Everyone "Hates" LeBron, But His Sneakers Are Selling Like Hotcakes

[TheKingOfMIA6]

LeBron James's decision to take his talents to South Beach seemed to be a marketing disaster, in the short run at least. For a while, it seemed to be impossible to find a LeBron fan outside South Florida. Surprisingly, though, his latest namesake sneaker, Nike's LeBron 8, is selling just fine throughout the country.

"Matt Powell, analyst for SportsOneSource, a market retail tracking firm, said he spoke to three retailers who told him this was on pace to be their best-selling LeBron shoe yet," reports CNBC (http://www.cnbc.com/id/39967513). "Powell also said that sales of NBA jerseys over the last four weeks are up more than 30 percent, thanks to people buying LeBron, Wade, and Bosh jerseys."

There is no sneaker-sales-tracking equivalent of the Billboard charts, but it seems that even in the short run, LeBron's shoe sales won't take a major hit.

The kicks are even selling in Ohio.

However, some retailers report that sales in their stores aren't great, but the overall picture isn't a disaster.

The shoe also has other challenges to overcome besides the public persona of its namesake. They sell for a hefty $160 per pair and are much heavier than most other modern basketball shoes on the market.

Regardless of sales data at the moment, if James and the Heat win some championships, his shoe sales are expected to improve dramatically. Chatter indicates that once he heard Kobe Bryant's shoes sell better than his in China because of the Lakers' multiple championships, LeBron set out in the off-season to make sure he was in a position to win some rings.


http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/lebron8_sneakers_200.jpg​


http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/11/everyone_hates_lebron_but_his.php

[HarlemHeat37]

Everybody secretly loves Lebron, tbh, even if they won't admit it..

[Medvedenko]

I need new kicks to run this fall as my Kobe 5's are seeing too many miles. I tried these new Lebron's and while they were very comfortable ,compared to the Kobe 5's heavy as balls. So I bought the new Underarmour Brandon Jennings Fly G...so far so good and at 12.8 ounces light.

Kobe 6's coming on boxing day. :)

[Killakobe81]

Everybody secretly loves Lebron, tbh, even if they won't admit it..

i dont know about love but i like most of his game ...

on a side note: I hate the fact Jordan's, LBJ's kobe's shoes are so ridiculously over-priced. I dont buy them if i can't afford it ...but i hate to see poor inner city kids of all colors that have their parents stretch their budget to get these type of shoes. Really $160 for basket ball shoes of leather and plastic?

But in defense to the shoe companies it's commercialism at it's best so you can't knock the hustle because there is a market for them. And if they weren't so expensive none of the kids would want them. The price is what makes them so desirable ...sad.

[HarlemHeat37]

They are definitely over-priced, I get a lot of them for cheap though..

TBH, sometimes I use the connection to buy them, and I give them out to poor kids in my old hood..seeing the smiles on their faces makes it all worth it..I don't buy Kobe shoes though, no offense, I can't give those out, it would be like putting razor blades in the Halloween candy..

[Venti Quattro]

I like LeBron's shoes. But LeBron, nah

[TheMACHINE]

Kobe are $130...the cheapest and lightest of the 3

[Refocus]

Kobe are $130...the cheapest and lightest of the 3

The Kobes in your sig look ballin.

[Koolaid_Man]

LeBron James's decision to take his talents to South Beach seemed to be a marketing disaster, in the short run at least. For a while, it seemed to be impossible to find a LeBron fan outside South Florida. Surprisingly, though, his latest namesake sneaker, Nike's LeBron 8, is selling just fine throughout the country.

"Matt Powell, analyst for SportsOneSource, a market retail tracking firm, said he spoke to three retailers who told him this was on pace to be their best-selling LeBron shoe yet," reports CNBC (http://www.cnbc.com/id/39967513). "Powell also said that sales of NBA jerseys over the last four weeks are up more than 30 percent, thanks to people buying LeBron, Wade, and Bosh jerseys."

There is no sneaker-sales-tracking equivalent of the Billboard charts, but it seems that even in the short run, LeBron's shoe sales won't take a major hit.

The kicks are even selling in Ohio.

However, some retailers report that sales in their stores aren't great, but the overall picture isn't a disaster.

The shoe also has other challenges to overcome besides the public persona of its namesake. They sell for a hefty $160 per pair and are much heavier than most other modern basketball shoes on the market.

Regardless of sales data at the moment, if James and the Heat win some championships, his shoe sales are expected to improve dramatically. Chatter indicates that once he heard Kobe Bryant's shoes sell better than his in China because of the Lakers' multiple championships, LeBron set out in the off-season to make sure he was in a position to win some rings.


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Koolbreezey/6a0120a56998a4970c0120a623765e970c-800wi.jpg​


http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/11/everyone_hates_lebron_but_his.php


Lebron's kicks are tight....:lol

[AussieFanKurt]

Yeah his shoes might be good and will sell but he's still a fucking wanker

[in2deep]

I didn't buy that shit