eBay UK has opened a first-of-its-kind pop up Swap ‘Em Out store, where people can swap sneakers they don’t wear for a pair they will.
To help sneakerheads get their hands on pairs they’ll actually wear, eBay is tapping into a behaviour intrinsic to the sneaker community – swapping. Providing both the grounds and means to facilitate this, eBay’s Swap ‘Em Out Store offers the opportunity for people to bring in their pre-loved and unworn pairs and exchange them for shoes up to triple their value.
Opening in the heart of Soho, London on Saturday 25th March, the Swap ‘Em Out pop-up shop will be a ticketed event, with sneakerheads across the country able to apply here for the chance to come and exchange their sneakers free of charge for a more coveted pair of a higher value.
Wahaaj Shabbir, Sneaker Category Manager at eBay UK explains: “Swapping has always been intrinsic to us sneakerheads. In these tough times, where the cost-of-living is making it harder to buy your next pair, we wanted to offer a solution which feels right to the community. We’re all about getting sneakers back on feet and hope that by encouraging people to swap and sell, we’ll keep sneakers flowing to people who truly love them. By opening up The Swap ‘Em Out Store, people will be able to bring in those sneakers that don’t get enough love any more, and we’ll swap them for a pair they’ll wear.”
A number of lucky attendees will also have their brought-in sneakers swapped for a “Top Swap” – rare and hyped silhouettes of high value. Featuring a number of sought-after models across brands, the “Top Swaps” are set to include Nike x Off White Jordan 1 “Euro” (worth approximately £4,300), Nike Jordan 4 Kaws (worth approximately £2,400) and a pair of Salomon XT-6 Adv Dover Street Market Silver (worth approximately £900).
As well as swapping their sneakers, attendees will be able to take advantage of other interactive elements including a sneaker cleaning service provided by Sneakers ER, as well as an authentication hub – where sneakers will be checked by expert authenticators, offering the eBay Authenticity Guarantee programme in real life to sneakers over £100, to ensure complete satisfaction and protection for shoppers. There will also be the opportunity to gain access to an exclusive Swap ‘Em Out afterparty featuring live DJ sets, prizes and entertainment.
Following on from its OG Drops sneaker stores in Morley’s on Brick Lane and at a music venue in Manchester last year, eBay is helping to ensure that sneakers stay within the community. This time, encouraging people to continue the life cycle of their sneakers by swapping and selling pairs they don’t wear to people who will, whilst using the cash to fund the purchase of their next coveted pair.
Those sneakers which have been brought in and swapped will be authenticated by eBay and cleaned, ahead of being uploaded to a Swap ‘Em Out onsite edit on eBay, giving those who were unable to attend the store itself the chance to get their hands on sneakers which are new to them.
Funds raised from this Swap Em Out edit will be going towards supporting the DEC Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal.
