Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivan Qiu.
Ivan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Initial started in Kansas City in 2017 from a genuine passion for sneakers, streetwear, and the culture around them. What began as a sneaker and streetwear resale business has continued to evolve over the years as both the market and our customers have changed.
Today, Initial is located at Crown Center in Kansas City, where we’ve expanded beyond sneakers into streetwear, fashion, collectibles, and trading cards. Our goal has always been bigger than simply selling products—we want to create a store people enjoy visiting, discovering new things, and being part of a community.
As we continue to grow, we’re working toward the next chapter of Initial: becoming a more complete retail concept, building stronger relationships with brands, expanding our product selection, and continuing to create something unique for Kansas City.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been adapting to how quickly the sneaker and streetwear industry changes. Trends, customer demand, and the resale market can shift almost overnight, so we’ve had to constantly learn and evolve.
In 2019, Initial was also broken into, which was a major challenge for us as a small business. After that experience, we took security much more seriously and made significant improvements to protect our store, our inventory, and our team. It was a difficult situation, but it taught us a lot about being prepared and building a stronger operation.
We’ve also faced the normal challenges of running a small business, managing inventory, staffing, rising costs, and figuring out how to grow without losing what made Initial special in the first place. As we’ve expanded into fashion, collectibles, and trading cards, another challenge has been making sure customers clearly understand who we are and what Initial represents.
Every challenge has pushed us to improve. We’re still learning, but those experiences have helped shape Initial into a stronger and more versatile business today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Initial KC is a Kansas City-based sneaker, streetwear, fashion, and collectibles retailer that started in 2017. We originally built our name around sneakers and streetwear, but over the years we’ve continued to evolve with our customers and the culture around us.
Today, our store at Crown Center brings together sneakers, clothing, accessories, trading cards, collectibles, and other hard-to-find products under one roof. We carry a mix of recognizable brands, independent labels, and collectible products, so there is always something new for customers to discover.
What sets Initial apart is that we don’t want to be just another store that sells products. We want the space to feel like part of the culture and community. We’ve built relationships with customers who have been shopping with us for years, while also welcoming families, kids, collectors, and visitors who may be discovering us for the first time.
I’m most proud of the fact that Initial has continued to grow and adapt without losing its identity. The retail world has changed dramatically since we started, and we’ve had to evolve with it. Our goal moving forward is to continue developing Initial into a stronger lifestyle retail concept for Kansas City, bringing together fashion, sneakers, collectibles, and community in a way that feels authentic to us.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think taking risks is a necessary part of building a business. You can plan as much as possible, but at some point you have to trust yourself, make a decision, and be willing to live with the outcome.
Starting Initial in 2017 was a major risk for me. The sneaker and streetwear market was very different then, and there was no guarantee that the business would work. Since then, I’ve continued to take risks by investing in inventory, changing our business model, expanding into new categories, and moving into a larger retail environment at Crown Center.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that not every risk pays off immediately. Sometimes you make the wrong decision, lose money, or have to change direction. I try not to look at those situations as failures. I look at what I can learn from them and how I can make the next decision better.
For me, good risk-taking isn’t about being reckless. It’s about understanding what you could lose, believing in what you’re building, and being willing to move forward even when there’s no guarantee.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Initialkc.com
- Instagram: initial_kc
- Facebook: initial kc
