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Divot

#5: StockX, ghostwrite, and Economics Behind The Hype Economy

Apr 2, 2025
Josh Luber, co-founder of StockX and collectible toy brand Ghosts, dives into his fascinating journey from sneakers to creating a $4B platform. He discusses how storytelling, scarcity, and market data influence the hype economy. Josh explains the Dutch auction model that allows consumers to set prices, revolutionizing traditional pricing strategies. He shares insights on nostalgia in sneaker culture and how innovative collectible toys are transforming personal expression and community engagement in the collectibles market.
01:10:31

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Josh Luber discusses the transformation of collectibles through GhostRite's innovative design that emphasizes emotional storytelling and artistic versatility.
  • The podcast highlights the significance of market-based pricing using Dutch auctions to establish fair value in the collectible toy industry.

Deep dives

The Origins of GhostRite

GhostRite is presented as a blank canvas collectible toy that aims to redefine the collectible space through a unique design ethos. Each toy, referred to as a 'ghost', is shaped to be versatile and non-characteristic, allowing for various artistic interpretations while maintaining the integrity of storytelling. The inspiration for these collectibles can be traced back to successful franchises like Bearbrick, which utilizes simple designs that can take on various themes, effectively marrying art and commerce. GhostRite's creation process involved extensive collaboration with multiple toy designers to refine the shape that allows for diverse aesthetic applications, showcasing that the design is just as vital as the narratives it seeks to tell.

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