To the uninitiated, shelling out a half-week’s pay or more on a pair of sneakers is a tough sell. But for “sneakerheads,” a subculture of collectors who buy, sell and trade in the growing marketplace, it’s a way of life.
And for Ryan Enos, it’s also a business.
“This culture has become so advanced. In retail stores many shoes are out of stock,” he said. “But resale shops have the stuff you can get your hands on.”
In September, Enos opened Legit Sneakerheads LLC in Woonsocket in a building that was previously a gourmet food shop.
For years the former restaurant cook has been buying and selling hard-to-get sneakers online and at previous ventures that never panned out.
During the pandemic, a spike in sales justified a new storefront.
Already accustomed to marketing his products via Facebook and Instagram, holding raffles and posting new acquisitions, Enos has kept the same formula. He has no marketing budget.
Business has slowed this winter as consumers pull back spending. But Enos is hopeful the warmer seasons will bring new customers seeking fresh soles.
“It was a big gamble,” he said. “Right now, I’m losing money. Reselling can be a very hard game. But it’s been a good adventure so far.”