This week’s issue of BusinessWeek reports on Stephon Marbury, two time NBA All-Star and point guard for the New York Knicks, launching his Starbury One line of sneakers, priced at $14.98. That’s right. $14.98. And to endorse them he will wear them when he takes to the court. The sneakers are 1/12th the price of $180 Air Jordan XX1. Marbury wants to show kids in urban centers what it really costs to make a high quality athletic shoe. Says Marbury, “Two hundred to buy pair of sneakers, that’s groceries for the week.”
Will this change the athletic shoe game? I hope so. But more importantly I hope it changes the “shoe culture” of the urban streets.
Unfortunately the “shoe culture” exists in other forms at every level of the market. Juxtaposed just two pages earlier was a lead-in to special report on the “ultracompetitive sport of extreme consumption.” We’re talking $60 million weddings, $130 million dollar homes, 453 foot yachts, and $300,000 initiation fees to clubs.
The best business minds guide many companies to pursue the more “value added” spectrum of the market. It plays upon a consumerism that is going unchecked. Should we, as followers of Christ, continue to pursue the market up the value chain, or should we stop, like Marbury, and say this is crazy and wrong to entice kids in the inner city to buy $180 sneakers?
I know, I know. We are a nation of unparalleled wealth and luxury. And there is not anything wrong per se with having a nice home or car or other luxuries. The thing we need to watch is the condition of our hearts. Do we recognize the competitive lure of consumerism? Does our satisfaction rest on what we have and are we defining ourselves and others by what we have?
And I know that some may just view this as brilliant marketing genius with nothing noble about it. But I’d rather err on the side of making sure the groceries are bought before the shoes.
Can we take Marbury’s example and explore other product areas that are begging for a $14.98 sneaker? And can our marketing be responsible enough to let kids know that their identity and worth is not $180 worth of leather and rubber?
P.S. In answer to the many, many requests we’ve received: The only place you can purchase Stephen Marbury’s shoes at Steve and Barry’s.
Comments (53)
Is It Viable?
Is Stephon Marbury just trying to make a point now that he’s made millions playing ball, or will this end up being a viable business, making quality sneakers at an affordable price? You could probably get a $15 pair of basketball shoes at Target, too, you know.
is it viable?
That remains to be seen . . .
Here’s what Slam Online reported the day after the shoe launched:
"I just got word that when the Steve and Barry’s store in Manhattan Mall opened this morning, there were about 500 people in line outside the store. The people came charging in when the doors opened, and the store completely sold out of Steph’s shoes. Really. They were bringing in shoes from the back, people kept coming in to get their kicks, and even the actual Steve and Barry were having to work the registers to help get people through there.
The only downside is that because of the low price-point, the store only made $7 profit. Kidding!!
For real, that scene wasn’t only in Manhattan. Stores in Kansas and Michigan had similar runs on the Starbury shoes, and I was told that nobody’s exactly sure how well they did at the other Steve and Barry’s stores because all of their stores were so much busier than they thought they would be that by this afternoon they hadn’t had a chance to tally things up and see where they stood just yet".
http://slamonline.com/online/2006/08/starburys-sale/
Two days later Sportbiz said:
"As Marbury says,"Two hundred to buy a pair of sneakers, that’s groceries for the week." He wants Starbury One’s low price to show kids how little it costs to make a high-quality sneaker. "History is going to say Stephon Marbury changed the game," he says." He has a line of clothing in the works to go along with the sneakers, which will be similarly low priced. If this takes off the way it should and I hope it will, Marbury will deserve all the credit in the world in the world for changing the shoe culture of the streets. If he can convince kids they don’t need expensive sneakers, he will be well deserving of all the props we can give him. Good luck with it Stephon. Let’s hope wearing the shoes won’t prevent kids from getting back on "D"."
http://thesportsbizblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/starbury-one.html
Is it sustainable?
I agree.
You CAN get a good pair of shoes at Target for $15, but let’s be honest. When you’re a kid, you want nice things. I’d rather have a name brand shoe for $15 than a Target shoe for the same price.
Also, I highly doubt Target shoes match the quality of Air Jordans, which the Marbury shoe supposedly does.
you COULD get $15 shoes at target
but in all honesty, none of the shoes i’ve ever bought at target or payless for under $30 compare in quality to a $60 pair of sneakers.
also none of them compare to a $100 pair of tims.
$15 Target Shoes
I was comparing $15 Target shoes to $15 Marbury shoes. If the Marbury’s are on par with Target’s, then nothing’s has changed. But if they even come close to $100+ Nikes, then we may have something new here.
Name recognition
I like the concept that an actual NBA player is endorsing a "cheap" line of shoes. Yes, you could probably get a $15 pair of basketball shoes at Target or Payless but I think having the name recognition adds a whole new dimension to the shoe. I saw them on Good Morning America and they really look good. I would definitely buy them. Time will tell…just ask Shaq. His shoes are flying off the shelves at PAYLESS for under $40.
shoes
how do you get to the web page to buy shoes
shoes
This shoe is currently available only (exclusively!) at Steve and Barry’s shoe stores. Here’s a link to find the location nearest you: http://www.steveandbarrys.com/website/stores.htm
Hold On…
Those shoes look great in the picture, well, at least they do in front of his $1500 suit. Don’t get me wrong, I think that what he has done is huge, but it takes more than one guy’s cheap shoes to that aspect of our culture.
Hold On…
You’re right. It will take more, but it’s a start, a pretty symbolic one at that. Maybe his initiative will catch on and inspire others to "own" what is going on in the culture and then creatively,boldly take additional steps to influence the culture.
Hold On…
Those shoes look great in the picture, well, at least they do in front of his $1500 suit. Don’t get me wrong, I think that what he has done is huge, but it takes more than one guy’s cheap shoes to that aspect of our culture.
What Size’s ???
I know where too buy the shoe’s, but do
they carry them in size "13" ???
I mean if he dont,what the hell !!! he wear’s size "14" or "15" right ???
can they mail
can they mail the shoes to any house
re: can they mail
i don’t know — it’s a good question. You can ask Steve + Barry’s here: http://www.steveandbarrys.com/website/contact.htm
shoes
yeeeeeeeeeeeeee son
Quality not demand
Are the shoes comparable to other higher- priced basketball shoes? Meaning: Are they leather? Do they have the same cushion? Do they hold up? Not- Well, they were flying off of the shelves in NY, Mich, etc…
Who Sell this Shoe
Where are shoe located in Los Angeles and Orange County California. What store carry thie shoe
Go Tigers
I remember Hakeen Olajuwon had a pair of Spaldings back in the day for like $15 a pair, and cats roasted the one guy in our school that got them, but then again, he also saved and got a Camaro when he got his license too!
I’m actually looking to get a pair for my adult league, as the $40 Converse I bought last year are actually falling apart now!
colors
can i see all the colors
where can i find
i wanna get a pair where can i buy these sweet kickes at???
where are these shoes
where can i find these shoes in milwaukee wisconsin.
Shoes
You can get these shoes at any near-by Steve and Berry’s athletic store.
Where
Can I find these shoes at Dicks Sporting Goods? (in Wisconsin)
yep
i’ma buy a new pair every day and stay fresh!!!lol shaq’s shoes are cheap 2
shoes
stephon i think its great that you are doing this!! i really shows what kind of person you are and were you came from. now im not poor but im not rich either so this is nice. i am the starting point guard at my middle school and i like to have a new pair of basketball shoes!! THANK YOU!!
Good luck, c-mac
thanks for writing. we agree that it’s a good thing. Good luck on your season. We hope that you have great success personally and as a team. Let us know how it goes.
WHERE??????????
I’ve been looking all over for them!I can’t find them anywhere.I’m a big fan of yours and I would love to have a pair of your sneakers.I look at them on the internet all the time and they look really good,especially for $14.98!If I found them in size 9.5,I would go crazy.My friends told me they were at Steve & Barry’s,so I went there and the guy that works there told me that they were sold out and he said we wont be ordering them again,so theres no where else to go.I think you should put them in Dick’s,Champs,Finish Line,Foot Locker,Sports Authority and every sports store you know of because I really like them.Well i hope you take my advice and I just wanna say good luck this year,hope you win it all!
wheres a picture of the shoe
i want to see a pic before i go all the way to the store to buy them
sizes
i love the sneakers but i would love them more if they were in sizes 6, 6.5, and 7 that dumb that they dont make them in those sizes. i mean come on some people are 6, 6.5, and 7
thanks for making your sneakers cheap
i love those starburys
where
where can i find them
Marbury Sneakers
As a business major, I understand marketing and the mind set it creates in our children. I am excited to hear of Mr. Marbury’s $14.98 sneakers and the potential changes it may impose. My hopes lye in the success of these sneakers. I personally prefer running shoes, however I believe in this movement so much that I intend to purchase Mr. Marburys sneakers for my children and for future gifts.
The Marbury "movement"
I’m in agreement with John q. We do hope that this model becomes a movement. I think it gives us a template for business innovation with a purpose.
What other products could be developed to break similar strangleholds on groups of people?
excellent!
mj is my favorite but marbury becomes an inspiration…
Lovin the kicks!
I love ethe fact that Stephon Marbury decided to make good and cheap sneakers. All other sneakers made by NBA players cost $70,80,90,100 and even more. Last week I was at a store and like these shoes so i asked how much they were and the lasy goes "$180." I would never buys sneakers for $180. Shaq has affortable shoes too. His are about $30 which is great compared to the Wade’s ($100) Jordan’s ($120) and Iverson’s ($120) but now with the new Marbury’s ($14.98) kids can get a great product are a fraction of the price. I mean $120 for sneakers come on now.
shoes
where can i buy this shoes
kid with a point
My son really hated the style of the shoes. He is 13 and his Dad and I could not persuade him into getting this shoe. Joel just cant understand why he doesnt like the shoe. We really like the concept and appreciate stephon’s kindness in considering our wallets. God Bless.
I LOVE WHAT MARBURY IS DOING
I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL WHAT MARBURY IS DOING TO PROVIDE A FLY SNEAKER AT A AFFORDABLE PRICE. I FOR ONE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THIS MAN, BUT NOW HE HAS WENT UP 10 NOTCHES IN MY BOOK, HE IS VERY CHARITABLE AND HE’S MORE THAN A WINNER AND COMMUNITY PROVIDER IN MY EYES, KEEP DOING YA THING DOG!
Thanks for your comments
Fo more on how the shoes are doing, check out the our recent followup article "Stephon Marbury’s Shoes Soar".
http://www.insidework.net/web/articles/Stephon_Marburys_Shoes_Soar.html
marberry knows
I have twin sons who love basketball when i heard of this sneaker i ask them would they like them "yea they said marburys are hot" they also want the basketball shorts that cordinate with the sneaker which are only 6.96. Marberry knows he can make is millons playing basketball there is no need to make millons on the back of hard working parents (to fellow new yorkers there is a steve and berrys in roosevelt field mall)
cool
this is sooooooooooooo coooooooool
Thank You Man
Designing 15 dollar shoes is a very good example for younger people like me because it shows that you don’t have to blow 100 bucks on shoes. You are a great role model and god bless you. But I have on question … Where can I get them?!?!
basketball
It does’nt madder what shoe you play in a shoe is a shoe.when you look in a air
Jordan shoe there is leather in it that is not comferbowl
.when you look in a Stephon
MARBURY`S SHOE it has no leather that makes it comferbowl to wear.
A shoe that is great to wear.At 15 dollars.
then you have a 120 dollar air Jordan that is not comferbowl because it has leather in it.
Steve and berry’s?
At Steve and berry’s can i get the new starrburrys in size 5?
lesson
Stephon Marbury may teaching kids an important economic lesson. Billion dollar corporations depend on the ignorance of consumers for profits.
Are the shoes coming to New Mexico anytime soon??
Yea I love the fact that the shoes are so affordable. I could use a couple of pairs for AAU, High school and jus for everyday. Get back at me if they are coming to albuquerque….
shoes
can i buy them in ga conyers
It’s about time
As a mother I have been telling my son about the high price of sneakers for a long time. I think Stephon Marbury has put the truth in all of our faces. Finally doing something that doesn’t benefit himself but others. Kudo’s to you Stephon. Hopefully, others will follow and they will. People love new trends especially if it makes them look good. Keep up the good work.
cheap sneakers
The premise behind this lower cost sneakers is fine but come on! Is he really gonna wear that sneaker on the court? The pair that he wears is gonna be state of the art and won’t obviously be the low cost ’sweat-shop’ sneakers that will be sold off the racks.
@xoe
I can’t say anything about the quality as I don’t own a pair, but Stephon Marbury is actually playing in these shoes. Apparently, Ben Wallace is too: http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/wallace_shoes_070327.html
sweat shop comment
I think that it’s also important to point out that contrary to the comment by @xoe that these are sweat shop sneakers that Marbury’s shoes AREN’T made in sweat shops. He is however demonstrating the difference that it costs to make a shoe, which can be done well and inexpensively, and how much it costs to sell a shoe that has millions upon millions of advertising, marketing, and endorsement costs that the shoe has to pay for. These costs add up to much more than the shoe, and hence, you get your $120 kicks.
cant get them at sport authority
I mean your doing a good with selling
15$ shoes but you only sell them at
STEVEandBARRYS.
Big Up to Starbury
I Know stephon marbury did a good thing for consumers. He knows a lot about what the inner city kids need and the rest of us needs. Smart move!!!! There are a lot of connotations to why he did this,just read between the lines and you will understand. I like jordans but forget them. Love nikes but hey $14.98 can beat that. Now all day I dream about starbury’s(ADIDAS)