Thursday, August 17th, 2006 at 6:00 pm  |  131 responses

Starbury’s Sale

Maybe selling low-priced shoes is a power move after all.

by Lang Whitaker

Last night I wrote a post about the launch party for Stephon Marbury‘s new line of budget sportswear and shoes. You guys did a lot of talking about it, too, and while we all agreed that it was great that Stephon was trying to do something different, I was curious how well the shoes would sell. Because to be honest, sometimes the only reason people buy shoes is because they are expensive. While what Stephon is trying to do — making shoes and clothes that have quality but are actually affordable — is fantastic. But would anyone actually buy the stuff?

Well, I just got word that when the Steve and Barry’s store in Manhattan Mall opened this morning, there were about 500 people in line outside the store. The people came charging in when the doors opened, and the store completely sold out of Steph’s shoes. Really. They were bringing in shoes from the back, people kept coming in to get their kicks, and even the actual Steve and Barry were having to work the registers to help get people through there.

The only downside is that because of the low price-point, the store only made $7 profit. Kidding!!

For real, that scene wasn’t only in Manhattan. Stores in Kansas and Michigan had similar runs on the Starbury shoes, and I was told that nobody’s exactly sure how well they did at the other Steve and Barry’s stores because all of their stores were so much busier than they thought they would be that by this afternoon they hadn’t had a chance to tally things up and see where they stood just yet.

I know it’s been less than one day, but if this stuff I’m hearing is true (and I have no reason not to believe it), then I wonder what all this means in the longer run? Is there a real, hungry market there for low-priced shoes? Shaq‘s the only current player (respect to Hakeem for trying it years ago) who’s tried something similar, but his went for $40. For that price, you could buy four pairs of Starbury shoes.

I’m also curious about how they’ll feel, last, etc. If anybody out there gets a pair, drop me an email and let me know.

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  • Regina Thomas

    Never heard of Steve and Barry’s before… found a store in Baltimore and went to check it out. Brought both of my kids two pair apiece..there sizes in mens were sold out…I have to go back…They wanted them all! They look great! Affordable. The price on the other apparal was worth the trip as well. The pink starbury’s are cute…got myself two pair!

  • Craig

    Those starburys’ is so sweet I just bought a pair and I’m about to get so more

  • MZ LEAH

    LET ME TAKE A MONENT TO ENLIGHTEN THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT. ON AVERAGE, IT COSTS ABOUT $7 OR SO DOLLARS TO MAKE ONE PAIR OF DESIGNER TENNIS SHOES. NAME BRAND OR NOT!!!!!!!
    THEREFORE, IF IT TAKES 7 TO MAKE ONE PAIR WHY ARE WE (THE CONSUMER) PAYING $100?

    ILL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE THEY (THE PLAYERS, SHOE MAKERS, Sh@# SOCIATY AS A WHOLE) KNOW THAT MANY OF US (ESPECIALLY KIDS) ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH BASIC FIRST YEAR COLLEGE ECON….

    BASICALLY IN A NUT SHELL, THEY MAKE THE SHOE FOR $7 AND SELL IT TO YOU FOR 100. OUT THE BOX, THERE MAKING NINTY THREE DOLLARS OFF OUR NIAVE A%$. WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE. BE SMARTER WITH YA MONEY. SUPPORT A BROTHER THAT HAS YOUR BLACK FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY IN HIS HEART AND MIND. WE CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT LACK OF UNITY BETWEEN OUR RACE, BUT EVERYTIME WE GET A CHANCE WERE SLAPPIN A BROTHER DOWN. THEN UNBELIVIABLELY WE SIT BACK AND WONDER WHY THE ONE WE JUST SLAPPED WON’T HELP US. AT LEAST THIS BROTHER HE HAS THE DECENTCY TO TELL YOU THAT HIS SHOES COST LITTLE TO NOTHING TO MAKE. THE OTHERS JUST TAKE YA MONEY AND SMILE. WISE UP!!!!!!

  • jason canty

    lets give it up for the pistons!!!! if you need a BMW call me 586-772-8600

  • jason canty

    lets give it up for the pistons!!!! if you need a BMW call me 586-772-8600

  • Fashionista

    I’m a woman who does not care much about sneakers. I’m into fashion, and wear heels most of the time. I do wear sneakers to the gym (d’oh). Let me tell you, these sneaks are fly! I have some Starburys that have pink patent leather on them, and can wear them with my warm up suits. They look as though they cost way more than $14.99. My friends have them as well. They look cute, and serve their purpose. Marbury has some female fans of his shoes. There is no way I would spend 100 to 200 dollars on some gym shoes. Sneakers are just for the gym, and running around town in. They’re perfect for someone like me.

  • Sall

    Sup, the Starbury shoes are so nice and comfortable there even better then the nikes or any other brand like adidas and Rbk these kick will make a great pair for you…

  • Joey

    How does 40 bucks get you 4 starburys? and DON’T BUY THESE my friend did and they fell apart a week later. They aren’t the same quality as the expensive nike’s. and if u want cheaper goods just get non-endorsed shoes

  • joe d

    the nike assaluts are noting compared to urs stephon i mom bought me 15 pairs in one day!!!thanks stephon.u rock!:)

  • joe d

    oh yea lets go knighiker bonkers!!lol

  • Issac

    I just got Starbury ones and a pair of nike basketball shoes. The Starburys are now my basketball hoes

  • T.Ribinson

    My family really enjoy shopping there. They love the shoes ans the clothes it’s a blessing to have a star contribute back to the community in this magnitude. In today’s society it’s about I, I, I. I thank God for him not being selfish. Greenville, S.C.

  • Pat s

    man these are some awesome shoes, i just got them the other day…there pretty afordable and they are comfortable too,
    thanx

  • Geraldine

    I buy Starbury sneakers for me and my daughter. They are great. They are very comfortable too. I am just glad they are starting to increase the womens section. They are really nice..Thanks to Starbury, I can have more than 1 pair of sneakers at a time. Good job Starbury

  • xmnr

    there’s just never a way to express succinctly a full explanation when there’s something as wrong as this, so I’ll just be cryptic and hope you all read into it.

    -something for nothing is a joke

    -If comparable sneakers can be made for a tenth the cost, someone is doing something underhanded or somehow tens of billion-dollar athletic-wear companies just happen to only employ idiots who aren’t concerned with making a profit.

    -jordan was and is a class act, stop knocking him, he just hocked shoes too. He didn’t price them.

    -marbury is a celebrity endorser, not an employee, so if marbury’s face is on the brand, he’s getting paid because “starbury” brand is using his “celebrity” to move a product. If he’s getting paid, it’s been worked into the cost, which means it could be cheaper. He COULD HAVE just been a silent CONTRIBUTOR if his interest was to get you some cheap shoes. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s “good business” run amok. In an international economy, chinese labor exploit makes good micro-econ sense if they’re selling the same labor for less, but it makes horrible macro-econ sense if you want your dollars to be able to buy anything or if you’d like to keep your job.

    DFHASDKFJAKDSFJ! still a long post. oh well. valuable information can’t be turned into an acronym every time.

  • libinbond

    DAMN!!!!some1 pls. tell me where i cud get these starbury….all the stores in philly have already been sold out…nevr able 2 get my hands on em!!!

  • Shell

    So glad Marbury has decided to back a project like this. I did most of my son’s school shopping at Steve and Barry’s this year. Spent 150.00 and that included 4 pairs of shoes. The quality of the clothes and shoes is amazing. I didn’t pay more than 14.98 for anything — found great quality jeans from 7.98 a pair to 14.98 and the kids love them. Thick, good quality Starbury hoodie 14.98 unbelievable. You can’t even get deals like this at the Nike factory outlet store. I do have to agree with an earlier poster though, there is a stigma attached to payless shoes as soon as Shaq’s shoes went there my son wasn’t interested any longer.
    Thank you to Steve and Barry’s and Stephon Marbury for making a single mom’s life a lot easier — and for opening a store in Vancouver WA. No more traveling to Olympia and Federal Way yea!

  • Footinyoass

    I can’t front, I’ve been wearing Nikes recently to run ball in, and them joints are narrow on my feet. Causes my feet to feel pain when I play. I bought the Red, White and Blue signature series, and have no problem with them at all. Man screw paying high prices on wack ass kicks that are the same quality as the Starburys. Man, all that name brand stuff is juvenile anyways. I’m a grown man and gotta pay the bills. If I can get some cheap, high quality sneakers, I’m gonna buy them. I’m not a Stephon Marbury fan, but big ups to that cat for having the nuts to put something out like this. Big up to Ben Wallace too!!!

  • http://Slamonline Regina

    I like the idea of the shoes and would come in handy at that price for me and my 2 young kids. I am a poor single mother and would definitely figure out a way to get a pair of these. Unfortunately since I have no way to a Steve and Barry’s I can’t. SO how is that helping ALL people?

  • Money Matt

    WATS up u knw who tis is MONEY MATT. i just wanted 2 say that i have every style of starburys tats available 2 tha public. I think tat selling tis type of stylish shoe is great idea. PEACE TIS UR BOY MONEY MATT. IF u be hating on me forget u. if u want to get to knw me. GO 2 myspace.com/osu_boi 4 my profile

  • http://aol g unit

    these shoes are the best yo!! Who the hell wouldn’t want to buy them. I have all the GANGSTA ones

  • http://Ej E*nice

    STATBARYS ARE WACK DONT CARE WAT YALL HATAS OUT THERR SAY

  • http://lilman stephon aka lilman

    ya punk ass starburys ya need to make better ones then making the turtle looking like shoes and change the colors cuz it doesnt go together

  • http://marbury Heneghan

    The Forgotten Champs

    A long time before the New England Patriots in 2007and the Miami Dolphins in 1972, a perfect season in pro football was first achieved by the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland browns head coach Paul Brown had created an unstoppable 15-0 championship season in the AAFC (All-America Football Conference) in 1948. Unfortunately the NFL does not talk about or even acknowledge the records of the AAFC, even though three of the teams from that conference – the Browns, Colts, and the 49ers were selected into the NFL In 1950. The NFL came to a conclusion at that time not to include the AAFC records. At this time the NFL had taken all 10 AAFC football teams, the agreement also included bringing all AFC records. One of the Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame Wide Receiver’s campaigned to change this incident, but not to take advantage. A lot of Browns players thought that the team had been slighted. That 1948 team was only the third of the four consistent winning championship teams in the AAFC coached by Paul Brown. The Browns really went 29 games undefeated but back then they only had 15 game seasons, so in 1947 the Browns only lost one game in there season. What was cool was while the Eagles were the champs in the NFL the browns whipped them 35 to 10, and caused the upset right away just coming in to that league. The Browns started off really good to come into the NFL but never had another perfect season. Now days a group of people in Ohio are trying to make the National Football League accept the fact that we were the first team to have a perfect season.

    Written by

    Joseph Heneghan

  • http://marbury Heneghan

    Cleveland Rocks!!!

  • http://www.starbury-sneakers.com/ Starbury Sneakers

    Many people asked about buying Starbury’s online and we found this site that you can browse and purchase online. They even have a size and style selector to only find your size or style.

  • Dan

    Who likes Marbury. He sucks, Isiah Sucks, and the Knicks suck. Dont waste yur money on knicks or Marbury stuff.

  • Sigmajoe

    I love New York and the Giants, Rangers, yankees and the Knicks all have put though my share of heart aches but Stephon’s sneakers are the SHIZZZZNIT, for the hard working family that’s trying fit in. I love marbury gear cuz know I can work hard, ppay bills dress my kids and we all can look good and feel good. Thanks Marbury and Steve and Barry.,

  • trevor wikstrom

    i love starbury shoes they’re so sweet

  • Tre

    Hey!!!!!!!!!!! I have 2 pairs of Starbruys and looking for more i love them they where down a little but im a kid and playing b-ball on da streeet is not exactly wut they’re made 4 but otherwise great product luv yo mag

  • elaine

    i want to say God bless you for thinking of the parents
    that are struggling to keep their kids in shoes i need to know where to get your shoes for my family of five
    i hope i can find them soon i’ve search everywhere and have had no insight on where they are i pray you continue to be the blessing God has made you to be.love
    someone that has you in prayer.

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