Experts at Sneaker Con offered strategies for identifying counterfeit shoes, gave advice on how to choose investment sneakers.
REAL OR FAKE?
What are some of the biggest differences between real and fake sneakers?
A common difference amongst real from fakes is usually on inside size tags of sneakers, as well as on the box labels. The font style is 99.9 percent different, always. On Yeezys, for example, since they are some of the most counterfeited items I see, I look at the stitching; build structure; wherever it says, “boost”; the font style; and the box.
– Antonio Linares; Specializes in authentication of product, @fake_education
Cop or Drop?
How do you know when a sneaker will be an investment?
Now it’s a lot of hype. Kanye West drops something and all the kids are running, and a month or two months later, the price just drops. We don’t buy into the hype stuff. We buy stuff that held its value over time. We have sneaker patents. We have one-of-a-kind Yeezy samples. We specialize in prototype, samples, vintage, rare samples.
– Ariana Peters Co-founder, the Chicks With Kicks
SHOULD I USE EBAY?
What are some tips for eBay?
I generally look at sellers that have excellent feedback on eBay. I always look at people who write their name.
- Yu Ming Wu, Co-founder, Sneaker Con
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHATS HOT
How do you know what shoes will be investments later?
Trends are moving so quickly nowadays that it’s hard to predict. A pair that you’ve hedged a lot of bets on and think that is going to be very hot, eight months later doesn’t end up being so hot because the kids don’t get into it. But if a brand puts enough money behind something, it’s generally a sure winner. So looking at 2018, we’re hoping that Nike comes back because I’ve had a tough couple of years. And Adidas either maintained or even improves on the previous year.
- Mubi Ali Buyer, Sneakersnstuff
HOW DO I MAKE IT A HUSTLE
What are your tips for sneaker drops?
It kind of gets hectic at sneaker drops. I used to camp out with my brothers all the time. I used to pay kids $50, $100, but I stopped doing that now.
- Benjamin Kapelushnik, a.k.a. Benjamin Kickz
Sneaker reseller to athletes and celebrities, @benjaminkickz
