Adidas, Nike, New Balance... Kikikicz, this site with a wacky name was one of the most popular in France, especially among those under 25. Founded only three years ago, it has been in liquidation since November 14 and has left dozens of customers in the lurch. "Give my money back!" shouted one of them on X (ex-Twitter), who is demanding a refund of 350 euros for an order he never received. Another consumer is "still waiting" for a refund of 600 euros.
On its website, Kikikicz still displays more than 1200 references, some of which reach exorbitant prices. This is the case, for example, with a pair of "Air Force One Low Louis Vuitton White Red", priced at €37,950 in size 45.5. But regardless of the pair, it is now impossible to validate your cart and proceed with the payment. "Refresh the page or come back later," reads a red message.
A pair of "Air Force One Low Louis Vuitton White Red" is listed at 37,950 euros in size 45.5. Screenshot
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Partnerships with influencers
While Kikikicz is not the only platform that has specialized in the resale of collectible sneakers, it has been able to stand out thanks to partnerships on social networks. Thus, YouTuber Mastu, who has nearly three million followers on Instagram, proposed a contest with the company on June 26, 2022. In his post, the twenty-year-old specifies that it is "a paid partnership". In 2021, Léna Situations appeared in a Vogue France video alongside Mathis and Kilian, founders of the site. "The sneaker business hasn't exploded yet... we're just at the very beginning," Kilian explained at the time.
Today, the company is "facing financial difficulties, exacerbated by difficult market conditions," according to an email sent to some customers. "We had no choice but to seek the protection of the Commercial Court of Paris," which placed KBAA Conseil's trademark in liquidation. A representative was then appointed, SESARL ASTEREN, in the person of Maître Charles Axel Chuine. For sellers who have supplied "shoes to the company for which [they] have not been paid the sale price", the liquidator recommends that a Cerfa sheet be sent to him to declare the claims. On the customer side, they have the possibility to contact the agent in order to send them their purchase order and hope to obtain a refund.