SANDY SPRINGS, GEORGIA NATIVE WITH 150 KICKS FEATURED IN HIBBETT SMALL-TOWN SNEAKERHEAD CELEBRATING NIKE AIR FORCE 1’S

October 27, 2022 at 13:15 PM EDT

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Hibbett, Inc. (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,100 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced the release of the latest episode of the exclusive Small-Town Sneakerhead (STSH) series celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Nike Air Force 1. The series features Sandy Springs, Georgia native, Derek Wilson, @aymrwilson , a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and a Sales Training Supervisor with UPS. Viewers can catch the new episode today at www.Hibbett.com/small-town-sneakerhead.

First stop is Wilson’s house, where viewers get to see his impressive 150 pair and growing sneaker collection that he started at age 15. “Being a sneakerhead means being someone who collects kicks for the love of the shoe and the journey that comes attached to acquiring them. Nike Air Force 1 was the second shoe I ever purchased for myself and it holds a special place. Ever since then I have always had Forces on my radar and when I see a cool pair, I cop.”

Wilson says his hometown of Sandy Springs is best known for really good food, great parks and lots of trees. “My favorite things about Sandy Springs are the food, that it’s away from the city but still close enough, that it doesn’t have a small town feel and its close to my job,” said Wilson. During the episode, he takes the film crew around to many of his favorite hometown haunts including the City Springs Ampitheater and Sandy Springs Softball and Football Fields. Wilson, a huge sports fan and avid photographer can usually be found at the fields when he is not working or buying new kicks.

“My favorite Forces in my collection are the Olive Special Forces AF1, which is really a tribute to our troops. The Valentines Day AF1 snaps open and it says true love since ’82 and we’re in the 40^th year of the AF1, it just kinda reminds you of a letter you would give your valentine. What I want people to know is that people like me still exist that really care about the product and that’s what’s helped shoes like Air Force 1’s last for 40 years.”

“For nearly three years we have celebrated those that love sneakers and have shared these incredible stories of small town collectors, learned about a mosaic of culturally-rich communities and opened eyes to the growing sneaker community in every corner of this country,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “We never have a shortage of unique stories to share and we are grateful to our partners at Nike for helping us bring this project to life. We are proud to use these stories to help commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the legendary Nike Air Force 1.”

“You don't have to live in Uptown to be a fan of Uptowns,” said Matt Halfhill, Founder and CEO, Nice Kicks. “This episode of Small Town Sneakerhead is a special one celebrating one of the most iconic sneakers ever made, the Nike Air Force 1, and despite its origin story on the courts and in the streets of big East Coast cities, the shoe has been a staple for generations across the land in towns large and small."

About Small-Town Sneakerhead

In 2020, Hibbett launched the Small-Town Sneakerhead project to provide sneakerheads from all walks of life the platform to share their personal sneaker narrative. Produced in partnership with Nike and Nice Kicks, the series highlights the evolving sneaker scene and enthusiasts from across the country. Hibbett has featured collectors from East Buffalo, NY, Cheyenne, WY, Hampton, VA, Cape Girardeau, MO, Murphy, TX, Hopkinsville, KY, Lafayette, LA, Crosby, TX, and Sandy Springs, GA with more coming soon.

Derek Wilson of Sandy Sprimgs and his sneaker collection. Photo credit: Sebastian Jimenez

About Hibbett, Inc.Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1,117 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.