The sneaker industry has gone through many evolutions over the past 30 years, from the emergence of global brands like Nike, Adidas and Converse to high-end designer sneakers from the likes of Gucci, Armani and Polo. Now comes the latest development in the sneaker business: Custom-made shoes designed for organizations, schools, celebrities or anyone with aspirations of establishing their own brand.
Sneakerscustom, based in metro Atlanta, is the new trendsetter. Owned by Tarik Edmonson, Sneakerscustom has created a new platform for global entrepreneurs. The first product introduced by the company is a beautiful black canvas sneaker with red & green trim that’s an instant eye-catcher. The shoe is quickly becoming a favorite in the U.S., Caribbean and even the United Kingdom, with the high-top black leather version selling briskly.
The company has created a dual distribution pipeline by selling to wholesalers around the world and direct to consumers via the website. The Sneakerscustom wholesale program features a low-cost system for entrepreneurs to get involved in the fast-growing industry. The wholesale program offers 50 custom sneakers for $1,000. Each sneaker retails for $40, which allows the wholesaler to make a profit of $20 per pair. “I’ve had calls and orders from all over. Malaysia, Brooklyn, Dallas, Florida, Washington, Detroit, Chicago, California,” Edmonson said. “Plus, the website has received orders from Germany, The Netherlands, Canada, France, and Jamaica.”
The potential for emerging niche markets to have their own custom sneaker is unlimited, Edmondson said. Several organizations have made requests to create their own sneaker line. “We’re helping to empower organizations in the community with our sneakers, which, in turn, generates income and pride back to the community,” Edmonson said.
Edmondson said Sneakerscustom already has several new sneaker designs ready to go for 2017. To learn more about the line of products, please visit www.sneakerscustom.com or connect on Facebook and Twitter.
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— Dr. Dionne Mahaffey is an Atlanta-based writer, business psychologist and founder of The WhereU app. Follow her on Twitter @ATLcelebrity @WhereUCameFrom