Sneaker Reseller Business

4 Sneaker Reseller Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Sneaker reselling is a pretty great way to make money.

As a sneaker reselling business, you can purchase shoes directly from retailers or manufacturers and resell them to consumers at a profit.

The secret to a successful sneaker reselling business is to buy low and sell higher. You can start an online sneaker reselling business or sell the sneakers locally.

To maximize the profit margins, it might be worth holding out the best sneaker brands until the demand is high. Sometimes, the best deal on sneakers is when they have sold out.

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

1. 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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2. 513 Kicks ($60K/year)

Chris Casseday came up with the idea for 513 Kicks after years of being a sneaker enthusiast and selling sneakers online. As a fan of Michael Jordan, he noticed the demand for collectible athletic shoes and decided to turn his passion into a profitable business. With over 21 years of experience in the sneaker market, Chris has been able to grow 513 Kicks into a successful online sneaker shop, generating an average monthly profit of $2,000.

How much money it makes: $60K/year
How many people on the team: 1

How I Started A Side Hustle Reselling Sneakers For Profit

This case study follows founder Chris Casseday's journey in creating 513 Kicks, an online sneaker shop that went from sporadic income to an average profit of $2,000 per month within two years through strategic branding, SEO, social media, and email marketing.

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3. KickFlips ($48K/year)

Casey Woodard, the founder of KickFlips, came up with the idea for his business after years of successfully flipping items and receiving numerous requests from friends to teach them how to flip sneakers. He noticed a gap in the market for an affordable and effective resource for learning to flip sneakers, which led him to create KickFlips. Since its launch in February 2021, KickFlips has gained over 1,500 users organically through word of mouth and referrals, and is generating $4,000 in monthly revenue with minimal expenses.

How much money it makes: $48K/year
How many people on the team: 1

I Started A $48K/Year Newsletter For Sneaker Heads

Founder Casey Woodard started KickFlips, a sneaker and streetwear flipping resource, which currently brings in around $4,000 per month in revenue with roughly $150 in expenses, boasting a little over 1,500 users almost exclusively through word of mouth and referrals.

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4. 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 2,536 founders