How My Sneaker Hobby Became Outsole

First steps into the sneaker world

We’ve always loved sneakers. Around 2005, I unknowingly started collecting them. Sneakers became a hobby. A passion. Through the local platform Apeldoorner.nl, I connected with others who shared the same passion. That’s where I discovered “sneaker collecting” was a thing. It was still quite underground. Internationally there were a few forums, and in the Netherlands, the popular site Lacebag was a key source of information. Like any new collector, I wanted to learn more about sneakers.

One of my first pairs. The Nike Air Max 1 Teal, shot by Lacebag.

Falling for the Nike Air Max 1

I didn’t stop there. I wanted to experience it myself. So I started with a very mixed collection. My first Nike Air Max was the Nike Air Max 90 Red Safari. They were fire. I had to try another. This time an Air Max 1. The Nike Air Max 1 Polkadot followed. This was the magic moment. I fell in love. All I wanted was Nike Air Max.

To me, the Overkill Studio ID in a Concord colorway is the hardest AM1. Hell yes, I’m in love with this model.

From hobby to serious collection

Back then, sneakers weren’t mainstream. Demand was low. You could easily buy Nike Air Max on Marktplaats or eBay for a few euros. I got a Nike Air Max 90 HOA Infrared for €50 and later a Nike Air Max 1 Premium Hufquake DS for €80. That was doable with pocket money and a side job. Only a few pairs sold above retail. A Nike Air Max 1 Supreme Atmos Animal or Elephant went for €180. Apart from Hyperstrikes, the Amsterdam and BRS Powerwall were the most expensive pairs at around €300.

In 2009 I completed the Powerwall 90’s and 1’s set.

Starting to sell

I wanted to expand my collection. That was the dream. All Powerwalls, all Atmos releases, all OGs. In 2009 I added the Patta pack to my wishlist. I couldn’t afford it. There was only one solution: sell what didn’t belong in your collection. I quickly sold everything that wasn’t Nike Air Max 1. Selling came easy and often led to great conversations. In fact, I enjoyed selling!

Right after the release, I had all Patta Nike Air Max 1’s in my collection. Insane!

Rise of social media and community

Sneakers became more mainstream. Social media played a big role. Hyves blew up. One of the communities there was the Nike Air Max 1 group. That’s where I met Bas. A sneakerhead with a similar story from the other side of the country. We became online friends. Sneakerheads connected much faster. These communities grew. Much bigger than forums like Lacebag. Buying and selling became even more fun.

Trunk sales were standard at the train station. Cash only.

The first webshop: Frankossale

The sneaker boom went hand in hand with Facebook’s rise. Huge international communities appeared. Demand skyrocketed. Prices doubled, tripled, even quadrupled. I had to act on it. I launched a Blogspot to list my sneakers. “Frankossale” was born.

A random selection of sneakers on the Frankossale blog.

The transition to Outsole

My collection became one of the biggest in the Netherlands. Over 1000 collectibles. I had all the grails twice, sometimes three times. Amazing, but also the end of the passion. I had it all. What now?

I’ve held almost every Air Max 1 in hand. So many colorways to collect.

Launching a real webshop

By then I had lots of experience buying and selling sneakers. I wanted to take things seriously. First study, then execute. I started a master’s in Business Administration. Learned about strategy, marketing, finance. Those were the ingredients to launch an official webshop.

Partnering with Bas & Dennis (Frits)

There was always a bromance with Bas. We built a setup where he could sell through his own company on Outsole. The technical part was handled by Dennis, aka Frits. We built the website together. Our webshop went live on 01-10-2015.

Outsole today

At launch, our dream came true. More sales, more buying, more products. We now have over 2000 sneakers online. We have our own office, a great team, and feature in media like Videoland, Playboy, and RTL Boulevard.

Grateful for the community

Thanks for all the love.

These days we visit events with 600 pairs of Air Max 1’s. It’s a pain to transport them, but it’s the best way to stay connected with the community.