Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Greg Grovey II.
Hi Dr. Greg, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Kicking It started as a vision of mine in the 8th grade. I have always been a huge fan of sneakers, the sneaker culture, and everything they embodied. When I moved to Austin in 2004 to attend Huston-Tillotson University, my major focus was building a lane that would lead me to a marketing career. My favorite sneaker blog, NiceKicks.com, was based in Austin and happened to be looking to fill new positions in my senior year of undergrad. While writing for the site, Matt and Allison Halfhill opened a retail extension of the Nice Kicks brand. I was blessed with a part-time job with them that turned full-time as soon as I graduated.
In 2010 I was offered the General Manager position at the store and worked there for over six years. Throughout those years, I obtained my MBA, married, had a child, and made many friends and business connections; I want something more and different; I left that job in 2016 due to a change in company ownership and to begin being a business professor and brand director at Huston- Tillotson University. During those years, my passion for entrepreneurship and sneakers didn’t subside. After nearly two years of reaching out to all of my contacts, praying extremely hard, and not giving up, I was able to open Kicking It ATX with an amazing team of people around me.
Kicking It has been open for four years, and a lot has changed for the better, personally and professionally. My wife and I welcomed another child, I completed my Doctorate in Business Administration program, and I love where we are as a brand. We have been blessed to start and continue to build relationships with many of our customers, creating that brand loyalty; because of that, we are fortunate enough to be looking into expanding our footprint in the market space soon.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
I don’t believe any business owner can truthfully say everything has been a smooth ride. Once I got serious about opening a store, the process took over two years, and in those two years, I faced numerous challenges. One of the significant challenges for me was obtaining funding to start the business. Once we got past that hurdle, finding the right location was somewhat of a challenge. Although I had an amazing relator in one of my partners Levi Chany, getting the locations to see our vision of a sneaker boutique with a bar presented quite the challenge. We found the perfect location at the Domain Northside and couldn’t be happier. A little thing called Covid 2020 was a challenge for most small businesses, but with God’s grace and the support of our customers, we have been able to pivot with the changing times to remain open, operating, and growing. The years following covid have been a learning experience, and I appreciate it. Covid made you look at your business from a different perspective and become more innovative in conducting business and reaching your consumer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do you get when you combine a sneaker boutique with the latest and greatest in shoes with a lounge with large-screen televisions, a projector, gaming systems, and a bar selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages? You get Kicking It ATX, America’s first “sneaker social.” Nestled in the heart of The Domain Northside, Kicking It ATX is a unique gathering spot that has found its home in this upscale outdoor mall. Although it’s surrounded by stores such as Louis Vuitton, Apple, Neiman Marcus, and Tiffany’s, Kicking It is truly the gem of the neighborhood.
Kicking It carries top-tier sneaker and clothing brands, but selling products is not all the store is about. From day one, we have set out to build relationships with our community. We have quickly built a reputation for bringing people together. From sports watch parties to sneaker, clothing, and even toy drives to events supporting the schools of the Austin area, Kicking It continues to find ways to not only get new customers and keep our long-term supporters with exceptional customer service but to build a family.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned sneakerhead trying to add something special to your collection or a newcomer who wants to learn more about the culture. You can be someone who wants to buy a drink while you challenge the crew in Madden, the latest NBA 2K, or test your skills in Call of Duty. You can even take a break from your busy day by reading one of the latest sneaker publications. No matter what, Kicking It has a space for you. You can come to catch a vibe, get fresh, or hang out. So, what are you waiting on? Come on out and kick it with us!
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Risk-taking is mandatory for any entrepreneur. You must have that faith in God and be able to move when you hear him say move. The biggest risk I have ever taken was opening up Kicking It. Initially, knowing that your livelihood is all on you and no paychecks are coming in if you don’t create them is scary. Life is risky, but it doesn’t stop us from living it, right? Starting and operating a business is the same; it’s a high-risk, high reward, but well worth the risk.
Pricing:
- Sneakers $50-300
- Clothing and accessories $10-$160
- Drinks, both Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic $2-$5
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kickingit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickingitatx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KickingItAtx
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaNupe/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kickingitatx
Image Credits
Chris Baker, Chris Cataluna Semaj
