In the bitter November pre-dawn chill, Glenn Kugelman arrived in Manhattan at 5 a.m., beginning what would be a fifteen-hour wait on line. He was there to score three pairs of Nike sneakers, to be released that day only. They were “hyper strikes”, meaning fewer than 300 exist. Fifteen hours is nothing; he’s seen people wait five days.
In fact, for one design, only thirty six pairs were produced. It was a huge event. Ninth in line, Glenn watched a news reporter interview a man ahead of him. He returned home that day with three pairs of sneakers that have since sold on eBay for $900 each.
Glenn has an encyclopedic knowledge of sneaker brands and history – he can describe limited edition sneakers, tell the stories behind them, including which artists worked on them, and what they’re worth just like our history teachers wish we’d memorize facts.
“They’re sneakerheads,” said junior Martin Sanchez.
Sneaker-whats? Teens so interested in sneakers that they collect them, often buying from high-end sneaker boutiques. They read sneaker-oriented magazines like Sole Collector. More impressively, they are finding ways to turn their hobby into a profitable enterprise.
These, of course, are not your parents’ shoes. “To some people, sneakers are trophies that they don’t wear,” said junior Justin Roa.
Some sneaker ideas are just bizarre. Soho shop “A Life” teamed with Reebok to produce its pumps in bright yellow tennis-ball fuzz for a Black Friday special in 2006, and has been selling them in a different color each year since. Not all understand the hype, however.
“Shoes protect your feet. They’re not meant to be a primary fashion accessory,” said junior John Shiavone.
Yet comprehend it or not, they are.
Now Glenn enjoys ‘friends and family’ discounts on the weekends, is notified of releases nine months in advance, and has a definite edge: “I can sell sneakers at 40 percent off retail price and still make a profit,” said Glenn.
And profit he does. He’s attended sneaker conventions where, expense of renting a table inclusive, he’s racked up $150 in shoe sales in one day.
He doesn’t see his interest in sneakers fading in the future, and he’s milking the present for all it’s worth.
“There are a lot of good releases at the end of this year,” Glenn revealed, adding that “they’re bringing back Jordans in the most sought-after colors, and a few new ones.”
Sneakerheads, get them while you can.
