Evaluating the Reality of Restocks

With that said, however, retail has not seen a dip at all. When asked if restocking affected initial sales, Greg Grovey, manager at the Nice Kicks retail store in Austin, TX, replied, “I don’t think so. We’ve seen the “Playoff” Air Jordan 11s restock like four times, and every time people are excited about them. It’s always going to be somebody who missed out for whatever reason, or somebody who wants to double up who wants them. Jordan Brand could restock the same shoe 12 times, and all 12 times they would sell out.”

This thought is echoed loud and clear by the speed at which restock becomes “out of stock” on websites, such as Nike. Restocking product, however, is not a recent phenomenon. For decades, you could mosey into a sneaker retailer without a plan, and notice your favorite shoe serendipitously sitting on the shelf. There was little uproar then, because there were less retailers then. The point is, there is absolutely no way to please an entire community, and it is even more difficult to make the ever-growing sneaker community happy. True, the days of the campout may be long gone. True, the idea of owning an exclusive pair of a popular shoe may be fading. True, the sneaker community may be changing. However, who says change is a bad thing? Violence has broken out during campouts in recent years. The rare shoe is still available in the form of other brands. Here is your chance to diversify your collection, and stand out in the way you wish to by having the latest Jordans or popular Nikes. On the other hand, a restock allows you the chance to grab one of those pairs you may have missed out on.  It is, however, the job of blogs and other outlets, such as this one, to distribute factual information. Many times, the resentful feelings stem from inaccurate information leading to disappointed customers.

Finish Line randomly restocked Jordan favorites in February 2013

We are not here to advocate or protest the restock. We figure, maybe naively, the more available the merrier. The restock seems to be a trend that will be around for a while. As with any evolution, it is difficult to accept at first, but with time and proper perspective, can become a tolerated part of the society. Eventually, those who want a specific shoe will have them. A popular shoe will likely will either retro or restock. So, the reality of restocks is that they do not help or hurt. They are not a pro or a con. They are simply an added piece to the ever-growing sensation, commonly called the “sneaker game.” Love them or hate them, restocks are here to stay, at least as long as the demand for sneakers remains high.