Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for September 7, 2006 IF THE SHOE FITS...

Can't afford a pair of "Jordans"?

Not our standard "CAT fare", but it will be interesting to see if this fad catches on with today's youth. Of course, the immediate future of Stephon Marbury's career may have a lot to do with that...and whether Mr. Marbury will be satisfied with 1 zillion dollars of profit...when he could have made 10 zillion dollars. As they say, time will tell!

From Forbes.com...

Shoe fit for Marbury

By Annalisa Burgos -- Forbes.com

Basketball superstar Stephon Marbury can't take on basketball legend Michael Jordan on the court. But he can take on his shoes.

The New York Knicks star guard officially launches his new Starbury fashion line and Starbury One basketball shoes on Thursday. And fans may be shocked: Rather than the typical $200 for a pair of high performance shoes, Starbury Ones cost a whopping $15. And that goes for everything in the collection -- jerseys, jeans, jackets and much more are sold at bargain prices.

So now you can dress like a baller, even if you don't get paid like one.

Marbury teamed up with discount retailer Steve & Barry's University Sportswear, which will exclusively sell the line. The partnership is a dream team come true for both parties.

"It means a lot," Marbury said. Steve & Barry "have the same vision that I have, which is to change the world, change the world of sneakers and lifestyle. We've created a lifestyle for everyone for an affordable price."

And to prove quality was not compromised to make his $15 shoes, Marbury will play in them during the upcoming National Basketball Association season.

"This is the highest-performance shoe that you can make for any amount. The technology is state of the art and was designed for the way that Stephon plays," said Steve & Barry's co-founder and co-CEO Barry Prevor.

For rapidly growing retailer Steve & Barry's, the deal is yet another milestone for a pair of buddies who started their business after being frustrated with overpriced college apparel. More than two decades later, the duo has more than 140 stores nationwide, with more than $700 million in sales.

How do they do it? Savvy business sense and lots of penny-pinching.

"The reality is, you plant a seed in the ground and the cotton grows and it's free," Prevor said. "And everything after that is someone's profit along the way to turn that cotton into a shirt."

Marbury is the first celebrity to sign with Steve & Barry's, a move that will put the retailer on the map. Already billed "the fastest growing retailer you never heard of" by Forbes, Steve & Barry's is sure to win over new fans. And other celebrities.

And at a time when Marbury has been the subject of harsh criticism for his performance and attitude, changing his game -- at least in the retail sense -- may be just the thing to kick off a hopefully better season.

"The real New Yorkers know what's up," Marbury said. "And I know who I am."