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Sockjig Sneaker Podcast

Latest episodes

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Jun 25, 2024 • 1h 20min

How To Release a Collab Sneaker Part 1: Brand Theater

This episode is about how to release a sneaker from a collaborator's point of view. I'll take a look at how they can create a release strategy that suits their needs. But first they need to know what are they trying to get out of a sneaker release and what are their core values. I also evaluate why sneaker releases are the way they are, taking a look at recent releases of Action Bronson, Nina Chanel Abney, and others. I'll answer why some choose raffle, or loyalty access or first-come first-served approach. Plus a lot more! Links New Socks Available Now! shop.sockjig.com MLB Article I'm quoted in: Instant classic? New Balance unveils Ohtani 1, Shohei's first signature cleat Sockilizer: The Raffle Simulator: https://www.sockjig.com/sockilizer/ Whatever Industries: https://whateverindustries.com/ Timestamps 0:00 Cold Open 00:12 Intro 01:25 Shohei Ohtani Article on MLB.com 04:42 How to Release a Collab Sneaker Series 07:07 On Feet  07:45 Pickups 12:09 Skips / Recent Releases 20:34 Misses 21:55 Don't Stop Disbelieving About Tomorrow 24:19 Skepta's Getting Royalties 27:59 Nike Stepping in the Drake v. Kendrick Beef 29:03 Kanye x Nike Not Happening 31:14 Kool Kiy Gets a Slap on the Wrist 33:28 Intro: UP NYC Lightning 17 Drop 38:35 How to Release A Collab Sneaker: Start With Why 41:26 The Why 48:11 The How: Designing a Release Strategy 54:11 Evaluating EQL  01:02:05 Rewarding Loyalty 01:04:35 The What: Did You Get it Right? 01:06:27 Post Mortem / Retrospective 01:09:50 JBalvin Release 01:10:29 Travis Scott Release 01:12:34 Action Bronson Release 01:14:30 Nina Chanel Jordan 3 01:17:29 HUF AM1 01:18:02 Outro
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May 20, 2024 • 1h 33min

State of the Sneaker Game 2024

An in depth look at sneaker brands, collaborators, retailers, resell, sneaker media, trends and overall thoughts on the state of the sneaker game in 2024. Timestamps 00:00 - Entrance 02:01 - Intro 04:33 - Opening Remarks 15:49 - State of Sneaker Market 17:41 - The Rise of EQL 19:30 - State of Reselling: Resell is Dead, Long Live Resell 21:24 - State of Resell Apps 23:15 - State of Sneaker Media 34:27 - State of Sneaker Retailers 36:33 - Boutiques and the Loss of Targeted Facebook Ads 38:51 - Big Box Retailers 40:20 - PacSun Supporting Independent Streetwear Brands 41:09 - State of Signature Basketball Sneakers 44:18 - A'Ja Wilson and Nike Gaslighting 47:04 - Too Many Signature Shoes? 48:16 - One Release a Year 51:06 - AE1 and Being On Offence 53:56 - State of Nike 58:43 - Dylan Raasch Leaving Nike 1:02:40 - State of Jordan Brand 1:09:19 - State of Nike SB 1:11:16 - State of Adidas 1:13:20 - New Balance is a Family Biz 1:17:47 - Asics: Getting GRs Over 1:19:48 - Reebok and Authentic Brands Group 1:27:13 - Other Brands: Salomon, Saucony, Puma, Hoka, On, Crocs, Luxury, Independent Brands 1:31:59 - Outro https://shop.sockjig.com/
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Apr 23, 2024 • 1h 17min

Big in Japan: Sneaker and Clothes Shopping in Japan, Nike's Marketing and Innovation Problem - Episode 67

In this episode, I talk about Nike’s marketing and shitty products problem. I also talk about my trip to Japan, how Instagram is a key for vacation planning, what I wore and what Japanese were wearing. I also talk about shopping and a give a brief history Ginza, the birthplace of Japanese Fashion. Other topics include the Bode Astrograbber release and how Hidden NY has no point of view. Timestamps 00:00 - Newsradio Cold Open 00:21 - Intro 03:09 - Pickups / Skips / Misses 04:54 - Skips 06:35 - Misses 08:47 - Bode Astrograbbers 13:19 - Hidden NY Asics 20:42 - Nike and Goat 24:51 - Nike's Marketing and Shitty Products Problem 29:41 - Nike's AI Designed Sneakers 31:39 - Nike and MLB Fanatics Deal 33:35 - The Sword of Donahue 37:08 - Big in Japan 41:09 - Picking a Travel Sneaker 42:02 - Clothing for Japan 45:01 - Initial Thoughts in Japan 48:42 - Cash Money 49:42 - Language 50:51 - Food 54:12 - Transportation 57:07 - Sneakers Japanese Wear 59:52 - Clothing Japanese Wear 1:01:36 - Shopping 1:08:37 - Ginza and the History of Japanese Men's Fashion 1:15:19 - Closing Thoughts Buy Sockjig Socks https://shop.sockjig.com/
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Mar 13, 2024 • 49min

No Country For Old Heads - Episode 66

In this episode, I talk about Live Streaming and how future sneaker influencers will more likely emerge from this space. I also share my thoughts on all these overly dramatic takes about the Death of Sneaker Culture because Trump appeared up at SneakerCon. Plus a lot more! Timestamps 0:00 - Cold Open: Thurston Moore 02:51 - Pickups 04:17 - Skips 07:12 - Misses 08:56 - HartCopy adidas BW Army Release 13:14 - Wale Deserves More 16:36 - Nike Signs Kai Cennat 20:13 - Complex Sold to NTWRK App 25:14 - Future Sneaker Influencers and Livestreaming 27:27 - Trump at SneakerCon 40:01 - Shawn Stussy Says Sneaker Culture is Officially Over 49:09 - Outro
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Mar 11, 2024 • 1h 3min

Tradeblock CEO and Cofounder Mbiyimoh Ghogomu - Episode 65

Episode 65 of the Sockjig Sneaker Podcast features an in-depth interview with Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, CEO and Co-founder of Tradeblock, a marketplace app for trading sneakers. Mbiyimoh discusses his personal journey from a sneaker-loving kid to a tech startup CEO, the inception and growth of Tradeblock, and the significance of running a Black-owned startup in the sneaker industry. We also talk about the challenges of having a startup that launched just before Covid-19, and also now the slowing sneaker economy. We also talk about what happened with the recent app UI changes and the strong customer feedback on those changes. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:22 - Interview 07:18 - Becoming a Tech Cofounder 15:02 - Tech Startup During Covid 19:36 - Importance of Community 21:47 - Importance of Black Owned Startup in the Sneaker Industry 26:32 - Jason Mayden 33:10 - Tradeblock App 34:50 - Slowing Economy and Down Sneaker Market 39:58 - Recent Tradeblock UI Changes 48:42 - What's Next for Tradeblock 53:53 - Sneaker March Mania
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Feb 20, 2024 • 35min

Lost Episode From 2017 - Episode 64

This is special episode of The Sockjig Sneaker Podcast. I found a pilot episode of a sneaker podcast that I originally recorded on November 30th, 2017. I thought it was lost media but I just found it, cleaned it up and publishing for the first time ever. So let's go back to Nov 2017 when Nike Off White The Ten had just dropped, we used to cop Yeezys from EU sites in the middle of the night. A time many look back on now as a golden age. Timestamps 00:00 2024 Intro 01:15 What is a Sockjig? 02:36 2017 Sneaker Boom  05:11 Rundown 05:40 Nike Off-White The Ten Drop 11:40 Sean Wotherspoon: Need Supply Virginia Drop 15:11 Nike 2017 Year in Review 20:39 Nike Collaborators 20:43 Acronym 21:08 Tom Sachs 22:12 Vlone 23:07 PSNY 23:28 Travis Scott 24:05 Jordan Brand 25:55 New Balance  26:43 Fear of God 27:20 Big Baller Brand 27:30 Yeezys 31:17 adidas Ultraboost 33:23 Pharrell and 4D 33:46 4D 34:15 Outro Support the show! Buy socks at ⁠https://shop.sockjig.com/
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Jan 31, 2024 • 1h 29min

2023 Year in Sneakers - Episode 63

In this episode I discuss bold predictions for sneakers in 2024: Send me your 2024 Bold Predictions. Click Send a voice message button here: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sockjig⁠ I also discuss the recent raid at the Project Blitz warehouse, the Stanley Cups hype and what's important about the Kith Loyalty program. I also look at the Nike and Tiger Woods split and why Nike is letting legends walk. I think talk about the challenges in digital media with recent layoffs at Sports Illustrated, Pitchfork and of course Buzzfeed being broke and content creation in this era. I also talk about my personal goals with content creation and have a retrospective on the podcast, creating best of the year and worst of the year lists. And finally talk about my personal year in sneakers: favourite pickups, misses, regrets and shoes I sold. The Best Sneakers of 2023 - 64 Tournament Bracket https://www.sockjig.com/bestof2023/ Top 20 Worst of the Year in the World of Sneakers https://twitter.com/sockjig/status/1744190809581494595 Timestamps 00:00 - Cold Open 00:19 - Intro 03:00 - On Feet / Pickups / Skips 04:43  - Bold Predictions For 2024 10:05 - Project Blitz Warehouse Raided 13:14 - Stanley Cup Hype 17:59 - Kith Loyalty Program 27:30 - Nike and Tiger Woods: Being the Big Dog 34:43 - Aside: Getting Paid More for Cartoon Dunk Concept Photoshops Than Working at Nike 36:22 - Digital Media and Buzzfeed's Debt Problem 45:16 - Content Creation as an Independant Content Creator 56:27 - Podcast Retrospective 01:05:53 - Sneaker of the Year Lists 01:09:42 - Personal Year in Sneakers 01:22:24 - Worst Of The Year In Sneakers List 01:29:05 - Outro Support the show! Buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/
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Dec 23, 2023 • 1h 15min

Disruptive Sneaker Marketing and The Collaborator Playbook - Episode 62

Anthony Edwards, a star associated with the AE1 sneaker marketing, joins Travis Scott, famous for the Cactus Mac sneakers, along with newcomer JaeTips and established collaborator Jerry Lorenzo of Fear of God x adidas. They dive into disruptive marketing strategies that reshape how sneakers gain traction. JaeTips shares insights for new collaborators while Lorenzo contrasts his experiences in the industry. The discussion also touches on sneaker culture's dynamics and the balance between creativity and market expectations.
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Dec 1, 2023 • 1h 3min

Lois Sakany, Snobette Co-Founder and Wall Street Sneaker Analyst - Episode 61

In this episode we welcome Lois Sakany, a Wall Street sneaker analyst and co-founder of women's streetwear blog, Snobette. We discuss the current challenges faced by big brands like Nike and Adidas, the state of women's streetwear. Lois offers an insightful analysis of the impact of marketing, design, and distribution on a brand's success. We also discuss Lois attending ComplexCon, what people are wearing in Erewhon, and the impressive rise of Emily Oberg's Sporty and Rich brand. Timestamps 0:00 - Cold Open 00:12 - Intro 02:39 - Interview with Lois Sakany 03:22 - James Whitner and The Foundation 11:41 - Attending ComplexCon 16:19 - Sneakers at Erewhon 23:39 - Sneaker Analyst for Wall Street 33:04 - What's Next for adidas and Nike? 47:33 - Snobette and Women's Streetwear Lois Sakany https://snobette.com/ https://snobette.substack.com/ @LoisSakany
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Nov 22, 2023 • 30min

James Whitner's Backdoor Sneaker Ring Busted - Episode 60

In this episode, we delve into the current money laundering allegations against James Whitner of the Whitaker Group, owner of Social Status and A Ma Maniere. The podcast breaks down the possible scheme which allegedly involved selling Nike product to a Chinese buyer, with proceeds said to have been laundered and traced back to Whitner. We explore a possible timeline of events from 2017 to 2022, examine key players involved, and touch on the court documents. We also delve into past backdoor allegations against Whitner and also his growing influence at Nike and the uncertainty of his future in light of the scandal. Amidst all these revelations, we are reminded that allegations remain allegations until proven guilty in a court of law. Timestamps: 00:00 - Cold Open 04:12 - The Major Players 08:28 - The Scheme 14:00 - Axe to Fall: A Timeline 17:46 - Backdoor Allegations over the Years 19:56 - Influence at Jordan Brand 21:34 - What's Next 29:54 - Outro

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