Episode 15: Ryan Babenzien, Founder of Greats | The vertically integrated sneaker brand born in Brooklyn

What this episode covers

Ryan Babenzien, Founder of Greats, steps on to the New York Launch Pod to discuss his Brooklyn based sneaker company. Greats is vertically integrated so that the company manufactures and sells directly to consumers. Without relying on retailers, Greats is able to sell at a lower price than “legacy brands” and cut traditional twelve month development cycles in half, all while making a premium product. The shoes themselves are based off traditional silhouettes with creative color and material changes that appeals to a millennial audience. Ryan is a veteran of the footwear industry working at Puma and K-Swiss prior to starting Greats. Now in its third year, Greats has been a runaway success. The company has involved some major influencers in the fashion landscape as well as celebrities, collaborated with former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, begun shipping internationally and expanded into women’s sizes. “We can’t even keep white and black in stock,” says Ryan. Hear why Ryan believes that Style, Quality and Value is the key to his company’s success in appealing to millennials and why Ryan thinks that Greats can and is already competing with the major manufacturers in the market. Listen to the episode to hear why the company is called Greats, the names of some of the shoes (including the Bab) and the interesting story behind Greats.com. Transcript of the episode available here: http://nylaun.ch/GreatsT More on Greats: http://www.greats.com/

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