Nike has launched its first completely ‘hands-free’ shoe, the GO FlyEase.
Video transcription
SEANA SMITH: Let’s talk retail. This is a big debut. Nike introduces a brand new shoe. It’s a lighter now, but it’s a little twisted. We want to bring in Reggie Wade for all the details, and who actually has the shoe here for us. Reggie.
REGGIE WADE: Yes, Seana, thank you. One of the things I miss most about working from home except that I see everyone in the newsroom smiling is our unboxings. We took these big shoes earlier, we put them on the desk and really got a taste, and looked at it well. But we’re practically going to do it. So I have the new Nike GO Flyease. This is Nike’s first hands – free shoe. And here you have it.
And what really sets it apart from other shoes that can be considered slip-on is that this is the thing called the bi-stable hinge. You see this is the open position of the shoe. So you put your foot in, and then it just snaps right into place. And if you want to get out of them, use this kick in the back, put your foot on it and blow, it opens immediately.
This is the latest in Nike’s Flyease design. Flyease, which of course was designed in 2015 to help people with disabilities get in and out of their shoes. And this is the next generation. And I have to tell you, that is, rarely as many shoes as I look, you see a shoe and say, wow, I’m really blown away. But it’s really impressive. It blows me away.
ADAM SHAPIRO: Hi, Reggie, I’m going out here myself because I can go back to the original Vans on “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” You mentioned that you help people who may be disabled. But also, for whom is this person? Is it for Spicoli for mr. Hand? Is it for someone young or someone old, the teacher?
REGGIE WADE: It’s for everyone. I talked to a lot of people at Nike, especially in the design team, and they said their goal was to make a shoe for everyone. Someone who is disabled for an Olympic athlete. Initially, if you look at the silhouette, it is a kind of a running silhouette. And the people at Nike said that it is considered a running shoe.
But you can do a lot of different things in these shoes. And even fence. Fences even use these shoes. And I think a good kicker of this is that it has no laces here. Therefore, I think, it lends itself to a number of different sports. You do not have to worry about obstruction of your laces. And they really have that Nike Zoom is really embedded in the heel here, and that just gives it excellent comfort.
SEANA SMITH: Reggie, I would say, when I first saw these shoes, I was not really convinced that I should be excited about it. But you help. Now I’m a little more convinced that this could be something that might be a huge success for Nike going forward. But I’m curious to just pay attention to you when we step back and look at Nike and how it has performed over the past few months.
It could actually withstand the pandemic pretty well. I think that, what do you think, were the strong parts for the reasons we saw this achievement in Nike? And also where the business can possibly see the success ahead.
REGGIE WADE: Well, Seana, it’s twofold. It’s technology, technology like this. And it is also technology that is directly available to consumers. Nike really said, listen, we want to make a direct version of the business model for consumers that is unmatched. So if you go to Nike stores, it contains just as many different features. There is currently in their new Nike at Eugene store, you can go in and you can take a product and you can ship it right away from the store. So you do not have to go online again. You can send it right there from the store wherever you want.
So Nike says that listening, directly to the consumer, that’s what we’re about. And they really push the envelope. And honestly, they do it better now than anyone else.
ADAM SHAPIRO: Reggie, the shoe healed me because I’m suffering from a middle-aged man’s disease. If I throw my back out, the thing is going to be an outcome. However, I’m curious, are we going to wear that shoe in 10 years as a collectible? Is this the kind of thing that will excite the collectors?
REGGIE WADE: You know what? It has yet to be seen. Like a shoe head I dig it. I have always liked the unique stuff. I asked people at Nike: is this going to be the future? Will we see this technology in a Jordan shoe or in another type of Zoom, a different type of shoe? And they said, You know, we do not want to give anything away, but we do. So I think it’s based on whether they integrate it into other technologies. If it’s really common, I do not think it would be a collectible. But if it goes as far as it goes with it, I definitely think.
SEANA SMITH: Reggie, two-part question here. One, if I miss the price, how much do these shoes cost? And two, is this something that Nike is just striving for here in the US, or is it rather a global marketing event, specifically with this shoe?
REGGIE WADE: This shoe sells for $ 120. And it’s on sale now on February 1st. But only for select Nike members. And that’s through the Nike app. Later this spring they have a more global release.
SEANA SMITH: Okay, Reggie Wade gives us all the information we need to know about Nike’s brand new shoe. All right, Reggie Wade, thank you so much for joining.
Originally published