Sole Material

Sole Material highlights Reebok's effort to regain the marketshare and brand equity they once held in the 90's by enlisting Shaquille O'Neal as President and Allen Iverson as Vice President of Basketball.

Sole Material shows love to the WNBA by reviewing the new A'Ja Wilson signature shoe from Nike and compares them to previous women's models from the swoosh brand. 

Sole Material serves up another signature episode of Sneaker Business Talk by sharing the hottest sales and deals from discount retailers in Spring 2025.

Sole Material reviews the rollout of the Nike Book 1 signature shoe line for NBA All-Star and Gold Medalist Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.

Sole Material chronicles the evolution of Ja Morant's marketability on and off the court that has led to a potential re-invention of his signature Nike series.

Sole Material reflects on the career and impact of the newest first-ballot Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Carmelo Anthony.

Sole Material discusses the rise of live social selling and details how the WhatNot app marketplace is the next resell platform taking over the sneaker community.

Sole Material delivers another episode of Clarity Over Popularity by sharing the hottest sneaker sales hitting discount retailers in early 2025.

Sole Materials analyzes the retail market performances from signature basketball shoe NBA players De'Aaron Fox and LaMelo Ball.

Sole Material hands out a compilation of awards in various categories representing the 2024 Sneakers of The Year.  *In Memory and Dedication of DJ Clark Kent

Sole Material spotlights noteworthy footwear hitting the NBA hardwood in the first quarter of the 2024-25 season including commentary on the newest sneaker free agent signings.

Sole Material celebrates the first signature shoe for De'Aaron Fox under Curry Brand with the introduction of Speed that Scares in the Fox 1 launch campaign.

Sole Material kicks off a new podcast season with Black Friday and Cyber Monday tips for your 2024 holiday shopping experience.

Sole Material celebrates 3 years podcasting with the Season 4 Finale by thanking our supporters, acknowledging our international fans and sharing our favorite episodes!

Sole Material takes a trip down memory lane to highlight iconic sneakers from past USA Basketball teams during their quest for a Gold Medal at the Olympics.

Sole Material highlights the latest sneaker deals and clearance item purchases kicking off the Summer 2024 retail season.

Sole Material discusses the current footwear business marketplace trends and brand equity strategies while predicting the next phase of consumer behavior in the sneaker game.

Sole Materials highlights the significance of basketball footwear and style in other major sports via hybrid performance silhouettes.

Sole Material reflects on the influence of basketball magazines and print ads on the pre-digital era of hoops lifestyle consumers.

Sole Material celebrates 30 years of SLAM magazine with a tribute episode to the publication that defined an era of basketball culture and lifestyle.

Sole Material tackles the history and future of performance cross-trainers, signature sneakers and lifestyle collections marketed by NFL players.

Sole Material dishes a hot take on our favorite sneakers and brands worn on the hardwood during the 2024 NBA Playoffs leading up to The Finals.

Sole Material reacts to the news of JD Sports acquiring sporting goods retailer Hibbett Sports in a $1.1 billion buyout.

Sole Material shares stories on specialized customization projects and debates the existence of creativity in today's sneaker game.

Sole Material debates the criteria for earning a signature shoe and forecasts the next NBA star who deserves a performance sneaker of their very own.

Sole Material highlights the latest sneaker deals and clearance item purchases kicking off the Spring 2024 retail season.

Sole Material ends the debate on which geographic region owns the origins of the foamposite sneaker culture popularity, grass-roots influence and long term style adaptation.

Sole Material details the evolution of buy-sell trends with a specific focus on the demographics of resellers and concludes with predictions on the next defining moment for the future marketplace.

Sole Material spotlights the significance of 2-8-24 upon the unveiling of Kobe Bryant's first statue and reminisce on the impact of his legacy.

Sole Materials details Kryie Irving's partnership with Chinese brand ANTA Sports and gives insights on the US market rollout specs for retail stores and digital releases.

Sole Material reacts to Donald Trump's cameo at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia where he unveiled his new footwear collection.

Sole Material analyzes the drivers to consumer behavior in the sneaker industry and forecasts the impact  on the retail vertical market.

Sole Material highlights the importance of how footwear brands partnering with local and global boutique shops impacts brand equity in the sneaker marketplace.

Sole Materials reviews the elements of a successful licensed footwear partnership and showcases a sample of our favorite branded releases.

Sole Material takes a trip down memory lane sharing sneaker stories from the 1990's benchmarking iconic styles and nostalgic moments.

Sole Material reviews the history of sneaker grails and debates why the consumer market has produced diminishing returns for holy grails inside the footwear culture.

Sole Material details the history of shoe boxes, custom artwork, story telling and the marketing components that have driven consumer intrinsic value to a low point.

Sole Material reviews signature footwear and sneaker business news across the NBA that have caught our attention to start off the 2023-24 basketball season.

Sole Material discusses the history of December Air Jordan XI retro releases including market impact, media coverage and debating our favorite launch colorways.

Sole Material laces you with more tips on how to catch the best retail deals during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas shopping season for 2023.

Sole Material pays homage to ATMOS after their parent company Foot Locker Inc. announced they will be shutting down all USA retail operations including the website and physical store locations. 

Sole Material unveils our top 2023 Summer and early Fall activewear deals plus footwear sales including Air Jordan Raptor 7 & 37's, Nike KD15 and a special Nike By You Dunk Low reveal. 

Sole Material kicks off Season 4 with a Summer 2023 recap including a retro review of the Reebok ES22 along with a summary of the Washington Wizards Style Showcase prior to NBA Opening Week.

Guest Xavier Jones talks about his origin story with the Sole Material podcast, shares performance details on Reebok's DMX and Hexalite cushioning systems and concludes with a rapidfire of classic silhouettes.

Guest Xavier Jones talks about his personal motivation for joining the sneaker industry along with his take on the future of the consumer marketplace and maintaining executive staff diversity.

Guest Xavier Jones talks about his current role with Nike and shares stories working abroad earlier in his career at the adidas-Reebok Creation Center.

Sole Material reflects on the third season of "The Podcast You Cheer For!" with a finale filled with gratitude towards our listeners and followers across the world.

Sole Material provides clarity over popularity with the signature advice segment detailing retail sales trends and under the radar deals.

Sole Material highlights the year-in-review with milestones ranging from the adidas vs Yeezy litigation, resell market taxes and outlooks on the Ja Morant saga.

Sole Material details the ascension of the Crocs brand during the pandemic and benchmarks why their hold on the footwear marketplace is here to stay.

Sole Material evaluates the staying power of the New Balance as they have managed to redefine their hold on the footwear marketplace through strategic collaborations and reengineered models.