# Banana Republic: Mel and Patricia Ziegler

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2024-08-19
- Length: 1h 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler

## Summary

Mel and Patricia Ziegler, former journalists, founded Banana Republic with $1,500 by buying Army surplus, altering it, and selling it through a safari-themed store and catalog. After selling the brand to The Gap in 1983 to escape operational overwhelm, they later founded The Republic of Tea, which they sold after three years to focus on family and travel.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=0) Introduction: Mel and Patricia Ziegler and Banana Republic
- [4:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=273) From Journalists to Entrepreneurs
- [13:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=825) The First Product: Spanish Paratrooper Shirts
- [29:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=1749) Opening the First Store and Catalog Strategy
- [57:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=3468) Scaling and Selling to The Gap
- [1:14:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=4477) Conflict with Gap and Departure
- [1:24:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=5063) Founding The Republic of Tea
- [1:29:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-08-19-banana-republic-mel-and-patricia-ziegler#t=5343) Reflections on Luck and Freedom

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

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

## Mentioned

- Banana Republic (company)
- The Gap (company)
- The Republic of Tea (company)
- San Francisco Chronicle (company)
- Don Fisher (other)
- Mickey Drexler (other)
- Napoleon Hill (other)

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- [Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-21-founder-feature-zoe-levin-of-bim-bam-boo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Victor Guardiola, Bawi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-01-founder-fundraising-journey-victor-guardiola-bawi) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [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)
- [Founder Feature: Maria Covarrubias of Cien Chiles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-06-21-founder-feature-maria-covarrubias-of-cien-chiles) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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