Tell us about the real you, The part of you that you wish people knew but don’t:
Preme grew up in southwest, alief, TX. In 1998, Gerald Latsonbegan sneaker collections. Continuing to collect until he amassed over $1.1 million in sneaker value from 98’ to 2002.
Preme saw sneakers as it’s on economy and escape Southwest Alief Texas. Gerald began using sneakers as currency.
In 2005, Gerald liquidated 60% of the collection. In 2017, Gerald returned from studying aboard. They collaborated with opening Sole Food in early 2020. In Aug. 2020, they opened Solefood online website.
King Chazz grew up on the southwest side of Houston Tx where he made a name for himself 2020 during the pandemic selling exclusive sneakers locally out of the trunk of his car doing local meetups with customers and supplying nba Players Chazz then collaborated with childhood friend Preme to start an online business named solefood and together they now have a storefront on 1735 Westheimer Rd Houston Tx 77098
What are you most known for, or what has been your most successful moment in your career:
We are most know for exclusive, rare and hard to find sneakers.
Our website has the latest technology in order fulfillment.
We are kinda like the ‘Uber eats’ of the sneaker world. Our tech allows you to order online and have the product to you in 30 minutes within the City.
After successfully opening Sole Food, King Chazz and Preme started a YouTube series called ‘The Cookout’.
In what ways do you think you could grow, or what big goals do you have for the future:
Sole Food has several big ventures upcoming including a collaboration with big name brands, including Nike, Bathing Ape and some undisclosed brands.
What’s this single-handed biggest challenge you’ve ever overcame
During the pandemic there was a sneaker shortage in Houston. Sneakers were cut by 68% leaving a vacuum in the Houston Market. Sole Food transitioned to fully online retailer securing the most exclusive sneakers and shipping same day. During first quarter of 2021 Sole Food sales grew 120% from the previous year.
What are the most common questions you get asked? What are the answers?
Are these real? The most common question hands down. Fakes are running rampant in the sneaker community. We at Sole Food have sneaker authenticators on staff and subject all sneakers to a two-step authentication process, AI to human, to insure all shoes are 100% authentic.
Tell us about the first time you had a real fan
King and Preme were headlining sneakercon in Dallas and they got approached by a college aged male who knew them from YouTube. When he started repeating lines from the cookout, I knew then we were on to something. it’s kinda been up from there.
When did you realize that this is what you wanted to do with your life:
Gerald has always been into sneakers, it was only natural to shift into selling them. Gerald continued to work with different brands like Nike and supreme to supply south side Houston, Alief, TX, with exclusive clothing and sneakers. From 2002 to 2005, Gerald was giving the nick name ‘Preme’ for the amount of supreme sold in 02’. In 2006, Preme found success in the tech boom reselling. While eBay grew in popularity Preme was able to generate 597k in sales. Preme was able to purchase his mother a home 2007, that’s when Preme knew this was the his ultimate dream job.
Chazz Fell in love with sneakers at a very young age and started sneaker collecting his sophomore year in college but it wasn’t until he got laid off from his career in the oilfield in 2020 due to the Pandemic when he realized that at any moment things can change and that no matter the promotions,raises, or credentials he had with the company he was still let go from his career forcing him to return back to Houston unemployed with the bills starting to pile up he decided to sell his sneaker collection and made 30k in 3 weeks at that very moment Chazz knew this was his calling that his love for shoes was profitable so he decided to reach out to his long time friend Gerald to start what we know as today as Sole Food.
