Are GOAT and Flying Club the same? (Are they any different?)
In recent years, multiple sneaker markets have dominated the sneaker world. Even decades later, with the hype around sneakers, limited releases are getting harder to find.
You don’t have to camp outside a Nike flagship to get a new pair of Jordans. You can find them in a market. These popular sneaker resale sites include GOAT, Flight Club, StockX, and more.
GOAT and Flight Club have proven to be significant players in the sneaker resale market platform. But what’s the difference? Is one resale site better than the other? How do they work? Which platform is best for you? Read on to learn more and get answers.
Are GOAT and Flying Club the same?
No, GOAT (founded in 2015) and Flight Club (founded in 2005) are different brands, but Flight Club was acquired by GOAT in 2018.
Despite being acquired by GOAT, Flight Club still operates with its own business model, as does GOAT. This is to synergize their different marketing approaches.
goat history
GOAT (short for “Greatest of All Time”) is currently the parent company of the Flying Club. Founded in 2015 by founders Eddy Lu and Daishin Sugano, GOAT has grown into a massive online marketplace for sneaker lovers to buy authentic shoes from trusted sources.
GOAT resells sneakers primarily through its mobile and web applications, building a trusted online network of over 20 million users worldwide.
History of the Flying Club
Flying clubs, on the other hand, are a bit old school. Flight Club was founded by Damany Weir in 2005, and their brick-and-mortar stores have shaped the identity of this popular sneaker market.
They do it for sellers and buyers through their website, but they don’t have a mobile app like GOAT.
Merger of GOAT and Flying Club
In 2018, GOAT announced the acquisition of Flight Club, despite being a relatively young company. The acquisition leverages the strengths of both companies, with GOAT being a digital powerhouse and Flight Club having the stability of a traditional brick-and-mortar business.
Key Differences Between GOAT and Flying Club
While GOAT and Flight Club have the same target audience: sneaker fans, they operate differently. The merger covers all the foundations each market lacks to create a sneaker empire. So, what is the difference between GOAT and flying club?
Sneakers Sourcing
While they both source sneakers from dealers, the two companies source the merchandise to varying degrees. GOAT sources its inventory primarily from boutiques and other retailers and has its own list of trusted dealers. They also have an in-house certification team to verify inventory.
The Flying Club is known for its rare items and limited-edition merchandise. They operate using a consignment system, which comes from independent dealers, and the flying club acts as a mediator.
All shoes submitted to the Flying Club are rigorously inspected by their team before going on sale. The Flying Club then charges a 9.5% commission on the shoes, plus an additional fee.
This means inventory is rarely consistent and users should check for rare items frequently.
Platform and Location
GOAT is an idea for the digital age. It started out as an app and recently launched its website, catering to the young, tech-savvy and far away.
GOAT uses its online platform to ship to more than 20 million users in 164 countries around the world. GOAT has also partnered with several luxury brands, ensuring they have access to the latest collections and collaborations.
Flying Club is more localized. While they do ship internationally, they never announce which countries they ship to. This has led many to speculate that Flight’s Clubs orders, or at least a significant portion of them, may have come from other countries than their U.S. stores.
The real strength of Flight Club is its brick-and-mortar locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Sneaker fans from all over the country visit the store to evaluate and admire their impressive display.
in conclusion…
GOAT and Flying Club started at completely different points in time. Along the way, they merged under GOAT and now operate separately to cater to different segments of the sneaker collectible market.
While they share some basic similarities, like most of the sneaker market, they are also fundamentally different.
Want to learn more about GOAT? You may be interested in the following articles:
How was your experience with GOAT and Flight Club? Which one do you think is better? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
