The release of this new product, like all recently hyped commodities, went on sale at midnight. A crowd gathered for this limited version shoe, waiting in line to get a first shot at a purchase . So who was there? Well at least one 14 year old was quoted. Who else really wants glow in the dark shoes? Maybe someone who is a serious walker or athlete that only walks and runs at night? Well, at least in Orlando, there were on the order of 100 people waiting for this new sneaker and became unruly. The police needed to be called in to keep the peace.
If this sounds familiar, you may remember the similar fiasco when Nike released a retro Air Jordan. Same result, chaos in many malls at the larger cities. It is not fair to blame Nike completely, though there must be some responsibility. To their credit, Nike did cancel the release in certain cities in the interest of public safety.
This is crazy. I just cannot understand how a bunch of mostly teens can afford a pair of $220 sneakers! I don't want to spend that kind of money on a pair of leather shoes that would last 10 times as long as some plasticy sneakers. This shows how strong a desire there is to be seen with the 'latest' and 'greatest.' I can understand that, and have to admit I can (and do) easily fall into the trap. What saddens me though, is that this shoe must be targeted to the relatively young. It sets up the failing notion that having overpriced stuff is what sets us apart from our peers. It's the kind of marketing that sets the standard for a life of trying to be more than we are, because try as I might, I just don't think even the above middle class can readily afford $220 for shoes. So it starts with sneakers, and escalates as we age. Maybe it becomes other designer fashions and then rises to cars and homes or other luxuries.
I'm not sure what the solution is other than education. I know when I went to High School there was no mandatory class that fully taught the fundamentals of saving and investing and what the real cost of living is. There was no real education on the perils of easy credit - which is still far too easy to get. We are living in a world that believes in instant gratification. Yet, that same world is drowning in debt. Our own lives mirror the trouble of our nations. Spend now, whether we have the cash in hand or not. Just borrow and buy. Tomorrow will come though, and the bills will pile up. If we only knew at an early age what the implications and consequences would be, perhaps, just maybe we could make a change in how society views credit and debt. Maybe this small change would bring about a renewed sense that the nation cannot print money or borrow it in an unending venture.
I guess time will tell where society will end up. I think we better buckle up... it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Blessings,
Brian
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