Plan 3 Months Ahead

Wholesale lead times are 30-60 days from order to delivery. If a big Jordan release drops in March, your wholesale order needs to be placed in January at the latest. Use this calendar to reverse-engineer your ordering schedule — you want inventory in-hand 2-3 weeks before the retail drop to capture pre-release demand.

Avoid the Hype Trap

High-hype releases look tempting but wholesale prices on pre-release pairs are often inflated. By the time your order arrives, the market might be flooded. I focus on medium-hype models with steady demand — GR Jordans, inline Nikes, GR New Balances — where margins are predictable and you're not gambling on a $400 wholesale pair that might settle at $350 retail.

OG Colorways Over New

When you see "Chicago," "Bred," "Royal," or "White Cement" in the colorway column, pay attention. OG colorways consistently hold value better than new colorways. For wholesale, I'll allocate 70% of my budget to confirmed OG retro colorways and 30% to new colorways I think have breakout potential. The calendar makes this allocation obvious at a glance.

⚠️ Note: Release dates can shift by days or weeks. "Rumored" entries are based on industry sources and leaker accounts — treat them as directional, not guaranteed. Always cross-reference with official brand announcements before committing to a large wholesale purchase tied to a specific release.

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