Today we’d like to introduce you to Andreco Bowles.
Andreco, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started out collecting sneakers. Growing up I didn’t have all of the new sneakers that everyone else had. As a kid that bothered me but I knew my mom did what she could so I never complained. Once I was old enough to work and make my own money, I told myself that I would buy every sneaker that I wanted whenever it released. Time went on and my collection began to grow. I started to create a bond with a lot of employees in the shoe stores because I was there shopping frequently. Over time I began to get the shoes most of my friends weren’t able to get their hands on. That lead to them asking me for assistance in getting their own pair of the hottest new releases. Of course, I wanted to help my friends out so I would ask the employees I’m the store if they could help me out and they agreed. Eventually my friends would start to offer me money for helping them. To be fair I would split the money with the employee who could help me out in the store. As a result of this my friends would tell others to reach out to me to help them get sneakers if they weren’t able to successfully get a pair for themselves. It turned into a bidding war where people would offer more and more money to get me to help them get a pair of exclusive sneakers. This inspired me to come up with the name “The Sole Connect” since I was connecting so many people with the products that they desired.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a very long road, however, without struggle there is no progress. It took a while for the word of mouth to spread for me to get a lot of business at first. Due to my limited resources and my small network I wasn’t always able to get every shoe for everyone that asked. Traveling was an issue for me at one point as well. There are some sneakers that only release in specific cities. If you aren’t able to travel then it’s virtually impossible to purchase them. I’ve had packages that were being shipped become lost or stolen. On several occasions I would come home from work to see someone attempted to break into my apartment. My cars broken into at malls or at night at my residence. There have been a number of things to happen that made me want to stop selling sneakers.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Sole Connect – what should we know?
The Sole Connect is a company that helps consumers have access to the sneakers that they want but aren’t so fortunate to find. Especially with the pandemic going on today. Stores being closed or companies having late shipments. There are so many factors that prevent people from being able to get the sneakers that they have been waiting weeks, months or all year to purchase. We specialize in providing convenience as well as peace of mind with pre orders for sneakers on upcoming releases. Pre orders are available at least 2 weeks before the sneaker release and are 100% guaranteed. We will secure the sneakers in the specific size you ask for and bring you the shoes so that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home. We can also meet you while you’re out running errands so you can complete other tasks instead of waiting in long lines at sneaker stores. We also ship domestically so you can pre order with us even if you live in another state.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many people that have helped me and encouraged me on this journey. Friends and family of course. The amount of support I receive from random people via Instagram direct messages has been amazing.
One of the most influential people I have come across is Jaysse Lopez (@Twojskicks) the owner of Urban Necessities. I’ve encounters him on several occasions (via social media and in person) and each time he has provided me with knowledge to put myself in the best position to be successful. It means a lot to have someone of that stature take the time out of their day to answer questions, provide understanding and genuinely want to see you succeed.
My biggest support group would have to be my clients. Without them I wouldn’t be in the position that I am today. Their continuous support, positive feedback and sharing of my business with others has allowed me to grow enormously.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7734158970
- Email: retro.reco@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Retro_Reco
- Twitter: @Retro_Reco
Image Credit:
Nick Bailey
Angel Amos
Danielle Daffin
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