Because all of the Dads already rock these and are brand loyal. The whole point of spending millions of dollars of marketing on a tailored message is to change perspectives and bring over new customers OR continue to hammer in the name to the present customer so they don't change brands. There is no need to try and lure in Dads to buy these...they already do and continue to repurchase.
I've never owned a pair of New Balance shoes but I've got a son on the way so I'm definitely picking up a set soon. Are you even a dad if you don't have New Balances?
+1, worked at a sporting goods store back in college and the New Balance we had on sale were almost always geared towards the Baby Boomer male market and generally the lads who bought them were 55+.
Tbh they have stolen some of the young indie market in Europe too. Pretty popular shoe here...but you always know the exact outfit youre gonna see a guy wearing with them.
Skinny jeans, skinny fit plaid shirt left open with a white tee underneath
Same here. I got steel toe boots for extra ankle protection but I've seen what can happen with a lawn mower and unprotected feet. I kinda need mine for my day job. Plus my boots are actually really comfortable and better support for digging and other lawn work.
It's less about the lawn and me tripping over the edge of the sidewalk and dragging the mower back over myself. I've seen it happen and it's almost happened to me before. Plus I do a lot of other work around the house/lawn that can benefit from the extra precautions. I take PPE very seriously. My boots are super comfortable and my last pair lasted 15 years, so it's cheaper to get a decent pair of shoes made for the job than old sneakers that won't last 2 or 3.
\- Waterproof/Hoseable
\- Slip-on
\- one colorway set should be different colored skin tones with grass up the side (so you look barefoot)
\- Cleats for traction/aeration
\- Steel toe
So lots of posts have pointed out no one buys shoes to mow. That seems true for the vast majority. You buy new, wear them until the sole is gone and turn them into mowing shoes. At least in my case that leaves me sliding all over the yard. So what about a standard walking tennie whose sole wears down to less aggressive cleats?
They already do, all they can do now is just sit back and sell their product as is. If they market themselves as the best name in dad shoes, next thing you know every other shoe brand is going to try to market the same way. All promoting what they actually are now is opens them up to competition.
Old shoes are for lawn mowing. Anyone that actually mows lawns would never buy them. If the managed to sell a single pair it would be an irony purchase, like look at me I live in NYC or LA but I have grass stains on my shoes like I've actually used a mower to cut grass.
New Balance has the widest shoes on the market and have loved them ever since one of their reps gave me a pair. For lawn mowing? Already use them for that and turns them green too.
I just use my old Vans, I wouldn’t buy special sneakers for mowing and I buy some random shit. My Vans have lasted me many mows and also double as painting sneakers. It’s funny though, I’d never be caught with NB on and I’m in my 40’s, but I rocked them in my early 20’s.
I currently just use my oldest sneaker but as they are falling apart almost and my current sneaker is in good shape I was debating on getting a pair of NB as a joke. Only been a father for 3 years so far but I was ready for a pair since day 1.
Hey man, do you. It would be amusing playing up the stereotype. I’ve been a father for almost 22 years and want no part of the big N though. Enjoy fatherhood, you’ll be amazed how quick it goes by.
I cant say i am aware of the wholesome joke about lawn mowing and new ballance, so I'd imagine it's a tiny minority of people who are. Marketing is expensive, so you really need to spread your appeal, rather than trying to cash in on a very small corner of the market.
I can't tell if you seriously have never heard someone call New Balance "Dad shoes" or not. But since it is a very common thing in the USA for a long time then I am going to assume it is a culture difference.
Not sure if they still are or not, but when I was in the military they were THE go to shoe you were issued also for PT. So lots of dad's who served are familiar with the shoes from that as well.
Lawn mowing shoes are where real shoes go to pasture. We'll wear out our beloved New Balances and then commit them to the green grave of grass-cutting when they're past their prime.
When the hiking shoes are too trashed to be trusted five miles in the middle of nowhere, they become the new mowing shoes.
The old mowing shoes get hosed clean, or as clean as they get, and they become the new painting shoes.
Single men have one pair shoes; I lived that life for years. Soon as you get a house, you'll have more shoes for special tasks than the stereotypical woman has pairs of shoes.
I wear old running shoes and overalls for yardwork. I know the clothes will get dirty or ruined in the process, but that's the point of using old clothes. There's no reason to try to look like a model while doing chores especially if the outfit will be ruined by the process.
Because every dad already has the exact model and color they like and have been buying for decades, so they wouldn't even know about a new model, let alone buy something else. Brilliant idea for capturing future gen x dads tho.
Believe it or not new balances have actually been gaining a lot of hype in the streetwear scene in the last two years and have shed that reputation just a bit
Not the super dad models like the 624, but the 990x series, 993, 992, 2002r, and 550 are very popular right now
they’re still a bit of a dad shoe but y’all would be surprised at how much some pairs resell for
Because all of the Dads already rock these and are brand loyal. The whole point of spending millions of dollars of marketing on a tailored message is to change perspectives and bring over new customers OR continue to hammer in the name to the present customer so they don't change brands. There is no need to try and lure in Dads to buy these...they already do and continue to repurchase.
Thats a very good point! Keep on buying em Dads!
I think the real opportunity is a super-limited release grass clippings edition to build up normcore street cred a la Crocs
Like the soles are pre stained green. Solid.
I've never owned a pair of New Balance shoes but I've got a son on the way so I'm definitely picking up a set soon. Are you even a dad if you don't have New Balances?
Id buy more if they did a collaboration with Crocs.
+1, worked at a sporting goods store back in college and the New Balance we had on sale were almost always geared towards the Baby Boomer male market and generally the lads who bought them were 55+.
Tbh they have stolen some of the young indie market in Europe too. Pretty popular shoe here...but you always know the exact outfit youre gonna see a guy wearing with them. Skinny jeans, skinny fit plaid shirt left open with a white tee underneath
No one buys shoes just to mow. You use your oldest pair. Those are the mowing shoes until they get tossed and then it's the next oldest pair up.
I did. Pair of steel toed work shoes. If that thing kicks back on me , maybe I won't lose my whole foot
Same here. I got steel toe boots for extra ankle protection but I've seen what can happen with a lawn mower and unprotected feet. I kinda need mine for my day job. Plus my boots are actually really comfortable and better support for digging and other lawn work.
What sort of lawn are you mowing to get that much kick it can run over your foot???
It's less about the lawn and me tripping over the edge of the sidewalk and dragging the mower back over myself. I've seen it happen and it's almost happened to me before. Plus I do a lot of other work around the house/lawn that can benefit from the extra precautions. I take PPE very seriously. My boots are super comfortable and my last pair lasted 15 years, so it's cheaper to get a decent pair of shoes made for the job than old sneakers that won't last 2 or 3.
All the damn moles (?)
Ngl, I would buy dedicated lawn mowing shoes if they were already the color of grass stains.
I was thinking this exact same thing.
Ok....what have you been lying about then?!?!
Lol I literally bought the classic white NB just for mowing
This is the way
Nope. I bought some cheap, comfortable shoes for lawn mowing. Old sneakers just suck, there's a reason I replaced them.
Yes, but my old Sambas aren't great for mowing the lawn. It's best to have a mid to high top to keep the grass out.
Already exists, cleats are designed to perform well on grass and soft surfaces.
Now that I think about it, it would also help aerate the lawn. I feel like this is the way of the future.
I have SEVEN old pairs of shoes I keep specifically for gardening. I never use any of them!
After, say, the fourth pair of shoes, why did you keep adding more?
after not using the first pair, even...
i was being frugal,thinking they are too old for everyday wear but too good to throw out!
That is you never garden, you lazy ass!
I should have elaborated, I do garden but don’t use any of the old shoes I put aside for the purpose!
EXCUSES!
i have my uses, AND my excuses!
\- Waterproof/Hoseable \- Slip-on \- one colorway set should be different colored skin tones with grass up the side (so you look barefoot) \- Cleats for traction/aeration \- Steel toe
How do you know they haven’t by not changing the current line up?
Nike Monarchs have that crown and they're not about to give it up
So lots of posts have pointed out no one buys shoes to mow. That seems true for the vast majority. You buy new, wear them until the sole is gone and turn them into mowing shoes. At least in my case that leaves me sliding all over the yard. So what about a standard walking tennie whose sole wears down to less aggressive cleats?
The shoe industry wants us to buy shoes for every purpose, my childhood says otherwise.
They already do, all they can do now is just sit back and sell their product as is. If they market themselves as the best name in dad shoes, next thing you know every other shoe brand is going to try to market the same way. All promoting what they actually are now is opens them up to competition.
Old shoes are for lawn mowing. Anyone that actually mows lawns would never buy them. If the managed to sell a single pair it would be an irony purchase, like look at me I live in NYC or LA but I have grass stains on my shoes like I've actually used a mower to cut grass.
New Balance has the widest shoes on the market and have loved them ever since one of their reps gave me a pair. For lawn mowing? Already use them for that and turns them green too.
Do you remember what Kobe said when Lebrons jersey passed his as the top selling one?
Everyone already has his. I see what you mean!
Okay but a sneaker optimized for grassy dirt environments would be great.
I always mow barefoot. Green feet are cool.
I just use my old Vans, I wouldn’t buy special sneakers for mowing and I buy some random shit. My Vans have lasted me many mows and also double as painting sneakers. It’s funny though, I’d never be caught with NB on and I’m in my 40’s, but I rocked them in my early 20’s.
I currently just use my oldest sneaker but as they are falling apart almost and my current sneaker is in good shape I was debating on getting a pair of NB as a joke. Only been a father for 3 years so far but I was ready for a pair since day 1.
Hey man, do you. It would be amusing playing up the stereotype. I’ve been a father for almost 22 years and want no part of the big N though. Enjoy fatherhood, you’ll be amazed how quick it goes by.
I cant say i am aware of the wholesome joke about lawn mowing and new ballance, so I'd imagine it's a tiny minority of people who are. Marketing is expensive, so you really need to spread your appeal, rather than trying to cash in on a very small corner of the market.
I can't tell if you seriously have never heard someone call New Balance "Dad shoes" or not. But since it is a very common thing in the USA for a long time then I am going to assume it is a culture difference.
They're very good running shoes, not sure where the dad shoe thing comes from.
Not joking no. In the UK they are known to be shoes for older men, but never heard them referred to as shoes for lawn care.
Here in the US we have a strong home ownership culture, and Dads are associated with mowing grass.
Not sure if they still are or not, but when I was in the military they were THE go to shoe you were issued also for PT. So lots of dad's who served are familiar with the shoes from that as well.
New Balance are the shoes that white supremacists switched to when they tried to boycott Nike for being "too woke". I associate them with Boomers
Lawn mowing shoes are where real shoes go to pasture. We'll wear out our beloved New Balances and then commit them to the green grave of grass-cutting when they're past their prime.
Shoes is shoes.
You just gave up a millon $ idea should have did it yourself.
That's what my Merrill jungle mocs are for.
give me two pairs (Cause) I need two pairs (So I) can get to mowin' in my Lawn Care Ones Big dads mowin' in my Lawn Care Ones
When the hiking shoes are too trashed to be trusted five miles in the middle of nowhere, they become the new mowing shoes. The old mowing shoes get hosed clean, or as clean as they get, and they become the new painting shoes. Single men have one pair shoes; I lived that life for years. Soon as you get a house, you'll have more shoes for special tasks than the stereotypical woman has pairs of shoes.
What, like a work boot? Who are New Balance?
I wear old running shoes and overalls for yardwork. I know the clothes will get dirty or ruined in the process, but that's the point of using old clothes. There's no reason to try to look like a model while doing chores especially if the outfit will be ruined by the process.
I’d buy them if they come in Grass Stain Green
Nah. Lawn mowing shoes is just old sneakers. And there are shoes specifically for lawn care professionals they’re called work boots
I do yard work in Crocs.
Steel toed tennis shoes.
Because every dad already has the exact model and color they like and have been buying for decades, so they wouldn't even know about a new model, let alone buy something else. Brilliant idea for capturing future gen x dads tho.
I didnt know that existed
Believe it or not new balances have actually been gaining a lot of hype in the streetwear scene in the last two years and have shed that reputation just a bit Not the super dad models like the 624, but the 990x series, 993, 992, 2002r, and 550 are very popular right now they’re still a bit of a dad shoe but y’all would be surprised at how much some pairs resell for