In this episode I talk about the making of sneaker of the year lists and the criticism they get and why I believe that anyone creating lists like this should embrace the debate.

That leads to the main segment which is about how fandom is changing in sneakers and all other niches. I talk about how it's becoming more tribalistic and how that affects the state of criticism and feedback in this modern digital age. There's also a special announcement!

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

03:25 - On Feet

04:19 - Pickups

13:40 - Misses

15:07 - Skips

17:17 - James Whitner, Virgil Abloh and The Lore of a Swoosh on a Converse

19:00 - Embrace Debate: Making Sneaker of the Year Lists 

28:45 - Fandom vs Tribalism in Sneakers

In this episode, I discuss my spat with the Editor in Chief of Complex, criticism vs hating, how past history affects harshness, the backlash, and a lot more. It's not intended as a rant, it's intended as a reflection. Also, Sneaker Guy of the Week returns, plus the debut of a new segment: We Are So Back / It's So Over.

00:00 - Intro

05:40 - Pickups

06:11 - Misses

07:33 - Skips

10:48 - Upcoming

13:06 - Sneaker Guy of the Week

15:05 - We Are So Back / It's So Over

22:21 - Sneaker of the Year Panels

25:41 - The Zone of Conflict of Interest

26:53 - Recap of What I Said Last Episode

29:56 - Whitaker Group x adidas official

34:17 - What Does an Editor in Chief Do?

38:10 - EIC Responds

41:11 - Looking For Clout

42:10 - Anonymous

47:35 - Journalism Skills

48:18 - Go Outside

48:54 - God Bless

53:40 - My Response

58:29 - Outro

Cover includes artwork by Aldo Giorgini

In this episode we talk about James Whitner not getting charged by feds and apparently signing with adidas and speculate if his relationship with Nike and Jordan will continue. We also talk about the Nike CEO John Donahoe stepping down and who’s really to blame for Nike’s decline in these last 5 years. Some other topics, we talk about StockX sneakers available at Walmart, TwoJsKicks apparently out at Urban Necessities, customizers selling fakes, and Tom Sachs back at Nike. A lot of topics! If I had more time, I woulda made a shorter podcast.

Timestamps

00:00 - Cold Open: Let the Blessings Come In

00:18 - Intro

02:10 - On Feet

02:30 - Pickups

05:26 - Skips

12:05 - EQL Feedback

15:31 - Influencer Era

20:18 - StockX Sneakers Available at Walmart

23:51 - TwoJsKicks Apparently Out At Urban Necessities

27:46 - JSM Customs Accused of Selling Fake Customs

39:03 - Tom Sachs Back at Nike

46:01 - James Whitner Gives Up Claim to $1.2 Mil 

50:33 - Complex Interview

57:16 - Potential Adidas Deal

1:00:03 - Working With Multiple Brands

01:02:10 - Nike Relationship Over?

01:07:14 - Prosper Closing

01:08:27 - MJ and James Whitner

01:10:08 - Nike CEO Out

01:17:21 - Outro

In this episode I cover EQL's recent customer privacy incident in full detail and explain what happened, and why it shouldn't be considered as no big deal because incidents like this could potentially be company ending events.

I also talk about Nike suing The Shoe Surgeon and how coverage of the story seems to be ignoring that he's being accused of mass producing counterfeit sneakers. Allegedly.

Timestamps

00:00 - Cold Open

00:21 - Intro 

02:38 - On Feet / Pickups

09:22 - Skips

12:57 - Upcoming

15:06 - Shoe Surgeon Sued By Nike

26:08 - EQL and Customer Data

29:22 - Disclaimers

33:17 - Kept The Same Energy

36:12 - Twitter Timeline of Events

46:46 - One Time Exception

51:38 - Tweets Deleted

53:45 - Blowback

57:16 - JBosston617's Side of the Story

01:00:52 - Morality and Companies

01:04:04 - Avoiding Company Ending Events

01:08:43 - Who's to Blame

Buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/

The series concludes with a conversation with my friend Corey Whatever who runs the digital agency Whatever Industries that has worked with brands like Rhude, Fear of God, JJJJound on their sites and on their hyped sneaker collaborations. We talk about what happens on that side of the aisle during and after sneaker drops.

You can find Corey Whatever at:

https://whateverindustries.com/

Twitter: @corey_whatever

Instagram: coreywhatever

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

Support the Jig, buy socks at https://shop.sockjig.com/

Premise

You own a fictional skateshop in San Francisco called Ice Age Skate and you're getting 10k pairs of a Dunk SB to release in-store and online.

Let's create a release strategy plan for a hype collab sneaker, and decide how we want to release in-store, to fnf/vip, and online. We'll also do some Backdoor Math and decide if that's an option we should explore. Finally we look at the logistics involved in warehousing and shipping 10k pairs.

If you like the episode, consider buying some Sockjig Socks: https://shop.sockjig.com/

Timestamps

0:00 - Cold Open: Pump Up The Volume

0:35 - Intro

02:14 - Premise: You’re Getting 10k Pairs of a Hype Dunk SB to Release

04:16 - Why a Nike SB Dunk for the Collab?

06:55 - Think of it Like You're Planning a Wedding

07:35 - Start With Why

08:56 - The Business of Collabs

13:54 - Release Strategy

14:40 - Marketing Plan

17:29 - A Sidebar on Location Clearance

21:03 - In-Store Raffle

25:19 - FNF / VIP

27:08 - Online Drop or Raffle

30:32 - To Backdoor, or Not To Backdoor

34:00 - Option 1: 100% Retail, No Backdooring

34:53 - Option 2: 80% Retail, 20% Backdoored at $200

36:39 - Option 3: 80% Retail, 20% Backdoored at $300

37:08 - Option 4: 50% Retail, 50% Backdoored at $350

38:13 - Option 5: Full Trophy Room Mode

38:45 - Recap

40:51 - Final Stock Allocation

42:46 - Logistics Plan

46:21 - Shipping 10k Sneakers

48:57 - 3PL - Third Party Logistics

53:25 - Did Any Pairs Fall Off the Truck?

54:05 - Backdooring Logistics

55:10 - Drop Time

56:30 - Customer Service

58:21 - What If the Online Drop Didn't Go Well?

01:01:22 - Post Release

This is a special edition Sockjig x Loose Laces Crossover episode all about Nike re-releasing grails like Wu-Tang Clan Dunk Highs and potentially Undefeated Jordan 4s.

Listen and Subscribe to Loose Laces Podcast

Apple https://open.spotify.com/show/7irgYwZjswyrUFCBtdio4T

Spotify https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/loose-laces/id1623728170

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LooseLacesPod/

The Game Is The Game Socks available now at https://shop.sockjig.com/

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

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/

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/