Hardware Podcasts

Kenneth Cole: Kenneth Cole

How I Built This · 16 Nov 2020 · 1h 15m

What this episode covers

Kenneth Cole, founder of the Kenneth Cole brand, explains how he launched his shoe company in 1982 with co-founder Sam Edelman by renting a 40-foot truck as a showroom to bypass expensive department store presence. He details the strategic pivot to direct-to-consumer retail in 1994 to protect brand equity from department store consolidation, the subsequent IPO, and the difficult decision to take the company private to regain control and close underperforming stores. Cole also discusses the brand's early commitment to social causes, notably the 1986 AIDS awareness campaign, and his recent efforts to address mental health stigma through a new coalition.

Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up, large enterprises and established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
U.S. Bank, Bloomingdale's, Liz Claiborne, NAMI
Products
Kenneth Cole
Also
Sam Edelman

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