Cult Edge » Stories of Stores

Stories of Stores | Episode 19: Allike Store

Staff — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:25:43 +0000

Allike Store first established in 2009. At first dedicated exclusively to the online business, the store based in Hamburg, Germany, decided to open its own brick and mortar store this year. Following a consistent start of operations, Allike is currently becoming a top reference for all things sneakers and streetwear. We had the opportunity to interview Fiete Bluhm about the past and present of Allike, and much more. Read the insightful interview on the latest edition of our Stories of Stores feature.

What is the story behind the establishment of Allike?

Allike established in 2009 basically as a home based business with some sneakers and went from 2009 till now quite with some ups and downs…

Tell us about the initial motivation that led you to found the store…

Selling shoes to buy some more shoes.

What can you tell us about the whole business so far?

The sneaker business is totally crazy right now, everybody wants to get a piece of the cake and it starts to get shady…
We do know that you guys recently opened a brick and mortar store – how about that experience so far?
It has been great so far, we are also very excited to have those great clothing and accessory brands in our store who contemplate so good to the sneakers we have. The brands we carry are clothing wise norse projects, wood wood, Libertine-Libertine, and many more.

You also recently updated your website – are there any new features that you might want to share about?

We thought with the all black look, we are done with that. I really liked in 2009 when I started the idea of an all black store, as it goes really well with the meaning of allike, which is actually a black bird, but after all these years it was time for a change. So now we are all white, basically the whole user experience was updated and navigation was made easier. Now gimmicks was our goal, just to offer a clean and easy to understand shopping experience.

What is your opinion regarding the sneaker industry these days? Is there just too much hype around it?

I think release wise, it is way too much. Every weekend there is one release from some brands, you almost start to oversee the good ones. But these are our times and I think it can’t be like 5 years ago where there were just some major releases everybody talked about. What really is different is the amount of stores popping up and the amount of people who want the best accounts after being in business for one year or so.

Allike currently has a considerable number of sneaker and street wear brands – any other fine labels to be made available soon?

We are very proud to work together with French brand surface 2 air and Kazuki Kayashis brand “the fourness” starting spring 2015. But maybe we have some other things going on for spring 2015, who knows… but these are the two brands I can officially talk about.

What about the whole online experience? What do you think is the most important thing when you’re selling products online?

I think nowadays it is the best to keep it simple, great product pics, a small description is always important to me personally and the main facts regarding the product, so, keep it simple, but not to simple…

Just how do you see the future for the whole sneaker industry, regarding both product and customer experience?

There are going to be some major changes regarding the retail structure in Europe in 2015, some major players are going to enter the market and the smaller shops will have a hard time to keep up in the game. Also I have the impression that the major sneaker brands are trying to start b2c business directly with the customer leaving the classic sneaker shop out, so we will see…

Discover more about Allike Store.

Stories of Stores | Episode 18: Livestock

Staff — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:25:01 +0000

Livestock | The crew

Livestock established as a store before the beginning of 21st century, a time when streetwear and the sneaker business were just starting over.

It seems like a mighty long time, but the fact is that if you do business the right way, and if you believe in the difference that you’re spreading out, time turns out to be a relative issue.

We had the opportunity to talk with Gary Bone, Livestock’s director, about the business, curating product, collaborations, and not being a follower.

Read below.

Can you share with us about some of story behind the establishment of Livestock?

The start of Livestock was actually in 1997 when I took over the skateboard shop that I worked at. When Nike started SB we where one of the first Canadian accounts and that was really the first seed for the birth of Livestock. After a few years of working with the SB team the idea of opening a dedicated footwear shop came up.

Livestock | Toronto

Currently you have three different store locations – any plans to expand beyond that?

I can’t really see us opening up in the US unless the opportunity came up to partner with someone. Right now we have our hands full keeping up with servicing the homeland. We do have another new shop opening in the Chinatown district of Vancouver.

«You can’t be a leader if you’re always following.»

Gary Bone

The streetwear and sneaker business has grown exponentially over the last few years – in your opinion what has really changed?

I feel like this time around the resurgence in sneakers is based on athletic activities. If you look around everyone in the streetwear world is much more active then they have ever been with Soccer clubs, run groups and, other athletic pastimes. When you look at what’s really doing well it’s both current and heritage athletic products.

You guys have done some great collaborations with several brands – can you share some clues about upcoming projects?

You can take cues from above to figure out where our efforts are headed for future projects. We also plan to launch our own clothing line this coming fall under the illustrated example branding from our store that we had in Gastown a few years ago.

What is your greatest challenge as a store owner these days?

Sifting through the pile of brands that are out there to curate the best collections you can. Over the next few seasons you will see us expand our apparel offering.

How do you guys cope with the selection process – of product, brands…?

It’s probably the hardest thing we do. You just have to keep your eye out and follow your instincts. You have to watch that you don’t end up following trends too hard but you still want to stay current.

Why do you think streetwear and sneakers have such an emotional side to it as a business – sometimes it’s almost like politics and religion – going way beyond its material existence?

Too much pent up energy? I think it has to do with they’re not being enough ladies around? Ya know? Is it rude to answer a question with a question? How about five?

Finally, what do you think could be the future of making it in this business? Creating great content? Simply having the best product?

I think success in this industry is found in great brand partners, hard work and having some character. You can’t be a leader if youre always following.

Check out some of views of Livestock’s stores and head over to their web location to know some more.

Stories of Stores | Episode 17: Need Supply Co.

Staff — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 09:46:12 +0000

It all goes back to 1996, the year it all began, in Richmond, Virginia. Need Supply started out selling vintage Levi’s, but soon afterwards the owners found out that just wasn’t enough. Soon afterwards the store was selling men and women clothes, as well as accessories, and other very necessary and differentiated gear. Eighteen years on, Need Supply is famous for its superior selection of brands, for its demanding quality and for an always engaging way of doing business, namely by creating editorial content (like the store’s very own ‘Meet the Maker’ series) that just needs to be shared. In the latest installment of our ‘Stories of Stores’ feature we had the privilege of talking with Gabriel Ricioppo, Need Supply’s Creative Director, about the store, the past and the future, brands and passion. Read it all below.

Please introduce us to Need Supply and its story.

We’re a contemporary lifestyle brand focusing on men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and shoes. We put a high value on content and sharing our point of view. Need Supply Co. started eighteen years ago and has constantly evolved ever since. We’ve been telling our story through the brands and products we carry, but also through our biannual journal, blog, the videos we create, and various social outlets.

Your online store is live since 2008. What has changed during the past few years, not only in terms of business, but also when it comes to customer relations?

Going online allowed us to transition from a small boutique in a relatively small market to an international store. We have so many new relationships with customers, brands, and friends in the industry. We can also carry brands that might have a smaller following, but we’ve identified them early, allowing us to tap into their global audience. Going online has also given us an audience for the content we create. And when we have an event in the store, there are usually quite a few people who travel to attend.

What really determines the selection of a new brand for your portfolio?

We have to like the brand and see something interesting in what they’re doing. We have a range in price points for product we carry, so that means different things at different levels. We see a lot of great lines we like, but we can only stock a certain amount and that forces us to be extremely stringent in our selection process. At the end of the day, a brand has to care about their own product or nobody else will. Presentation and details are a big part of the equation.

Gabriel Ricioppo | Need Supply

Could you please name and tells us more about three new brands that you now have available?

Common Projects – They’re a staple for me these days. The quality is great so they really hold up. I haven’t found a better pair of sneakers yet.

Garrett Leight – I’ve been a fan of Garrett Leight since we met him. A great guy with a great product. I’ve been wearing the same pair for almost two years now, which is pretty amazing. A couple near losses, but still here. I even stopped by their store on Abbott Kinney and got them tuned up recently.

Dana Lee – It’s such a simple and solid line. I’m pretty basic in what I wear, so things need to have subtle details and smart design.

«(…)if you don’t have passion you don’t really have much.»

One of your most important online features is your ‘Meet the Maker’ series – tell us more about the series and please share with us about an interesting story that occurred with one of your participants.

We started the ‘Meet the Maker’ series with a visit from Raleigh Denim. The event was a lot of fun and it made sense to continue doing them. A big part of the events is the video we produce for each one, and that has evolved over the years. Recently, we have been traveling to shoot the footage at the individual’s workspace or studio, and then screening the video at the event. We’re very interested in the environments in which brands create their product, so we’re constantly trying to share that with our audience. The last event was with Mark McNairy, and if you’ve traveled lately you know it can be tricky. They were having some weather in NYC that day, so flights were being cancelled. It didn’t look like Mark was going to make it down, so at the last minute he jumped in his car and drove the six hours from NYC to Richmond, battling Friday afternoon traffic on I-95 the whole way. I was pretty blown away by that – I think a lot of people would have called it quits after three different flights got cancelled.

We all know about the importance of sharing interesting content with readers and customers – still, what do you believe could be the way in the future when it comes to customer engagement and interaction?

We all love clothing, but even with that; we all have a lot of other interests. As a company we’ve always identified with that idea and acknowledged that if we relate to our customers in a broader sense, we can create a more dynamic relationship. There is a lot of creativity within our company, so we’re trying to share that. We also have a high expectation for the execution and creation of that content, which I think keeps us relevant and interesting. It’s pretty simple, but I think the future is to keep the experiences real.

Can you share with us about any upcoming collaboration?

We’re actually spending a lot of energy on our own product. We’ll have some small releases this fall and hopefully a full collection for Spring ’15.

Any plans to expand beyond your current “physical” location?

Yes, we’ve been planning it for a while, but as a small company we have to take things one step at a time. In the next few years we plan to have stores on both coasts.

About the business: is it still all about the passion?

It’s a combination of things these days, but if you don’t have passion you don’t really have much.

Go the extra mile and find out more about Need Supply Co.

Stories of Stores | Episode 16: Solebox

Staff — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:01:22 +0000

Solebox is one of the best premium sneaker stores and it has been around for more than a decade. Known for its grand portfolio and also for amazing collaborations with some of the world’s top brands, Solebox is just one of those stores that every sneaker aficionado must go to during their lifetime. We had the chance of talking with store owner Hikmet Sugoer about the past, present and future. Get some knowledge about one of the major sneaker stores in the world and also about the whole sneaker business. Read below.

Solebox established more than 10 years ago – what can you tell us about the journey so far?

It was a long and hard way. Many people out there do not see what it means to run a business. Back than it was even difficult to get any account at any brand. And we are not talking about limited stuff.
So we were part of all the process of today’s market. We had the big luck to do the right things at the right times.

Do you believe that the whole sneaker business still has a lot to do with passion?

Sure, you will see out there passionate people. Not many but they are still there. And on the other side you see a lot of unpassioned people on store side on company side. But this you will find in all facettes of life.

Is the sneaker business still far from reaching its peak?

It is hard to tell. I am sure we are now at a really high level. We had already these kinds of peaks in the past. The biggest problem on this peak is, that the brands focusing their own retails. Means they try to benefit on their own. But this is something to care about, it will short time view work, but long time view it will not work. FOR EVERYBODY.

As a sneaker aficionado – In your opinion what brand is doing the most innovation in all terms?

Adi, Reebok & Nike right now. But this is a momentum, means it can change instantly…

All the big brands (Nike, adidas, Asics, Reebok) are playing it hard these days – still, can you share with us about two or three new brands that everyone should keep an eye on?

Business is tough for the underdogs right now. But I am sure there will be a big time for these in the future.

Just how exciting is it to work with a brand on a new collab? Can you share about some of the feelings involved during the whole process?

For me it is always passionate and emotional to work on new projects. Most intense feeling is to see your first sample. You see postman coming with your box and you get excited to open the box. This is a great feeling!

How do you foresee the future? Do you believe that the whole “recycled design” formula will eventually be overtaken for instance?

I think the companies need to step back. It means quality over quantity. It is too much output. Even if the most is really good. But due to the massive output it is not getting the attention…

Finally, can you share with us some clues about any upcoming project?

Be sure we will do our best to serve as always quality over quantity projects in the future!

Get to know more about Solebox.

Stories of Stores | Episode 15: Crossover

Staff — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:03:37 +0000

Established in Malaysia, in 2005, Crossover is a worldwide reference. Their claim: ‘Be Reasonable, Demand the Impossible’ better translates its values. We had the opportunity to talk with Jem, Crossover’s founder. We talked about the origins of the concept and of the store, some memorable moments of their nine year history and also about the streetwear landscape in Malaysia. Read below.

What made you decide to establish the Crossover Concept Store?

Initially I wanted something where I can develop my interest and passion into a career. Something that I can pursue professionally but at the same time, enjoy doing. That was what made me establish Crossover. Besides music, I think this industry relates closely to what I am passionate about.

The store was founded back in 2005 – what can you tell us about the journey up until now?

We started off 9 years ago. We were faced with many challenges and obstacles. But we were blessed with the support of the Johor Bahru community from day one. It was their support that helped us through it all. What mattered the most for us was to believe in what we do and keeping the faith alive through the thick and thin.

Is there any particular moment or special occasion that you might want to share as a really memorable one?

Honestly, it is hard for me to choose only one particular moment or occasion, as I’ve been lucky enough to encounter a lot of memorable experiences. To me, having the opportunity to work and cooperate with people with similar passion and aspiration will always be a special and meaningful experience.

Can you forward us some specs about the store? Namely figures about the team, the business…

For each and every Crossover store, we have always tried to bring forth different identity in each one of it. Be it the interior designs, or the furniture pieces, or the brand selection. We invested our time & effort to carefully select and plan these different approaches, in hope that our consumer will be able to experience different feel and environment in any of our respective store. Same goes to our online store which is due to launch soon. We hope to bring something new and refreshing to the online community.

Jem | Crossover Concept Store

What would you say is Crossover’s most important value? Client experience? Differentiated product?

To us there are 3 basic principles; great service, great products, and great environment. Combining these 3 elements creates a perfect package that we believe what value is all about.

What can you tell us about the sneaker and streetwear landscape in Malaysia?

The sneaker and streetwear industry in Malaysia is developing and experiencing a healthy growth. We can clearly see this in big cities like Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. We feel that the same phenomenon is brewing in international cities such as Tokyo, New York, Melbourne, Berlin, and Moscow.

What are your thoughts about the current moment of the industry? Namely this global boom in terms of brands, products…

This industry is highly influenced by the music scene, whether directly or indirectly. With its fast pace and ever-changing tendency, only time will tell when the next cycles of trends will be the “in” thing. And at the moment, we believe that the sneaker fever is making a comeback. Besides New Balance, we foresee that Reebok will play a big role in this industry for the year 2014.

Finally, can you give us some clues about upcoming events/collaborations during the upcoming months?

We are still under discussion with a few brands that will be involved in Crossover upcoming projects. As of now, we think it is no longer a secret that Crossover is collaborating with Reebok for its 20th Anniversary Reebok Pump Fury. We feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to work with Reebok and Reebok SEA teams who are very supportive and cooperative throughout the project. It was indeed a pleasure working with them.

Find out more about the Crossover Concept Store.

Stories of Stores | Episode 14: Foot Patrol

Staff — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:47:22 +0000

Since 2002, Foot Patrol has been promoting the sneaker business like very few other retail locations in the world. Following a complex interlude, the London based store reopened in 2010, ready to keep on providing the sneaker fans with the best. We had the privilege of sitting down with John Brotherhood, Foot Patrol’s Brand manager, to talk about the store, the community, the business and much more. Read below.

What can you tell us about the journey so far – the return of Foot Patrol… (the store reopened in 2010)?

We have had a lot of fun in the last 3 (and a half) years. The team has more than doubled in size and we’re confident we have the right people on board to keep taking the store, website and brand in the right direction as we move onwards and upwards. The store reputation and service has and always will be paramount to us as our customers are our lifeblood.

As a dedicated sneaker fan – what are the main differences about the whole sneaker business these days, when comparing it to the beginning of the century (the 2000s)?

That’s a good question. Back then, things were definitely different, the scene was obviously younger and felt exciting. I feel back then the scene was a lot more niche and focused maybe. We see new faces at the store all the time and the customer base is always growing, it’s reassuring when you see a queue on a Saturday morning and its new guys getting know OG’s and everything in between. The scene definitely has a more widespread appeal, which is vital for stores like us and the scene as a whole – it feels more robust this time around.

What are your views about the online business – is it the still the best way to promote and to get the right buzz about a product?

Online presence and business is essential. In the current environment no business can really grow without it and getting our online presence right is our next focus. Regards marketing and buzz, it’s a cautious affair. You can over-promote certain product and it will leave customers missing out when it sells, and if you under do it you won’t get the desired sell through. We put a lot of forethought and effort not only into our products but also how and when it’s marketed, but hey, we’re still learning all the time.

Still, do you believe that a shop – as a place for people to meet – will always be there?

This is always true, especially for footwear. Customers are always going to want to try trainers on before they buy, and as I said above our customers come first, we want every customer should feel welcome in our store, whether they’re looking to purchase something or just have a catch-up about the latest release. For us everything stems from the store.

John Brotherhood | Foot Patrol

As a brand manager and a connoisseur do you feel people still have the need to meet people to talk about cool sneakers?

Without doubt, it’s what keeps the whole thing alive, from the real enthusiast chatting about how close, or not so close the re-issue is to the original – to the honest questions on sizing, style, comfort and fit.

One of Foot Patrol’s most important and recent creations was the “Only in Soho” collab with Saucony released late last year – could there be any new collab any time soon?

This was one of the real highlights of 2013 for us and the response from our customers and online worldwide was insane! We felt a lot of love on the ‘Only in Soho’ project. Regards what’s next, we have to keep the information real tight. What we will say though is 2014 is going to be another good year for us there’s a lot of really interesting and exciting projects that will hopefully please our customers and fans!

Finally, how do you feel the footwear business will evolve during the next few years? Do you believe that the niche will eventually overcome the mainstream as the main source of revenue for brands?

I think there will always be a kind of niche within footwear, no matter how it progresses. Styles will always filter into the mainstream from what has worked at a niche level. The money will always be with the mainstream for brands. That said, the “niche” side of trainer footwear that we work in is bigger than it’s ever been. That’s not to say it’s become mainstream, it’s just bigger than ever before. Everyone in the scene strives for some sort of individuality and that’s what keeps things moving and interesting.

Know more about Foot Patrol.

Stories of Stores | Episode 13: 43einhalb

Staff — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 09:24:36 +0000

Mischa Krewer (left) and Oliver Baumgart (right)

Sneakers and the whole business related to it is all about passion.

The fact is that it all comes down to an obsession, a dedicated (one might as well call it) “art” of finding that new pair, that fresh combination of colors and materials.

In a brand new episode of our “Stories of Store” feature we talked with Oliver Baumgart and Mischa Krewer the proud owners of 43einhalb.

The German store, which is steadily becoming a top reference for all fresh and important releases, was founded after the duo surrendered to the fine art of sneaker diggin.

Mischa Krewer shared with us some of his thoughts about the store, the business, and more.

Read below.

For most sneaker aficionados the passion and the need for diggin’ simply grows and grows – is it still like that for you guys?

Absolutely! Over 2 years ago when we opened 43einhalb we expected the day to come, when we wake up and say: “oh no, sneakers again!” But today we’re sure: It’s just the beginning of the journey and we enjoy every damn day of our business!

Can you share with us a bit of 43einhalb’s story – when and how did it all start?

Well, I met Olli on parties I used to organize where he DJ’ed with his soundsystem “Realbeatz” in our beloved location Sonne Fulda. Our hometown Fulda is very small. So every time when i saw Olli he was wearing very unusual sneakers for “Fulda conditions”. So some day I invited him to the small shoe box I lived in at that time. We talked about sneakers for over 3 hours and decided to start “sneakerblog.net” (later sneakerized.com) which was the first German speaking sneaker blog back then. After doing Sneakerized.com as a very passionate hobby for more than 6 years together we decided to launch 43einhalb (German for EU 43,5 – our common shoe size). And that’s how it all started…

Tell us about the store’s decor – what was the main inspiration behind it?

We both knew that the range of our sneakers would be very bright and colorful. It was very important for us to keep the shop interior as clean and plain as possible. I remember the first night with Olli in our new -but still empty- store and we thought “Everything is to sterile. No one is gonna buy any sneakers because they will be intimidated by this all-white-store interior” – but then the first sneakers arrived and looked really beautiful on the shelves – and everything was perfect!

You guys have been involved with the sneaker business for quite some time – what has changed over the past decade?

The velocity has changed. When I started collecting sneakers consciously there was only one store in Germany with an own SMU. There was more time between releases. You could anticipate releases longer and really look forward to it. Nowadays there are so many releases every month that you can enjoy your new sneakers only for about 2 or 4 days before the next big release happens.

Do you believe there is still room for this whole industry to grow?

Right now sneakers are more mainstream than ever. It only makes sense. Sneakers are the most comfortable footwear and everybody likes this cozy feeling. We still believe that there is more space to grow. But on the other hand if something grows something else shrinks. “The moon waxes and wanes”…

Just how important has become 43einhalb’s online business in global terms? Is it already more important than the retail location?

Sometimes the online shop is more important than our retail store; sometimes it’s the other way around. But you never know beforehand. Anyway, there is nothing better for us than sitting in front of our store with our clients and a couple of beers on a relaxed summer-Saturday.

What are your “predictions” for 2014 in terms of product?

A lot of sneakers will get more technical, lighter and slimmer – we like the metamorphosis of some classics and are very curious what our clients will think.

What about upcoming collaborations with 43einhalb – what can you share with us?

There are some things in the works – but as you may know it takes a lot of time to elaborate good things.

Get to know 43einhalb

Stories of Stores | Episode 12: GOODHOOD

Staff — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 12:13:35 +0000

The GOODHOOD store has been providing fine product to all its customers and friends since 2007. The main principle behind the establishment of the shop was to deliver a premium selection of goods from all over the world.

Jo Sindle & Kyle Stewart keep a very high standard when it comes to select the brands’ available. The history of GOODHOOD, the new ways of presenting and delivering product, and upcoming collaborations for the new season were some of the topics of our interview.

Read it all below on Episode 12 of our Stories of Stores feature.

Who founded and who is currently responsible for the management of The Goodhood Store?

The GOODHOOD Store

The store was founded by couple Jo Sindle & Kyle Stewart who both have a strong history in design. The store is still managed by them with a small team beneath them.

Could you please make a brief introduction about the store’s history?

The GOODHOOD Store first opened its doors on the cobbled back streets of East London in 2007, with a mission to showcase select goods from across the globe. This ‘curational style of buying’ was rooted in design, quality and creativity; and as an ethos has stuck with the store ever since. Over the years the Goodhood name has built a cult creative following and a global reputation for its pioneering approach to retail, with ‘curation’ at the epicenter of everything they do. The store has since expanded with the opening of The Goodhood Life store, extending its lifestyle offering into the world of interiors and homeware, located across the street.

What is the most important thing when selecting a new brand for the store?

The product has to be authentic, interesting and well constructed. We like to source hidden gems, with many of our brands being UK exclusives to us. We also have to believe in the brand. Our business runs on integrity and honesty, we only stock what we like.

Sharing interesting content has become one of the most important ways of becoming noticed online. How does The Goodhood Store handle that?

Content is created in house by our team. We put a lot of energy into our online features, documenting and talking about the history of style and products, or whatever is going on around us at the time. The staff’s are all rooted in subcultures and have a lot to bring to the table.

Please select three special and different products available at The Goodhood Store…

Gel Chop – they have almassed a cult following with design fans across the world. We are happy to be the only stockist in the UK.

Goods – we are just about to launch our own line of menswear this autumn that we are really excited to reveal. It will only be available in store and online at our webstore.

Neighborhood – The Japanese label never fails to impress.

Can you disclose some info about the upcoming season?

Look out for a Soulland x Goodhood collaboration dropping this autumn, and our own line of Goods which I’ve already mentioned. We are stepping it up with The Goodhood Life store, offering sofas and larger homeware objects to the roster and will also have some interesting new women’s brands coming in, such as Lonely Hearts label from New Zealand. There are a few other potential and unlikely collaborations in discussion, so look out for them.

Finally, a message to all those that have first known about your store…

Where the hell have you been? (Too far perhaps).

Go the extra mile and discover The GOODHOOD Store.

Stories of Stores | Episode 11: asphaltgold

Staff — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:27:14 +0000

Dani Benz | Asphalt Gold

asphaltgold is one of the most respected sneaker stores around. Since the beginning, when Dani Benz first established the store in Darmstadt, a small German town, the ultimate goal has been to deliver original shoes, and to do it with a relentless good vibe.

Episode 11 of our “Stories of Stores” tells us about the German sneaker and streetwear store.

Read our interview with Dani Benz and learn how developing the business that you love can be even more fun than it seems.

When and why did you decide to establish asphaltgold?

The starting point was our passion for trainers and the niche in my hometown Darmstadt for a well sorted sneaker store.
When I ended my sports degree a nice retail store from a friend became vacant … that was the point of no return.

How is business these days? Does your online operation surpass the retail already?

Business these days is really satisfactory… comparing to the first 3 years the core customers with passion for trainers increased when in contrast with fashion embossed customers. Also the proportion of woman increased.
We are happy with both channels… the in store business also grew – that’s why we moved to a bigger store right next door.

How do you decide the models that end up at your store? In terms of apparel and sneakers, what really makes the decision?

Since the start we have our focus on retro running. Authentic colorways will be ordered naturally… additional new running silhouettes and hybrids with nice shapes and fresh colorways.

OG Jordan Retros or classic tennis shoes also… our little apparel selection is fitted to our trainer focus. There are also established brands with a connection and an accepted standing in the sneaker world.

What can you tell us about upcoming collaborations with sneakers/apparel brands?

Ask me again in summer… this year we celebrate our 5 year birthday!

Please pick up the best three models that you currently have in store.

With our focus on retro running, we are very happy with the multifaceted colorways Nike offers on the air vortex. The adidas tech super could be rookie of the summer. The shape is perfect and the colorways until now are really fresh! Another model with big potential is the Nike Roshe Run. Very comfortable – nice colorways – unisex… perfect summer shoe!

What was the most fantastic thing that happened to you, regarding the store, during these past five years?

In the last 2 years our team evolved to become a little family. Almost every day there are always good vibes. I think this good mood automatically transfers to our customers. It’s a cool thing going to work around every single day.

Visit asphaltgold.

Stories of Stores | Episode 10: Present • London

Staff — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:18:00 +0000

“A unique shopping experience”, that could very well be a truthful way of describing how it is to buy one’s elite things at Present.

Established in 2009 by Eddie Prendergast and Steve Davies, Present, in London, is one of the most respected and better known shops with a distinct offer of exclusive lifestyle and menswear brands. Nanamica, Nigel Cabourn, Penfield or Filson are just some of the brands available.

On Episode 10 of our Stories of Stores feature, we share with you some exclusive insight about Present. Eddie Prendergast, owner and founder of Present, shared with us his views and understanding about Present.

Read below.

Can you tell us a bit of the history about the establishment of Present London?

Steve Davies and I founded Present in Shoreditch in 2009. For some 20 years before that I had a brand that you may have heard of called The Duffer of St. George, through which I met Steve. With Duffer we moved to Shoreditch in 2001 when it was a place completely alien to what it is today, and even when we opened Present in 2009 the area was entirely different to how it is now. From here to Spitalifields there were only a small handful of clothes shops so in a sense it we were pioneers of what is now a booming area.

What is the key factor that determines the selection of the brands in store?

Eddie Prendergast | Present London

One of the most wonderful things about the shop is the variety of brands and styles we cover. If you visit it on any day you will see 3 or 4 stylish chaps working in the shop all with completely different styles. If we think it will suit any of these guys then we get it in, be it Brooks Brothers Black Fleece, Nanamica or Filson.

Just how important is your online business these days?

Our online business is becoming more and more important. We are very proud of our bricks and mortar shop and it has received many plaudits but at as many people visit and live in Britain every year it is not going to be the same amount of people that have a computer in front of them on a daily basis. The problem with the internet is that you have in essence one street with 40 shops all selling the same gear. So the key is to keep ahead of the pack so people go straight to your website. We are lucky in that respect that we have a very talented web team at our disposal.

Please select three pieces (of any brand) of the store’s current portfolio.

If I had to pick three things I would choose the Navy striped blazer from our good friends in Japan, Edifice (http://www.present-london.com/edifice/edifice-border-stripe-jacket-navy/)

William Fox & Sons Rabbit Shorts (http://www.present-london.com/william-fox-and-sons/william-fox-and-sons-shorts-red-rabbit/)

And our most popular shoe – the Bass Weejun Larson Penny Loafer (http://www.present-london.com/bass-weejuns/bass-weejuns-penny-loafer-burgandy/)

Do you feel that the habit and culture of going to a retail store, enjoying its space and people will never disappear? (Even though there are stores that manage to establish and grow online only).

It will certainly not disappear any time soon. I am not sure if you have ever visited our shop but we pride ourselves on the shopping experience. There are loads of bits in the shop that never make it to the website. To give you an example you have to get past (naming just a few) jigsaws, marmalade, mountains of stationary, paper birds and lots of books and magazines before you get to an item of clothing. We are more a mini department store than a clothes shop, but obviously clothing is the main pull.

Discover Present • London