Real Growth Podcast

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What does it actually take to drive growth and move the needle? On the Real Growth Podcast, we go behind the scenes through engaging conversations with entrepreneurs and business owners who are navigating the everyday realities of scaling. From those just launching to those who have built a lasting legacy, we listen to their growth stories to fuel our mission of business empowerment. We move beyond theory to share the personal experiences, specific actions, and essential attitudes that have worked for others. Our goal isn't to give you a rigid "recipe" for success, but to provide an interesting perspective and tangible tools you can add to your own secret sauce. If you’re looking for real-world insights to help you take your business to the next level, you’re in the right place.

S4 Ep5: "Slingin' Sneakers" w/Stephan Olander of Sneaker City

In this episode of the Real Growth Podcast, Gunnar Grimsrud got to sit down with friend and client, Stephan Olander, owner of Sneaker City. Stephan shares his experience navigating the high-demand world of sneaker resale and the discipline required to maintain a physical retail presence in a digital-heavy industry. In this episode, we discuss: Retail Resilience: The reality of staying in business when many others have left the industry. The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Why real-world experience and networking often outweigh traditional paths. Building a Brand: How focus and consistency allow a small business to thrive in a niche market. At Realty Growth, we are passionate about the success of small businesses. Stephan’s story provides valuable insight for any entrepreneur looking to turn a passion into a sustainable company. #sneakerhead [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sneakerhead] #RealGrowthPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/realgrowthpodcast] #Entrepreneurship [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/entrepreneurship] #SneakerCity [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sneakercity] #RochesterMN [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rochestermn] #Mankato [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mankato] Thank you for watching! Subscribe to our channel for lots of great commercial real estate and business content. ▼Follow Realty Growth▼ ►INSTAGRAM - @rgigroup ►FACEBOOK - @rgiroch ►TWITTER - @rgigroup ►LINKTREE - https://www.linktr.ee/rgigroup [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDBQbFk4b0xYbnNUV0lxQkY3MjY1LXpCQVJ3Z3xBQ3Jtc0trY1c2cXVwMzQ0VHdIOW16bFM4VjhkQmVQYlhFa09zQktkN2tiUFNsNEt3c2QxWTZkejZkRm52bkNpYUI2NlNQTXRoREZ6dE9pbW5JY1ctaGstRF85Nklsa2VpWW1FZHNhRHhueDhxVlMyUlZuQTJTMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linktr.ee%2Frgigroup&v=NduVJS86Jvc] ►PODCAST - https://audioboom.com/channels/501585... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXY4SXBKU0xUVUw4VzZlZG9hMm90RVRpNndZUXxBQ3Jtc0tsZUV0Ynp0NGFFajU5MjJmOHRVT3BRWFQxTlNoSFJPR2Utek1VNkFYOGphOU5DaHJKN1A1ZDZ4TjVfSkEwekxFbFVET3RXUnpMZDBrTkpPNUJzZEphUGhsNTIwM1o4emZSMFJPdmpZVWhzR2JpSlA1bw&q=https%3A%2F%2Faudioboom.com%2Fchannels%2F5015851-real-growth-podcast&v=NduVJS86Jvc] ►LISTINGS - http://www.rgi-group.com/properties [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkE4STRmYi1objBrSUIzZVhmY3VvcnlWcWZiQXxBQ3Jtc0tta1hTTkVaLXNqTFdEYkFxWEV6Y3V5dzhQaS1Bc24zWnhvUXphc3RxZ3NHa21KSmFocVFnYWZUWmhYVUdYZU1GUWI1aXg5ek1xMUFITjI1WlZkZUNHeXBNZW5pUFNZc180OE16azd6c0c0RWtUN0pSYw&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rgi-group.com%2Fproperties&v=NduVJS86Jvc] ►PHONE - 507-289-8000 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc] – Intro 00:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=52s] – Introducing Stephan Olander: Background and Rochester Roots 01:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=100s] – The Scheels Years: Identifying the Gap in the Sneaker Market 02:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=143s] – Trading Up: From Facebook Marketplace to Launching a Business 03:26 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=206s] – The Rise of Sneaker City: From Underground to the Apache Mall 05:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=354s] – Facing the Big Boxes: The Real Story of Leaving the Mall 07:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=451s] – Expansion and Growing Pains: Moving to Mankato and New Locations 09:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=573s] – Shifting the Business Model: Closing Physical Stores for Cost Efficiency 11:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=672s] – Defining Freedom: Prioritizing Family, Faith, and Time 14:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=852s] – A Husband and Wife Duo: Entering the Real Estate Market 17:34 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1054s] – Wealth and Work-Life Balance: Business on Your Own Terms 20:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1255s] – Looking Ahead: Bringing Sneaker Culture Back to Rochester in 2026 22:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1329s] – Sneaker Showcase: The Stories Behind the Travis Scotts and Trophy Rooms 23:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1381s] – State of the Market: Surviving the Post-COVID Resale Slump 23:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1439s] – Adapting to Live Streaming: Coin Flips and Whatnot Auctions 26:24 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1584s] – The Investment Game: Is Holding Sneakers Still Profitable? 29:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=1773s] – Got Soul: Traveling to Major Events and Meeting Celebrities 33:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=2035s] – The Ethics of Clothing: Why Sneaker City Left the Apparel Space 37:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NduVJS86Jvc&t=2271s] – Final Take: Why Real-World Experience Outpaces a College Degree

24. Apr. 2026 - 43 min