Sneaker Con the biggest shoe trading event in the U.S. hits Atlanta from 12pm-7pm on Saturday Jan 5 at the YMCA located at 2220 Campbellton Rd, Atlanta, Ga. The popular sneaker show was featured on MTV during it’s run in L.A. and has established a base in New York, Charlotte, N.C, Chicago, Miami and D.C. This is the first time Sneaker Con set up shop in Atlanta and co-founder Alan Vinogradov says it is all about timing.
“Atlanta is a place that doesn’t get many sneaker events,” says. “ Essentially we felt like it was the right timing. Atlantans understand the concept. They understand shoe culture and what it is about.”
Attendees can buy, sell, trade and view some of the post expensive and sought after sneakers to date. There are about 30 different vendors who offer limited edition sneakers as well as sought after shoes like Adidas, Air Force Ones, ol'school Pumas and more. Sneaker aficionados can view the Jordan VII ‘Ray Allen’ House of Hoops which was released in only 24 pairs in 2008, the Air Yeezy by Kanye West which usually goes for $2,000 and the ParaNorman Foam Posite, a collaboration sneaker between Nike and the creators of the Movie “ParaNorman.”
The shoe trading show was originally modeled after The New York Stock Exchange, where traders walk the floor negotiating and yeling out prices. Though the model was successful in New York Vinogradov says other markets take a more laid back approach. Vinogradov syays in market like Charlotte people walk around with the shoe on top of the box which is also an acceptable approach.
“ It’s an opportunity for people to show their products,” Vinogradov explains. “We wanted an event where people have the opportunity to sell shoes and young clothing brands can come and test their products.”
Sneaker Con offers a one of kind experience by allowing newly launched brands and kids to try out their business chops. Vinogradov says it’s an economically viable way to introduce a new clothing line or product to the market, as opposed to events like the Magic Show in Las Vegas where a fledgling brand may pay around $5,000 to show a product.
“Anyone can come and trade shoes. We welcome the idea of anyone being able to swap shoes with each other,” Vinogradov says. “ We encourage young kids to come set up tables to learn business ethics. It gets them involved in something positive.”
Over the years Vinogradov has seen a spike in shoe culture interest which has also increased the vendors. As a result, the team laid out ground rules to make Sneaker Con accessible to everyone. There are no musical performances, no alcohol and they never hold the trading show in a club. They trading event ususally brings out around 1,500 people including athletes and they want to keep it kid friendly and strictly about the shoes.
Sneaker Con
12pm-7pm
2220 Campbellton Rd,
Atlanta, GA 30311
$15
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