While sneakerheads are dreaming of their next pickup, the people running sneaker stores are facing a different reality: how do you run a successful sneaker retail business in 2026? EQL's latest research surveyed neighborhood sneaker stores alongside consumers to understand both sides of the counter. Here's what store owners revealed about their biggest challenges—and the tools that are helping them win. The #1 Headache: Matching Inventory to Demand Ask any sneaker store owner what keeps them up