Kicks Analysis 2017 #2: Conference Sponsorships
Not much to say other than the powerhouse conferences have an affinity to Nike. The ACC has the most teams this year with eight followed by seven from the Big Ten.
Nike
The Shoe That Was Meant to Be
In the end, I guess it was just meant to be. In January of 2016, I had ordered the Nike Air Max 2015 in black and white from Nike’s online clearance section. Priced at $149.97, down from $190, the shoes felt good but not $150 good. So I returned them.
Forward to November 2016 and guess what showed up at Ross…in black and white… and in a size 10? Yup, the very same shoe model, but this time, the price was $70. This is high for Ross standards but at half the price of a clearance price, you know it was meant to be.
How Long Does Two-Day Shipping Take?
So as Cyber Monday wound down, I learned of deep discounts at Cole Haan online. Along with a one-day discount of 50%, clearance items were already marked down 30%. On top of that, in partnership with Shop Runner, there was free two-day shipping.
Cyber Monday was November 28. It’s now December 7, and there’s still no sign of my order. I know shipping to Hawaii traditionally takes a bit longer, and here’s what the tracking looks like.
After one week, my order has moved within California. I hadn’t realized that Cole Haan is no longer owned by Nike and therefore can’t tap into Nike’s awesome logistics and shipping system where two-day delivery really comes close to two days.
Flight 23 Takes Off in Hawaii
Flight 23 by Footaction officially took flight on Friday, November 18, 2016 with its grand opening in the International Market Place.
Technically, this storefront is not really a retail store. It’s an Air Jordan-focused addon to the adjacent Footaction. The workers roam between the two stores, and all purchases are made at Footaction. But still a Flight 23 in Hawaii brings with it the Air Jordan line such as the Banned AJ1 that sold out online in minutes.
You get to lace up your Jordans on these plush chairs.
But if you wanted variety, go to the connecting Footaction for other kicks.
Both areas featured some hard-to-find kicks, so it’s no wonder I saw many shoppers carrying Footaction bags. This place will definitely be a place to watch for new Nike and Jordan drops.
Great Customer Support, Nike!
Wow, I was hopeful but uncertain. But sure enough, Nike pulled through with great customer service and support, approving my return of my Air Max Lunar1. Although two years old and technically right outside the defective products period, I had nothing to lose by trying a return.
Nike.com purchases: Flawed shoes, apparel and gear can be returned if manufactured less than two years ago.
After about a week of processing, I finally received notification that my return was accepted and fully refunded. I forget how I originally paid for my Lunar1 since part of my refund is on gift card. In any case, I’m more than satisfied, and both you and I know that this act will definitely make me buy another pair of Nikes very soon. Ooops, already did!
Discounted Aloha
I don’t know why local clothing designer Sig Zane has his items available on Nike.com, and I don’t really care. I guess Sig has collaborations with Hurley that is affiliated with Nike. While I love the designs, I wasn’t about to pay full price for the goods. Luckily, now that summer is coming to a close, this seasonal stock is being discounted to more reasonable prices.
NYDC16 Observations
So what other nuances did I observe on the East Coast in DC and NYC?
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Well, I already mentioned that Five Guys Burgers and Fries is nothing new. Unlike Hawaii where lines were constantly long, there were no lines at many of the Five Guys we passed.
Jordan Retros and Nike Foamposites
While Nike Roshes were very popular in DC, what surprised me in New York was the number of retro Jordans and Foamposites that I saw. Retro Jordans were everywhere. Even cleaning crews at Grand Central rocked the Jordans. The Jordan 8, the Jordan 6, and the Jordan 4 were pretty popular.
Unique Apple Stores
I only saw one Apple Store in DC, the one in Georgetown. On the outside and immediate interior, this location was similar to other Apple Stores. But in the back, there’s this spartan, sunlit area that’s distinctive compared to the rest of the store.
However, in New York, Apple Stores seem to have their own unique identity. I mentioned the Grand Central location that is part of the station.
While riding the bus, I got to see the glass cube at Fifth Avenue and then later, the glass corner of the Upper West Side. On the way to the MET, we passed the classic architecture of the Upper East Side. Each has its own wow factor.
Apple Pay Is Expanding
Seemingly there’s a push for businesses to adopt Apple Pay. Many vendors had signs promoting the use of Apple Pay. Levain Bakery is one of those…that I used twice.
White Earbuds
Back in the day when Apple introduced the game-changing iPod with white earbuds, who knew that the color white would be so distinguishable. Years later, white earbuds are still popular as seen on a sampling of subway riders.
Squirrels Are Aggressive
Some squirrels have gotten too accustomed to people and are even aggressive when looking for food. I thought this guy was going to launch himself at us and our food.
Police Are Everywhere
In both DC and NYC, the police are everywhere and everywhere else. There’s a sprinkling of military personnel also. The amount of security in Grand Central was kinda surreal with armed police or guards at entrances and patrolling the area.
With all that people and all there is to do at all hours in the city that never sleeps, I tip my hat to the NYPD.
Vineyard Vines
So apparently Vineyard Vines is a thing on the East Coast. Their clothes are just too bright and preppy for me, but this trucker hat on clearance beckoned to me. I doubt this brand could make it in Hawaii.
Returned my Air Max Lunar1
In July/August 2014, I was stoked that I was stocked with the Nike Air Max Lunar1.
The Lunar update of the Air Max 1 has been awesome (and stylish too), but the other day, this happened. A part of the outsole separated from the shoe itself. I thought I had something stuck to the bottom of my shoe as I was walking, but it was the shoe itself!
Not major, but from what I can remember, this is the first time I encountered a defect like this. Sure it’s years later, but usually, my Nikes are retired after too much wear and tear. Anyways, after posting my pic on social media, I get a response from Nike via @nikestore. After exchanging some information, I submitted for a return.
@geewhy Got it. Let's have you start the online return process here: https://t.co/vxBneOJ8Gf
— Nike.com (@nikestore) July 24, 2016
My original shoe purchase is right over the two-year warranty period, so I don’t know if my return will be accepted. But at this point, what’s there to lose? I could glue back the outsole, but I think that’s really an indication that other parts of the shoe are failing. We’ll see what happens…
Sadness Is…
Reaching the NikeLab store at 11:30 when it opens at 12:00, and you’re on a time schedule.
That is sadness.
Roshes Still Rule
I can’t help but look at the shoes of pedestrians. What I see on NYDC16 is lots of Nike Roshes. Lots. Probably the prevalent sneaker that I’ve noticed. There are quite a few Nike TR trainers too.
For all the success of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, I saw lots of GS hats and jerseys. But I saw only one pair of Curry 2. There were some other UA runners and cross trainers but very few signature Under Armours.
Adidas had a fair showing. Surprised at how UltraBoosts I saw. A handful of NMD and a lot of lifestyle shoes like the Stan Smith. Didn’t come across a CrazyBoost Light 2016 or the AlphaBOUNCE.
I managed to snap a pic of this cool colorway of the Nike Presto, but overall, the Roshes still rule.
It’s Okay to Cry
After the Cavaliers victory over the Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, it’s okay to be overwhelmed by emotions as picked up by Nike.
Even the King was overcome. But it’s okay to cry.
Kicks for the Older Generation
Call it what you want, a blunder or pure genius, but the latest low cut, white colorway of Under Armour’s signature for Steph Curry is in the spotlight. Although truly a performance basketball shoe, the white colors of the “Chef” impart an older feel for these kicks. Check out this fictitous commercial made by Jimmy Kimmel.
Online, this makeup is being killed for its “old man” looks, but then again, with this much coverage, I think this shoe has more public awareness than many other.
Not alone in this “shoe for dads” category, Nike, Adidas, and New Balance has their contributions as well. The aggressive styling of the upcoming Adidas Crazylight Boost 2016 screams for the young, but the white out look appeals to the aged.
New Balance may use premium materials for the 30th anniversay of the 999 model. But that colorway looks plainly familiar.
But Nike still owns this space with its top-selling Air Monarch line. The Air Monarch IV is the quintessential shoe for the older generation.
