COMMUNITY MARKETING
“That guy doesn’t use the subjunctive!”
That’s the best way to describe Sven. On April 4, 1998, Sven Voth opened the first SNIPES store in Essen. Since 2013, the last slide of every presentation has been a montage of a SNIPES store in Times Square. Today, SNIPES has more than 50 stores in New York. After 25 years, a shoe store in Essen has become a billion-dollar group with more than 750 stores in 12 countries – in Europe and America.
Behind this incredible success story is Sven’s principle of uncompromisingly big thinking:
In January 2025, he will embark on a new journey after first passing on the last SNIPES shares and then his CEO chair.
“In the past, retail still had a meaning. It wasn’t just about products. It was about passion. Culture. People. From day one, I didn’t want to build just another store – I wanted to build something that felt different. I still remember the moment Michael Jordan walked into our store at SNIPES. Not because it was MJ (okay, that too), but because he symbolized what we wanted to create: a place where passion and purpose come together. A place where people wanted to be. We weren’t chasing the hype. We wanted to create belonging. Whether someone came for a hoodie or just to hang out, we made them feel seen. That was the magic. Retail has changed. And somewhere along the way, it lost its soul. Same layouts. Same products. The same empty promises. But the mission? It hasn’t changed for me.”
“That’s why I’m now starting something new: HIGGINS.”
“HIGGINS – a new retail concept for shoes, clothing and accessories. Not just “shelves and price tags”. A real space. For real people. With real values. Fair prices. Real community. An atmosphere that says: You belong here!”
Sven Voth is a strong role model for founders, managers and entrepreneurs – even far beyond the retail sector.
LECTURES, MODERATIONS & DEEP DIVE
Here is a selection of Sven Voth’s lectures & topics:
Who is SVEN VOTH?
Sven is the mastermind behind SNIPES: behind the idea, the brand, the community management and the incredible speed of expansion. A shoe store in Essen became a billion-dollar empire… After selling it to Deichmann, Sven now inspires people on two continents with the SNIPES story and – even more so – with his new plans. He is a role model for founders and entrepreneurs beyond retail. Sven merged new ways of marketing with values that are supposedly “old school”. Sven knows how speed and a personal mindset together with a clear focus on “real people’s needs” can become a catalyst for growth. His superpower: scaling and marketing – and in his keynotes, this exceptional entrepreneur shows how he does it: in a way that is as down-to-earth as it is impressive…
COMMUNITY MARKETING
Community marketing beats everything we know in traditional marketing. And this applies to all target groups. SNIPES was not only the pioneer in Europe, but has also set new standards in the United States. The SNIPES success story is also a community marketing success story…
No one can tell you what that means better than Sven, whose principles have made one of the coolest retail brands in Europe and the USA gigantic.
THINK BIG - SECOND PLACE IS FIRST LOSER!
When one of Sven’s four children comes back with second place in sport, he hears his offspring say: “Dad, second place is first loser.” Attitude makes success!
Winning must become cool again! Excellence does not develop in an environment where you have to be ashamed of your success.
This mindset has become unpopular. But getting out of the feel-good oasis is the only way to be truly successful. Sven’s view of things inspires his children, his employees, his partners and everyone who listens to him.
NEXT CHAPTER - RETHINKING RETAIL
What can you actually do better after turning a shoe store on Limbecker Platz in Essen into a billion-dollar chain?
What can we learn from the successes of this aggressive expansion strategy, but also from the downsides of this success story?
A lot! Sven is rethinking retail, again and even more radically: shortening processes, bundling forces and avoiding dependencies.
Sven reports on what happens when you take a blank sheet of paper after gigantic successes and rethink the whole thing…
Websites: www.instagram.com/sven.voth
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