We’ve all seen it, PE’s, Samples, “Look See”, and the question that has always escaped answer has been “where do these kicks come from?” Today we get a fresh glimpse just as to where, and the root starts at Nike HQ believe it or not. As detailed by The Smoking Gun, a product manager from Nike involved himself in a hasty plan that took him from Nike employee to sneaker world antiquities dealer.
By using his insider access to acquire large amounts of rare and never to be reproduced kicks, the employee in question, via a middleman, profited off these stolen goods through an intricate system that ended with a sneaker dealer. The dealer would, after acquiring these genuine yet hot goods, sell them to sneaker collectors and boutiques, which explains where these kicks have been coming from all along.
Today, most businesses have business alarm systems and security cameras, which are quite reliable when it comes to detecting such incidents of theft. There are however some employees who exploit such loopholes in stores with poor security arrangements and steal antique shoes from them. This sort of action is certainly grounds for termination and even criminal prosecution unless there were mitigating circumstances. The employee would, either way, require the help of a really good southern California employment attorney or a similar attorney in order to fight the termination. Though we do not know if this is an isolated incident or a widespread problem on the Nike campus, it certainly raises some questions.
With the height of the rare sneaker game soaring like MJ from the free-throw line, what can Nike do to protect themselves and their employees from the allure of those big bucks, and will this be the end of PE’s and samples hitting the blogosphere? Leaking of sensitive data and products can be considered as a lack of security within the office premises. Many businesses that deal with sensitive data or new products tend to have stricter management that can prohibit any attempt of leaking. This can be done with the help of management tools like HR software that can collect log-in and log-out times, access employee permission details, work progress tracking, and grant access to sensitive data for selective employees. Implementing tools like them can eventually save a company from a loss. Coming back to Nike, as of now, nothing can be said, but it is expected that Nike perhaps would take stringent action, maybe through some reputed employment solicitors, so that crime of this sort isn’t repeated again.
We in no way condone theft, but to play devil’s advocate, Nike’s hype and image has certainly profited off the desire for information and rare finds. Are the crew at Nike going to accidentally undo the best marketing plan of all time, or will the tighter security lead us back to the day of legitimate releases? These scenarios will keep us all guessing, but one thing’s for sure, this Nike employee will probably switch to rocking adidas after he gets out of jail.
[…] Source: Modern Notriety […]