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The business of sneakers: Q&A with teenage entrepreneur Noah Vitale - Anaheim High School Sports There's something unearthly magical about buying a pair of limited-edition, rare or highly sought-after sneakers. It comes once you crack open the lid for the quality-crafted shoebox, peel back the uncrinkled tissue paper and lay your eyes on your fresh kicks (don't even get me started around the glorious give an impression of new leather, combined with rubber and Velcro!). Pretty all-around heaven, right? One person who knows this exact feeling is Noah Vitale, a sophomore at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga. The 16-year old finds a way to capture that piece of sneaker-heaven and convey it to sneakerheads all around the world through his upstart company, Vitale Kicks. Not only is Noah an honors student, maintaining a 4.5 GPA and part of the Grizzlies' team, he's another consummate professional who are able to be found hours before school starts at his desk completing orders, answering customer emails and searching for exclusive sneaks to get a fanatical subculture of sneaker aficionados. In just 6 months time, Vitale Kicks has earned over $250,000 dollars in income, due to a low-supply-high-demand market and plenty of hard work and commitment from Noah. Recently I sat down with all the young entrepreneur to have a chat about how he turned his own sneaker obsession into a thriving business. Quesiton: I love your company logo. Who designed it? Noah Vitale: My brother Nick designed it. He's 18 along with a senior at Los Osos. We sat down together eventually and just assemble it. People appear to like it therefore it worked out effectively. Q: So what exactly is Vitale Kicks? Noah: Basically it's this - Nike and Jordan brands will to push out a series of limited shoes whether its shoes from Air Jordan or Nike Running or anything prefer that. And because they're limited, there'll be a huge need for them. So we find ways to buy them from retailers and then mark them up once we have them in your hands. So, say there exists a shoe that retails for $160 dollars, and it is sold out in stores all across the United States. We'll take that shoe then sell it for maybe $230 dollars on our website. We are able to do this because there's such a massive demand and you can't go in a retail store and purchase them. So, the sole choice is to buy it from your so-called reseller, that is somebody like us. Q: So, if Nike drops a fixed edition Air Force 1, and I don't want to sit in front of Undefeated for two days, I can call you up? Noah: Yeah, exactly. We actually have individuals who do sit outside stores on release day and after that once they obtain the shoes we'll sell them a little bit over retail. So yeah, definitely any sort of shoe like an Air Force 1 we can do the same exact thing. Q: As a consumer, I think that's well worth the mark-up at that time because who's the time to sit facing a store for the days? Noah: Yeah, definitely. Q: So do you employ people to sit out before stores? Noah: Yeah occasionally we do. I'll pay friends say $20 bucks first night to camp out with us. That's just one of the many ways we're able to obtain the shoes. Q: What are various other ways? Noah: We buy them online and direct from retailers like Footlocker or NikeTown. We'll enter raffles. They're not easy and simple to get. It's a complicated process. Over time we've developed friends plus a network of men and women like store managers and such. Q: It actually sounds fun. Noah: It is fun because you're meeting new people and it's really thrilling every weekend to try to have as many shoes as you can and at one time I'm effortlessly my friends. It's a good experience, in addition to making a good profit every weekend. Q: So basically, you've created a business out of your hobby. Noah: Definitely, because it all started with an interest in these type of limited-edition shoes. And then realizing that there was clearly a big potential opportunity to create a business and create a little money. But all this originated as an activity of collecting and wearing these footwear. So, it really is a business and a hobby at once. Q: When have you start it and exactly how old had you been? Noah: Well I was fifteen years old and I started the business in April of 2013. Q: Do you remember the exact moment the concept sparked? Noah: It started when my pops and I were beyond a Finish Line one night, where these were doing a raffle so we were able to grab two pairs of Air Jordans. As soon even as we walked out with the store a number of people stopped us and offered us a tremendous $150 dollars over-retail for the kids. We were like, 'Wow did that really just happen'? It motivated my dad too because usually if you tell a parent about doing similar to this they would say, 'Nah, there's no way! You can't go get a shoe that's in a local store and resell it for additional.' But after somebody on the sidewalk stopped my father and said, "Hey, I'll take those for $280 dollars today," I think that basically kind of lit the spark for everything. Q: It really really helps to have your dad in your side right? Noah: Yeah it really is did assist to have dad on my side. When someone my age is starting off they will not have the revenue to be able to buy 100 pairs of shoes. So having my father to help me out (with his fantastic credit card) was definitely a huge help. But, my parents are always supportive of whatever I do. When I told dad I wanted to get this done, he was all for this because when I was a younger kid I had another business and that he saw how well I did achievable. Q: What's the most expensive shoe you've sold? Noah: Nike has a foundation with Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. At the first from the year they released a shoe referred to as Nike Air Doernbecher that retailed for $250 dollars and that we sold it for $1300 dollars. So that would have been a very large profit. It was form of tough to discover a buyer while we found one with the price it absolutely was satisfying. And we were able to acquire a couple pairs of those. That was definitely our biggest sale. Q: What's been essentially the most interesting shoe you've sold? Noah: We're taking care of that at this time. We have a shoe called the Nike Air Yeezy which is a collaboration between your hip-hop artist Kanye West and Nike. The shoe retails at $250 dollars and it is currently reselling on an average of around $4,000 to $5,000 dollars. We have one pair inside our hands right now and that we're just waiting to find the right buyer who'll pull the trigger. But that's definitely our most effective shoe that we've ever endured. Q: How do you go about selling a shoe that's worth much? It sounds almost dangerous. Noah: Right! We've had it inside our possession just a little over a month as well as the challenge with a shoe like this is you need to be careful about how precisely you sell it because with such an enormous demand, it's dangerous to meet up for the shoe that's worth $4,000 dollars. So you ought to be careful. But we're definitely keeping it safe until find the right buyer. That will be nice once we let that go. Q: Nice payday! What do you generally do with the profits you get? Noah: I'll occasionally buy myself clothes but most with the money is put away in my bank-account and in the bank for college. Also, I just bought myself an Audi. So, that's one helluva first car for me. But in addition to that, I just input it away for college. Q: How amazed are you when you sit back to see the success you have been able to create from reselling sneakers? Noah: It's amazing. When I was driving home from buying my Audi, I was just thinking, 'Wow! This thing that I'm doing has resulted in me having this car.' It's just great to see efforts pay off. Q: What do your pals think about Vitale Kicks? Noah: You know my friends are actually those that I'll bring beside me to pick-up shoes and I'll pay them for coming with me at night. I'll text them some nights and say, 'Hey all of you down to check out Los Angeles when camping this weekend to get some shoes? I'm paying everybody so-and-so volume of dollars.' And sometimes, they do not even wish to be paid as it's just a thrilling experience to go down to these populated areas and also to be around these people who are crazy for sneakers. And it's fun simply to walk out with the stores with exclusive shoes and everybody's considering us saying, "Oh look, look, look, they got this or that." So my friends have definitely helped me be where I am today and possess been a resource of support and have helped me throughout it all. And the best thing about it is, some of my friends have actually started their unique sneaker reselling businesses over a smaller level. It's cool to see that influence spread throughout every one of the group of my pals and to determine them have success too in doing what they're doing. Sometimes they'll ask me for help and I'm more than pleased to help them. Q: Are your customers surprised once they find out you are a senior high school kid? Noah: Well, I only tell people I'm close to but when I do tell them I'm 16, they're very surprised. If anything believe that it's really cool that someone younger than them could be doing something like this. Q: The testimonial page in your website is simply photo after photo of super-stoked people exposing the shoes they purchased in you. How satisfying is always that? Noah: The customer appreciation is quite cool. That's one with the best parts is to determine the customer testimonials. They're really a large help to our company and its rewarding when we get those back. Sometimes we'll even provide discounts if customers post a testimonial because that pulls a lot of other those who haven't bought in us. People will look at that and say, 'Oh those guys are legit ' they do know what they're doing.' Q: What's the biggest challenge you've faced as a young entrepreneur? Noah: My biggest challenge is maintaining school and the organization at the same time frame. I'm taking all AP and Honors classes and hold a 4.5 GPA. When I get back I usually have 3-hours of homework when I'm playing soccer I won't go back home until 5 p.m. Then I'll have 40,000 people on social media that are emailing and contacting me regarding their order or about the sneakers that are developing and asking if I'm getting certain shoes. So that's definitely hard attempting to balance all that. But I think I've type of found that balance. I take time out at a certain hour to respond to emails, to have back to customers, also to post up on social media. Then of course, I sign up for other time and energy to do class work and other things that are more important. Q: Time management is undoubtedly a skill is it not? Noah: Yeah, it's something I've learned to perform. Q: What are your plans after high school graduation? Noah: I don't know what college I want to visit yet, but I plan to go right in a 4-year school. I also plan on hopefully running multiple businesses when I'm out of senior high school. But I definitely will go to college with either a Business or Computer Science Major and hopefully have other businesses in my hands during those times. Q: Who are some of your influences or people that have inspirited you? Noah: I would say operator like Mark Cuban. Or if you watch the show Shark Tank, all those people on the website. It's inspiring to determine how successful they are and just how they're able to help people out with businesses and stuff. Q. Ever take into consideration taking Vitale Kicks on Shark Tank? Noah: Not really. You know, there's over 10,000 people that do the same exact thing as Vitale Kicks. It's not like we're some unique thing. We've just found a means to be successful. Q: What have you learned is the most important aspect of creating a successful at-home business? Noah: How big social websites is in relation to how it can help a business. I started last year with one follower on Instagram and after this I have over 40,000 followers. Social media has really helped grow my business and it's definitely one from the most important factors for almost any business currently. Also the need for good customer support is huge. Like I said earlier, because the shoes are so expensive, folks are sometimes afraid to spend much money. I will be nervous too if I was spending $400 dollars or more. When you talk to a customer, you will be making them feel comfortable about their purchase. So, without a doubt social websites and good customer service are the two most crucial things in having a company. Q: A lot of young people take into consideration starting their very own business or doing something entrepreneurial just like you. What form of advice do you give a young individual who has a great idea and wants to take it to the next level? Noah: I would tell others to check around to see what other people are doing. Because when I was starting the business enterprise, I looked up to other resellers and learned from them. So one in the most important things is usually to take advice and examine other coffee shops and build upon that. And also, not be afraid of just getting started. Get out there and have it going. Because you can have a lot of thoughts when creating an enterprise and be thinking, 'I want to accomplish this and I want to perform that.' But you just have to visit and undertake it. Eventually everything works out. So my advice will be learn and take advice from others and have confidence in yourself and don't be afraid to simply start. Take a chance and merely start. Q: Just get it done! As the famous shoemaker says! Noah: Exactly! Just take action! To find out about Vitale Kicks and take a look at their extensive number of limited-edition shoes, take them into consideration at Vitalekicks.com. And connect with Vitale Kicks on Twitter and Instagram. |