For as long as you can remember, you’ve always had a thing for sneakers. But up to this point, you’ve viewed them primarily as a means to an end. You’ve never thought about seriously collecting them.
Today, that changes. You’re looking into starting a sneaker collection and are in need of some advice. We have just the advice you need.
Here is a complete guide to accomplishing your sneaker collecting goals.
Don’t Follow the Pack
In the sneaker collecting community, it’s common to encourage the acquisition of specific types of sneakers. These sneakers are said to be necessities in any respectable sneaker collection.
But here’s the thing: they don’t have to be. This is your sneaker collection after all. It should contain sneakers that you want, not what everyone else is saying you should want.
So, our first piece of advice is simple: don’t follow the pack. Create your own expectations, set your own goals, and seek out sneakers that will satisfy your tastes.
Get Your Foot in the Door
You surely already own some shoes. However, just because you own shoes doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily part of your sneaker collection.
This brings us to our next tip: get your foot in the door. What do we mean by this? Buy the first pair of sneakers for your collection.
This doesn’t need to be the most expensive or most coveted pair of sneakers. It can be any pair, really. Its purpose at this time is to get you started and boost your enthusiasm for collecting more sneakers in the future.
Assess your budget, set a maximum price, and find a pair of sneakers that you can be proud of. Once you have that first pair, you’ll be itching to buy more.
Use Some Discretion
When you first get started on your sneaker collection, you’re likely to want to buy everything in sight. We advise against this. If you do this, you’ll blow a lot of money in a short amount of time, and won’t have money to pay for new sneakers down the line.
Therefore, instead of splurging on everything shoe you see, use some discretion. Take a good hard look at each pair of sneakers and decide which ones are your most coveted.
Who knows? In two months, you might decide that you never wanted those other sneakers anyways.
Scour Many Different Sources
You likely don’t have an endless stream of money to throw at new sneakers. Therefore, you’re going to have to try to cut financial corners. One way you can achieve this is by scouring many different sources for sneakers.
So, don’t just look at Amazon and Foot Locker, and other big retailers. Also, keep an eye on smaller retailers as well as on sites like eBay and Craigslist. Often, you can find sneakers sold by private sellers on marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace.
Other sources to scope out include flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores. These are fairly hit-or-miss but could very well have a cool shoe that you’d love to have in your collection.
To get started, check out kickscrew.com.
Be Cognizant of Fake Sneakers
There are all sorts of popular sneaker brands out there and each of them has its share of knockoff counterparts. These knockoff companies try to pass their shoes off as legitimate, even though they are, in fact, quite different from the ones that they’re copying.
So, when you’re getting into sneaker collecting, you need to be cognizant of fake sneakers and learn how to avoid them. Keep an eye out for differing fonts, differing design element placements, and differing stitching. Comparing sneaker prices can also help you to identify fake shoes.
Sure, buying fake shoes isn’t the end of the world. But it’s not what you want, either. Keep your eyes open so that you don’t waste money.
Store Your Sneakers Properly
You’re spending a lot of money on these sneakers. As such, you want to keep them in good shape. A large component in doing so is to keep them stored properly.
First and foremost, make sure that they’re not exposed to sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause them to become yellow over time. Either keep them in the boxes they came in or store them in a closet or under your bed.
In addition, keep them separated from one another. The less they make contact with one another, the less impact they’ll have on each other’s structure or appearance.
You might also consider keeping your sneakers from contracting by stuffing them with plastic inserts. These will reduce the risk of creasing, helping to maintain your sneakers’ aesthetics over time.
Clean Your Sneakers
Our last piece of advice is to clean your sneakers. The quicker you rid them of dirt and other residues, the less they’ll stain over time.
You can brush surface dirt off with your hand or a soft-thistle brush. When it comes to deep staining, use dish soap and water as a means of buffing it out.
Starting a Sneaker Collection Is Simple
In actuality, starting a sneaker collection is simple. Just buy some sneakers and keep them organized. However, if you’re really looking to take your sneaker collecting seriously, you should use the tips discussed above to establish a sneaker collection you can be proud of.
