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For followers of my blog you know that I’ve provided my thoughts on the sneaker collecting and that having some cool kicks on is something that sparks joy every time I lace them up. When thinking of successful traits in the workplace it made me think of where some of the qualities came from within my personal life. Being a Sneakerhead means you can bring a lot more to the office then an impeccable sense of style. Don’t worry this list goes beyond the fact Sneakerheads need money to keep their hobby afloat!
They Can Pay Attention to Details
The difference in value from 1 shoe to another can come down to small details case in point my discovery of Jordan 1 Fragments at Marshall’s. Knowing what differentiates a real from a fake can save you a lot of frustration and that comes down to knowing the things that make that shoe unique. Also just knowing where and when to get a shoe comes down to attention to details. You can’t be late to a big release. If the release is online at 7 well showing up at 7:30 is not going to get you the shoes! It’s simple things but the ability to be on time and knowing the fundamentals of what you’re doing is the key to any job.
They Look for Workarounds
Questing after shoes is not a straightforward process. So being resourceful and coming up with creative solutions is key. Didn’t win the raffle at the store? Well try again on-line. Wasn’t able to get a pair online? Swing by a few retailers. For me when it comes to my Oregon Duck shoes, I always have a back-up plan. If it sells our on Nike.com, I also check the University of Oregon Bookstore or see if I can have a family member in Oregon swing by a store. That ability to achieve your objective while being able to navigate obstacles is huge. Things are not always going to go as planned, but you cannot let that stop you from moving forward.
They Know the Feeling of Frustration
If you’re an avid collector there is a very good chance you take a good amount of L’s (I’m looking directly at you SNKRS app!!!). Sometimes you get the shoe and it doesn’t fit, or worst of all somebody steps on your foot and scuffs them up that first time you wear them out! The shoe gets eaten up by resellers and they have it online for 10X the retail price. There can be times when getting a shoe is just not in the cards. That feeling of wanting something that the universe doesn’t want you to enjoy sucks. The ability to have empathy for your customers is always important. That feeling when you strike out for the shoe is that same emotion that angry customer has when reaching out to you! Channeling the loses allows you to build that connection, you’re not just saying sorry you’re truly demonstrating that you understand their feelings because you’ve been there.
They Adapt to Change
The game changes all the time! It used to be first come first served at the store then it’s wristbands now it’s an online raffle. The way we were able to get sneakers back in the day is radically different then it is today, but guess what we still go out and get sneakers! Prices increase, retail for a Jordan 11 was $185 in 2012 now in 2022 it’s $225. So we’re getting a 22% increase for the same shoe, and that’s just retail, I don’t know if calculators have enough in them to figure out the increase you’re paying with resellers! But if it’s the shoe that you’re after you adapt to that. At work the systems you use today might not be the same next year, your prices are going to increase or your product may take some pivots. Things will change but the Sneakerhead knows to learn how it’s done and keep moving forward.
They Know How to Tell a Story
The thing that separates a Sneakerhead from a Hypebeast is the ability to know the story. A Hypebeast wants you to think that what they have is cool where a Sneakerhead wants you to know why the thing they have is cool. Knowing the why and building that emotional connection is what you are looking for with your customers. If you’re telling your customer well other people think our products good so you should too doesn’t quite hit home like telling them the story of why your product is good, why it exists and what it means for those who use it. That ability to clearly articulate and understand the value behind something helps you gain true customer advocacy.
