From Passion to Global Brand: The Sneakerness Journey. Level up with Hakim Ep. 20

SummaryIn this live episode from Sneakerness Amsterdam, hosts Sergio and Matthijs founders of Sneakerness to discuss the evolution of Sneakerness from a small gathering to a global sneaker culture movement. They share their personal journeys, the challenges faced in building a brand, and the impact of COVID-19 on the sneaker event industry.The conversation highlights the importance of community, passion, and adaptability in the face of setbacks, as well as their future plans for expansion and the ongoing evolution of sneaker culture.00:00 The Origins of Sneakerness03:06 Building a Brand from Passion05:58 The Growth of a Global Movement09:04 Challenges and Setbacks in Scaling12:08 Navigating the Post-COVID Landscape15:07 The Future of Sneaker Culture17:58 Advice for Aspiring EntrepreneurstakeawaysSergio's passion for sneakers began at a young age.Matthijs was involved in street culture, including graffiti and DJing.Sneakerness started as a solution to the problem of fake sneakers.The brand grew organically without external investment.Community trust was built through real, offline events.The importance of visual identity in establishing brand trust.COVID-19 posed significant challenges for the event industry.The sneaker culture is evolving and maturing post-COVID.Future plans include expanding to South America.Passion and community are key to successful entrepreneurship.About the Show* What does it really take to level up your career, business, and life today? I ask the people actually doing it. Level Up with Hakim dives into the real stories, strategies, and mindset shifts behind growth in business, hospitality, travel, and beyond.💬 If an episode helped you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. ⭐ Leave a review—your feedback helps us bring on more powerful voices and keep raising the bar.Listen to Levelup with Hakim on spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vaq...Sneakernesshttps://youtu.be/U7slF9Cc1xM?si=1hc9GNwaPRi5X48FMatthjishttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matthijsvandermeulen/Sergiohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-muster-a9139333/