Under The Palms

lookdown wrote:^ They can only cash out on athletes like skateboarders, bmxers, surfers, and snowboarders?

Nike is a giant already covering pretty every sport there is (or maybe not), but they cannot challenge Nike's marketing.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I know it's all business and growth is an integral part of business. I just cannot imagine what Vans hopes to do with this line. Like Jesse and lookdown touched on...you can't step up to a giant like Nike and challenge them in THEIR realm. It's just too late in the game. If brands in the same athletic arena like Reebok and Adidas can't do it, how can a "action sports" brand like Vans expect to?

lookdown wrote:^ They can only cash out on athletes like skateboarders, bmxers, surfers, and snowboarders?

Nike is a giant already covering pretty every sport there is (or maybe not), but they cannot challenge Nike's marketing.

I agree. I feel like they have the technological potential to compete, however that is not the same as having the actual capability to do so. They couldn't beat Nike's marketing unless they had a history in the athletic fields that Nike does. But Nike doesn't strongly support BMXer's (6.0's no longer existing), surfers, and snowboarders the way Vans could and will. They're not really even going to compete, I feel like Vans is just filling a gap/consumer base which Nike has neglected (for a good reason; they couldn't cash in on those sports because they're not big enough, people talk about football baseball, etc, and not the said sports you mentioned), so they could do okay with this new project. I just wish I snowboarded, surfed, or BMX'd so I could actually see first hand if the product is solid.

JesseC wrote:

lookdown wrote: I just wish I snowboarded, surfed, or BMX'd so I could actually see first hand if the product is solid.

But if you read those articles, you'll see that you're exactly who they're targeting. The people that don't actually do it, but are still interested in it. They seem to be going for the people that might not even have easy access to those things but are still interested in the lifestyle. And of course, the people that actually do participate in those activities will hopefully be just as interested.

So, good job! You're in! haha (and me too)

I'll definitely be interested in seeing how these turn out. I hope my closest Foot Locker has them on the 28th!

They gotta target the kids on this new line. Foot Locker is not a kids store. Foot Locker Kids is, though! Action sports has an age limit, to some extent, but we can all agree you have to start out at a young age. You try starting out skateboarding, or BMXing, or hell, even fixie riding at an older age, and you see how well you hold up to the unavoidable injuries. The heritage is all there, and that's what I touched on before. Hell, that video that offthewall.tv just put out, that I posted up on the OTWS blog, sums it up. It's as if they were waiting for my speech a few pages back, to post it! Haha, but honestly they've carved out their lane, but they want to keep expanding into other people's lanes. Definitely corporate greed is giving their heavily influenced ".02 cents" on this new venture, and who's gonna speak up? Nobody, because that's how corporations are ran. You don't conform, and you are shown the door. Oh well, buy them and put them away in your collection, because they might be the "Mike Carrolls" of this younger generation in about 20 years or so.

Here's that video in case you're lazy:

http://vimeo.com/44345852

That video was just....wow.

That video is dope. Saw it a few weeks back and I'd say left over 350 people speechless

Are people even feeling these? I have zero interest at my store about them. Make or break time.....

Tomorrow still?

Yes a few stores already have them. Cerritos Mall for sure

Also I saw pictures and they're not what I expected for the price (about 100) its one of those shoes that some people will hate while others will love. Personally I think I'm going to pass

juss got the lxvi sweepstakes email,(didn't win lol) they look aight...unless the unbelievably comfertable tho, i don't see myself spending $100 for pair

I didn't win either. Here's all of the models for everyone to see: http://shop.vans.com/catalog/Vans/en_US ... /lxvi.html

Prices range from $70-$90 with the exception of a hiking boot that runs $125.

Got the email. I won. Not sure what model but a sz 12 should be in the mail...

checking store locator online. looks like this line will also be carried at Foot Locker and Foot Action stores. truly a push into the mainstream athletics realm... VF Corp on the move...