This week my Just for Kicks article might at first seem like a stretch, but trust me it is not. I know that my wheelhouse is like a very weird Venn diagram. There are sneakers in one circle, Star Wars in another, and sports in another. Somewhere comic books and the geek culture is sprinkled in there as well. It is a very eclectic mix I will give you that. Still I wanted to share Venn diagram with you so you can follow my lead.
For those who have no idea what the #WhereIsRey hashtag on social media stands for I will give a brief explanation.
Ever since Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens came out a lot of moms and dads are in search for the Rey action figure for their kids (or for themselves). She is one of the main, if not THE MAIN character in the latest installment of the Star Wars saga. To a lot of people’s disappointment Rey is nowhere to be found on toy store shelves or easily obtained online. Parents like the fact that Rey is strong role model for kids while still being a bad ass. So many people online are using the #WhereIsRey hashtag to try and get companies to understand the demand for her.
To be fair many other characters from that film are hard to get as well, but since Rey is a woman there is more emphasis on the need to have her be more accessible.
Now how does this relate to the sneakerhead culture? I will tell you.
Here are a few similarities in regards to the Rey Star Wars action figure and when hot sneakers are released to the public, which is usually on a Saturday morning.
- You Got To Know A Guy (Or Girl.)
Having connections in anything is key. When it comes to items of high demand this is crucial. I have met plenty of people in the shoe business who have helped me get a pair of sneakers or hook me up with a pair to review. Once you get in tight with someone like that you are sitting pretty.
Now for parents who are looking to score their kid the hottest toy they might not know this. So next time you are at your local Toys R Us or Target spark up a conversation with the manager about the fact you are looking for a specific toy. Ask them when deliveries happen and if they can hold that figure for you when it comes in. Sometimes companies don’t allow their employees to hold merchandise for customers. If that is the case make sure you get to the store early on delivery days. It might sound odd, but just think about the smile on your child’s face when you hand over that toy to them.
- eBay
A lot of people flock to eBay to see if they can get the latest pair of Jordans or Yeezys that came out that weekend because they couldn’t get a pair online or at a retail store. Watch out for this one. Sellers will jack up the price just because they were the ones lucky enough to get that pair of kicks. They don’t even like the shoe, but they love the dollar signs that shoe can bring them. Do I blame them for trying to make a profit? Eh….yes and no. It is a free country, but it seems a bit off.
The same is true for these Star Wars figures. A person will pick up a ton of these figures at retail price at a store. They will take the whole shipment of action figures and then go to eBay and sell those action figures that retail for $8.00 and sell each one for $50.00. I am not joking. This is worse than the sneaker game in my opinion. When it comes to these toys people are scarfing up all they can fit in a shopping cart and making it hard for kids to play with the toys from their favorite movie. That is not cool.
- Knowing The Release Dates
Believe it or not there are sites dedicated for both sneaker release dates and toy release dates. These websites can be a great way for people to know when an item will be released. Now you will at least be prepared for when that desired item is going to hit the shelves.