Can LA Lights Comeback in 2023? What Happened to LA Gear Shoes? | Who Made the First Light Up Shoes

[@companyinsight]

What do you think about LA Gear? Be sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for new updates each week!

[@thesneakyzephyr4531]

I remember back in the 80's, when I was in elementary school, you were one of the cool kids if you had a pair of LA Gear high-tops!

[@companyinsight]

Haha, it was the same in the 90's too! You might've seen some people wearing FUBU too, which I just made the uploaded the video yesterday. Hope you enjoy the content! 😀

[@fireheartgames]

@@companyinsight Haha for a while you could find Fubu at Walmart. Walmart had bought out the stock of Fubu, and it became a Walmart brand for a while. Sad that the shoe I used to love was sent to Walmart the company I work for. It was cool getting a nice pair of Fubu for a while in the mid 2000's though lol.

[@companyinsight]

@@fireheartgames I'm totally similar in how you think. 🤣🤣🤣

[@companyinsight]

From a former Director at LA Gear, who was very kind to provide additional color on the Company. In 1990, sales reached around $960 million, and the management became obsessed with passing Reebok and Nike the following year. They had caps and tee shirts for everyone that said " #1 in '91". It is correct that there was a big problem with inventory, but it was much worse than just regular stock levels. Their desire to pass Reebok and Nike led them to order excessive amounts of inventory from the suppliers so they could beat the competition with quick deliveries on re-orders from retailers. To manage this, they moved to a huge new warehouse with state of the art equipment. They were very confident that this was a good move, but it backfired when, as you mention, the brand started to downtrend. The economy also went into a recession in late 1990 and early 1991 which made things worse. They had to dump the inventory to discounters out of necessity more than any kind of change in distribution or marketing strategy. Another key factor was that Sandy Saemann was not liked by the press. He was extremely arrogant and rude, so when the company started to have problems, the press jumped at every opportunity to write something negative. This included the Wall Street Journal, who had previously given the company a lot of coverage because of the performance of the stock on the NYSE. You are correct that the Michael Jackson failure was the biggest waste of money, but there was reckless spending across the board with other celebrity endorsements, expensive trade show booths and lavish parties. Mark Goldston was a far more polished businessman than Saemann, but he was also very arrogant. He did things like forcing his new branding strategies on international distributors who were doing fine with LA Gear in their markets and did not want or need to reposition the brand. You mention that the management under Bruce MacGregor tried to sell products internationally to take advantage of the brand's newness factor outside the United States. I was no longer with the company at that time, but there would not have been a newness factor globally. We had annual international sales in excess of $160 million in the early 90s with very successful distributors in countries all over the world.

[@angelosupreme6377]

Great video. There so much knowledge in this video. Thank you!

[@monkeyking-self-proclaimed7050]

Owned one LA Gear basketball shoe. Was the most comfortable shoes I've owned. Wish I stock pile. Most the shoes nowadays are crap.

[@companyinsight]

Hi Chad. LA Gear basketball shoes were classic. Think they're rare valuable collectibles now. It's a shame the company isn't around anymore. Be sure to check out one of the comments I posted from the LA Gear Director. Seemed their downfall could've been avoided. Thanks for your support and be sure to subscribe for weekly updates each Wed. 👍

[@yesayasatria3478]

Well, I remember my LA Gear Light, it was sooooooo cool!! Best shoes of 90s, for me... It's a legend 😀 Thank you for the video, love it!

[@companyinsight]

Thanks for the support and happy to take you down memory lane. Be sure to subscribe to stay tuned for new updates every Wednesday! ✨👟

[@businessuccessful7171]

Just came across your channel, this is the first video I saw of you. It looks good, keep it up!

[@companyinsight]

Thanks for the kind words and support! I also love your content too. Let's keep doing our best and make our KZbin channels a success! 💪

[@jamesryanlynch3887]

I'll never forget my first pair of pumps... the LA Gear Regulators!!!

[@riskiway8091]

never used LA Gear before. But when I was little, shoes with lights are booming with no time! Right now, i found out why.

[@companyinsight]

Yes, same here! Guess trends are the same all over the world. Thanks for your strong support! 💪🏻

[@JustNam66]

Just bought LA Gear shoes and I love it! Its very comfortable to the sole. 🙂🙂❤️

[@TheAztecSon]

Excellent vid! I had a pair of LA Lights running shoes in 1993...thought I was the shit lol.

[@companyinsight]

Haha. Thanks! I had a pair too! Thanks for the support. Be sure to subscribe for new updates every Wednesday if you enjoy content like this. 👟✨🌟

[@Hillers62]

This is why I have never brought expensive "trendy" clothes just to impress someone...When I was a teen in the 70's, I couldn't afford the high end brands (though there weren't many, mostly jeans like Jordache and Sasoon)...by the time I could afford some nicer clothes in the 80's, I was weary of buying something that was way overpriced, just because it was fashionable...One thing I learned early on...that high prices doesn't always mean quality...I would often wait to find the off brands that looked the same (like Sear's version of the Member's Only jacket)...as for shoes, I didn't think that most people would look at my feet, so I bought whatever was comfortable...with each decade, brand recognition has gotten bigger and bigger...and many were a flash in the pan...Today, exclusivity seems to be the latest trend (think Supreme)...but I don't buy clothes or shoes because I want people to see the brand name...I buy something because I like it...hopefully, that will be the next trend...

[@companyinsight]

Nice to see you again! I wish all of us here could follow your advice since we were young - then we would all be incrementally richer and wiser. 💰

[@winnienguyen4420]

Of course I had a pair of LA Gear back in the early 1990s. Every cool kid did. Thanks for the memories. 😂

[@companyinsight]

Hahaha. Count me in. 😀

[@tobalatv]

OMG your channel should have like a million subscribers and more views. Amazing info. I really enjoyed this video.

[@companyinsight]

Thanks for the kind words. La gear was such an interesting story! Glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to subscribe for new updates every Wednesday if you enjoy content like this.

[@bagjamahardi9014]

It's always been a great insight, taking lessons from an iconic brand journey. Thanks for the insight!

[@companyinsight]

Few brands leave a mark when they leave like LA Gear. Hope you enjoyed the video and thanks for your support! 🚀🚀🚀

[@heycarlosmartinez]

Was always curious on how they came to be, love watching their commercials from time to time 📺 Great content! 👏🏽

[@alexsebastian3981]

Definitely a better brand for me now nobody knows if this brand ever existed

[@companyinsight]

Stay true to LA Gear!

[@JamieRiley-t7j]

When I was a teenager, I worked for Nick Rogers, the inventor of the LA Gear lights shoes. I grew up with his niece in midland Ontario. Nick told me how he came up with the idea…Him and his buddies were having an acid party. He was so high on acid, he said he could see lights in his friends feet when he walked across the room. He went from a poor school bus driver to a multi millionaire in a matter of a year or two. After Nick made it big, he ended up hiring his old manager from his school bus driving days to manage his property and fleet of rare and exotic cars. He was a good guy, would take us out for a rip in one his cars every so often. Was a pretty sweet summer job for a young teenager.

[@OMARAB-s2v]

Amazing review thanks. I miss this brand a lot

[@companyinsight]

Me 2. No one watches this video anymore! Hope you enjoyed the video. Be sure to subscribe for new updates every Wed. 🚀

[@renanterobles2942]

I have that shoes when I was in my Elementary days I really like it!!❤

[@Lesrevesdhiver]

They were stylish without a doubt. When they were a new brand, did the quality align with the price? I never owned any but would have loved to.

[@companyinsight]

At one point yes, but then everything went downhill. Today they're sold at Payless shoes, so not really. Is a sad story. Be sure to subscribe for new updates every Wednesday if you enjoy content like this one.

[@Lesrevesdhiver]

@@companyinsight Thing is, payless is only online. I looked up their LA Gear line and the selection is scant. A failing business carrying a has-been brand. Sad how it went downhill THAT bad.

[@companyinsight]

@@Lesrevesdhiver totally agree. Super duper sad. Wish Nike or one of the big brands would buy them out and bring the brand back to life.

[@malvavisco10]

Britney and Nirvana were both around in the ‘90s, but not at the exact same time….Kurt died in April 1994. Britney’s first single was released in January 1999.

[@nlee0]

Aw I miss these shoes!!

[@companyinsight]

Those were the days! Thanks for the support. ✨👟

[@robertjermainepitts]

I had a pair of these in the 90s

[@jncyj]

I've got original LA Tech box plus 2 lights from inside the shoe i could list on ebay

[@aryanxxdd]

Found a shirt from thrift store it was from LA gear that's made me come here

[@silverstrands3362]

Sure, bring them on!

[@brunomendes3444]

Our playboy is doing great 👍

[@WisdomfromtheGreats]

Totally, playboy doing some NFTs now. Earnings Thursday

[@companyinsight]

It's going to be huge. This is the best direct way to invest in NFTs in public equities. Great to see you again and thanks for your support Bruno!

[@companyinsight]

@@WisdomfromtheGreats It's just the beginning.....Thanks for the support! 🚀🚀🚀

[@1205neil]

I want the le tech hi top basketball shoe

[@itzdasix]

I would love to see the hightops make a comeback id get a few pairs

[@TripleDoubleDiamond]

I miss La gears and would pay a shit load to have them redone

[@jaydee5952]

I had the ones with the key. So you can take your light out on the back of the shoe.

[@hamshank8892]

I got beat up for having these shoes on when I was 6 in the 90s

[@RobertDickens2002]

I remember everybody wanted those light up shoes how could they screw up so bad.

[@fireheartgames]

Haha Payless Shoe Source has also gone bankrupt. The question is, what now for LA Gear? Where do they go from hear? Hopefully not completely defunct. We have way too many companies like that now days.

[@companyinsight]

What do you think happens Ben? 😀 Thanks for the support. Be sure to subscribe for new updates every Wednesday if you enjoy content like this one.

[@heatherlee7581]

Payless is still international

[@partymariner]

They still sell them at Big 5 in California

[@tallyboss-m9p]

Yes bring them bck I'll buy I never got a chance to I was in elementary when I saw a pair I was poor couldn't afford them then if yall bring them back I'll be interested buying 1000th

[@shaquitajackson2965]

Please come bck i want a pair

[@thehouserocker]

Remember British Knights? oh darn I just dated myself lol

[@companyinsight]

Believe it or not, I still remember when MC Hammer was rocking BKs and I even had a pair back in the 90's. That's an interesting video idea!! I'll look into this. Anyone else interested in a video on British Knights? Thanks for your support buddy and do subscribe for new updates each Wed. 👟

[@Lesrevesdhiver]

I remember those, weren't they basically a knock-off of reebok?

[@thefreedomvibes]

Deep

[@antoniobotello4996]

LA GEAR was a big name with nothing behind it.

[@lithius2006]

i experienced partial sole detachment in primary school. Had to use the thread they used to sow into the sole to 'MacGyver my shoe luckily it the thread was durable to handle the surgery I had to perform to get it functioning so I could get home and throw them in the bin. Worst quality shoe ever

[@octorikamanda4840]

Thought the collaboration with Michael Jackson was doing good 🤔

[@companyinsight]

I thought so too, but that was actually part of the downfall of LA Gear. Thanks for your support and nice to see you back!

[@gfx2943]

I still think their dumb light shoes made for an obnioxious and childish image, which potential everyday customers couldn't get behind.

[@companyinsight]

Dont take it so seriously! Be sure to subscribe for weekly updates every Wed if you enjoy the content. 🙏

[@alexsebastian3981]

Now I don't even wanna listen to such awful grunge music of the 90s is such big mistake people started to wear pajamas in broad daylight a decade you don't want get back at, horrible and continue up until 2014 example how clown like croc shoes are

[@companyinsight]

Thanks for sharing your feedback and for your support, Alex. Do subscribe for updates every Wednesday if you enjoy content like this!