The sneaker culture has influenced many young adults and teens over the past five years and continues to draw plenty of interest from outsiders who don’t fully understand the culture.
With new innovations from companies and constant sneaker and streetwear releases, the sneaker game continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing down. As the number of young entrepreneurs continues to grow, the sneaker game is here to stay.
People who don’t partake in this subculture view this as a hobby but in reality it becomes a part of who you are. Young adults invest their time and hard earned money into this hobby to help them secure limited products in hope of making a profit.
Over the years, the so-called sneaker game has been incredibly lucrative for some. Children and young adults have grown more independent over the years by partaking in this hobby.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed learning about the entire subculture and trying to acquire these limited items. The way this culture works really struck me. Shoes from a company called “Off-White” sell for the retail price of $200, but they can be resold online for up to a thousand dollars.
The best product I’ve ever sold was a sneaker manufactured as a collaboration between Nike and Off-White which retailed for $190 and sold for $1000.
While I’ve lost money in some deals, those losses have been minimal, while the potential profit for one pair of shoes is always large. I sell my shoes to people on the internet or through a sneaker marketplace called Stock X, which takes around 10% of the sale price for the shoe. While this fee is quite substantial, this marketplace is an essential tool in the sneaker culture.
Many people are confused as to why this subculture has been growing so rapidly. I believe the reason is that the hobby is more interesting than it seems. With so much to learn and money to be made, it’s an exciting opportunity that I thoroughly enjoy.
In hope of explaining the appeal of this peculiar hobby, I’ve conducted an interview with Timmy Walker, someone who is very knowledgeable in this hobby. Timmy is a friend I’ve met through doing business in this field. As a sneaker and streetwear enthusiast, Timmy has learned all the nuances of this interesting hobby. In my interview, Mr.Walker had some interesting points to make and attempted to educate curious outsiders.
Walker discussed the particular appeal of his passion: “The sneaker game has grown increasingly difficult as more people have joined but if you take the time to run your business efficiently, it could still be a lucrative hobby.”
When asked why he was personally drawn to the culture, Walker responded, “I was personally drawn to the game because I wanted to make money at a young age.”
Walker then added, “When handled responsibly, money can make a huge impact on a child’s life by giving you more freedom and independence. The sneaker game is difficult at times, but if you put in the effort, you will succeed. I’ve been putting work into this hobby and have made around 25,000 dollars this past year at the young age of 16.”
Walker characterized the majority of sneaker enthusiasts this way: “They are young and hungry and often times are money driven.” He also noted that the exclusivity of the products will attract interest. Since the companies keep their product limited, people who partake in this hobby have the opportunity to collect special pieces that ordinary buyers can’t get.
Using sneaker software and knowledge about the industry, enthusiasts compete daily to get the most limited products. But what is sneaker software, you may ask? Recently, sneaker software or “botting” has become increasingly important in ensuring that users can get the items they desire to sell.
How does it work? A piece of computer software will automatically attempt to purchase an item on a site from your computer. You must set up the so-called “bot” to find a specific item on a site and then click the start button. Then watch it go to work. While these bots aren’t always successful, the best ones have a high chance of purchasing a limited item.
Bots are so crucial to purchasing products that they have become part of the subculture. People don’t only sell physical products to others, they also sell software at a premium markup. Bots are essential to the culture and, as time passes, they are being used more frequently.
The sneaker market is essentially controlled by these bots. As you can see, the game isn’t as simple as it seems, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it at the end of the day.
This hobby is not a waste of time in any way. Although people spend a lot of time doing it and may not necessarily make so much profit, there are still lessons to be learned. Making some money is better than none at this age. Sometimes there are hardships in the business, but you shouldn’t let them distract you from your goals.
Walker addressed this issue in our interview: “I’ve had times that I don’t get an item for months at a time but persistence is key in this game and, as wealthy American businessman Warren Buffett said, ‘The more you learn the more you earn.’”
While the sneaker game may be very beneficial, many don’t understand how it really works. Many people are curious as to what the process is from getting an item to selling it.
The process from start to finish is: determine which items you want to purchase, get a source of money to purchase the item (credit card, PayPal), find information on the item (such as when it’s releasing and where), then setup or purchase software to help you get the items. (The software isn’t strictly necessary but it increases your chances.)
On drop day (the time the item releases) run your bot or go on the site and attempt to purchase the item manually.
If you successfully buy the product, you will then try to resell it above the retail price and make a nice a profit. Always remember that if you fail, there is always next time.
This subculture has developed over the years into more than just buying and selling a product. The culture has enabled many to expand their horizons as young entrepreneurs.
When I asked Walker about how he plans to continue his success in this culture, he responded, “I plan to continue making income from this hobby until I’m around 21. I’m thankful for the opportunities the culture have given me but I personally think adults should not use this as a serious source of income unless they own a software company.”
Walker then spoke about how sneaker culture has expanded his horizons: “Sneakers have opened doors to new ideas and have motivated me to excel in business at a young age. I’m currently attempting to learn to code and this subculture has created this newfound interest I have in computer science.”
Another sneaker enthusiast who spoke with me was my dear friend, Kyle Fischer. Kyle answered a few of my questions regarding the more specific details of this hobby. One question many people have asked is so many people care about buying shoes. What makes them so special?
Fischer answered this way: “Anything that has value or can be sold for a profit is fair game. No matter what brand, what price or what they look like, resellers attempt to purchase anything they can make money off of. The shoes are special either because they can make a profit, or they are limited, thereby drawing the interest of people who enjoy this hobby.”
The culture has grown enormously over the past few years for a number of reasons. There are a number of popular sneaker blogs that discuss the new shoe releases of that month and discuss all the details of the shoe and how to get them.
Additionally, there are sneaker events every year in which people from across the country come to talk, sell and trade their products. The most well known among these events is “Sneakercon.” Sneakercon plays an essential role in this hobby. A few times a year, the community comes together as one and celebrates the culture.
When Fischer was asked about the event, he said, “It’s wonderful to get together with individuals across the country and see how large this market has grown. Socializing with people you’ve met over this hobby and meeting new people is a special and I look forward to the events every year.”
At these events, “sneakerheads” (people who appreciate shoes) from around the world wear their most limited and expensive products.
The person in the subculture who has the rarest shoe is considered the coolest. Shoes and clothing often define people in the culture. The more expensive your shoe is and the harder it is to get, the more attention it draws. The culture isn’t all about selling products; it’s also about turning heads by wearing the products you acquire.
People don’t understand why this hobby is so special and why people value it more than hobbies such as collecting coins or maps. When asked his opinion Kyle responded, “With the entire subculture connected to sneakers and streetwear, kids and young adults are drawn to this hobby. People find it interesting to make money off something as simple as a shoe, but this is a primary reason people are drawn to the ‘sneaker game.’”
Sneakers have opened the door for me and have introduced me to new ideas that I wouldn’t have thought are possible. For instance, I never understood the correlation between computer programming and sneakers but now that I have, I’m intrigued by the topic and am working to succeed in that field as well. With my affiliates and dear friends who attend TABC, I plan to expand my business into the field of sneaker software and hope to be successful. Sneakers have given me a business mind that is important for all young adults to have. Ultimately, this isn’t a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.