Who is this 17 year old kid from France named Anthony Debrant? He's a Sneakerhead who has taken it to the next level, that's who!
A Sneakerhead is someone who lives, breathes, eats and sleeps sneakers. You know, the way that I love the 1980s television series "V", created by Kenneth Johnson.
So this French teenager, Anthony Debrant, decided to share his sneaker passion with the world and created SNEAKMART, an incredible online place where Sneakerheads can come together and buy / sell sneakers. (First thing I did when I got to the site was look up Nike sneakers.)
I just had to talk to Anthony Debrant!
Who was the first person you presented your idea to? How did you make it a reality?
I came up with the concept of SNEAKMART two years ago when I was on vacation in Washington, D.C. I was on the search to buy a pair of Jordans that were sold out in stores, so I decided to do some research on the web and could not find a good source or app to purchase a pair sneakers that were in high demand. I presented the idea to my father, did a bit of market research and, with the support of my father, I was able to transform my idea into reality.
Why are sneakers your passion?
Because everybody has a passion. Mine is sneakers because I have a lot of friends who wear sneakers, and I always loved shoes since I was a child. I must also confess that my mother also loves shoes...maybe I got that from her =:)
Have you designed your own pair of sneakers? What's your perfect sneaker that you designed in your head?
I have not designed my own pair of sneakers yet. I'm not a designer, just a sneakerhead. For me, the perfect sneakers would be a pair with SNEAKMART colors on it: turquoise, white and black, with a celebrity endorsement collaboration.
What future goals do you have that don't include SneakMart?
I'm actually finishing my last year of high school and next year, I would like to go to business school to get an MBA. After that, I think I'll live in the United States because I've always loved the country, and I've visited the states a lot of times. I think this is the perfect country to develop business. Concerning my personal future and things like marriage, I really can't tell you now because I don't have a girlfriend, and I'm a bit too young!
I'm a Nike girl and haven't worn any other sneaker but Nike in 30+ years. If I were to try a new brand, what should it be? Why?
I've also been a Nike boy since I was a little kid. I think that you should consider trying a new brand because there are a lot of great brands out there that bring innovation to the market like Adidas with its new Boost sole or the Puma collaboration with their Rihanna collection.
17 year old Anthony Debrant gives us a glimpse of SOME of his sneakers. Based on Anthony's recommendation, I'll take the Adidas Boost Women's Running Shoe, Size 8, please. But I wouldn't turn down a pair of Chucks. :)
On SneakMart, there's an option to sell / purchase used shoes. Isn't it unhealthy to wear someone else's shoes as each shoe conforms to that person's unique foot?
Believe it or not, shoes that are in high demand by the sneakerhead community are not necessarily "used". In the Sneakerhead community, certain pairs of shoes that have been worn a few times and are still in "like new" condition are really what people are looking to buy. The business model also offers people an opportunity to change their sneakers on a limited budget.
You're the founder of SneakMart. Do you run it on a day-to-day basis or do you have a team of people that do that?
Yes, I run it on a day-to-day basis, as this is really my passion. I always answer email requests directly, but of course I am not alone and tech is important to continuously improve the app. For that, I am working with Synaptiks, a great NY-based company that has developed the app and the website. It's really great to see how professionals can be supportive when they can see your passion! I think they also enjoy working with a teenager... it adds a different level of excitement from usual business. Some friends are also helping me for new sneaker releases.
Does SneakMart only have an app for iPhone or is there an Android version as well?
SneakMart is available now on the Apple store for iPhone. We are currently developing the Android version that should be available later this summer.
What are your favorite video games? What consoles do you have?
I play video games on Xbox One. My favorites are Fifa (soccer game), GTA V and NBA 2K.
What type of music do you enjoy?
I play the piano, so I listen to a lot of music. I particularly enjoy U.S. rap and sometimes Jazz/Soul.
Does your site also deal with children / toddler shoes or teens / adults only?
SneakMart is only for men's and women's sizes.
What advice can you give other young professionals about starting and maintaining a successful business?
The only thing I would say to them is to believe in your idea, work hard to make it a reality and never give up.