Today we’d like to introduce you to M.D.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My entire life I’ve had a passion to do something different. I’ve always had a gift of gab and from a very young age, I knew I could dominate in sales. Paying my way through college I worked 3 jobs. I was hungry and thirsty for success. While attending a historically black university my passion grew for kicks and this is where it all began. My entire life I’ve had a passion to do something different. I’ve always had a gift of gab and from a very young age, I knew I could dominate in sales. Paying my way through college I worked 3 jobs. I was hungry and thirsty for success. While attending a historically black university my passion grew for kicks and this is where it all began.
As stated previously, I worked really hard in college. Nothing ever came easy. I came from a family that worked long hours and tirelessly. A descendant of Haitian immigrants parents; they wanted more for myself and my four siblings. They wanted us to be successful and hard-working citizens. With this being said, they instilled in me what hard work and determination were. I was never a sneakerhead in the beginning. I never grew up wearing a pair of $120.00 kicks. This would never happen in my childhood. My parents would rather take my siblings and me to our local shoe store or bargain center where almost often it was Buy 2 (pairs of shoes) for $60.00. This means that I always got one black pair of shoes and one white pair of shoes. If it wasn’t a bargain they didn’t buy it! A bargain, sale, or clearance price was more appealing to their pockets. My parents would always say, “I’d never spend that much money on shoes”.
Fast forward to one of my most memorable years in college. In my first year in college, I gained employment with a major footwear company. I worked as an assistant manager. This is where I truly started to develop a passion for kicks and drove sales goals. This is where I really began to yearn for knowledge. In 2005, I made my first “real” kick purchase or so I thought! I can laugh at the situation now. It will be a story that I will never forget. It all began when I went to work one day with what I thought was a real pair of “J’s”. You see, I had purchased the shoes from a guy that I thought was legitimate. Turns out he wasn’t and as soon I walked into work my co-workers began to laugh at the “J’s” on my feet. I was told that the shoes that I wore did not “represent the brand in a positive way”. I had on FAKES!! It was against company policy to wear fake shoes. Instructed by my superior, I literally had to purchase another pair of kicks if I wanted to work my shift. I felt lost, confused, but most importantly embarrassed! How could an assistant manager at a major footwear company not recognize a fake pair of shoes?
The beginning Shoe MD was created. That day I made a promise to myself that I would NEVER EVER wear a fake pair of shoes again. I vowed to educate myself and this is where my passion grew from kicks. Over the years my shoe collection grew from owning 3 pairs of shoes to owning almost 80 pairs by 2007. By 2009, I stop counting after pair number 220. It was never about the number of shows but rather the quality and exclusivity of the shoe.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to get to this point has been been a challenging process for us at Shoe MD, but we always focus and highlight the persistence and resilience to succeed. Despite having issues with last-minute construction costs. We push forward to find ways to make this dream into reality.
We sold a lot of shoes in the final months before the grand opening. We were determined to refuse “NO” as an answer. We continued to make sales to fund the construction of the store, along with ensuring that Shoe MD was built the way we envisioned.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I realized that creating my own business would allow me to have the freedom and showcase my passion for the footwear industry. So I started to spend 50% of my paycheck on buying inventory for the business. I used 40 % for my living expenses, and the rest 10% I used for miscellaneous items such as dating my girlfriend, who later became my wife. As I continued to build inventory, I sold an eBay, and local meet-ups, and traveled to sneaker events in the areas. Throughout that time I averaged 49% profit margins with each item I sold. I knew that the next step in this process would lead me to leave my current leadership role in retail management. We fast forward, to doing this for 16 years. Should over 5,500 items. with a profit margin of 39.4%, I know it was time for me to enter a retail space and leave my job in management.
Then, 2019, came and covid came and changed my business forever. I have spent the past decade building a brand on eBay, and on Youtube with my sneaker reviews. Being consistent, and continuing to give great customers was my motto. I believe I would have a footwear business that actually valued the consumers and their time. Not making it about just the sales but the experience. Ensuring to my customers that it is not just about sneakers, but the lifestyle. Covid arrived, and everything was closed. But online sales continued. So I took that opportunity to do mass orders online to sneaker companies as they gave a big discount on items such as covid, and mask mandates slowly closed our economy. Sales were now through the roof. YTD sales in 2018 were roughly $7,000. By April 2020, Shoe MD sales YTD was $28,000. I have seen a 95% increase in business. The approach of having a lot of inventory gave people options. Especially while sitting at home during the pandemic. I knew leaving my corporate management roles would soon follow.
Leaving my corporate job to pursue my dreams was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In 2021, my realtor called me, asking if I was looking for retail space in our city. I wasn’t actively looking, but the profit margins were hit for the past 3 years of my business with an increase of 22 % growth each year. It was time to, put my faith into opening a storefront. Brick and mortar during a challenging economy. Shoe MD, A retail & Online store that will BUY. SELL. TRADE. 100% authentic shoes, and apparel items. We do not sell, accept, or otherwise deal with fakes. A BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS THAT strives TO CONNECT consumers to exclusive rare footwear at an affordable price point.
That has been our mantra, but our key core value to our consumers. At times in this industry, you are competing with sellers that are trying to sell items for the best prices. I figured out that want to make a certain percentage of each item that we purchase to resell for our business. Regardless of dollar amount, we try to hit Return on Investments by being close to obtaining a great profit margins percentage. Our sweet spot is between 25-32% on every dollar spent. Noting more, noting less in this range. This has helped us identify consumers that have become repeat customers. The price point is key in reselling footwear.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor or networking can be incredibly valuable for both professional growth and personal growth. This is what worked well for me.
First, we determined what was our goal. What do I want to achieve and how will I reach those target goals? Aligning yourself with individuals or groups will help you get there. And lastly what worked well for me was reaching out to people in the industry.
Lastly attending events and meeting the influencers in the game. I started heavily in 2018 by going to Sneakercon. I started traveling across the USA buying shoes from other resellers and learning the actual shoe game. I made it my business to be recognized. In 2020, Meeting TwoJays of Urban Necessities, he gave me some serious advice that made me really understand it’s time to take this leap.
I’m glad I listened, and I did just that. Even connected with the Owner of Galactica G skate shop, who, I shopped there as a high school football player at Edgewater High School back in the early 2000s. I learned the business side of being authentic in meeting these men and how they conducted business. It helps me to understand my value leading me to open a Sneaker boutique in Winter Park, Florida.
Pricing:
- Dunk Panda, $215
- Air Jordan 3 Retro Reimagined $340
- Air Jordan 1 Lost and Found Retro 1, $495
- Size Swapping $35
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ShoeMD.sale
- Instagram: @Shoe_MD
- Facebook: Shoemd
- Twitter: MD_shoe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShoeMD
Image Credits
@carefreecreationsphoto and Dustin Mouzon
