COOLKICKS
COOLKICKS is a bootstrapped Los Angeles-based sneaker retailer selling authenticated new and pre-owned sneakers, grail-tier collaborations, and branded merchandise via two LA stores and a global Shopify e-commerce platform targeting sneaker collectors and enthusiasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What COOLKICKS does
Coolkicks, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based, privately held sneaker retailer founded in 2013 that operates as a direct-to-consumer business across two physical retail locations (Melrose Ave flagship and the LA Farmers Market location) and a Shopify-hosted e-commerce storefront at shopcoolkicks.com. The company sells a catalog of 1,553+ products spanning brand new (deadstock) sneakers, authenticated pre-owned pairs, a curated Grails collection of rare collaborations priced up to $7,500+, and branded merchandise, with unit-based pricing across price points from approximately $50 to several thousand dollars. Worldwide fulfillment is handled via USPS domestically and DHL/FedEx internationally. The business does not take outside investment and has grown organically through word-of-mouth and a large social media following on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Whatnot.
The platform is built on Shopify for commerce and Shopify Payments for PCI-DSS-compliant transaction processing, with an AI-powered SMS/MMS marketing layer that uses generative AI, a recommendation engine, and conversational agents for personalized customer engagement. A 'Sell to Coolkicks' buyback program creates a two-sided supply flow feeding the pre-owned inventory, and a 10+ year staff-driven authentication process underwrites the resale value proposition. Founders Adeel Shams (CEO) and Bereket Abraham lead the 11–50-person organization.
Coolkicks serves primarily sneaker collectors and enthusiasts — a long-tail, persona-segmented customer base — with a secondary segment of casual first-time grail buyers. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time transactional sneaker sales; there is no subscription, licensing, or B2B contract revenue disclosed. Distribution spans the global DTC e-commerce channel and the two LA retail storefronts, supported by organic social-led acquisition and community-driven loyalty.
COOLKICKS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- COOLKICKS
- Legal name
- Coolkicks, Inc.
- Website
- https://shopcoolkicks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- COOLKICKS is a bootstrapped Los Angeles-based sneaker retailer selling authenticated new and pre-owned sneakers, grail-tier collaborations, and branded merchandise via two LA stores and a global Shopify e-commerce platform targeting sneaker collectors and enthusiasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
COOLKICKS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sneaker Retail
- NAICS
- Shoe Retailers (458210), Shoe Retailers (45821)
- SIC
- Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Footwear Retail (Dance, Skate, Cleats, Bowling, etc.) (CRAAADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Performance Running Specialty Retail (CRAMACAA)
Keywords
Where COOLKICKS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
COOLKICKS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Sneaker Sales: One-time transaction-based sales of brand new and pre-owned sneakers. Products are sold at fixed prices listed on the e-commerce platform. Both deadstock (brand new with original packaging) and pre-owned authenticated sneakers are available across multiple price points ranging from budget options under $150 to rare grail sneakers priced at several thousand dollars.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Unit-based pricing for individual sneakers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
COOLKICKS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
COOLKICKS retails authenticated sneakers through a Shopify-powered e-commerce platform and two physical retail locations in Los Angeles. The company sells brand new deadstock sneakers and pre-owned authenticated pairs spanning major brands (Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Yeezy, New Balance, ASICS) and high-value collaborations (Off-White, Travis Scott, Dior). All inventory is verified through in-house authentication staff with over 10 years of experience, and the company also offers a sell-to-us program and branded merchandise.
Product overview
Coolkicks is a sneaker retail platform built on Shopify that operates two physical retail locations in Los Angeles (Melrose Ave and Farmers Market) alongside its e-commerce store. The core offering consists of authenticated sneakers across multiple product tiers: Brand New (deadstock) sneakers, Pre-Owned sneakers with condition transparency, and a premium Grails collection featuring the rarest and most valuable sneakers. The company specializes in limited editions and collaborations from Nike (including Jordan, Kobe Bryant, SB Dunk), Adidas (including Yeezy), New Balance, ASICS, and Off-White. Product is organized by brand categories, gender (Men, Women, Kids), price point (Under $150), and condition. The platform offers sneaker authentication services, a sell-to-us program, and operates an AI-powered SMS/MMS marketing program for customer engagement. The company also sells branded merchandise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brand New Sneakers
- Pre-Owned Sneakers
- Grails Collection
- Sneaker Authentication Service
Companies that use COOLKICKS
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
COOLKICKS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability4 records
COOLKICKS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
COOLKICKS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Flight Club: Established sneaker consignment retailer with retail stores (including a prominent NYC flagship) plus e-commerce. Directly comparable as a multi-channel authenticator and reseller of new and pre-owned sneakers targeting collectors; competes with Coolkicks in physical retail halo and authenticated resale.
- GOAT Group: Online sneaker marketplace offering authenticated new and used sneakers with strong authentication infrastructure. Comparable to Coolkicks as a leading authenticated sneaker resale platform with global shipping, though much larger and digital-first rather than retail-led.
- StockX: Online sneaker and streetwear resale marketplace built around bidding and authentication. Directly competes with Coolkicks in the authenticated secondary market for collectible sneakers; differs via marketplace model versus Coolkicks' retailer/inventory-taking approach.
- Round Two: Sneaker and streetwear consignment retailer with multiple US locations selling authenticated new and used sneakers and apparel. Comparable to Coolkicks in product mix (sneakers + apparel), authentication emphasis, and physical-plus-online omnichannel model.
- Stadium Goods: Premium sneaker and streetwear resale platform (acquired by Farfetch). Comparable to Coolkicks in authenticated resale of high-end and grail-tier sneakers targeting collectors, though operating more as an upscale online destination.
Regional players
- Sole Supremacy: LA-based sneaker boutique operating both physical retail and e-commerce for new and limited-edition sneakers. Highly comparable to Coolkicks in geography, customer base, and sneaker-focused curatorial retail model; competes for the same Southern California sneaker collector audience.
- END Clothing: Premium sneaker and menswear retailer combining e-commerce with flagship physical stores and curated limited drops. Comparable to Coolkicks in stocking premium sneakers (Nike, Jordan, New Balance collabs) and experiential retail, though broader apparel mix and UK-based.
Emerging players
- Concepts: Boutique sneaker and streetwear retailer with flagship stores and curated limited-edition drops. Comparable to Coolkicks as a culturally-led sneaker boutique emphasizing curation and exclusive collabs; differs in tighter geographic footprint and stronger apparel mix.
- Bodega: Boutique sneaker and streetwear retailer (Boston/LA origin) operating curated limited-edition drops, often as a brand collaborator. Comparable to Coolkicks in cultural positioning, collector focus, and sneaker-curation-led merchandising (and already partners with Coolkicks per their navigation menu).
- Extra Butter: Independent sneaker boutique with brick-and-mortar and e-commerce focused on curated brand storytelling and collaborations. Comparable to Coolkicks in cultural positioning, sneaker-collector focus, and curation-driven assortment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
COOLKICKS social profiles
Digital presenceCOOLKICKS compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
COOLKICKS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
COOLKICKS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
COOLKICKS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
COOLKICKS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about COOLKICKS
What does COOLKICKS do?
COOLKICKS retails authenticated sneakers through a Shopify-powered e-commerce platform and two physical retail locations in Los Angeles. The company sells brand new deadstock sneakers and pre-owned authenticated pairs spanning major brands (Nike, Jordan, Adidas, Yeezy, New Balance, ASICS) and high-value collaborations (Off-White, Travis Scott, Dior). All inventory is verified through in-house authentication staff with over 10 years of experience, and the company also offers a sell-to-us program and branded merchandise.
Is COOLKICKS a public or private company?
COOLKICKS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was COOLKICKS founded?
COOLKICKS was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is COOLKICKS based?
COOLKICKS is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does COOLKICKS make money?
One revenue line is on record: sneaker Sales.
Who are COOLKICKS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Flight Club, GOAT Group, StockX, Round Two and Stadium Goods. Regional players are Sole Supremacy and END Clothing. Emerging players are Concepts, Bodega and Extra Butter.
Does COOLKICKS have an API?
No public API is recorded for COOLKICKS.
What industry is COOLKICKS in?
COOLKICKS's product category is Sneaker Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAADAJ, Specialty Footwear Retail (Dance, Skate, Cleats, Bowling, etc.), with a secondary code of CRAMACAA, Performance Running Specialty Retail. Its NAICS code is 458210 and its SIC code is 5661.