Whoever said that characters don’t sell sneakers, is probably the same person who said Kobe would never win another ring without Shaq. Whether intentional or not, sneaker brands have benefited greatly from these alter egos or fictional characters, headlining their marketing campaigns. Creating a connection with the audience through a unique character personality can be more powerful than marketing the very same product on its own. Here’s a list of the 5 most notable sneaker characters:

5

Grandmama

Grandmama played by Larry Johnson of the formally known Charlotte Hornets. Kept Converse in the discussion of basketball shoes in an era where Nike was killing the competition. The folks at Converse expanded the character beyond a commercial spot and had Grandmama appear on the hit show Family Matters aka: The Steve Urkel Show.

4

Marty McFly

Auto laced /strapped shoes… enough said!

3

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

During the shows run in the 90′s Will Smith consistently rocked the freshest Jordans. Most notable, the Jordan V paired with a cumberband.

2

Lil Penny

1

Mars Blackmon