Many people don’t think about the city under their feet. Sneaker shop Pound for Pound specializes in it.
Featuring various kicks, from the most popular Nikes and Jordans to extremely rare player exclusives, Pound for Pound has it all. Owner Brendan Naper started the company in 2013, opening on the bottom floor of the Skyline Lofts on Third and Pierce streets. The store has expanded to two other locations in Los Angeles and Dallas since opening.
“When we started out, we had around 250 pairs of shoes,” Naper said. “Now, between all three locations, we keep in stock over 3,000.”
Naper said competitive pricing, passion and a great staff have been the business’ keys to success.
Along with its various physical locations, Pound for Pound’s website was featured in publications such as Sole Collector, Sneaker News and Nice Kicks.
Ismael “Ish” Ortez, Pound for Pound’s photographer, provides photos for the website and works with customers on a daily basis.
“Through working here, I’ve built relationships, and I can relate to everyone through sneakers,” Ortez said.
Pound for Pound has funded several shoe and food drives, along with donations to the Susan G. Komen foundation for cancer research.
“We know our customers, we’ve got a great rapport,” said Don Fisher, a Pound for Pound employee and sneaker history specialist. “Working here you’re fully immersed in the culture, you can embrace it, you’re around it 24/7.”
Customers, such as Phoenix Suns player P.J. Tucker, frequent the store for the wide variety of sneakers offered.
“A lot of the (player exclusives) he has are from us,” said Naper, who has built a personal relationship with Tucker thanks to the store. “We actually just had an article posted on Nice Kicks because he won Kicks On Court.”
Kicks On Court is an award given by shoe-enthusiast publication Nike Kicks for the basketball player who wears the best shoes each year.
With the increase in customer traffic and publicity, the staff of Pound for Pound has focused on fine-tuning their current stores, and they’re looking to move into a larger space with more room for community involvement.
“We’ll probably end up moving this store, since we outgrew it a while ago, as far as inventory,” Naper said.
“I like being downtown; I think downtown Phoenix is expanding a lot,” he said. “Because we’re a destination spot, we don’t need to move somewhere like Scottsdale for foot traffic. People are willing to drive to us at this point.”
Being the first sneaker consignment store in the area, Pound for Pound capitalized on the downtown community to help boost it into the spotlight.
“You know it’s funny, up until a few years ago, (sneaker culture) was underground, but we’re one of the people, the catalyst really, that kind of catapulted it out here,” Fisher said. “I see younger kids, older dudes even, who come here with collections that are just ridiculous, but they never really had an outlet to share what they have.”
As Pound for Pound continues to expand, it keeps its focus on the community, culture and passion in which the shop was built on.
“So, I think the sneaker culture out here is big, it just needs to be found, and we’ve awoken that for sure,” he said.
Correction: September 26, 2015:
A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Brendan Naper as Brendan Myer. The story has been updated with his accurate name.
Contact the reporter at Jackson.Dorsey@asu.edu.
