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As an ex buyer (including footwear for all) for:
A skate shop, ladies boutique, rock/music merch, and a sporting goods store.
Don’t stock shit that won’t sell in your region, area or to your demo.
Anything not moving is on the buyer. Period.
The southern hemisphere quip was fucking sarcasm.
Making product that won't move is on the company. Stores are not in charge of release dates. My opinion is that NB# should have known better than to launch a trail shoe in the middle of June. I don't really give a shit about what small shop is able to move what, but it's telling when the big shops can't move it either. A buyer is responsible for knowing customer base, sure, but they don't make product. They don't drive consumer demand. If you actually were a buyer, you know this. you can see how the relationship between store/company is double sided. A local shop has no voice when for instance, Converse goes and launches their Topo Chico Fastbreak at Zumiez. They have no say when they try to order special releases and get turned down. There are two ends to this issue. Don't be a fanboy, don't take the point that "your shop is shit at buying".
So you are telling me that product didn't sell. Do you have numbers to back that up or are you basing that on a few shops that chose poorly? I suck at googling apparently, I can't find another shop (with an online presence) that is selling them....lots of highs tho).
Correct, a buyer doesn't make the product or release date. They get a cataloge and go from there. I was 'actually a buyer' and stand by my comment. FYI - I ordered plenty of merch that didn't move in all catergories (woman's clothing and band merch were the toughest given the demo, and number of bands for instance...do you order what's charting or the tried and true, how many of each, what sizes sell the most given the clientle, what about the fat goth chics, how many XXXXL tops do I buy). When I worked in a my local shop, I new the skaters, what they wore and what they skated, we never had stale stock.
You don't have to order 'product' you don't want or think you can sell, even if the brand trys to force you. Is that detrimentle? Possibly. You need variety. Is it a choice? 100% (unless BIG COMPANY or whomever is forcing colorways on you).
Zumiez vs a cons topo chico release and a 'local' shop not being able to get them is a totally different topic for you to die on a hill for (andd I assure you we agree on what is right here).
This shop (presumebly) had a choice: order regular 440s or
these. Hell, I don't live there, maybe NB# isn't popular, maybe BLUE fucking shoes wasn't the right colorway for over there. Maybe NB# is evil and said sorry, these are the only 440s I can offer you. That's the risk you take as the buyer.
I always think of Krux and their shit colorways, kittens, hotdogs and velvet, or those 'Slayer' Indys, you have to know what your shop moves in order to carry that shit....