So, I was thinking about the person running Converse the other day. The CEO. It got me reflecting, not really about business strategy like some expert, but more about, you know, the actual shoes and what they mean.
I remember getting my first pair of Chuck Taylors. Black high-tops. Felt like the coolest kid on the block. Wore them till the soles were literally flapping. That was the whole point back then, wasn’t it? To wear them into the ground. They were simple, cheap, tough.
My Own Little Experiment
A while back, I got a new pair. Fancy ones, part of some collaboration. Cost a lot more. And I found myself actually trying to keep them clean. Totally different mindset. I even bought special cleaner! It felt weird. It wasn’t the same Converse vibe I grew up with.
It made me think about the folks in charge, like the CEO. How do you manage a brand like that? It’s got this history, this gritty image, but then you also have to make money, do collaborations, appeal to new people who maybe see it as fashion, not just a basic sneaker.
- You got the old-school crowd who want the beat-up look.
- You got the fashion folks wanting the limited editions.
- You got the everyday person just needing a shoe.
It’s like trying to juggle different personalities. One day I tried applying this ‘keep it pristine’ idea to my old work boots. Just for laughs, really. Polished them up, tried to avoid scuffs. Lasted about half a day on a messy project. Completely pointless. Some things are just meant to be used, not put on a pedestal.
Seeing the Changes
You see Converse everywhere now, way more than years ago. Different styles, different prices. Must be a nightmare trying to keep it all straight, keep that original ‘cool’ factor while also being this huge global thing owned by Nike. Feels like they’re pulled in a million directions.
It’s kinda like what happens in big companies, I guess. Things start simple, then layers get added, different bosses want different things, marketing pulls one way, product design another. You end up with something that’s successful, maybe, but complicated. Sometimes I wonder if the CEO ever just wants to go back to making simple, tough shoes you can wear till they fall apart. Probably not, business doesn’t work like that. But yeah, it’s something I think about when I lace up my Chucks, the old beat-up ones, not the fancy ones I’m afraid to get dirty.
