Just four years after its establishment, young entrepreneur Lolo Ndlovu has turned The Sneaker Shack into one of South Africa’s largest retail sneaker chains.
The 31-year-old turned a memorable experience into a brand that now has eight branches country the country, including Bryanston, Fourways, Sandton and Cape Town, to name a few.
According to Ndlovu, it all started in Los Angeles where he found himself in a café that offered a sneaker cleaning service.
“I was studying in the United States and I had done a spring break in Los Angeles. Walking through Little Tokyo, a Maboneng-style place, there was this really cool coffee and sneaker cleaning shop where a guy was able to clean your sneakers for you on the spot.
“I never gave him a pair [of sneakers] but I just remembered walking out of that store feeling like that was really cool. When I got back to South Africa, I thought that it was an idea with great potential given the fact that we [South Africa] had a huge sneaker-loving community.”
The Sneaker Shack started with a location in Maboneng itself but Ndlovu soon realised that the location was not ideal for people to visit on a weekly basis.
“We moved to Bryanston and, from there, our customer base broadened from moms, who continue to be our favourite customers, to the sneakerheads, the cool kids, who really appreciate the service that we offer.”
Along with its eight locations, Ndlovu plans to open an additional four before the end of the year, and the goal of reaching 25 by 2025. The Sneaker Shack also currently employs over 40 young people.
“Young people with a drive to have an impact and make a difference in South Africa can do so with the right direction. It is good to know that we are not just talking about this problem but, our growth allows us to give opportunities to young people in order for them to empower themselves and make a positive difference in their lives.”
For more information, visit www.thesneakershack.co.za
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