Hoka, selling shoes, and the power of presence
Human connection and in-person experiences will always win... I spoke with a friend recently, and they said something that stuck:
“The more the world looks inward with technology, the more it notices things out of the ordinary.” - Anon (not ChatGPT).
In an attention economy, how do you stand out?
Maybe we go full circle here because there is something extraordinary about simplicity.
About showing up and being present. In a sea of screens, human interaction stands out more than ever.
My first job was at Pace Athletic, selling running shoes. Nearly 13 years ago now, but what I learned there still sticks with me: the power of presence.
I remember back in 2014 when a HOKA running rep would visit the shop. Hoka wasn’t nearly as big as they are now and the shoes looked a little different... Bold, chunky, and definitely not like the sleek designs and minimal low profile drop that everyone else was loving at the time...
But the rep believed wholeheartedly in the product.
You could hear it in his voice and see it in the way he talked about the product... His enthusiasm - infectious.
He showed up, believed and lived the vision.
Customers didn't just buy the shoes, they bought into the story, the connection, and the feeling it gave them.
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Today, Hoka is a multi-billion dollar brand. They didn’t get there with flashy ads or algorithms.
They got there by staying true to what made them unique:
They leaned into what made them stand out rather than trying to blend in.
It got me pondering how we sell and connect in business today.
Sure, times change, but the fundamentals don’t: people buy from great brands that truly believe in there product and how it makes people feel.
So, the question is...
What are you doing differently?
It doesn’t matter if you’re selling running shoes, cupcakes, insurance or software.
Showing up, connecting genuinely, and believing in what you do will always matter and be the difference.
What's your moment where showing up made a difference?
BDM Trade & Contract - HARBOUR AUS
3 周Literally just had an experience of showing up to something I could have easily missed and grew a bunch from it. What did I learn? When you’ve inserted the key, your better off unlocking and opening the door then leaving it closed. You’ll never know what’s in the other side.