Currently, most of the stores conduct a raffle for the new Jordans coming out. A week prior to release day, they have people into the store, take a raffle ticket, submit their information on it including shoe size and their ticket is entered into a box with all of the others. The day that the shoe releases, they will pull names according to the shoe size and number of shoes they have available in stock. The person has that day until the store closes to come pay for their shoes, and if someone does not show up for their shoe after that, their pair becomes open to the public that next day. This plan was designed in some malls to avoid the long lines and violence that had been occurring. I believe that it was a good idea, but not the best, only because when the person actually goes to pick up their shoes that day, people can still follow them and rob them or try to steal them simply because they can see the Jordan box through the bag and since it is release day that day, most people know what shoes everyone is buying. The other stores that do not do the raffle, simply do it the traditional way and wantt everyone to stand outside in line, because it's first come first served.

 

So, I sat down for a couple days to figure out a complete plan to stop this violence and definitely eliminate all long lines. I knew that there have to be a better way to to at least decrease the violence if not putting an end to it. I knew that technology has been evolving and pretty much everyone has cell phones, ipads, laptops etc. Technology has changed the way many business corporations communicate and I think it could have a positive effect on this issue we're dealing with on sneaker release days. "Technology allows individuals to communicate and carry on a business relationship without ever meeting face to face, so people in all parts of the world now have the chance to interact with a company in a rural part of the United States" (Morley, 2014.) This is very important in many businesses, because sometimes it may be impossible to meet face to face, so sending out an email or text message works wonders. I decided to use a fews of these ideas to incorporate technology into this solving the issue of shoe violence. 

 

 First off, my idea would start off as the Jordan brand creating a website that everyone can join in order to know the shoe release dates and people can enter their information onto this website. It would be like a fan page of the Jordan shoes and would also have upcoming news and changes with these shoes. One week before a shoe comes out, customers would submit a form with all of their information and an electronic raffle will occur. If the person's name is pulled, they have the option to recieve a text message, a phone call, facebook message or an email stating that they. The customer would have a choice if they would like to pay online for their shoes or if they dont have a credit card/debit card, they can simply go pay for the shoes at the store and the shoes will be shipped directly to their home.

 

This gives everyone a fair opportunity and would prevent the long lines at the malls, which usually causes fights and arguments to break out. It would cut down the chaos of waiting in line, people skipping others in line and fights breaking out when shoes are sold out. It would also provide a safer way to buy the shoes, because people wouldn’t have to worry about being robbed while leaving the store with their new sneakers, instead all they will have is a receipt and confirmation that the sheos will be mailed to the privacy of their home.

 

The idea of using technology was also presented by USA Today Daily News (Augustine, 2013.) They presented the idead to a Jordan Brand rep about the idea of retro Jordans being sold only online in order to avoid the violence that comes alons with going to the store to purchase them. They stated that they have not recieved and answer yet, besides the fact they they are working on the safety of consumers. They did not answer the actual question about the shoes being sold online. Augustine concluded that the riots, fights and violence is here to stay until Michael Jordan himself takes a stand and says something. 

 

I interviewed a few people about their thoughts of this issue, which you can find on the next page. I also presented my idea to couple workers at shoe stores and asked for their opinion.