social media and youtube channel to promote this new service, and it immediately sold out.  Keith was thrilled by the interest in his new Discord group, and from there, his career took off.

Keiths Success Today

Today, Keith continues to produce youtube videos and is active on social media, but his main focus is on Discord.  The interest in Keiths group has grown exponentially, which allows him to increase the price for his service.  Today, you can access Keiths Discord group for a steep monthly fee of $65.  Keith realized that in order to make his group stand out from other competing resellers, he has to produce the best information.  With this expensive monthly fee, Keith employs about a dozen “moderators” in his Discord group, who work around the clock finding out the best information regarding shoes.  These employees allow Keith the freedom to focus on other ways to improve, rather than having to solely work around the clock in order to help the thousands of his Discord subscribers through sneaker releases.  Keith continues to inspire many young teenagers to find a passion for sneakers and the hustle of reselling valuable sneakers.