Aside from athletic purposes, Nike sneakers have become a part of urban and hip hop culture over the last three decades. The popularity of the Nike brand has created a market for wholesale Nike products. Getting Nike shoes at wholesale prices can be a difficult task. There are three ways of buying wholesale Nike shoes -- becoming a retailer, ordering for a sports team, or finding a wholesaler who is willing to sell to a private entity.

Visit the Nike website (help-us.nike.com) and download the retailer application packet.

Fill out the application in its entirety and double check to ensure that all necessary items are attached to your application.

Notarize the signatures on the application. Most banks have a Notary Public on staff who can notarize materials and documents. Some banks offer this service for free to customers, others charge a small fee for the service. Check with your bank beforehand to find out the fee structure.

Mail the application to the address provided in the application packet.

The application process can take several weeks. You may email Nike directly if you have concerns regarding your application at [email protected].

Visit Nike.com and click on the “Team Uniform” tab at the right of the screen.

Choose your sport and necessary equipment and add it to your cart.

Nike will discount the bulk order automatically upon checkout.

Visit Tradepub.com and order free retail trade publications. These publications are used in the retail business to swap information and ideas. Many people, including legitimate wholesalers, also advertise in them.

Scour the magazine for names and contact information of wholesalers advertising in the publication.

Call the wholesalers directly to find out how they do business. Find out about sample orders and the the requirements for subsequent orders. This information is important for a number of reasons: First, as an individual you may not have the means to order in the quantities necessary; additionally, you can determine if the wholesaler is interested in doing business on smaller orders.

Place your first order with a wholesaler for a “sample”. A “sample” is a smaller order still at wholesale prices. Most wholesalers will offer “sample lots” to gain customer trust and loyalty.