suede and nubuck. Kits for different styles of shoes—leather, dress, sports—are also sold. The company recently launched Hat Magic for cleaning caps. Single-use wipes and two-ounce kits (in TSA-allowed bottles) are also available. In addition, Shoe MGK sells deodorizers and sandal cleaners. Given the success that
Shoe MGK has enjoyed, it ’s intriguing that the genesis for the shoe-cleaning solution lay in an entirely different product: glass cleaner. Shawn started the business in 1992 in Orange County, Calif., when he was just 19 and working his way through college; he sold a glass cleaner at a local swap meet. Looking to expand his weekend business, he wondered what market he could target next. A basketball player, he liked his kicks and a large variety of athletic sneakers were just coming on the market at a time when Michael Jordan was making waves. It had to be shoes. He mixed a few chemicals with the help of a few friends and the MGK formula was born. Shawn partnered with a manufacturing company to private label the product, a decision that paid dividends rapidly. That manufacturer, David Wi l l iams, is now a partner in the company.
Shoe MGK took off so well that Shawn has never looked
back. “Originally the shoe cleaner was going to help fund the glass cleaner. Five years in, the shoe cleaner really started growing on its own and took over the entire business,” Shawn laughs.
Demonstration darling The product is especially suited to the common area because everyone walking by wears shoes and it’s a great concept to demonstrate, Rebecca says. “The best thing is the free demo we give our customers, they can get both shoes cleaned at no charge,” she says. When they see how effectively the product works, the rest is a no-brainer.
44 Specialty Retail Report n Winter 2017
SpecialtyRetail.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84