With the growth and popularity of sneakerhead culture on the rise, Showtime Sneaker Boutique, led by entrepreneurs Christian Giannola and Arjun Mansukhani, continues to find new ways to build out its designer sneaker boutiques at a remarkable pace. The company has successfully opened two locations in its first year in business, with the latest being in the Fashion District Mall in Philadelphia, which spans three city blocks in the heart of downtown Philadelphia.

According to Giannola, while Covid-19 was closing down many retail businesses, it created new opportunities for them to open Showtime. Showtime Sneaker Boutique opened in February 2021. Giannola and Mansukhani were 20-year-old college students. The pair credits the freedom and mobility that online classes provided them for their successful launch. 

“Due to discounts in rental space and more availability in malls, we were able to consider the possibility of opening up our first store,” says Giannola. “While we didn’t know everything, we did know our product and the market and we both worked part-time in sneaker stores and had an idea about the business model. The grand opening of Showtime in the Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, New Jersey was a great success with lines winding around the corner. The traffic and the business in the store have been thriving ever since. We quickly realized we wanted to continue to capitalize on the market and researched different opportunities, deciding to open Showtime in the Fashion District mall in Philadelphia just seven months later.”

While the inception of Showtime Sneakers first began in 2021, their mutual passion and interest in sneaker releases and sneaker trading began much earlier. The friendly competition between business partners evolved over the years.

“I started selling sneakers when I was 13 years old,” says Mansukhani. “I did sneaker consignment at stores like Urban necessities, Fight Club, and Stadium Goods along with wholesaling sneakers and streetwear in bulk any chance I could get. When I met Christian, it elevated my sneaker career. Eventually, we started doing deals together because we figured it would be better than competing with each other.”

“When we were in middle school, we both started doing individual buy, sell, and trades online,” explains Giannola. “Living in two separate towns, we met through trades and sneaker events. We continued with our separate businesses, but we met up at Rowan University, and quickly became friends and business acquaintances again. Some people collect baseball cards, some people collect cars, and my thing became collecting sneakers.”

Recognizing that sneakers are not just a fad, Giannola and Mansukhani continually explore all opportunities for growth and offer an exclusive inventory that is highly sought after and unavailable in most retail stores. Showtime Sneakers also authenticates everything in-house and lets its customers try on sneakers. 

According to Mansukhani, similar marketplaces online cannot even come close to the experience Showtime Sneaker Boutique offers in-store, letting customers choose from and try on any sneaker of their choice, considering online marketplaces do not offer returns of any kind this makes Showtime Sneakers a better alternative with the largest selection and convenience. 

“We currently have a following among all ethnicities, genders, and ages,” says Giannola. “We have seen exclusive products shift from pop culture to professional business attire. The sneaker world has become an integral part of culture worldwide and it is not surprising to have high-end clients and celebrities reach out to us to find them some of the most sought-after items.”

Some of the most famous fashion designers, including Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Balenciaga are collaborating with well-known sneaker companies like Nike and Adidas, reflecting the permanence of sneaker culture and its potential for growth. 

Showtime Sneakers offers products for the mainstream customer, such as Air Force Ones and Yeezys, all the way up to Dior Air Jordan 1s and Louis Vuitton Air Force Ones that can sell for upwards of $10,000. 

Giannola reveals that he and Mansukhani are currently looking at locations in three other states to expand Showtime Sneaker Boutique. 

“As the market grows, we know that we want to remain competitive and watch business trends closely so we do not move into saturated markets,” says Giannola. 

“I believe this industry will never die and only continue to grow because now more than ever I see people wearing sneakers and streetwear,” adds Mansukhani. “We have many celebrity clients who can be seen on our Instagram.” 

For more information about Showtime Sneakers Boutique and its products, please visit its website or contact: 

Showtime Sneaker Boutique

Christian Giannola

[email protected]