- 3,691
- 302
- Joined
- May 4, 2009
My knowledge base is not nearly as extensive as most of you guys involved in this discussion in the first few pages of this thread, but I will offer up my take on what can be done to "improve" the state of the "game" or the industry so to speak. I am not speaking from an "insider" point of view, or someone with major connections, but rather as an individual who reads, observes, and sifts through what he can in order to form an educated opinion. Thats all it is. Take it for what its worth.
#1. JB is/has slowly been becoming a joke. It started in my estimation with the onslaught of the PACKS and shortly after the dropping of the first few 23s. Once that number(23) came and went, so many of the old schoolers began to lose interest even moreso I think than they already had. 23 was 23, and thereafter, only those infatuated with the Jordan name and the idea of limited, QS, rare, and or hard to get were that terribly sucked in. Sure, even the oldest of the old- or super Jordan devoted sneakerheads will come out for the Space Jams, Infareds, or maybe something like these Motorsports 6 joints(not for me btw), but there are fewer and fewer releases now and moving forward that will truly get genuine sneakerheads stoked like they used to. pre 2004-05? The notion that JB will "force" those who carry the product to take on weaker/less wanted/worn out retreads or "fusion" models in order to carry anything that resembles anything from the past - what "old schoolers" remember copping first time around is slightly disheartening. Its proof that they are ultimately concerned with getting people into stuff that they dont truly want, but feel pressured/and or forced into something that is nearly what it should be- but not exactly. If they do, then 2 or 3 times a year they may be rewarded with a glimpse back into the past, albeit of somewhat shoddy quality.
What made sense about Jordans 1-16 or 17 was that the consumer genuinely felt like they were getting the best shot from the brand- in terms of technology and or design each and every year. There may have been a few other spinoffs or team shoes, but there wasn't a ridiculous oversaturation for no particularly good reason of shoes being forced down ones throat- relatively speaking of course. As time has gone on, and seemingly profit, bottom line, and global domination have become the focus of NIKE corporate, they have forgotten what made Jordans so alluring to begin with I think. Now that so many different shoes and items have the jumpman symbol on it, I truly believe that it has cheapened the brand. I get that the reason for so many products is to appeal to more people, but I also think that you lose significance when there is so much under one brand or symbol. Definitely a fine line, but one that has been crossed over many, many times in their case.
Long story short. What could be done to improve it? Start over with say, D-Wade, since he is the "new face" of the brand, and start focusing on him, what he is wearing, make it significant, and don't put out a bunch of crap that no one who is truly educated about sneakers/or interested in preserving a piece of the past will buy. Focus on the middle to upper tier customer/collector/shoe head, and let it "funnel" down. If you make a quality product, at a reasonable price (doesn't need to be dirt cheap) with a current, relevant, and marketable (see D. Wade) face, then go from there. If people believe in it, then the following will grow again.
Who knows, maybe I am naive, and speaking from too idealistic of a point of view, and maybe JB doesn't care about gaining a customer for life, but rather for a few years. And maybe all they are interested in is profit, margins, and bottom line. I'd like to think it could be different, but perhaps I am wrong. Don't mean to ramble. Enjoy reading everyone's take. Hopefully mine made some sense to somebody.
#1. JB is/has slowly been becoming a joke. It started in my estimation with the onslaught of the PACKS and shortly after the dropping of the first few 23s. Once that number(23) came and went, so many of the old schoolers began to lose interest even moreso I think than they already had. 23 was 23, and thereafter, only those infatuated with the Jordan name and the idea of limited, QS, rare, and or hard to get were that terribly sucked in. Sure, even the oldest of the old- or super Jordan devoted sneakerheads will come out for the Space Jams, Infareds, or maybe something like these Motorsports 6 joints(not for me btw), but there are fewer and fewer releases now and moving forward that will truly get genuine sneakerheads stoked like they used to. pre 2004-05? The notion that JB will "force" those who carry the product to take on weaker/less wanted/worn out retreads or "fusion" models in order to carry anything that resembles anything from the past - what "old schoolers" remember copping first time around is slightly disheartening. Its proof that they are ultimately concerned with getting people into stuff that they dont truly want, but feel pressured/and or forced into something that is nearly what it should be- but not exactly. If they do, then 2 or 3 times a year they may be rewarded with a glimpse back into the past, albeit of somewhat shoddy quality.
What made sense about Jordans 1-16 or 17 was that the consumer genuinely felt like they were getting the best shot from the brand- in terms of technology and or design each and every year. There may have been a few other spinoffs or team shoes, but there wasn't a ridiculous oversaturation for no particularly good reason of shoes being forced down ones throat- relatively speaking of course. As time has gone on, and seemingly profit, bottom line, and global domination have become the focus of NIKE corporate, they have forgotten what made Jordans so alluring to begin with I think. Now that so many different shoes and items have the jumpman symbol on it, I truly believe that it has cheapened the brand. I get that the reason for so many products is to appeal to more people, but I also think that you lose significance when there is so much under one brand or symbol. Definitely a fine line, but one that has been crossed over many, many times in their case.
Long story short. What could be done to improve it? Start over with say, D-Wade, since he is the "new face" of the brand, and start focusing on him, what he is wearing, make it significant, and don't put out a bunch of crap that no one who is truly educated about sneakers/or interested in preserving a piece of the past will buy. Focus on the middle to upper tier customer/collector/shoe head, and let it "funnel" down. If you make a quality product, at a reasonable price (doesn't need to be dirt cheap) with a current, relevant, and marketable (see D. Wade) face, then go from there. If people believe in it, then the following will grow again.
Who knows, maybe I am naive, and speaking from too idealistic of a point of view, and maybe JB doesn't care about gaining a customer for life, but rather for a few years. And maybe all they are interested in is profit, margins, and bottom line. I'd like to think it could be different, but perhaps I am wrong. Don't mean to ramble. Enjoy reading everyone's take. Hopefully mine made some sense to somebody.
