Jeff Henderson Interview Emerica Brand (?) Manager

[REGS]

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He talks about making the brand more global in the interview but they just dropped Rob Pace…one of their only non-american riders.

[close]

Any where why they dropped him? He fits the image of Emerica pretty well and is far from his prime. I can’t wait to see what homie puts out in the future

He was put on, and then management almost immediately changed (Tim out) and new mgmt claimed they could no longer pay him what was agreed or renew anyone's contracts. They asked if he would skate for Emerica for free. For the record, his retainer was supposed to be the absolute bare minimum $500 a month. New management blamed old management for the 'miscommunication'.

Absolutely hilarious that Henderson is coming out with 'we want to promote our ams' and 'we want people from outside of California'. It makes it sound like Pace quit or was forced out for some other reason when really you had the perfect candidate who was am, turned pro, loves the company to pieces, made the top 5 SOTY contenders repping Emerica hard and they couldn't even pay him 6000 dollars a year? Fuck outta here.

[Pasta Monster]

^
I don’t get why they would get rid of Rob Pace instead of Jeremy Leabres or Chris Wimer. They had someone who reaches both American and Australian demographics, and actually puts out interesting parts.

Getting rid of the previous TM was stupid, considering all the roles he handled. It seems like they’re undoing everything Tim did to make Emerica more appealing to skateboarders. Maybe, the changes didn’t boost overall sales, but Emerica, under Tim, had me actually paying attention to Sole Tech, instead of NB#.

[Buttworm]

I think the real issue is that the shoes just don’t protect your feet like the bigger brands do

[MareVitals]

Something I noticed personally being a US 11.5 size for most of Etnies cupsoles is that shops are hard pressed to stock more than 1-2 units of sizes 10 - 13 (especially the half sizes like my 11.5). My local shops that do carry Soletech are slim or none for 11.5s. I regularly come in looking for 11.5s so they get the hint that they should stock that size more in their pre-books since I prefer to buy there 90% of the time.

Either those less common sizes for them don't sell as well so they don't stock them or they don't stock them as well because they don't expect them to sell as well. I get why they don't chance it if they're not sure if it will sit or not.

For etnies mostly, and to a lesser degree emerica and es, I've had to buy directly from their site OR scour for random shops & stores online for a color/model I wanted.

Soletech is perhaps, indirectly undercutting the very skate shops/scene/brand reputation they want to portray/support in order to stay afloat by nudging people to go D2C. We see the same practice with big brands having high minimums for pre books in shops, so they push us to buy directly with good sales/artificial scarcity, etc.

I can't offer a solution here, but thought I'd share that thought and see if anyone else has observed it. Maybe restructuring the pipeline of brand to consumer for buying their products needs adjustment alongside the quality and image of their footwear.

You are looking for a large sized shoe from an unpopular brand in a sport primarily done by children. The shop likely ain't carrying that size because it doesn't sell. The d2c argument is valid but that is not why you can't buy big soletech shoes in skate shops. Some adult normie off the street would cop some large size Nike, Adidas, or Vans but they sure as hell aren't buying anything from a brand that isn't known outside skateboarding.

Soletech is just another company but this message boards constant simping for corporate shoe brands is puzzling to me. None of the reasons I hear ever really seem to add up. Always something something quality and corny, meanwhile vans has a similar lineup and their own version of zumiez in malls across America and not a peep.

Buy what you want but stop reaching trying to justify it.

[144p]

paira bunch of shops.



edit: see updated chart with adidas added a few posts down

Pretty damn accurate for my store except we don’t carry Etnies or DC. Lakai holds a larger share but is more dead weight at this point. Sadly for us the Terrace and Trudger aren’t big sellers even if those two team riders are from our region.

[144p]

I just can’t understand why brands want to bring back people who had success in a different era, let’s move forward and not get stuck in the past.
Nostalgia does rule this industry so what do I know?

[AllisonChalmers]

The only takeaway from the pie chart should be that Etnies are rare, and therefore many people are buying them because they are the best shoes in the world.

(Just kidding, I know how it works)

Seriously though, How could anyone look at that pie chart and think that a shoe company except those big ones could survive?

Last Resort seems do be doing alright. There's definitely room for more well executed, skater owned brands, especially if Lakai, sole-tech and DC exit.

[Buttworm]

How long will Hours is Yours last do we think 🤔

[Dwayne Hoover]

who wouldnt trust the mastermind who put collin provost and jamie tancowny on?

[Pete]

What is “Jake Phelps Logo” that they put on the mysterious 12 pairs of MJs they made him?

I want a pair of retro MJs but not for $100…if anyone wants to sell a size 10 with some life left in em PM me.

black/silver and navy/grey Tilt’s were good. Emerica was still tight for a while.
Leave that that shit alone it will never be what it was.
Stop dragging its name.

Alien Workshop was dope 10-20 years ago but it shouldnt exist in 2024. Time and place same shit.


Free max b

[JM]

Something I noticed personally being a US 11.5 size for most of Etnies cupsoles is that shops are hard pressed to stock more than 1-2 units of sizes 10 - 13 (especially the half sizes like my 11.5). My local shops that do carry Soletech are slim or none for 11.5s. I regularly come in looking for 11.5s so they get the hint that they should stock that size more in their pre-books since I prefer to buy there 90% of the time.

Either those less common sizes for them don't sell as well so they don't stock them or they don't stock them as well because they don't expect them to sell as well. I get why they don't chance it if they're not sure if it will sit or not.

For etnies mostly, and to a lesser degree emerica and es, I've had to buy directly from their site OR scour for random shops & stores online for a color/model I wanted.

Soletech is perhaps, indirectly undercutting the very skate shops/scene/brand reputation they want to portray/support in order to stay afloat by nudging people to go D2C. We see the same practice with big brands having high minimums for pre books in shops, so they push us to buy directly with good sales/artificial scarcity, etc.

I can't offer a solution here, but thought I'd share that thought and see if anyone else has observed it. Maybe restructuring the pipeline of brand to consumer for buying their products needs adjustment alongside the quality and image of their footwear.

I noticed it too. The big local here doesn’t seem to offer sizes over 11 pretty often. I thought maybe it was the ones with hook-ups getting the shoes first, but reading your post made me think that maybe they just never get sizes larger than 11 in the first place.

And for the d2c, it’s my biggest criticism of Etnies. They’re my shoes of choice, but they are not in locals anymore. And online shops barely have them either. (Joslin specifically).

If I was a shop owner, I’d be pretty damned pissed that here I am buying wholesale to sell to the locals, and the website goes and sells the shoes direct to consumer at a wholesale price, effectively undercutting me because I can’t afford to sell the shoe at 50% off.

And thinking of it that way, it’s no wonder that no one stocks Etnies anymore: the only entity that profits is Etnies. It could easily be argued that Etnies is doing shit for local skateboarding in that regards.

[thehogsniper]

Expand Quote

Something I noticed personally being a US 11.5 size for most of Etnies cupsoles is that shops are hard pressed to stock more than 1-2 units of sizes 10 - 13 (especially the half sizes like my 11.5). My local shops that do carry Soletech are slim or none for 11.5s. I regularly come in looking for 11.5s so they get the hint that they should stock that size more in their pre-books since I prefer to buy there 90% of the time.

Either those less common sizes for them don't sell as well so they don't stock them or they don't stock them as well because they don't expect them to sell as well. I get why they don't chance it if they're not sure if it will sit or not.

For etnies mostly, and to a lesser degree emerica and es, I've had to buy directly from their site OR scour for random shops & stores online for a color/model I wanted.

Soletech is perhaps, indirectly undercutting the very skate shops/scene/brand reputation they want to portray/support in order to stay afloat by nudging people to go D2C. We see the same practice with big brands having high minimums for pre books in shops, so they push us to buy directly with good sales/artificial scarcity, etc.

I can't offer a solution here, but thought I'd share that thought and see if anyone else has observed it. Maybe restructuring the pipeline of brand to consumer for buying their products needs adjustment alongside the quality and image of their footwear.

[close]

You are looking for a large sized shoe from an unpopular brand in a sport primarily done by children. The shop likely ain't carrying that size because it doesn't sell. The d2c argument is valid but that is not why you can't buy big soletech shoes in skate shops. Some adult normie off the street would cop some large size Nike, Adidas, or Vans but they sure as hell aren't buying anything from a brand that isn't known outside skateboarding.

Soletech is just another company but this message boards constant simping for corporate shoe brands is puzzling to me. None of the reasons I hear ever really seem to add up. Always something something quality and corny, meanwhile vans has a similar lineup and their own version of zumiez in malls across America and not a peep.

Buy what you want but stop reaching trying to justify it.

The D2C aspect is a massive concern for shops, I've heard this directly from the mouth of three different shop owners as to the reasoning they don't carry Soletech anymore (besides eS retro models). It doesn't help when Soletech is offering a perpetual 20% off/free shipping discount and immediately undercuts shops. Even mega-brands like Adidas, NB#, Vans, and Nike don't do that (Vans literally has an entire line reserved for shops that they don't sell). We're at the point in skateboarding where it's become pretty obvious that almost every brand of shoe is massive, has some backing from major companies who hurt skateboarding as a whole, or engages in anti-shop/consumer behavior.
Soletech is a corp who employs a lot of wack people.
Adidas/Nike are publicly traded companies.
Lakai/DC are operated by massive venture capital firms.
Vans is just another piece of the VF Corp shitshow.
NB is another massive shoe company (family owned at least).
LRAB fucked shops on numerous occasions and are buddy buddy with Zalando.
Convincing yourself that somehow you engage in more ethical consumption than others is self-delusion and fiction, often based on complete unawareness of the industry, isolation from having to deal with companies, and a lack of empathy for those who operate small businesses that deal with shoe companies.

[standfast]

Expand Quote

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Something I noticed personally being a US 11.5 size for most of Etnies cupsoles is that shops are hard pressed to stock more than 1-2 units of sizes 10 - 13 (especially the half sizes like my 11.5). My local shops that do carry Soletech are slim or none for 11.5s. I regularly come in looking for 11.5s so they get the hint that they should stock that size more in their pre-books since I prefer to buy there 90% of the time.

Either those less common sizes for them don't sell as well so they don't stock them or they don't stock them as well because they don't expect them to sell as well. I get why they don't chance it if they're not sure if it will sit or not.

For etnies mostly, and to a lesser degree emerica and es, I've had to buy directly from their site OR scour for random shops & stores online for a color/model I wanted.

Soletech is perhaps, indirectly undercutting the very skate shops/scene/brand reputation they want to portray/support in order to stay afloat by nudging people to go D2C. We see the same practice with big brands having high minimums for pre books in shops, so they push us to buy directly with good sales/artificial scarcity, etc.

I can't offer a solution here, but thought I'd share that thought and see if anyone else has observed it. Maybe restructuring the pipeline of brand to consumer for buying their products needs adjustment alongside the quality and image of their footwear.

[close]

You are looking for a large sized shoe from an unpopular brand in a sport primarily done by children. The shop likely ain't carrying that size because it doesn't sell. The d2c argument is valid but that is not why you can't buy big soletech shoes in skate shops. Some adult normie off the street would cop some large size Nike, Adidas, or Vans but they sure as hell aren't buying anything from a brand that isn't known outside skateboarding.

Soletech is just another company but this message boards constant simping for corporate shoe brands is puzzling to me. None of the reasons I hear ever really seem to add up. Always something something quality and corny, meanwhile vans has a similar lineup and their own version of zumiez in malls across America and not a peep.

Buy what you want but stop reaching trying to justify it.

[close]

The D2C aspect is a massive concern for shops, I've heard this directly from the mouth of three different shop owners as to the reasoning they don't carry Soletech anymore (besides eS retro models). It doesn't help when Soletech is offering a perpetual 20% off/free shipping discount and immediately undercuts shops. Even mega-brands like Adidas, NB#, Vans, and Nike don't do that (Vans literally has an entire line reserved for shops that they don't sell). We're at the point in skateboarding where it's become pretty obvious that almost every brand of shoe is massive, has some backing from major companies who hurt skateboarding as a whole, or engages in anti-shop/consumer behavior.
Soletech is a corp who employs a lot of wack people.
Adidas/Nike are publicly traded companies.
Lakai/DC are operated by massive venture capital firms.
Vans is just another piece of the VF Corp shitshow.
NB is another massive shoe company (family owned at least).
LRAB fucked shops on numerous occasions and are buddy buddy with Zalando.
Convincing yourself that somehow you engage in more ethical consumption than others is self-delusion and fiction, often based on complete unawareness of the industry, isolation from having to deal with companies, and a lack of empathy for those who operate small businesses that deal with shoe companies.

but marketing bro

[TheWineClub]

Agreed with what was said already, bringing someone who used to run it in its heyday is going to be too out of touch to run it in this era of kids who would rather skate Nike,Cons,Vans for free than Emericas for 500 bucks a month. I was never a big Emerica fan but that guy Tim did go out of his way to give people what they asked for from this board, more cupsoles, a slip on cupsole, the MJ reissue and even that wasn’t enough. It also seems like this guy is relying on people he brought in 15 years ago (Spanky/Leo) which is only going to make him more out of touch to the new generation.

[Kook Me Amadeus]

I just can’t understand why brands want to bring back people who had success in a different era, let’s move forward and not get stuck in the past.
Nostalgia does rule this industry so what do I know?

Yeah, I agree.  My question is if the brand is stained enough now that even putting on cool new people might not move the needle.  The brand is so far gone looking back is the only move but, like you might be saying, those older skaters are not exactly a growth sector.  I guess if Spanky can put on the Stu Kirst’s of the world (but somehow couldn’t before under Tim’s leadership) that’s something - but I’m skeptical about what the brand is actually capable of until they actually show us something meaningful.  I think bringing back Jerry Hsu (somehow) would be a coup.

[Shortys Hardware]

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He talks about making the brand more global in the interview but they just dropped Rob Pace…one of their only non-american riders.

[close]

Any where why they dropped him? He fits the image of Emerica pretty well and is far from his prime. I can’t wait to see what homie puts out in the future

[close]

He was put on, and then management almost immediately changed (Tim out) and new mgmt claimed they could no longer pay him what was agreed or renew anyone's contracts. They asked if he would skate for Emerica for free. For the record, his retainer was supposed to be the absolute bare minimum $500 a month. New management blamed old management for the 'miscommunication'.

Absolutely hilarious that Henderson is coming out with 'we want to promote our ams' and 'we want people from outside of California'. It makes it sound like Pace quit or was forced out for some other reason when really you had the perfect candidate who was am, turned pro, loves the company to pieces, made the top 5 SOTY contenders repping Emerica hard and they couldn't even pay him 6000 dollars a year? Fuck outta here.

This is so insane...people wanna preach about supporting skater owned, and then they pull this shit lol.  Sole tech defenders go eerily quiet when something like the pace situation happens, or dropping the whole es team, having guys in suits drop riders...


I am glad the nikes, addidas, new balance, cons, vans of the world are able to provide good pay to their riders, get them flights, and not have to sublet their apartment when they travel


Tim obviously was out of his depth and should've just been team manager and filmer, not wearing 5 different hats...working in areas he should've had no business working, no offence to Tim, i truly believe he tried his best for the brand but was pretty hamstrung to what he can do...

Going back to jeff henderson is 10 steps back imo

[DarkPools]

Expand Quote

Something I noticed personally being a US 11.5 size for most of Etnies cupsoles is that shops are hard pressed to stock more than 1-2 units of sizes 10 - 13 (especially the half sizes like my 11.5). My local shops that do carry Soletech are slim or none for 11.5s. I regularly come in looking for 11.5s so they get the hint that they should stock that size more in their pre-books since I prefer to buy there 90% of the time.

Either those less common sizes for them don't sell as well so they don't stock them or they don't stock them as well because they don't expect them to sell as well. I get why they don't chance it if they're not sure if it will sit or not.

For etnies mostly, and to a lesser degree emerica and es, I've had to buy directly from their site OR scour for random shops & stores online for a color/model I wanted.

Soletech is perhaps, indirectly undercutting the very skate shops/scene/brand reputation they want to portray/support in order to stay afloat by nudging people to go D2C. We see the same practice with big brands having high minimums for pre books in shops, so they push us to buy directly with good sales/artificial scarcity, etc.

I can't offer a solution here, but thought I'd share that thought and see if anyone else has observed it. Maybe restructuring the pipeline of brand to consumer for buying their products needs adjustment alongside the quality and image of their footwear.

[close]

You are looking for a large sized shoe from an unpopular brand in a sport primarily done by children. The shop likely ain't carrying that size because it doesn't sell. The d2c argument is valid but that is not why you can't buy big soletech shoes in skate shops. Some adult normie off the street would cop some large size Nike, Adidas, or Vans but they sure as hell aren't buying anything from a brand that isn't known outside skateboarding.

Soletech is just another company but this message boards constant simping for corporate shoe brands is puzzling to me. None of the reasons I hear ever really seem to add up. Always something something quality and corny, meanwhile vans has a similar lineup and their own version of zumiez in malls across America and not a peep.

Buy what you want but stop reaching trying to justify it.

Unpopular is debatable. Less popular than other current brands is more accurate. They definitely still hold solid popularity or we wouldn't have threads about them. The sport has grown from primarily children to young adults as well, and many don't want the loud generic trendy models that kids will go after from the big corps. We saw that uptick since Covid, but I don't disagree there with you. We all know that youth is the target demo most of the time. There's still a large share of adults with spending money that are the target market, too. See LRAB for example.

Soletech has a pretty sizeable amount of fans across all three brands. A handful of those skaters would or do rock 10.5 - 13 (and maybe 14) but feel forced to go corporate (people pursuing Dunks or NM# 480 in size 13 or 14) often because of a lack of stock in shops for those sizes.

Skate shops serve actual skaters primarily, and then the general population. If they rarely stock larger sizes or don't stock many from certain brands because people can go direct and buy the same size for less with a % of code, then that has to impact their prebooks.

As for that last line, not sure if you're directing that to me or everyone or both? Either way, I've exhibited no examples of "reaching to justify" my purchases here. I shared thoughtful analysis about a situation, and others have, too. Are their thoughts also "reaching to justify" in your eyes?

[hotstudios_on_youtube]

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[Atiba Applebum]

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

I feel like etnies just eats their lunch budgetarily.  Fabiana Delfino would have made so much more sense on Emerica.   They should trade Winkowksi for her

[Southernmost]

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it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I feel like etnies just eats their lunch budgetarily.  Fabiana Delfino would have made so much more sense on Emerica.   They should trade Winkowksi for her

I think with Fabiana she wore Etnies growing up. They also probably have a bigger budget and seem to be sponsoring and flowing other women and women’s skate programs. I do agree Emerica could use some women and diversity on their team.

[pugmaster]

What is “Jake Phelps Logo” that they put on the mysterious 12 pairs of MJs they made him?

Free max b

My guess is that they printed "You're right about everything 100% of the time" upside down so he could read it while putting on his shoes.

[SlapTM]

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

[Murray Hewitt]

Expand Quote

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

Tim you did a great job with the brand. Pierre and Don should to put her out to pasture. She had a great run, but not paying a 2023 SOTY nominated rider who has loads of coverage $6K per year and asking them to ride for free is not the move. They’ve arguably damaged Rob’s career by putting him then dropping him so soon. If they were truly for the skaters they would support him to transition to a new sponsor and give him more notice.

[Pasta Monster]

Expand Quote

What is “Jake Phelps Logo” that they put on the mysterious 12 pairs of MJs they made him?

Free max b

[close]

My guess is that they printed "You're right about everything 100% of the time" upside down so he could read it while putting on his shoes.

I saw him on the 22, when I was in SF. I’m pretty sure he had the skate goat on the tongues.

[Atiba Applebum]

Expand Quote

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

Don’t even Nike flow guys get some kinda of financial/travel incentive?   I imagine it might be

[Shortys Hardware]

Expand Quote

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

I think this was me......i know one guy you tried and reached out to, and he was basically like even though he is offering some dough....I just can't stomach wearing the shoes

[TheWineClub]

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Expand Quote

it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

[close]

Don’t even Nike flow guys get some kinda of financial/travel incentive?   I imagine it might be

There’s lots of people who only get photo incentive and free shoes which even though that sounds cool as a kid, it doesn’t pay the bills as an adult. You eventually get tired of having to hustle majority of you box just to barely get by. The worst is when people get strung along and the company knows they’re never going to put them on. Sometimes it’s the skaters fault for being naive but most of the time is the company telling the skater “maybe when we look at the budget next year, keep repping the shoes though” yeah after year.

[SlapTM]

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it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

[close]

Don’t even Nike flow guys get some kinda of financial/travel incentive?   I imagine it might be

Completely depends on who the skater is and what sort of program they have been offered. Depending on the tier, some get incentive or travel budget while others are strictly just getting flowed free shoes and that’s it. I will say a handful of the people I reached out to were ones that were the latter.

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it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

[close]

I think this was me......i know one guy you tried and reached out to, and he was basically like even though he is offering some dough....I just can't stomach wearing the shoes

No way, small world. I wonder who it was haha. But yes unfortunately that was the situation majority of the time but not much could be done about that.

[JM]

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it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

[close]

I think this was me......i know one guy you tried and reached out to, and he was basically like even though he is offering some dough....I just can't stomach wearing the shoes

Ouch. damn. That sounds like you could swap “Emerica” for “carryuma”, and it would read exactly the same.

[ToySanta]

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it astounds me the that they haven't had any incite to support anyone around the gx 1000 guys, or, just, sign t funk,

[close]

I definitely tried. Someone sort of mentioned it already but you'd be surprised how many skaters would choose to just get free shoes from a cooler company over getting a check and actually being a part of a smaller brand. I'm sure people think we weren't trying to diversify the brand through team riders but the sad truth is that during my time there, I tried to get so many different riders who either just weren't interested or ended up getting a better offer which of course I totally understood and supported.

Sammy Montano talked about this in an interview years ago and concluded he would rather be a part of a brand than on bro flow.

Henderson has his work cut out for him in this case.

I remain skeptical, especially cutting Rob Pace after the 2023 he had, and being in charge when there were two prominent, incredible skaters in Europe that Emerica completely biffed it on. The brand actively pushed Eniz and Maatman aside, but now [may] see the error of those choices.

It’d be nice to see a resurrection and return to some kind of glory, but focusing on two-near-forty-year-olds from the heyday is suspect.