# Steve Madden: Steve Madden (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-12-23
- Length: 53m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018

## Summary

Steve Madden, founder of Steve Madden Ltd., explains how he built a $3 billion shoe brand by targeting an underserved Gen X demographic with high-fashion designs at affordable prices, starting with a backless clog. He details his controversial path to going public via Stratton Oakmont, which led to securities fraud charges and a 31-month prison sentence, before returning to the company in 2005 to scale it through strong leadership and product focus. In a post-script, Gabrielle Goodwin and her mother Rozalynn describe inventing GaBBY Bows, a double snap barrette that solves the problem of hair accessories slipping out, moving from a home prototype to retail distribution in 74 Target stores.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=0) Introduction: Steve Madden and the Wolf of Wall Street connection
- [4:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=275) Steve Madden's early life, college dropout, and entry into the shoe business
- [15:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=935) Founding Steve Madden Ltd. and targeting the Gen X market with affordable fashion
- [21:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=1283) The Stratton Oakmont IPO, stock manipulation, and prison sentence
- [29:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=1788) Prison experience, release, and returning to lead Steve Madden Ltd.
- [37:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=2252) Scaling the company to half a billion dollars through hiring and product focus
- [47:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018#t=2856) Gabrielle Goodwin and Rozalynn inventing and launching GaBBY Bows

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

established companies, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Steve Madden (company)
- Stratton Oakmont (company)
- GaBBY Bows (product)
- Target (company)
- CFDA (other)
- Manolo Blahnik (product)
- Balenciaga (product)
- 9 West (company)
- Nike (company)
- Reebok (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Hippy Feet is the coolest company you haven't heard about until now! Michael Mader, CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader) (People of Packaging)
- [075: Launch a Product Big, with Host of QVC & ShopHQ](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-05-12-075-launch-a-product-big-with-host-of-qvc-shophq) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Matt Jacobs and Kristen Doyle of Pedestrian Project](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-07-12-founder-feature-matt-jacobs-and-kristen-doyle-of-pedestrian-project) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [026: Developing Shoes with Removable Heels, Tanya Heath of Tanya Heath Paris](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-11-08-026-developing-shoes-with-removable-heels-tanya-heath-of-tanya-heath-paris) (Product Startup)
- [087: Purpose is a Big Part of Consumer Product Success](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-04-087-purpose-is-a-big-part-of-consumer-product-success) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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