Meet David Hobart | Colorado Native Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Hobart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is caring about what I put out in the market. I care about the product that I put out, and I care about how my customers feel after buying with me. A lot of sneaker resellers buy shoes in every condition and sell them in the same condition they get them in. There can be a wide range of conditions for your products if that’s a clean, dirty, box, no box, etc. Here at Simply Sneakers, you will never get a dirty pair of shoes. I clean all my shoes to the best of my abilities and if a shoe comes in without a box a replacement box will be made which will also include a custom shoe box label. Just like if you were to get the shoes from any retailer. Not a lot of similar businesses will even go to half that effort and the reason for that is because most resellers care more about quantity while I care more about quality.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Here at Simply Sneakers we buy and sell shoes that you can’t always find just anywhere and we have a wide range selection from kids to men’s shoes from 2000 to today. There are a lot of resellers that do the same thing as us but what sets me apart from others is first off the photography that I do but also that I don’t do this as my full-time gig yet I do this along with finishing up college, working a part-time job, plus still trying to navigate life as a young adult. Yet I still find the time to put the effort that I do into giving my customers the absolute best. Which is a lot but the way I get past all those things on my plate and still get to where I am is with a lot of hard work, passion for what I do, and being patient knowing that everything happens in due time. So it’s important to remember those things because there will always be challenges even when I can do this full time. After all, we aren’t even at a fraction of where I want to be when it’s all said and done. So then in a year, there will be all new challenges that arise and I can’t wait to see what those are because challenges are reminders you’re getting better. I’ve learned so many things since starting this business. Still, the ones that stick out the most are learning how to interact with people better because you have your people who like to lowball or be rude or whatever it may be. You need to be able to handle those situations professionally because this isn’t just you anymore it’s the face of a company now. Another thing I’ve learned is how to handle things better when they aren’t going your way because things aren’t always going to go your way and, it’s important to know how to handle those things for not only your business but also for yourself because that can mess with your attitude, wellbeing, and your business is only as strong as you.
Finally what I want the world to know about Simply Sneakers is that we give 110% effort and we are more than just simply sneakers we’re a community for sneakerheads, creatives, and just everybody to be honest to come together as one. Then for me, I’m more than just a guy who sells sneakers I have been through a lot in my young life, and due to that, I have huge plans not just with shoes and art but also real-world stuff too! My goal is to make a difference and be the difference in my community and just strive to become that person I always needed when I was younger for everyone now today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love some food and some great places that are must-go to’s are Crave Real Burgers and Scileppi’s at The Old Stone Church both located in Castle Rock. Another great place you have to try is Paravicini’s Italian Bistro which is located in Colorado Springs. Then some places I love to go and do things would be Boondocks located in Parker to have fun and just feel like a kid again with water bumper cars, arcade games, laser tag, etc. Then another fun spot is Puttshack. I love going when they do the Pixar pop-up where all the holes are their Pixar movie theme. Other than that I just love to stay at home and relax and have some home cooking.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people I’d love to shout out! But just to name a few my biggest supporters are my Nana and Poppop. I moved back to Colorado and moved in with them and they gave me all the things I needed to be successful like a workbench, a place to take photos, shelves to put inventory, and just a space in their home in general. Then I have my uncle who is the reason I got into shoes in the first place and has been a supporter since day one without him getting me into this amazing community I honestly do not know what I would be doing right now. Then my mother who had her own business for some time while we were in Alabama for a while where Simply actually started. Being able to look up to her and learn from her has helped a lot! Not to mention her going through what she did and understanding the work it takes to start a small business and taking that knowledge and going out of her way to get her hands dirty and come to events with me and help me with everything that comes with those because she never has to do that but does! And finally my Hause family! The owners Chelsea and Liz took a chance on me and Simply Sneakers to be their shoe guys at their locations in the springs. To the other vendors that work there, and handle my shoes and do the amazing job that they do! All these people are part of the Simply family and it wouldn’t be what you see today if it wasn’t for all of them and the role they have played not only in the business but also in my personal life as well!

Website: https://www.simplysneakers.store/

Instagram: Simplysneakersstore

Facebook: Simplysneakersstore

Other: You can also find us at both Hause locations in both the Citadel and Chapel Hill malls in Colorado Springs.