Sneak Peek - 01.09.2025

Future-Focused Sneaker Styles Celebrate New Year with Innovative Drops

Author

Zihan Lyu
January 09, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

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Sneak Peek is the essential newsletter for e-commerce footwear professionals. It’s 2025, and we’re kicking things off with fresh ideas to supercharge your campaigns and keep your customers hooked!

Top Reads 🌟

🚀 AppLovin’s Breakout Year
Early data from Fospha shows AppLovin is a top 3 channel for acquiring new customers and the 2nd largest source of paid traffic for some brands.

🛍️ Social Commerce Boom (Hello, TikTok Shop!)
Social commerce is set to hit $80B in the US, with TikTok Shop leading the way with its seamless shopping experience.

📱 Third-Party Sales Channels on the Rise
As disposable incomes are squeezed, shoppers are turning more to Amazon, but also its budget competitors like Temu and Shein. In 2024, Temu quietly became the most downloaded app on the US App Store.

The challenge? Brands still struggle to understand how their advertising on platforms like Meta and TikTok drives demand on third-party sales channels.
(Stay tuned—Fospha is working on a solution for 2025! 👀)

ClickZ is Live at CES—Let’s Spotlight Your Vision🌟

CES 2025 is here, and ClickZ is in action!

As part of our coverage, we’re hosting exclusive interviews with visionary thinkers to spotlight groundbreaking ideas, unveil new innovations, and engage a global audience of decision-makers.

This is your chance to share your vision and connect with a worldwide audience! 👇

Hot Drops 🔥

The article highlights notable sneaker releases as we transition into 2025, emphasizing unique designs inspired by cultural themes like the Lunar New Year.

Brands such as Nike and New Balance offer significant drops, while Reebok and others provide nostalgic revivals.

Snoafers, a sneaker-loafer hybrid, highlight a trend of blending sporty and formal footwear. Emerging from Paris Fashion Week, they're popular for their comfort and style versatility.

This fusion appeals to Gen Z, symbolizing a shift in fashion towards authenticity, functionality, and retro aesthetics, redefining modern fashion narratives.

Nike is launching the Kobe 5 Protro "Year of the Mamba Eggplant" today! This release features a vibrant eggplant, black, and metallic gold design, complete with a golden snake graphic. It pays homage to Kobe Bryant's legacy, merging modern technology with the classic, performance-driven sneaker.

Insight Carpet Company collaborates with Vans, revitalizing the iconic 1977 Old Skool skate shoe. Their iteration, "The Oldest Skool," features retro design elements like suede and faux croc textures.

Limited to 1977 pairs, each is numbered, highlighting Skate culture’s rich heritage. The launch is expected in January 2025.

Influencer Corner 📣

Influencer Marketing in 2025: Where Should Brands Invest?

With over 50% of brands set to increase creator budgets in 2025, the question isn’t if influencer marketing will grow—it’s how brands should allocate these dollars.

Experts emphasize the shift toward scale and centrality in the marketing mix. Brands need to align spending with their goals—whether driving sales or boosting awareness.

Sarah Levinger on LinkedIn: 3 Rules for DTC Success

Timing is everything—especially for DTC brands. Sarah Levinger highlights how delivering incentives at the right moment can make all the difference. 💡

In her recent post, Sarah breaks down the 3️⃣ golden rules of timing that every brand should know.

A small spoiler: Action + reward = happy brain 🧠, reward key behaviors, and… well, you’ll have to read the full post for the rest.

Performance Pulse 📈

As e-commerce evolves, growth in 2025 hinges on mastering the basics: clarity, optimization, and personalization. SMART goal-setting ensures campaigns stay focused, while refined website usability and core platform expertise enhance customer experiences. By leveraging deep audience insights and streamlining ad strategies, marketers can prioritize long-term, sustainable growth over fleeting trends, positioning their brands for measurable success.

Retail experts predict the convergence of physical stores and digital innovation, like live shopping, will transform retail by 2025. Physical stores will evolve into interactive experience hubs, integrating omnichannel strategies.

Key tactics include:
- blending digital with in-store journeys
- utilizing AI
- enhancing customer engagement through personalized experiences

Influencer Marketing

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Global Marketing

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