# Zumiez: Tom Campion

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-02-06
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion

## Summary

Tom Campion, co-founder of Zumiez, explains how his nine years at JCPenney taught him the critical importance of inventory management, which he applied to launch Above the Belt in 1978. Campion details the strategic pivot to action sports apparel and hard goods, the rebranding to Zumiez, and the company's growth to over 750 stores through mall-centric expansion and a unique 'organized chaos' store design. He also discusses the challenges of scaling, the impact of e-commerce, and his personal approach to sustainability and employee culture.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=0) Introduction: Tom Campion and Zumiez
- [3:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=238) JCPenney Training and Inventory Lessons
- [9:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=549) Founding Above the Belt and Early Financing
- [22:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=1343) Pivoting to Action Sports and Snowboarding
- [35:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=2111) Rebranding to Zumiez and Store Design
- [39:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=2374) Scaling, Culture, and Employee Recognition
- [44:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=2663) Going Public and Navigating E-commerce
- [50:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion#t=3019) Sustainability, Diversity, and Legacy

## Topics

- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zumiez (company)
- JCPenney (company)
- Above the Belt (company)
- Quiksilver (product)
- Billabong (product)
- Burton (product)
- Vans (product)
- Sims (product)
- Gotcha (product)
- Body Glove (product)
- Mossimo (product)
- Red Sand (product)
- Rusty (product)
- Shaw Safari (product)
- Union Bay (product)
- Air Walks (product)
- Etney's (product)
- Empire (product)
- Vision Streetwear (product)
- Mr. Rags (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Houston Buehrle of Little Zing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-02-founder-feature-houston-buehrle-of-little-zing) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [51 - Jib Hunt CEO of Kemper Snowboards](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-03-10-51-jib-hunt-ceo-of-kemper-snowboards) (People of Packaging)
- [#207 - FFUPs' Shutdown: Post-Mortem & Lessons for Brands](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-07-29-207-ffups-shutdown-post-mortem-lessons-for-brands) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#49 Scaling Health-Ade Kombucha's Operations with Co-Founder Justin Trout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-06-21-49-scaling-health-ade-kombuchas-operations-with-co-founder-justin-trout) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [180: Made in Missouri, Live from the 2024 Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-04-09-180-made-in-missouri-live-from-the-2024-midwest-manufacturers-trade-show-confere) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## 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/2023-02-06-zumiez-tom-campion. 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.