Classic soccer shoes: From an informal to a formal business start-up

Abstract

What young athlete playing any major sport has not dreamed of turning his or her passion into a business? However, finding a sustainable niche in the sports industry is not easy. This case describes the story of one young athlete in the United States who turned his hobby of collecting classic soccer shoes into a business that, to date, has earned him enough money to support his university education. The case study analyses the transition from selling small quantities of shoes over the Internet (micro entrepreneurship in the informal economy) to setting up a formal business. The case also discusses the challenges of growth from a start-up into a small business with a sustainable business model. It is an exciting case for university students since it is a real story concerning a student athlete. The case ends with a dilemma about what the founder should do with the business once he graduates from the university.