Univ. of Michigan student Jordana Schrager "took her hobby of making custom artwork shoes" and "made it into a business that has sold more than 10,000 pairs of licensed footwear in dozens of college logos and colors," according to Bill Shea of CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS. Boca Raton-based Sideline Sneakers markets its "Converse-style sneakers" under the brand name Skicks, and the line includes high-top and low-top sneakers "sold online at Skicks.com, and in fan shops and college bookstores" for $69.99 and $59.99, respectively. Sideline Sneakers "has a license with each university, and the schools typically get" about 10% of the retail sales price. UM Trademark Licensing Dir Kristen Ablauf said of CLC, which handles UM's apparel and merchandise licensing, "From the start, they wanted to make sure they were doing things the right way with the licensing process. ... We want to make sure our brand is being portrayed in the right way. We felt like, after reviewing all of her business history, it was worth granting her the license and seeing what she could do with it." In addition to UM, schools currently available include Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida State, Syracuse, Penn State, Miami, Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, Cincinnati, Louisville, Baylor, Clemson and Michigan State. Skicks is "currently applying for a license" from Ohio State -- "a potentially hot seller" in the wake of the school's CFP championship. Shea noted while Nike-owned Converse in October "sued more than 30 shoemakers ... alleging trademark infringement over its iconic Chuck Taylor sneakers," Skicks is not among those being sued. But "to avoid being caught up in any legal entanglements, the company this fall will use a newly designed shoe to ensure it is easily distinguished" (CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS, 2/22 issue).
