{"id":898705,"date":"2019-03-27T15:44:27","date_gmt":"2019-03-27T19:44:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=898705"},"modified":"2024-02-13T14:21:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T20:21:22","slug":"future50-clydeedwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/future50-clydeedwards\/","title":{"rendered":"THE FUTURE 50 \/\/ “Sneakerbox” Clyde Edwards"},"content":{"rendered":"
words \/\/ Nick DePaula:<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n For Clyde Edwards, it was only a matter of time for his fusion of passion and insight to be recognized.<\/p>\n A self starter in every way, it was a decade ago in 2009 that he first got his start, by launching his very own YouTube account and video channel at the forefront of the “sneaker review” era, dubbed Inside The Sneakerbox<\/em>. Keep in mind, Instagram hadn’t even launched yet, and Twitter was only in its infancy. Even before YouTube, he toyed around with a Myspace page.<\/p>\n His username — “Sneakerbox Clyde” —\u00a0 became a great case study in self-promotion, but it was the content, storytelling and first peeks across his blog and vlogs that kept people tuning in. A solo effort, it didn’t take long for Clyde to get invites to brand launches and unveil events, and lobs from PR folks across the industry of upcoming launches and samples.<\/p>\n The invites and access heading his way was because of the quality of work he was putting out, sure, but he was also simply a great dude that could make instant connections. Every step of the way, Clyde defined what it meant to build a personal brand, long before the term “influencer” had even become oft-used lingo in marketing meetings.<\/p>\n Today, Clyde is running those meetings.<\/p>\n As the Senior Marketing Manager at Puma, Edwards helps to lead the surging brand’s cross category teams on its energy collaboration launches, many event activations and how those products and efforts can come to life across social media. It’s a role he’s been working towards all this time; a sponge of marketing, branding, and storytelling at all times.<\/p>\n After building his Inside The Sneakerbox platform up in a short span, the Miami-based creative was contacted by a nearby hometown boutique. Just two weeks later, he left his then-full time job at Comcast to manage inventory buying, store marketing and the launch of social media accounts for the Mr. R Sports store. Before long, he was managing the store’s entire staff and helping to launch its new concept boutique.<\/p>\n Since joining Puma in 2016, the brand has ramped up its lifestyle, women’s and basketball businesses, with more tangible events and activations, centered around memorable experiences, discussions and interactions. It’s a key distinction that Clyde always looks to layer into Puma’s efforts, and an ongoing focus of his ahead. There’s also the added bonus that he shares his name with the brand’s most iconic sneaker, of course.<\/p>\n As part of the Pensole x Snkrs Day FUTURE 50<\/a>, Edwards is looking to shape the future of the athletic industry through his insistence on hard work, his love for wearable product and an eye for impactful storytelling that can impact change. Read ahead for more from Clyde on his journey through the industry, as he answers a series of questions from Pensole founder D\u2019Wayne Edwards<\/a>.<\/p>\n