(Credit-Photo provided by: Malachi Luster and Nathaniel Carlston/PluggedIN)
Malachi Luster and Nathaniel Carlston both grew up sharing a love for sneakers and the culture surrounding them. Now, they share a business.
PluggedIN, a sneaker and clothing business run by the duo, recently hosted its second annual sneaker show on September 17 at the UW Health Sports Factory in downtown Rockford, 305 South Madison Street.
“We have been selling shoes since we were kids,” Carlston said. Luster added, “It’s about the family culture.”
The two started selling shoes when they were 15. Now, the duo is in their third year of running PluggedIN and second year of bringing the sneaker show to the UW SportsFactory.
The PluggedIN II Sneaker Show hosted a wide variety of vendors, an All-Star game featuring local basketball players, concessions with the Olivo Taco truck, music and barbers giving out free haircuts.
Carlston says that after they came up with the idea, making the show happen was pretty simple.
“Last year, we just came down here and just talked to the facility director with our idea,” Carlston said. “We wrote up the paperwork, paid for everything we needed to and we made it happen.”
New sneakers, used sneakers, new clothes and vintage clothes were all present at the show. However, the sneaker show was not limited to just sneakers and clothes.
Vendors selling food, drinks, candles, jewelry, art and other goods and services added variety. Some vendors used the show to focus more on showcasing and advertising their brands, organizations, companies, and charities.
Alex Rodriguez was trying to get the youth involved through his work as a wrestling coach for East High School in Rockford and the kids club.
“Basically, I want to make it aware that we do have wrestling in Rockford and a youth program,” Rodriguez said. “Kids that are 5-14 years old have the opportunity to wrestle for the city.”
Natalie Guzman, with Superior Car Credit, focused on finances.
“They [Superior Car Credit] know people have gone through their hardships,” Guzman said. “We just like to see our customers do better.”
Debbie Fuehrer, an independent Scentsy Consultant, and her son were raising money to give kids the opportunity to go on field trips at Harlem Middle School and be able to play Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball.
The Rockford area was in full force at the PluggedIN II Sneaker Show. Carlston and Luster will be working to grow PluggedIN and bring the show back next year with more improvements.
Carlston believes that the work he and Luster put into their business goes beyond just sneakers and can apply to everybody.
“Just keep going,” Carlston said. “There are always going to be times when you will be stopped. Just keep going. You will make it through it.”
How to reach PluggedIN:
You can reach PluggedIN on Twitter: @PluggedInKicks or through their Instagram: @plugged_in_official.
