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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  • Uncle Al

    Medium width. Great shoe!

  • bokang

    Damm ive been buying those expensive jordans for the past ten years, why don’t you start selling the starbury’s online, im writing this from Lesotho a very small country in southern part of Africa, i already told my boys about them, word is spreading like wild fire, i got the 411 from slam, so please do us a favor and sell online we need to start kickin it in the starbury’s

  • bmw

    i am a foreign student, I just reviewed S&B’s website: http://www.steveandbarrys.com

    They seem only have over 150 stores across america, almost all states. my friends in Asia also ask me how to get the Starbury shoes….I think they don’t have online shipping right now,,,only way is to buy a little bit more expensive ones in ebay…hate that…..but it’s understandable as they probably didn’t make huge profit by selling at such a low price….hence cannot afford optional services e.g. online payment….hmmm. but still looking fwd to their future development.

  • pie_pien

    i fans starbury from indonesia,IN indonesia STARBURY is not in market,plese you’r send starbury in market indonesia,we fans starbury in indonesia waiting starbury,,,plase………cause i need starbury.thank’s

  • Kashoray Owens

    I am in Cleveland Ohio where is the closest store where my family and i can buy your clothes at

  • BP

    i live in pennsylvania, near philly, but an hour away from franklin mills and my dad would be willing to pay the extra money for 60$ shoes, are there any other steve and barry locations in pennsylvania close to philly and is there anywhere else you can get a pair? p.s. marbury love the idea wish i was good enough to make my own shoes

  • http://slamonline yo mommy

    hey kashoray are u terrel owens wife

  • http://slamonline yo mommy

    i got the new shaq quakers

  • http://slamonline yo mommy

    i live in sj and i really want the starburys but i have to go to sd to get them and i was in sd but i didnt get them

  • Monique

    i just copped 5 pairs for 70 bucks! 4 pair starbury 1′s for myself, husband & 2 sons and white crossovers for myself! he’s doing his damn thing for the bk and hope to see more flavas in the future! love ya steph!

  • http://slamonline yo mommy
  • Monique

    yeah, i got’em from there at the Manhattan Mall. Nice outfits too!

  • http://slamonline yo mommy

    the shaq quakers are the best i jump like 10inches its messed up better than the lebron zoom 15s i had

  • http://slamonline yo mommy

    hey monique call me at 7222743

  • http://slamonline yo mommy

    5

  • adee

    I bought a pair of the low tops for my 14 yr. old son (sized 13) in Sept. this year. I had to buy him a new pair of shoes this month because the Starbury’s fell apart on his feet. He doesn’t play basketball, just walking to school and home. The lining and the soles are super thin. The insides and the bottom simply fell apart. If you want a pair of shoes that will last you a few weeks, Starbury fits the bill. If you want a shoe with durability and support…bypass Starbury – it really isn’t worth the $10-15 price tag.

  • Starbury

    I got a pair of starbury’s. They are sweet, comfortable, affordable, and look pretty good. good for the price too.

  • kim

    are the starbury crossovers made of leather?

  • Gymrat987654321

    I love ethe fact that Stephon Marbury decided to make good and cheap sneakers. All other sneakers made by NBA players cost $70,80,90,100 and even more. Last week I was at a store and like these shoes so i asked how much they were and the lasy goes “$180.” I would never buys sneakers for $180. Shaq has affortable shoes too. His are about $30 which is great compared to the Wade’s ($100) Jordan’s ($120) and Iverson’s ($120) but now with the new Marbury’s ($14.98) kids can get a great product are a fraction of the price. I mean $120 for sneakers come on now.

  • orlando martinez jr

    I bought a pair of starbury’s. Now my whole family and I are going back to purchase every thing starbury has in my size. (sneakers) God bless this vision!

  • http://www.wwe.com John Cena

    I play with them and like em betta then NIKE Elites! very comfortable and cool design

  • kdog

    I have a pair and there better than any shoes Ive ever worn..

  • http://www.slamonline.com pc

    hell yeah I love them

  • http://www.slamonline.com pc

    for bucks you would have to be a fucking loser not to buy them

  • http://www.slamonline.com pc

    better then jordons that are 120 bucks

  • rob stewart

    I bought a pair just to rock. I want the younger generation to know that high price kicks don’t make you cool. I like the way they look with jeans. I also bought a Spiderman shirt for $7.

  • http://WWW.STARBURY.COM m-collins

    I LOT OR PEOPLE OUR COPPING THESE, I GOT SOME CLOTHES AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF SHOES FROM THE STARBURY COLLECTION. ITS REALL GOOD WHAT HE IS DOING I RESPECT HIM.

  • 1love

    man I think it is real awesome what stephon Marbury has done with this shoes cause theres alot of people that dont have the money to pay for the jordans and iversons so this is a very nice shoe for them.I respect him alot for this.
    Maybe other players will follow in his and shaq and hakeems and the others footsteps.
    1

  • http://dfa bo

    i am so hot

  • Starybury fan

    I got 2 pairs i liked them so much. They are comfortable and lasted my more than a whole season of basketball and i am still wearing them months after the basketball season because they are in good shape. I can’t wait until the Starbury II come out i hope they make different colors of them too.

  • Ian

    I GOT EM AT THE PITTSBURGH STEVE AND BERRYS. I LOVE EM.

  • Chris

    Yo, i’m really loving the sneakers. Because i didn’t like the Starbury Ones, i bought the Crossovers because they look a lot like Air Force ones. The sneakers are comfortable, and look good too. I didn’t feel embarrased when i wore them to school, because the sneakers was hot! I kinda feel that they should start making different colored shoes, like the Bape Stas and the Ice Cream shoe lines. Because i hate white sneakers, i colored part of the Crossovers red and blue, which made them look a lot better! Then, he looked should sell them for 15 or 20 dollars. I would defintely buy them.

  • John Tims

    I don’t know who this guy is but i’m gonna buy his stuff just out of principal.

    thx dude.

  • Julia

    I saw a news report on this when it finally hit the stores. I am the proud mom of three handsome young men and I can tell you the older my boys get the more expensive their taste gets. It’s refreshing to see someone who cares about the children who cannot exactly afford the tags on those high priced shoes. I grew up poor and know coming from a family of six girls and one boy my parents could not afford to give us what everyone else had, but we had alot of love. It’s wonderful to see that some of us remember where we came from and look to the future with thoughts of others.

    God Bless Those Who Care
    Julia

  • http://clift78hotmail.com clifford morgan

    where can i purchase these sneakers i liv ein georgia

  • punky b

    I LOVE THE PASSION BEHIND STEPHON MARBURY’S VISION. I AM TRULY INSPIRED WITH THE CONCEPT BEHIND THESE SHOES AND APPAREL. MY DREAM IS TO BECOME A SHOE/FASHION DESIGNER AND/OR MANAGE A SHOE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. I WOULD BE HONORED TO WORK FOR SUCH A VISIONARY AS MARBURY.

  • Michelle

    20/20 just did a report on these shoes – they cut them and all the more expensive “cool” shoes right down the middle and there is little to NO difference!!!

    They say that the air jordans and other shoes are just made of leather – thats what costs so much.

    In the “Air Jordan” shoes there is a “hole” that is supposed to be a “vent” but when they cut the shoe open on several pair, the “vent” was blocked.

    They said the shoes were almost identical – except the leather and the price.

    Check it out if you get a chance. It’s a great story and as a mother of 5 kids – I think it’s a GREAT idea to do for us . . . I know how hard it is on my son especially (being the oldest and in middle school) to remain “cool” and not get “Payless Shoes”. We live on 1 income (and right now my husband lost his job because of my illnesses and my last hospitalization) but I do understand for the kids how important it is not to have the MOST expensive pair – but at least to have a pair that are “name brand” and where they can fit in. My son has gotten the comment about “Payless Shoes” when he wore the shoes his biological mother bought him. It embarrassed him to the point that he would never wear them again!

    He only wears the nice shoes I buy him – and with 4 more on their way up, I know it’s not as bad for girls – but their sneakers need to be nice – if they wear payless shoes, the will be teased just the same.

    I praise him for what he has done! I watched the shoe and was in tears when I saw how emotional he became when mothers and kids were hugging him and thanking him for what he did.

    Instead of me spending a 2 week to an entire month check on shoes for 5 kids, this may be a huge break for our family!!!! I may not have to beg grandparents to pick a child to buy shoes for anymore. Thank God I have those grandparents who can afford it, not everyone does.

    I thank him and for any “non believers” check out the 20/20 episode, buy a freakin’ pair yourself (they’re very reasonable!!) and cut a pair of your old $200 shoes down the middle and check it out for yourself!!!

    Signed,
    Mother of 5 and SUPER THANKFUL!

  • Shonna I

    I went and bought a pair for both my boys and my husband and they love them say they are very comfortable.And they are looking forward to each getting a extra pair. They are are such a great price for the people like us who can only afford the cheap shoes that aren’t leather this is great my boys may get some shoes that will last for awhile.What Steven Marbury is doing is wonderful.

  • chance

    i also watched the 20/20 report and i couldnt believe it! they cut a pair of jordans and a pair of starburys and they were constucted the same way! so i had to check it out myself and they are some sick shoes. there wicked comfertable and are versy stylsh. superb starbury! and the best part is that theyre not 150$ and theyre still affordable 2 thumbs up

  • batosikkllssmcxmxxlxllspike

    the fucking best ever starbury is awsome

  • http://aol #3 NYK Fan

    MArbury is the man?

  • http://aol #3 NYK Fan

    Finally sneakers that are affordable much respect to marbury and go knicks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://aol #3 NYK Fan

    curry should,ve made the all-star team

  • isaac

    yea the shoes are really nice. But when can i buy a couple pairs online?

  • http://www.myspace.com/sirecommunications Jemayne

    Steve and Barry’s was packed yesterday morning. I had no idea I would be copping 11 pairs. I truly believe that the patent crossove LE is going to change the sneaker industry. The 1st crossover was rather plain however, The Crossover LE already puts many special edition Air Force 1’s,Bape Stas and Pro keds to shame. I was not prepared for this. By the way 11 pairs for $165.00? You tell me who won?!

  • isaac

    where can I buy them online

  • maritsa

    starbury , i like how u sale shoes for low prices . now people can actually wear shoes without paying a lot money for it. they look twice better than the shoes that cost 250 bucks . that’s really thoughtful of you,god bless you for it.

  • kenneth mutchler

    if you are thinking about opening up a store in
    the corpus christi area, please let us know.
    my wife and boys 23 and 15 would love to be
    involved, we were at the san antonio store
    yesterday before the spurs game. what a wonderful idea! we have a little church and our looking for something to help out the community, we are honest and DEPENDABLE!
    just a thought!

  • http://starbury.com jay

    thank u stephon marbury i love ur shoes there awsome and realy afordable

  • Workingclassdad

    THANK U Stephon!!
    This is a groundbreaking thing you have done. I have never been the one to say NBA players are over paid, but it is really nice to see that even with all the $ you make you have not forgot about us, the average Joes. You sir, have givin us more than a affordable quality shoe, you have allowed us to be the heros and idles of our families again! (The way it used to and should be). To be able to pick up some nice kicks and sportswear on the way home from work for our kids instead of having to tell them “maybe one day”…. (and usually never getting…) has made me and other dads/moms the stars of the house. I never understood why Nike and other shoe mfg charged insane prices for a b ball shoe and further never understood why people would pay such a price. I remember some of the best games ever played in the NBA didnt require $150 shoes. In this world today I feel we have lost our way and forgotten what really matters. I feel you have planted a seed in the minds of people and mabey even corporate america.. God Bless you in everything you do Sir.. and once again THANK YOU!

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