# Eileen Fisher: Eileen Fisher (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-02-25
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017

## Summary

Eileen Fisher, an introverted interior designer, explains how she overcame severe stage fright to launch her minimalist women's clothing brand with just $350 and no prior fashion experience. She details the rapid creation of her first 12-piece line in three weeks, the initial struggle to secure production funding through COD terms, and her decision to keep the company private and employee-owned to maintain creative control. The episode also covers her journey from trade shows to department store distribution, balancing motherhood with scaling the business, and her eventual shift to a loose leadership style as the company grew to over $300 million in annual revenue.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=0) Introduction: Eileen Fisher and the Eileen Fisher Brand
- [0:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=54) Overcoming Stage Fright at the First Trade Show
- [4:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=285) From Interior Design to Clothing Inspiration in Japan
- [15:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=916) Creating the First Collection in Three Weeks
- [23:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=1387) Solving Production and Cash Flow Challenges
- [26:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=1600) Scaling to Department Stores and Opening Retail Locations
- [32:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=1953) Balancing Motherhood, Divorce, and CEO Responsibilities
- [42:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017#t=2561) Postscript: Glenn Auerbach and the nICE Mug

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Eileen Fisher (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Chanel (company)
- Versace (company)
- Prada (company)
- H and M (company)
- Zara (company)
- Henry Bendel (company)
- Bloomingdale's (company)
- Sacks (company)
- Nordstroms (company)
- Green Eileen (product)
- nICE mug (product)
- Coca-Cola (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-19-006-customizable-swimwear-with-kelsey-duffy-of-versakini) (Product Startup)
- [044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-14-044-turning-customizable-jackets-into-a-multi-million-dollar-business-elyse-dani) (Product Startup)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing) (Core77 Podcast)
- [030: Launching a product with $500 and no industry knowledge, Josh Smith of Libertine Fragrance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-12-06-030-launching-a-product-with-500-and-no-industry-knowledge-josh-smith-of-liberti) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-14-founder-feature-tabi-and-meena-hoshmand-of-tursh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-02-25-eileen-fisher-eileen-fisher-2017. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.