Aidan Kutch’s first sneaker flip started with a pair of shoes, a disappointing store offer and an eBay listing. Years later, the University of Delaware senior has turned that early lesson in value into Kutch’s Kicks, where the student founder turns sneaker restoration into a serious business by making high-end sneaker culture more accessible.
A senior entrepreneurship major with a minor in sales, Kutch buys, restores and resells high-end sneakers from brands like Jordan and Nike, helping customers access sought-after styles at more affordable prices while using the business to help fund his college education.
Aidan’s journey stands as a testament to the entrepreneurial mindset he’s cultivated through his studies and his involvement with Horn Entrepreneurship. By using his resources through the Venture Development Center (VDC) and professional tools like Nifty to manage a cross-platform inventory of hundreds of pairs of sneakers, he has successfully turned a middle-school hobby into a professional enterprise that actively funds his college education.
What inspired your startup idea?
Back in eighth grade, I went on a field trip to NYC and ended up stumbling into a high-end sneaker store. My buddy bought a pair of shoes right away and I felt destined to get a pair as well. I ended up spending about $275 on a pair of Human Races. A couple years later after never really wearing them, I tried to sell them to a local shop where they only offered me $50. I knew they were worth more, so I took some good pictures, posted them online, and the next morning they sold on eBay for $200.
Right then and there, I knew this was something I wanted to keep doing. I repeated that process, and over time, my passion for sneaker culture became a sustainable business that I love managing.
What goes into restoring a pair of sneakers?
I’ve developed a customized cleaning system with special brushes where I've mastered the technique of maintaining the quality of the shoe. It is a technique that involves repainting, regluing, and ‘icing’ to reverse sun damage to bring the original blue color back to the shoe. The local store I tried to sell to years ago is where I ended up working, Thekikback, managing all the restorations. It is a rewarding process because it has not just about the work, it is the transformation from start to finish, it is relaxing and fun for me to master, and knowing the effort was worth it.
Who are your customers, and what problem are you solving for them?
My venture addresses the barrier of entry in the sneaker market due to the demanding prices becoming more common. There are shoes that cost $400 or $500 brand new, which many people cannot justify spending. Kutch’s Kicks is designed for the secondhand buyer who wants to have high-end shoe styles without breaking the bank. I sell the shoes I clean for roughly half the market price. I love seeing a smile on a customer’s face because they get to own their dream shoes at a fair price.
What has been the biggest business lesson so far?
Adjusting to the market is the main factor of the journey. At the beginning, the sneaker reselling market was in high demand. During the pandemic, the market slowed down before the demand returned within a few years. A shoe that used to sell for $100 now may only go for $60, so it is a learning curve to maintain my margins and make sure the business is profitable and sustainable.
What has been your proudest moment as a founder so far?
Definitely surpassing the $500,000 sales mark this past year. This was a huge milestone. The business currently has a profit margin of 35% to 40%, with approximately $550,000 in total sales.
Beyond the numbers, working to pay off my college tuition while still in college is an achievement I’ll always be proud of. Being able to fund my own education while pursuing my passion is the dream.
What has it been like building a company while also being an entrepreneurship student?
I’m an extremely busy guy; wake up early to pack orders, drop them off for shipping and then head to class. I’m also involved with the UD baseball team, along with taking the time to market and list my products online. So it is a grind every single day, but the entrepreneurship major has set me up for success for my paths in education and business.
How have UD and Horn Entrepreneurship shaped your path?
Horn Entrepreneurship and the Venture Development Center (VDC) have been essential to my career. The VDC provides a quiet, professional place to communicate with other students in my major, or reserve a room to study and work on my business. Being an entrepreneurship student has been a dream come true. I wouldn't be even close to where I am now without the resources and the community here. It has provided the mentorship and support I needed to transform Kutch’s Kicks into a nationwide operation.
What advice would you give to other students who are thinking about starting a business or expanding on an idea?
My biggest advice is to stay focused on the work in front of you. Regardless of everything else going on in your life, you need to be willing to problem-solve and grind towards the goals you have set for your business. Grind towards your goals, focus on what you believe in, and you could really do whatever you put your head towards.
For Kutch, entrepreneurship at UD has turned a personal passion into a growing business with real impact. Through Kutch’s Kicks, what began as a middle-school interest in sneaker culture has become a way to serve customers, build professional skills and help fund his UD education. His story is a reminder that with consistency, resourcefulness and the right support, a student idea can grow into something much bigger than expected.
ABOUT HORN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the U.S., Horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
