Update: March 30, 2007
For a complete look at the Starbury II line, check out this photo gallery of Starbury Shoes.
October 17, 2006
Athletic Shoes & Starbury
Basketball shoes endorsed by NBA players can fetch astronomical prices. Air Jordans can retail for more than $200, and Kobe Bryant and LeBron James signature shoes can easily go for more than $100 on various web sites.So how will a $14.98 basketball shoe from NBA All Star Stephon Marbury stack up against the competition? It's hard to tell, but the vision behind the shoes is a great one, and if early sales are any indication, it's a concept that many are finding embraceable.
Available exclusively at Steve and Barry's University Sportswear, the premier item in the Starbury line of shoes and apparel is the Starbury One basketball shoe. The shoes retail for only $14.98, but Marbury claims that the Starbury One basketball shoes are the same as the most expensive shoes on the market.
Whether people are buying the shoes because of their quality; because of the Marbury name; or because they're tired of spending a what Marbury says for many is a "week's worth of groceries" on celebrity sneakers is unclear -- but they are buying them.
According to an article on Tennessean.com what was thought to be a month's supply of the footwear sold out within days at the more than 130 Steve and Barry's locations throughout the United States.
Stephon Marbury:
- New York Knicks Point Guard
- 2001, 2003 NBA All Star
- Career High Points in a Single Game: 50
Stephon Marbury Shoes:
The Starbury line currently includes the following items:Starbury One: This is the big one. According to the official Starbury web site, this shoe is "Exactly the same as the most expensive kicks on the market," and retails for $14.98. A mid-top shoe, this style is available in several different color combinations.
Starbury Crossovers: These low top Starbury sneakers come in a variety of colors and styles, and retail for $9.98.
Starbury Cyclones: Looking a bit like a retro track shoe, these shoes also retail for $9.98.
Starbury SXM: Though these aren't touted as being "NBA quality," buyers on various web sites claim to prefer these high-tops over the Starbury Ones. Retail price: $9.98.
The line also includes apparel like hoodies, jackets and jerseys, all priced at $9.98 or less. Where to Buy Starbury Ones & Other Stephon Marbury Shoes: 2009 Update: Steve and Barry's, the retail chain that was initially the exclusive retailer of the Starbury line is no longer in business. Stephon Marbury's Starbury shoes and apparel can now be purchased online at Starbury.com Additional Resources:
- Starbury Official Site
- Forbes Internet Video - A video interview about Starbury shoes with Barry Prevor, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Steve and Barry's.
