How Jean-Luc Daigle Built One of New England’s Fastest Growing Sneaker Conventions From Scratch
Thu Aug 21 2025
What does it take to turn your sneaker obsession into a full-fledged business and cultural movement?
In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, I sit down with Jean-Luc Daigle, a sneakerhead-turned-event-organizer and hospital budget analyst by day, who's quietly building one of the most buzzed-about sneaker conventions in New England—For the Culture CT.
We dive into:
Why Jean-Luc left investment banking ambitions to pursue community and culture
The terrifying moment just days before launch when they had 10 vendor tables sold
How he and his friends built brand trust by hitting every event they could
What makes a truly great sneaker event in an oversaturated market
How sneaker culture has evolved from niche hobby to global force
The counterfeit challenge: how to spot fakes and protect your collection
How to get started as a sneaker collector (or reseller) in 2025
Scaling an event business while working full-time
What it means to build for the community, not just the hype
This conversation is packed with raw entrepreneurial insights, community-first thinking, and sneaker wisdom from someone who's been in the trenches—from long lines and fake kicks to scaling up a passion project with purpose.
#Sneakerhead #SneakerCon #ForTheCultureCT #EventMarketing #Entrepreneurship #SideHustle #CommunityBuilder #StreetwearCulture #FakeSneakers #SneakerAuthenticity #PodcastInterview #PurposeDrivenProgress #JeanLucDaigle
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What does it take to turn your sneaker obsession into a full-fledged business and cultural movement? In this episode of Purpose Driven Progress, I sit down with Jean-Luc Daigle, a sneakerhead-turned-event-organizer and hospital budget analyst by day, who's quietly building one of the most buzzed-about sneaker conventions in New England—For the Culture CT. We dive into: Why Jean-Luc left investment banking ambitions to pursue community and culture The terrifying moment just days before launch when they had 10 vendor tables sold How he and his friends built brand trust by hitting every event they could What makes a truly great sneaker event in an oversaturated market How sneaker culture has evolved from niche hobby to global force The counterfeit challenge: how to spot fakes and protect your collection How to get started as a sneaker collector (or reseller) in 2025 Scaling an event business while working full-time What it means to build for the community, not just the hype This conversation is packed with raw entrepreneurial insights, community-first thinking, and sneaker wisdom from someone who's been in the trenches—from long lines and fake kicks to scaling up a passion project with purpose. #Sneakerhead #SneakerCon #ForTheCultureCT #EventMarketing #Entrepreneurship #SideHustle #CommunityBuilder #StreetwearCulture #FakeSneakers #SneakerAuthenticity #PodcastInterview #PurposeDrivenProgress #JeanLucDaigle