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From Homeless to Million-Dollar Business: How This One Man Turned His Passion into an Empire

Investment

November 25, 2022

There are very few stories in the world of sneaker resale as successful as that of Jaysse Lopez, the founder of Urban Necessities. Lopez is part of a booming industry that is expected to grow to $60 billion by 2025. So naturally, for any sneaker fanatics who are looking to enter the resale business, he is the ultimate inspiration.What started as a passion for Lopez is now a multi-million-dollar business with a website and two physical stores. But the sneakerhead didn't do it alone. He had help from a very special person, his wife Joanie, who is also the co-owner of Urban Necessities.

Jaysse Lopez/Instagram | Jaysse Lopez is the founder of Urban Necessities

Lopez says that he is living the life entrepreneurs and sneakerheads could only dream of. His brainchild raked in $21 million in sales in 2019, and is still a growing business. The CEO spends most of his time attending meetings, trade shows, and inspiring other people to chase their dreams.

But if you thought that Lopez had success with his business immediately after starting off, you're mistaken. The entrepreneur comes from very humble beginnings and had to face a lot of struggles to get to where he is now.

Joanie Barangan/Instagram | The entrepreneur comes from very humble beginnings and had to face a lot of struggles to get to where he is now

He once panhandled on the Strip of Las Vegas, homeless and broke. He even sold his own clothes at one point for some money to buy foods and often crashed on his friend's couch. His life started to turn around for the better when he got into resale.

In the early days, Lopez said that it took him a long time to start his business because he, like many others, was scared of failing. He stresses that the only way to learn and grow in life is to keep trying new things, even if they are out of your comfort zone.

Sometimes people spend so much time trying to come up with a new, innovative business idea that they forget about the execution. Lopez believes that two people can come up with the same idea but a completely different end-result because no one can see things from your lens.

Jaysee Lopez/Instagram | In 2000, Lopez came to Las Vegas from New Jersey in hopes of building a better life for himself

In 2000, Lopez came to Las Vegas from New Jersey in hopes of building a better life for himself but he faced rocky beginnings before being introduced to the idea of reselling. In 2013, he finally kickstarted his business with Nike's Barkley Posite Max Area 72, make a $200 profit on his first 18 sales.

A few months later, business had grown enough for Lopez to start his own website, successfully selling shoes $60 over their retail price. He called his company Urban Necessities, a business he one day hopes to grow to $500 million.