Sneaker Business

6 Sneaker Business Success Stories [2024]

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Updated: July 23rd, 2024

Experts estimate the current sneaker market at $2 billion and expect it will blow up to $30 billion in the next few years. Compared to other online businesses, the sneaker resale market has grown exponentially and become very profitable.

While the sneaker business is very profitable, competition is still very high, and it might take time for new sellers to establish a client base. If you are starting a sneaker business, you must immerse yourself in the sneakerhead culture, especially the sneaker collection.

In this list, you'll find real-world sneaker business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a sneaker business that makes money.

1. zapato FEROZ ($6M/year)

In this case study, Lau García, a shoemaker by trade, came up with the idea for Zapato FEROZ when she couldn't find suitable footwear for her baby. She wanted to create comfortable, natural shoes that would promote healthy foot development. With the brand's focus on quality and customer satisfaction, Zapato FEROZ has experienced incredible growth, increasing their monthly revenue from $900-1000 to $60k in just two years.

How much money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 6

How We Created A $65K/Month Healthy Children's Footwear Brand That Sells Almost Everything On Launch Day

Zapato FEROZ is a thriving children's footwear company whose sales have grown exponentially to reach $60,000 per month in the last 12 months, with 80% of sales made directly through their website, due to their dedication to producing the highest quality, healthy shoes for babies and children.

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2. Dropout SRL ($1.68M/year)

Kola Tytler, the founder of dropout, came up with the idea for his business after learning about the underground sneaker resale market and self-teaching himself to code a sneaker bot. He later teamed up with others to create software that collected data and ran statistical analysis, which led to the creation of HypeAnalyzer. Frustrated with university, Kola decided to bring the ultimate sneaker shopping experience to Italy, leading to the birth of dropout.

How much money it makes: $1.68M/year
How much did it cost to start: $120K
How many people on the team: 8

How I Started A $840K/Year Business Selling Limited Edition Sneakers [Italy]

Founder Kola Tytler managed to build a profitable business, Dropout, worth over $2.5 million by selling limited edition sneakers and streetwear, despite having no prior experience and juggling medical school; the company saw over 50,000 in-store visitors and over $100k in sales in December 2021 alone and raised €750k via equity crowdfunding in 6 days.

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Read by 3,932 founders

3. B Street Shoes ($720K/year)

Blake Barash, the founder of B Street Shoes, was inspired by street and sneaker culture in the San Francisco Bay Area. His passion for street art and custom designs led him to start painting shoes for fun and eventually launch his own business. From painting shoes in his bedroom to now running a 1,500 sq ft Studio Warehouse and employing 6 people, Blake's business has grown significantly.

How much money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 8

How I Started A $50K/Month Business Customizing Sneakers

Meet Blake Barash, a custom shoe painter who grew his business from his bedroom to now making $50k per month and employing six people.

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4. Atlantis Shoes ($300K/year)

Tom Guo, founder of Atlantis Shoes, came up with the idea after working in the shoe manufacturing industry for over 10 years. Focusing on quality over quantity and aiming to reduce global waste, Guo wanted to create ethically-made footwear that would last a lifetime. With monthly revenue at $25,000 and 500 pairs sold each month, Atlantis Shoes embodies the philosophy of slow living and slow fashion.

How much money it makes: $300K/year
How many people on the team: 2

How I Started A Business Selling Vegan Sneakers

Atlantis Shoes founder, Tom Guo, built a successful business selling vegan sneakers, with a monthly revenue of $25,000 and plans for a sustainable, mindful concept store in the future.

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Read by 6,031 founders

5. Wokecustoms ($60K/year)

While strolling through Tartu, Estonia, Juhan was struck by the uniformity of teenagers all wearing Vans Old Skools. He then stumbled upon Sierato’s custom basketball shoes on social media, inspiring him to create WokeCustoms—a business now generating €3k-€6k monthly revenue.

How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 2

Becoming A Trusted Brand For Customizing Sneakers, Making $60K/Year In Revenue

WokeCustoms is an art-focused custom sneaker brand that has experienced remarkable success, with a monthly revenue ranging from 3k to 6k euros organically and a year-on-year growth consistently averaging around 20% to 30%.

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6. Estuary ($12K/year)

Mikey Young, a sneaker enthusiast and finance senior at Georgetown, realized during the pandemic that existing sneaker resale platforms were laden with fees and inaccessibility. Inspired by Phil Knight's "Shoe Dog," he launched Estuary, a fee-free resale platform, amassing $200k in inventory and 7 sellers by their February soft launch.

How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0

How I Turned My Passion For Sneakers Into A Successful Business

Estuary, a unique secondary marketplace for sneakers that eliminates hidden fees and connects buyers with exclusive products through a subscription-based model, has attracted over 7 subscribed sellers, sold over 30 pairs of sneakers and is on track to earn about $12,000 in ARR within a month of its soft launch.

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Read by 1,986 founders