Jeff Henderson Interview Emerica Brand (?) Manager

[thehogsniper]

Unfortunately the skateboarding world will never ever know the full extent of how fucked up work culture inside sole technology is and has been for decades. The fact that he went back is insane because they did him and everyone on Emerica so dirty to begin with 10 or so years ago.

My guess is he may not have known about the Nidecker deal when he was hired earlier this year. And they use their usual "Oh we want you to be in control and do it the right way like things used to be!" gaslighting to get him back.

That's a popular Sole Tech narrative to lure candidates to take jobs. "We are gonna do it right again! You will be well funded and resourced to get the job done!"

The dumbest worst people have been in charge there for 20 years now.

ownership changes hands, the issues remain the same, and none of these three brands have produced a new and relevant footwear product in recent memory. Unfortunately, they're destined for the same fate as airwalk, duffs, or any other number of private capital owned skate brands.

[Gunot]

[Cesar Vialpando]

Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

[Scarecrow Radio]

Soletech should axe Emerica and start a new hesh-adjacent footwear brand

[Rasmus]

Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

Eh... I'm super nostalgic for that period, and all the little things you mentioned, which came in the boxes, but the quality of the shoes skyrocketed, when Adidas and Nike came in. I specifically remember starting to skate Nikes and Adidas because they lasted significantly longer than the core brands (and I didn't have endless money)

[Elijah Chandler]

I'd gnar if I could

[Troubadour26]

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Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

[close]

Eh... I'm super nostalgic for that period, and all the little things you mentioned, which came in the boxes, but the quality of the shoes skyrocketed, when Adidas and Nike came in. I specifically remember starting to skate Nikes and Adidas because they lasted significantly longer than the core brands (and I didn't have endless money)

You are correct.

[DCLOVE]

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Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

[close]

Eh... I'm super nostalgic for that period, and all the little things you mentioned, which came in the boxes, but the quality of the shoes skyrocketed, when Adidas and Nike came in. I specifically remember starting to skate Nikes and Adidas because they lasted significantly longer than the core brands (and I didn't have endless money)

[close]

You are correct.

The rise of the janoski was the nail in the coffin for core brands. That’s when the kids who didn’t skate stopped buying skate shoes from core brands completely it feels like. I was in high school going into college when that shoe dropped and the same lacrosse bros who wearing random team models were all wearing janoskis at frat parties the next years.

 I will say at least emerica tried to revamp with the original g6 cupsoles around that time but they were just a few years early. The toe cap shoe trend from 2015-17 bought them some time but we’ve seen the downward trajectory since.

[Gifted Liker]

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Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

[close]

Eh... I'm super nostalgic for that period, and all the little things you mentioned, which came in the boxes, but the quality of the shoes skyrocketed, when Adidas and Nike came in. I specifically remember starting to skate Nikes and Adidas because they lasted significantly longer than the core brands (and I didn't have endless money)

[close]

You are correct.

[close]

The rise of the janoski was the nail in the coffin for core brands. That’s when the kids who didn’t skate stopped buying skate shoes from core brands completely it feels like. I was in high school going into college when that shoe dropped and the same lacrosse bros who wearing random team models were all wearing janoskis at frat parties the next years.

 I will say at least emerica tried to revamp with the original g6 cupsoles around that time but they were just a few years early. The toe cap shoe trend from 2015-17 bought them some time but we’ve seen the downward trajectory since.

And where did Janoski quit to ride for Nike because he was unhappy there? ETNIES.

[theloniousmonk]

Fingers crossed the sal 23 still comes out

[Watson]

I've been told the Sal 23 release is going forward as planned.

[kneebone]

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Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

[close]

Eh... I'm super nostalgic for that period, and all the little things you mentioned, which came in the boxes, but the quality of the shoes skyrocketed, when Adidas and Nike came in. I specifically remember starting to skate Nikes and Adidas because they lasted significantly longer than the core brands (and I didn't have endless money)

[close]

You are correct.

[close]

The rise of the janoski was the nail in the coffin for core brands. That’s when the kids who didn’t skate stopped buying skate shoes from core brands completely it feels like. I was in high school going into college when that shoe dropped and the same lacrosse bros who wearing random team models were all wearing janoskis at frat parties the next years.

 I will say at least emerica tried to revamp with the original g6 cupsoles around that time but they were just a few years early. The toe cap shoe trend from 2015-17 bought them some time but we’ve seen the downward trajectory since.

[close]

And where did Janoski quit to ride for Nike because he was unhappy there? ETNIES.

We get it bro, you reeeeally disliked your tenure at SoleTech

[Gifted Liker]

I've been told the Sal 23 release is going forward as planned.

Shoe has been re-released so many times already and sucks balls every time.

[Gifted Liker]

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Kind of a semi-related ramble but, starting out skating back in the early 00's, when buying shoes from brands that are considered "core". You would get extra laces, a few stickers, maybe a keyring and even a little catalog of the other seasons releases all in a shoebox, with some artwork on it. 
It was memorable getting some Arto's, with the little Finnish details.

A lot of this has faded away over time along with the quality/QC of the shoes these brands are producing. 
Now you get a subpar imitation of an already successful model, in a shitty brown box, no frills.
The consumer experience has taken a hit and the market is now flooded with superior products from "corp" brands.

Soletech and other similar brands have watered down their product year after year,  relying on the goodwill they once generated by being a core brand and supporting skaters we're hyped on, to keep people buying product. The influential skaters have mostly moved on and as mentioned,  Emerica, Etnies, etc are all due to become the next dekline/airwalk.

[close]

Eh... I'm super nostalgic for that period, and all the little things you mentioned, which came in the boxes, but the quality of the shoes skyrocketed, when Adidas and Nike came in. I specifically remember starting to skate Nikes and Adidas because they lasted significantly longer than the core brands (and I didn't have endless money)

[close]

You are correct.

[close]

The rise of the janoski was the nail in the coffin for core brands. That’s when the kids who didn’t skate stopped buying skate shoes from core brands completely it feels like. I was in high school going into college when that shoe dropped and the same lacrosse bros who wearing random team models were all wearing janoskis at frat parties the next years.

 I will say at least emerica tried to revamp with the original g6 cupsoles around that time but they were just a few years early. The toe cap shoe trend from 2015-17 bought them some time but we’ve seen the downward trajectory since.

[close]

And where did Janoski quit to ride for Nike because he was unhappy there? ETNIES.

[close]

We get it bro, you reeeeally disliked your tenure at SoleTech

Has nothing to do with a tenure at Sole Tech and everything to do with the fact that, much like Crailtap, even when they were beloved they were fucking skateboarders over and blowing it, long before the general public knew, but staff and riders were dipping and it took a while for things to catch up with them, but it always does. Sole Tech destroyed itself decades ago and any other narrative they've created about bigger brands or whatever is complete horseshit.


For the shoe nerds, who may not know, the “Faction” was the etnies Janoski that they turned into a team shoe when he left.

[prof_oak]

Because they didnt want to do the shoes Janoski wanted.

Imagine how they felt.

But i dont think the same exactly shoe with etnies wouldnt have had the success as the nike one.

Cause nike is a marketing monster

[Too Young for Slappies]

Because they didnt want to do the shoes Janoski wanted.

Imagine how they felt.

But i dont think the same exactly shoe with etnies wouldnt have had the success as the nike one.

Cause nike is a marketing monster

Like the big dummies they are.

[prof_oak]

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Because they didnt want to do the shoes Janoski wanted.

Imagine how they felt.

But i dont think the same exactly shoe with etnies wouldnt have had the success as the nike one.

Cause nike is a marketing monster

[close]

Like the big dummies they are.

Ha !

[Willie]

Real talk: was this character named after Stephan Janoski?

[kookdusoleil]

Real talk: was this character named after Stephan Janoski?

It's pretty unlikely Stevie was named after Stefan, but not impossible. Danny McBride and the rest of the show's creators are definitely aware of skateboarding and it's culture. I think they reference Caballero in The Foot Fist Way. At least one of those dudes used to skate.

Edit: Here's Danny McBride "learning to skate"

https://youtu.be/qMTrxNw7IGs?si=0PtnVbPNLpeVG8tC

[FunnyBunny]

https://youtu.be/FFwMCeX8ARc?si=WAuVG89_3Sb3kKmH

[kookdusoleil]

https://youtu.be/FFwMCeX8ARc?si=WAuVG89_3Sb3kKmH

There it is. IDK why I thought it was from Foot Fist Way. Maybe they mention skating in that one too

[Cheshire Cat]

Because they didnt want to do the shoes Janoski wanted.

Imagine how they felt.

But i dont think the same exactly shoe with etnies wouldnt have had the success as the nike one.

Cause nike is a marketing monster

Yeah I agree, but largely I think that's down to quality - as well as the little downsized Swoosh on a boat shoe being instantly iconic and recognisable. Fully double-take worthy for the time no matter who you were. Marketing / reach of Nike is certainly bigger than Etnies, no doubt about that, but I don't think the marketing monster for the Janoski  truly kicked in until the shoe was already becoming a phenomenon.

And on the quality note - I had about 3 or 4 pairs of Etnies Jameson 2s (suede version and Canvas models), really liked the shoe and it was good to skate but they were all outlasted by a pair of fucking Canvas Janoskis.

[Scarecrow Radio]

No way the Janoski design would have been as popular if it were not a Nke shoe. It's initial appeal was that it looked totally different from all other Nike's