13 Online Shoe Store Business Success Stories [2024]
Here are some real life success stories of starting a online shoe store business:
1. Combat Flip Flops ($6M/year)
Combat Flip Flops is the brainchild of CEO Matt Griffin, an army veteran who witnessed the futility of armed conflict and wanted to make a positive impact. The idea came to him during a trip to Kabul, where he visited a combat boot factory that employed local workers. Inspired by their resilience, Griffin decided to repurpose the factory to produce footwear in order to create sustainable business and job opportunities in Afghanistan.
How much they make: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 2
Combat Flip Flops is an e-commerce business that employs artisans and entrepreneurs in conflict zones and has funded 217 years of school for Afghan girls and cleared 2814 square meters of landmines in Laos through direct-to-consumer sales and social media distribution.
2. The Shoe Consultant Ltd ($48K/year)
Susannah Davda, the founder of The Shoe Consultant, came up with the idea for her business after realizing that aspiring shoe entrepreneurs lacked access to the footwear industry. With 22 years of experience in the industry, Davda started offering consultancy services, speaking engagements, and writing to help people start their own shoe brands. Through networking events and online marketing, she attracted clients and expanded her services, including launching an online course on how to start a shoe brand. Currently experiencing strong growth, Davda plans to further diversify her offerings and expand internationally by partnering with shoe business professionals.
How much they make: $48K/year
How much did it cost to start: $700
Current team size: 1
Susannah Davda explains how she started a niche consultancy business helping people start shoe brands, earning $3.5k per month through personalized services and a highly successful online course.
So... can you actually make money with a online shoe store business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Meraki Design House ($180K/year)
Eman noticed that her intricately handmade shoes often sparked curiosity and questions about their Indian-inspired look. The appreciation for the handmade shoe’s uniqueness and their ability to take on the wearer’s footprint, and her instinct that many others would also value these qualities , led her to start Meraki.
How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 0
Meraki Design House founder Eman Bachani shares how she started a $15k/month Asian-inspired handcrafted footwear e-commerce company, with a focus on working with South Asian artisans and tapping into new markets during COVID through collaborations and influencer marketing.
4. B Street Shoes ($720K/year)
Blake Barash, the founder of B Street Shoes, was inspired by street and sneaker culture in the San Francisco Bay Area. His passion for street art and custom designs led him to start painting shoes for fun and eventually launch his own business. From painting shoes in his bedroom to now running a 1,500 sq ft Studio Warehouse and employing 6 people, Blake's business has grown significantly.
How much they make: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
Current team size: 8
Meet Blake Barash, a custom shoe painter who grew his business from his bedroom to now making $50k per month and employing six people.
So... can you actually make money with a online shoe store business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Rothy's ($132M/year)
How much they make: $132M/year
Current team size: 222
Rothy's, a sustainable lifestyle company, opened their own factory in China in 2016 and utilizes a waste-reduction 3D knitting production process, transforming environmentally friendly materials into stunning and long-lasting product designs.
6. Fuchsia Shoes ($7.2M/year)
How much they make: $7.2M/year
Current team size: 5
Fuchsia is a successful direct-to-consumer sustainable footwear company that sells premium quality and artisanal shoes, pouches, masks, and other products made in South Asia, with a transparent selling approach, and a dedicated vegan range.
So... can you actually make money with a online shoe store business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. TOMS ($391M/year)
How much they make: $391M/year
Current team size: 671
TOMS shoes revolutionized the fashion industry with its One for One® concept, donating money to charity for each item sold and improving over 100,000,000 lives since its launch.
8. Smoove Creations ($40K/year)
How much they make: $40K/year
Current team size: 8
Founder of Smoove Creations generates $40,000 revenue in 2020 despite pandemic by offering unique, personalized sneakers for "sneakerheads" and fans of athletic footwear.
9. Nike ($1B/year)
How much they make: $1B/year
Current team size: 112479
Discover how Nike went from a small shoe and t-shirt company to become a multinational corporation, now one of the world's top manufacturers of athletic apparel and footwear.
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
