The Snkrville convention in northeast Ohio helped small businesses step into the spotlight and share their soles with collectors.

Melena Thomas is a self-proclaimed sneaker head.

“All my life since I was a kid, honestly,” she said. “It doesn’t matter the sneaker for me, though. I’ll wear anything as long as it looks nice.”

She opened The Backroom in Barberton to buy, sell and trade shoes about a year ago in her brother McKenzie Reese’s honor. The fellow sneaker head died in 2019.

“During the pandemic, I was just thinking of other ways to make money, cause like I’m an entrepreneur,” she said. “I cut hair, too.”

In fact, running a business is in the 28-year-old’s blood.

“We’re located inside a smoke shop that my dad actually owns, so it’s like a family-owned business,” Thomas said.

She said the footwear can actually be quite a money-maker.

“It’s like an investment,” Thomas said. “Like, how you invest in stocks and stuff like that? That’s kinda what it is with shoes.”

Having a booth at events like Snkrville helps get the word out.

“I’m just touching a different audience,” she said. “It’s just basically networking.”

Thomas said it helps keep her brother’s memory alive.

“This is all for him, you know?” Thomas said. “He’s living through me. I’m keeping his name alive, so that’s my way of doing it. I love it, for real. I love sneakers.”