Today we’d like to introduce you to Kai Smith.
Kai, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been into sneakers and streetwear since my early days in high school but I could never afford the sneakers I was so obsessed with. Eventually, I got a part-time job at a local summer camp and I purchased a pair of Jordan 11 Low Breds. Me and a friend had actually reserved the pair at the store but we decided to camp out anyway just secure our spots in line and to experience the hype of campouts we had heard about.
After a cold night on the city pavement, we were first in line but no one else got in line till about 30 minutes before the store opened… Not exactly the dream camp out we had envisioned but still we had a great time and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Fast forward, a few years, I had moved from California to Georgia for college and I began selling sneakers for extra money. Eventually, I realized that I wasn’t enjoying my education as much as I thought I would and I decided to dedicate more time to flipping shoes.
I also began a part-time job at a local bakery called Kupcakerie and I am truly blessed to work with and be mentored by the people there. They helped me to take the steps to create Legit Laces and the rest is history.
Has it been a smooth road?
Of course not. I’ve been scammed for hundreds of dollars, purchased fakes, and in general encountered some shady people. But on the other hand, I have met and made friends with amazing people. I’ve never really had the chance to connect with people that also had a passion for sneakers but that all changed once I left from California to Georgia for college and joined a local facebook group called ATATF. And I haven’t look back ever since.
But the hardest thing I learned was to just keep going. When I was first starting to resell items, I purchased a bunch of pairs of Shadow 1s thinking that prices would skyrocket on such a classic shoe. Unfortunately, I was wrong and the sneakers “bricked” after release, so I decided to trade 4 pairs of a pair of Off-White Vapormaxes. However, the person traded me fake items and I lost close to $1000 in one deal. I wanted to give up right then, but I decided to double down and learn more on legit checking, do my best to treat everyone with respect and learn from those above me.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Legit Laces is an online based consignment store for the local Atlanta area. Most people are familiar with the term consignment, but basically we operate in three steps;
1.) We authenticate your items
2.) We work with you to set a fair price for your item based of size, condition, etc.
3.) You sit back and relax while we sell your item for you
Now we do offer a cash out option if a seller wanted a quick payout. We strive to provide legendary customer service whether we are vending at a local convention or if you’re interacting with the website.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Of course! Atlanta is booming when it comes to streetwear and sneakers! There is a huge amount of people all over the world but specifically in Atlanta that follow streetwear. Not to mention there are already other established stores that continue to succeed and thrive in the city. I do wish that Atlanta had more high-end stores/boutiques that would receive the latest or most anticipated sneakers, ultimately making them more available like in other big cities such as LA or NYC. But I think that problem will be solved as Atlanta continues to grow and expand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.legitlaces.com
- Phone: (626) 345-4308
- Email: legitlacesatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: @LegitLacesATL
- Facebook: @LegitLaces
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
