Why Pepsi, Shaquille O’Neal and Reebok’s collaboration is a slam dunk
Sneakerheads and Pepsi enthusiasts rejoice. Reebok has teamed up with Pepsi to craft 22 Shaquille O'Neal shoes: made to fit the man himself, who, yes, boasts size 22 feet!
The shoes, crafted by none other than The Shoe Surgeon, feature a bespoke leather compartment discreetly nestled within the sole, allowing you to carry a Pepsi Mini Can wherever you roam.
Built upon Shaq's iconic Reebok PUMP Shaq Attaq shoe, the design rocks a three-dimensional Pepsi globe as the pump on the tongue, complemented by a striking Pepsi blue and black colour scheme. Additional flourishes include a unique paint splatter on the outsole, a custom Pepsi-patterned insole, and vibrant electric blue laces.
Dubbed the ‘SNEAK’ER’ during the NBA All-Star Game festivities, Shaq himself showcased the shoes live on TNT, providing a full demonstration of their functionality.
PepsiCo is offering fans the chance to win one of twenty-two of these ultra-rare collectibles by posting a photo or video on social media expressing their love for Pepsi Minis using designated hashtags.
22 reasons why we love this brand tie-in (well, okay, 11, as I’m not even half Shaq’s shoe size)
- Trainers (or sneakers) are the go-to collectible of the 21st Century. The new stamps, if you will.
- It was all worth it just to discover the star’s shoe size.
- The brand colours look pretty ‘sweet’ in shoe form, and bring renewed attention to Pepsi’s recent redesign.
- It puts the spotlight on a lesser-known brand, The Shoe Surgeon.
- As well as promoting Pepsi as a brand, it highlights its dinkier can size spinoff.
- The campaign has an air of nostalgia, harking back to the NBA’s glory days of the Nineties.
- There’s a double take when examining the ad: “Is this an April Fool’s joke? No, wait, it’s still March.”
- It’s a great social media talking point. “I could live in his shoes,” said one commentator on Linkedin.
- It’s just the start of a wider partnership, with experiential activity, as seen here.
- … And fun cameo social content.
- Pepsi’s relationship with Shaq has a legacy. He appeared in a memorable 1998 outing for the brand.
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