Epic Kick x Sabre Digital
Wholesale sneaker business transformed into a profitable DTC brand with a bespoke Shopify store, AI product content and Google Ads. 15x ROAS on launch (12 February 2026). Misrepresentation suspension resolved. Scaling now.
- Wholesale-only business selling bulk to UK sneaker stores
- No DTC ecommerce infrastructure
- Google Ads suspended for misrepresentation
- No website designed for direct-to-consumer conversion
- No email marketing or retention strategy
- Stock product images only, no lifestyle content
- Fully bespoke Shopify store built for DTC conversion
- Google Ads misrepresentation suspension resolved
- 15x ROAS on Google Ads launch
- AI-generated lifestyle product content across catalogue
- Branded Klaviyo flows live and converting
- Scaling plan for Meta, TikTok, UGC and TikTok Shop in 2026
"Harry is incredibly kind and generous with his knowledge. He has a very sharp understanding of Google Ads and managed to resolve a misrepresentation suspension we could never get around. Since working with him and his team our website has improved dramatically and we are excited to see what the future holds."
Founder, Epic Kick
Google Review.
Epic Kick is a UK-based sneaker and streetwear reseller run by Chris. The business already had a strong wholesale operation, supplying bulk sneakers to some of the biggest sneaker stores in the UK. But Chris wanted to build his own DTC brand to sell directly to customers at better margins.
Sabre built a fully bespoke Shopify store designed for DTC conversion, drawing on deep experience in the sneaker and streetwear niche from working with brands like TRNDS and Mr Browns Exclusive. AI-generated product content was created across the catalogue using Sabre's production process for pixel-accurate sneaker product renders. Google Ads was launched using the same soft launch compliance strategy proven with other branded goods resellers.
Chris had a previous Google Ads misrepresentation suspension that multiple attempts had failed to resolve. Sabre resolved it. Google Ads launched on 12 February 2026 and returned a 15x ROAS on a controlled £50/day budget, driven by Epic Kick's competitive pricing edge as a direct wholesaler cutting out the middleman margin.
2026 is focused on scaling Google Ads profitably using Triple Whale, launching Meta Ads and TikTok Ads with proven UGC creators, refining Klaviyo flows, and testing TikTok Shop directly in Q2. Ads have been live for 30 days and the account is scaling.
Wholesale to DTC. Built to Convert.
Sabre built Epic Kick's DTC store from scratch using deep niche knowledge from years of working with sneaker and streetwear resellers. Every section was custom coded and every product image was AI-generated.
The store was built as a fully bespoke Custom Liquid front end designed around conversion. Sabre's experience with brands like TRNDS and Mr Browns Exclusive in the same niche meant the store structure, copy and CRO architecture were informed by real performance data, not guesswork.
AI product content was generated across the full catalogue using the same production process Sabre developed for TRNDS. One stock image generates a full suite of lifestyle assets with consistent backgrounds, lighting and styling across the entire product range, keeping the brand image cohesive rather than a patchwork of random imagery.
Sneaker buyers know every stitch, colourway and sole detail. If the AI gets a single detail wrong, the shoe looks fake and trust is lost instantly. Most AI tools cannot handle this level of product accuracy. Sabre has developed a production process that maintains pixel-level accuracy on sneaker details while transforming flat stock photos into premium editorial content, replacing expensive photoshoots at scale.
Fully bespoke Shopify store with AI-generated product content across the entire catalogue. Built on proven niche knowledge from years of working with sneaker and streetwear resellers.
- Fully bespoke Custom Liquid front end built for DTC conversion
- Store structure informed by real performance data from the niche
- AI product content generated across the full catalogue
- Pixel-level accuracy on sneaker details, colourways and materials
- Consistent backgrounds, lighting and styling across all products
- Premium editorial lifestyle content replacing stock product photos
- Branded Klaviyo email flows built with lightweight HTML for deliverability
AI Content Process
- Stock product image as input
- AI generates lifestyle editorial content
- Pixel-level accuracy on product details
- Consistent styling across full catalogue
- Replaces expensive photoshoots at scale
- Same process proven with TRNDS (1,400% growth)
Suspension Resolved. 15x ROAS on Day One.
Epic Kick had a Google Ads misrepresentation suspension that nobody could resolve. Sabre fixed it and launched ads using the same soft launch compliance strategy proven with other branded goods resellers.
Before Sabre could launch ads, the existing misrepresentation suspension needed resolving. This is one of the most common and most difficult Google Ads issues for sneaker resellers. Sabre resolved it using specialist compliance knowledge developed from years of working in this niche.
The ads strategy followed the same soft launch approach used for Crack The Pack and TRNDS: keyword Search campaigns first to gather data and build account trust, then Performance Max and Shopping campaigns once Google had established confidence in the account, Merchant Centre and website.
Epic Kick launched on a controlled £50/day budget to give Chris time to get used to fulfilling DTC orders, handling customer service and running a direct-to-consumer operation. Even at this small budget, the return was immediate: 15x ROAS on launch, driven by Epic Kick's competitive pricing edge. As a direct wholesaler, Chris buys at source pricing while competitors are putting margin on top of margin. That pricing advantage combined with a conversion-optimised store and compliant ads setup created an extremely profitable launch.
Over the first 30 days, the store averaged a 2.5% conversion rate. Through ongoing ads optimisation and CRO work on the website, that has climbed to 5.1% over the last 7 days. The store is converting harder every week as the data feeds back into both the ads strategy and the on-site experience.
15x ROAS on Google Ads launch at £50/day. Conversion rate from 2.5% average to 5.1% in the last 7 days through ads optimisation and CRO. Misrepresentation suspension resolved. Zero compliance issues.
- Google Ads misrepresentation suspension resolved
- Soft launch strategy: keyword Search first, PMax later
- Compliant product feeds and clean technical setup
- £50/day controlled launch budget
- 15x ROAS on launch
- 2.5% average CVR in first 30 days, 5.1% in last 7 days
- Ongoing CRO and ads optimisation driving CVR improvement
- Competitive pricing edge from wholesale buying power
- Scaling profitably in April 2026 using Triple Whale
Launch Performance
Scale Google. Launch Everything Else.
With Google Ads profitable at 15x ROAS and the store converting, 2026 is about scaling spend, diversifying channels and building a full DTC acquisition engine.
Google Ads will be scaled profitably from April using Triple Whale for attribution and budget allocation. The 80/20 approach continues: scale what works, cut what does not, and test new campaign structures as the account matures.
Meta Ads will be the next channel, with social media content strategy and creative developed alongside the ad campaigns. Sabre has a group of tested and proven UGC creators in the sneaker niche who will be plugged in to produce content for both organic and paid channels.
TikTok Ads will follow Meta, with a direct TikTok Shop test planned for Q2. The sneaker and streetwear audience is highly active on TikTok, and the unboxing and on-feet content format is proven to drive engagement and conversion in this niche.
Klaviyo flows and campaigns will be refined to improve retention and repeat purchase rates as the DTC customer base grows. Sabre is also exploring sourcing upsell products to increase AOV and margin, using the same global sourcing infrastructure proven with Crack The Pack. The combination of multi-channel acquisition, retention-focused email and higher AOV through upsells is designed to build a profitable, scalable DTC brand alongside the existing wholesale business.
- Google Ads scaling profitably from April using Triple Whale
- Klaviyo flow and campaign refinements
- Social media content strategy for Meta
- Meta Ads launch with proven UGC creators
- TikTok Ads launch following Meta
- TikTok Shop direct test in Q2
- Sourcing upsell products to increase AOV and margin
- Multi-channel DTC acquisition engine
2026 Channel Roadmap
- Google Ads: scale from April (Triple Whale)
- Klaviyo: flow and campaign refinements
- Meta Ads: launch with UGC creators
- TikTok Ads: launch after Meta
- TikTok Shop: direct test Q2
- Social content: organic + paid strategy
Sneaker DTC FAQ
Yes. Epic Kick already had a successful wholesale operation supplying some of the biggest sneaker stores in the UK. Sabre built the DTC infrastructure including a bespoke Shopify store, Google Ads, Klaviyo and AI content to launch direct-to-consumer sales at better margins. The wholesale pricing advantage translates directly into a competitive edge on Google Ads.
Yes, but it requires a specialist process. Sneaker customers know every stitch, colourway and sole detail. If the AI gets a single detail wrong, the shoe looks fake and trust is lost. Sabre has developed a production process that maintains pixel-level accuracy while transforming flat stock photos into premium editorial lifestyle content at scale across the full catalogue.
Google's policies around branded and resold goods mean most sneaker stores get suspended quickly. Sabre uses a soft launch compliance strategy: keyword Search campaigns first, compliant product feeds, bespoke policy pages and a clean technical setup. Epic Kick had a previous misrepresentation suspension that Sabre resolved before launching ads at 15x ROAS.
Yes. Sabre has deep experience in the sneaker and streetwear niche, working with brands including TRNDS (1,400% sales growth), Mr Browns Exclusive (£790k revenue, 11x ROAS) and Epic Kick (15x ROAS on launch). This niche knowledge covers Shopify development, Google Ads compliance, AI product content and multi-channel scaling.
Ready to Go Direct to Consumer?
If you have a strong product and want to build a DTC brand alongside your existing business, Sabre has the niche knowledge and technical infrastructure to make it happen. In a free 30-minute call Harry will review your situation and give you honest advice on what to build first.
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30 minutes with Harry. No pitch, just honest insights for your brand.
- ✓ Review your DTC opportunity
- ✓ Identify your launch strategy
- ✓ Get honest advice on what to build first
- ✓ No obligation, no contracts
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