The $14.98 Starbury 1 sneakers endorsed by New York Knicks star Stephon Marbury--and sold exclusively in the Steve & Barry's University Sportswear stores--have been selling out, often before they get
out of the shipping carton, according to Andy Todd, president of the deep-discount retailer. Pro-endorsed footwear typically carries a $100 to $200 price tag. Marbury will be wearing the shoes he
touts when he's playing on the NBA courts this upcoming season. A poor Coney Island kid who watched people around him buy sneakers they couldn't afford, he wanted to send a message that self-esteem
doesn't have to be wrapped up in your clothing. Four other styles of the sneaker are priced at $9.98. Todd insists that the sellouts aren't gimmicks to garner publicity for Steve & Barry's or to
artificially boost demand. "Kids love [Marbury], and the sneaker is fantastic, the same quality as traditional brands," he says. "We're not in business to hold back inventory." Marbury also wants to
stop street-jackings--such as a recent holdup in Minnesota where a kid was shot and killed for his $200 sneakers. There was no up-front signing bonus for Marbury's endorsement. He gets a cut from each
pair of shoes sold. He previously had an endorsement deal with Nike.
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