Social shopping at Vans.com, Jansport.com and others

For years retailers have struggled to improve their online experience, but shopping online is mostly a solo endeavor. And everyone knows it’s more fun to shop with friends.

Without interaction and purchase validation, shoppers are often plagued by indecision and don’t buy anything at all. Friends help out with that.

With the proliferation of social media, a number of collaborative shopping opportunites are being rolled out by big-name retailers, including Vans, Lucky Brand Jeans and Warner Entertainment.

A new feature on Vans.com, for example, lets online shoppers invite friends to help design their customized sneakers.

The collaborative-shopping technology now live at Vans allows consumers building custom shoes online to chat with friends in real time about the product design. Click on a link saying, “Invite friends to design with you,” and access friends through AIM, e-mail or any other service a link can be sent through. Assuming the friend is also at a computer, she can join a chat on the Vans site to give a thumbs up or down on the design, as well as make her own suggestions.

A second piece of technology, friend-based merchandising, is now live at Jansport.com. When shoppers view a product, they are given the option to “Share on Facebook” by adding the “My Favorite Jansport” application. Once the shopper has added the application, she can invite friends to comment on and rate Jansport products. As the application gains steam, customers will be able to view comments and favorites from their friends.

Is team-shopping what users really want?

Are you the one? Sister One giveaway

To celebrate the amazing achievements in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Nike has created a series of one-of-a- kind training shoes inspired by the successes of their female athletes. This fresh campaign is for a line of trainers called Sister One +. Pledge to one of the Nike Olympians to train your best and you could win her shoe!

• Jessica Mendoza (Softball)
• Hope Solo (Soccer)
• Sanya Richardson (Track)
• Diana Taurasi (Basketball)

The truly unique shoes each feature a piece of fabric from the athlete’s authentic Olympic uniform stitched onto the shoe’s tongue. 

Girls (13 and older) can log-onto nike.com  and enter to win their own pair of these inspirational shoes by pledging to train as hard as the featured Olympians. 

A panel of judges will review each pledge and the most inspirational will win the beautiful shoes and have them presented in person by the athlete.  The contest ends March 31, 2009.

Cool, huh?

Fancy Footwear

September 11, 2008 – As you may know, the fashion industry’s big trade show, MAGIC, took place a couple weeks ago in Vegas. The weather wasn’t the only thing that was hot, as hip designers abounded at MAGIC and sister shows Pool and Project.

On the footwear front, the following brands were brought to our attention:

Nat 2 – Perhaps the most interesting and innovative footwear collection we’ve seen in a while, Germany shoe brand Nat-2’s “2-in-1″ design features removable, interchangeable uppers that transform your basic sneakers into more breathable, comfortable slides with the flick of a zipper. Recently nominated for a 2009 Design Award, it’s only a matter of time until the rest of the world catches on.

United Kranes: If you’re searching for a good-looking shoe to wear while perfecting your badminton skills, consider your search over. This unisex sneaker brand is “dedicated to the world of indoor sports,” and features sick-looking kicks with “soft rubber soles, Ultra Sprint Foam cushioning, and Ultra Anklock TM design” to optimize the game (of life) for athletes and enthusiasts.

Keep Company: The company’s new hitops pays homage to age-old traditions and the handiwork of women everywhere. Stripes abound in woven Mayan fabric straight out of the highlands of Guatemala and hand quilted morning star pieces light the way on the latest Guerra offerings. Tip your hat to the labor of ladies around the world, sit back and get inspired. 100% cotton canvas. Molded rubber sole.

What are your favorite new kicks?

Chinese Trainers

Just a short distance from Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu, is a rural spot in China known for producing rubber soled canvas shoes for over 50 years. Known as Tialang Trainers, these high tops are extremely comfortable (they have a similar insole to an athletic shoe) making them the number one choice for farmers, construction workers and coal miners in China.

Ospop, a new apparel company, has now made these shoes available to all. Because these sneakers were originally created for workers and their tough labor, they are for sure strong enough for any situation.

The stylish kicks are available in three different colors, army green, olive green, and yellow. Each pair purchased supports an education fund in the Wen Country. This fund provides high school seniors in the area, who don’t have enough money to attend a university, financial assistance for their first year at a university. Hurry and buy yourself a pair fast, I know I will.

Lady Liberty Dunks

May 6, 2008 – Calling all ballers!

Nike goes British with it’s new line of limited edition Dunks emblazoned with Liberty of London’s signature prints. Liberty has been synonymous with luxury and great design since 1875 when Arthur Liberty’s intuitive vision and pioneering spirit led him to travel the world looking for individual pieces to inspire and excite his discerning clientele. Now Nike has applied the best of British style to one of its icons, in the creation of this transcultural sneaker.

Set in a famous Tudor building in the heart of London’s West End, Nike designers were inspired by the signature fabrics at the Liberty department store. The design team selected two classic Liberty prints, Wilshire and Pepper, to create the limited edition Dunks. Liberty fabrics are characterized by tender palettes, all over floral prints, and detailed movement. Draped on the Dunk, the fabrics create a true juxtaposition of femininity and clean athletic lines. The sneakers feature a gum rubber midsole and a heavyweight Liberty fabric for the upper which was chosen for its durability.

Nike loves to challenge the traditional boundaries of design by working with a diverse group of material vendors and creative houses. This time, the result is part swinging Sixties, part Eighties old school. These kicks go girly with Liberty’s all-over pattern, but stay street chic with the high-top style that makes them a fashion staple on and off the court.

Dropping this month at select retail accounts.