20 Shoe Brand Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Shoe Brand

Starting a shoe business can be very lucrative - you can make money by selling shoes, but you can also make money by buying shoes and then reselling them at a higher price.

It's an industry that's been around for hundreds of years, so it's well-established and has plenty of room for growth—especially if you can get in at the ground level. It's also easy to start with minimal investment: even if you only have enough money for two months' worth of inventory, you can still get started right away.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a shoe brand:

1. KASA ($960K/year)

KASA, an online luxury shoe and accessory boutique, was founded by Kartik Gurmule at the age of 16. After a failed sneaker business, Kartik discovered the potential in the luxury shoe market during a trip to Italy and decided to focus on designing and selling high-quality leather footwear. Since its launch in November 2018, KASA has experienced rapid growth, with over 250,000 social media followers and a monthly profit of $80k.

How much they make: $960K/year
Current team size: 0

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How I Started A $80K/Month Luxury Shoes And Accessories Brand

16-year-old entrepreneur founds KASA, an online luxury shoe and accessory boutique with over 270 luxury shoes in the collection, generating $80k in monthly profits and exploring expansion into lower-end shoes and custom shoes for the poor.

About
Kartik started KASA about 5 years ago
Revenue
Kartik grew the business to $80K/month
Read by 20,002 founders

2. Xero Shoes ($48M/year)

Steven Sashen, co-founder and CEO of Xero Shoes, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing the benefits of barefoot running. He designed his own "barefoot sandals" based on ancient designs and started selling DIY sandal making kits. Through online marketing strategies and identifying target customers, Xero Shoes quickly grew into a successful business.

How much they make: $48M/year
Current team size: 67

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Xero Shoes: Growing A Shoe Brand to $460K/month

Xero Shoes, co-founded by Steven Sashen, is a minimalist shoe company that has grown at a rate of 80-102% per year since 2014, with 2017 sales of $5.53M, and has been repeatedly listed as one of INC. 5000’s fastest-growing companies, and has a projected $15M in sales for 2019.

About
Steven started Xero Shoes over 14 years ago
Revenue
Steven grew the business to $4M/month
Read by 14,202 founders

So... can you actually make money with a shoe brand?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. Boomerangz Footwear ($480K/year)

Brad Munro, the founder of Boomerangz Interchangeable Thongs, came up with the idea after experiencing multiple thong blowouts while traveling in Europe. Recognizing a gap in the market, Brad and his business partner developed thongs with interchangeable bases and straps to minimize blowouts and offer customization options. They launched the product through a crowdfunding campaign, raising $50,000 in sales within six weeks and eventually expanding their distribution to multiple countries.

How much they make: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 3

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How I Built A $300K/Year Online Flip Flop Shop

Boomerangz Footwear created interchangeable thongs designed to minimize blowouts and with patented bases and straps, resulting in a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised $50,000 in 6 weeks and led to the company being stocked in over 40 stores around Australia and expanding globally.

About
Brad started Boomerangz Footwear about 10 years ago
Revenue
Brad grew the business to $40K/month
Costs
It cost Brad $50000 to start the business
Read by 9,711 founders

4. CODDI ($24K/year)

Matthew Walters, founder of CODDI, came up with the idea for his boot company after years of experience in footwear design and a desire to create a boot that combined both performance and style. After a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $61,000, he launched his website and utilized free marketing to attract customers.

How much they make: $24K/year
Current team size: 1

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How I Started A Boot Brand And Raised $61K With No Paid Advertising

CODDI, a boot company based in Chicago, raised just over $61k on Kickstarter and made $2.5k in sales in June, $2k in sales in July, and another $2k in August, all while utilizing free marketing methods like Instagram and Facebook posts to build a community before their website launch.

About
Matthew started CODDI over 4 years ago
Revenue
Matthew grew the business to $2K/month
Read by 8,523 founders

So... can you actually make money with a shoe brand?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

5. zapato FEROZ ($6M/year)

In this case study, Lau García, a shoemaker by trade, came up with the idea for Zapato FEROZ when she couldn't find suitable footwear for her baby. She wanted to create comfortable, natural shoes that would promote healthy foot development. With the brand's focus on quality and customer satisfaction, Zapato FEROZ has experienced incredible growth, increasing their monthly revenue from $900-1000 to $60k in just two years.

How much they make: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 6

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How We Created A $65K/Month Healthy Children's Footwear Brand That Sells Almost Everything On Launch Day

Zapato FEROZ is a thriving children's footwear company whose sales have grown exponentially to reach $60,000 per month in the last 12 months, with 80% of sales made directly through their website, due to their dedication to producing the highest quality, healthy shoes for babies and children.

About
Laura started zapato FEROZ over 7 years ago
Revenue
Laura grew the business to $500K/month
Costs
It cost Laura $10000 to start the business
Read by 8,710 founders

8. B Street Shoes ($720K/year)

Blake Barash (from Newport Beach, CA, USA) started B Street Shoes 11 years ago.

Revenue
$60K / month
Team
1 founders / 8 employees

Case Study

My name is Blake Barash, owner of B Street Shoes. I’m a custom shoe painter located in Orange County, CA. People know me for my custom painted Nikes, Jordans, and football cleats for NFL players.

how-i-started-a-50k-month-business-customizing-sneakers

So... can you actually make money with a shoe brand?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

7. Stonz ($3M/year)

Lisa Will, the founder of Stonz, came up with the idea for her baby and children vegan footwear brand after experiencing difficulties keeping her son's shoes on during outdoor adventures. Recognizing the need for stay-on footwear for kids, she collaborated with a friend to create the Stonz bootie, which quickly gained traction and secured 10 retail accounts after its introduction at a tradeshow in 2004. Determined to expand their reach, Lisa hit the road after work and on weekends to personally pitch the product to retailers.

How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
Current team size: 7

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How I Started A $185K/Month Baby And Children Vegan Footwear Brand

Stonz is a baby and children vegan footwear and accessories brand founded by Lisa Will, which started in 2004 and became a multimillion-dollar company with over 500 retail accounts, generating $185k in monthly sales.

About
Lisa started Stonz over 19 years ago
Revenue
Lisa grew the business to $250K/month
Costs
It cost Lisa $150000 to start the business
Read by 10,893 founders

8. the DIFFERENCE ($150K/year)

Oliver Songolo, co-founder and CEO of DIFFERENCE, was inspired to create the first heelless running shoe brand after his father's research on the damaging effects of heel strikes. After years of planning and overcoming obstacles, including finding a manufacturer in China and obtaining a patent, DIFFERENCE launched in 2017. Despite initial marketing challenges, the company has found success through trade shows, speaking engagements, and an effective social media strategy, with average monthly revenue now reaching $12,500.

How much they make: $150K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200K
Current team size: 6

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How I Created A $12.5K/Month Patented Heelless Running Shoe

The DIFFERENCE co-founder developed a patented heelless running shoe that eliminates heelstrikes, grossing an average of $12,500 per month within the last two months, primarily targeting runners and the medical community.

About
Olguy started the DIFFERENCE over 7 years ago
Revenue
Olguy grew the business to $12.5K/month
Costs
It cost Olguy $200000 to start the business
Read by 7,644 founders

9. TANYA HEATH Paris ($120K/year)

Tanya Heath, the founder of TANYA HEATH Paris, came up with the idea for her business after struggling to find comfortable high-heeled shoes. Her background in disruptive innovation and her experience living and working with engineers helped her develop the world's first multi-height shoe with removable heels. With a focus on word-of-mouth marketing and excellent customer service, TANYA HEATH Paris has attracted and retained customers, despite facing challenges and skepticism from the fashion industry.

How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1M
Current team size: 2

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How Tanya Heath Invented Stilettos With Removable Heels

TANYA HEATH Paris, a shoe company founded by Tanya Heath, created the world's first multi-height shoe with removable heels; the product development stage took 14 engineers and shoe technicians and they now have boutique locations in Paris, Toronto, Beirut, Beijing, and Hong Kong, relying on word of mouth and excellent customer service to attract and retain customers.

About
Tanya started TANYA HEATH Paris about 14 years ago
Revenue
Tanya grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Tanya $1000000 to start the business
Read by 6,625 founders

10. Creative Souls ($12K/year)

Drew McNamara, the founder of Creative Souls, came up with the idea for his business while in a social entrepreneurship class during his junior year of college. He was inspired by a non-profit that had artists with disabilities selling their artwork on shirts, but noticed that no one was printing their designs onto shoes. This led him to create Creative Souls, a brand that prints designs from individuals with disabilities onto canvas shoes and apparel, providing them with opportunities for success and income.

How much they make: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $45K
Current team size: 0

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On Starting A Shoe And Apparel Brand With Designs From People With Disabilities

Creative Souls is a shoe and apparel brand that prints designs created by individuals with disabilities onto their products, paying artists over $1,000 since August 2019, with an average of $1,000 monthly sales, while providing opportunities for people with disabilities to earn money by creating art.

About
Drew started Creative Souls over 5 years ago
Revenue
Drew grew the business to $1K/month
Costs
It cost Drew $45000 to start the business
Read by 5,873 founders

11. Atlantis Shoes ($300K/year)

Tom Guo, founder of Atlantis Shoes, came up with the idea after working in the shoe manufacturing industry for over 10 years. Focusing on quality over quantity and aiming to reduce global waste, Guo wanted to create ethically-made footwear that would last a lifetime. With monthly revenue at $25,000 and 500 pairs sold each month, Atlantis Shoes embodies the philosophy of slow living and slow fashion.

How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 2

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How I Started A Business Selling Vegan Sneakers

Atlantis Shoes founder, Tom Guo, built a successful business selling vegan sneakers, with a monthly revenue of $25,000 and plans for a sustainable, mindful concept store in the future.

About
Tom started Atlantis Shoes over 6 years ago
Revenue
Tom grew the business to $25K/month
Read by 5,418 founders

15. TOMS ($391M/year)

Blake Mycoskie is the Founder of TOMS and he started the business in 2006 after his trip to Argentina where he witnessed the hardships faced by children without shoes.

TOMS offers a variety of new shoe styles for men, women, kids, and gear. Their classic alpargatas and slip-ons are designed with durable traction pads for ultimate comfort on all the adventures life brings you.

Revenue
$32.6M / month
Team
1 founders / 671 employees

Case Study

TOMS was established by Blake Mycoskie as a designer footwear business selling trendy shoes for both men and women.

Blake is a best-selling author, philanthropist, and serial entrepreneur best known for founding TOMS Shoes. He also developed the concept of One for One®, a business model that donates money to a charity for each item bought.

They donate one-third of their earnings to local products. Over 100,000,000 lives have been improved by TOMS since they first launched.

They have always aimed to make people's lives better through their business.

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Read the full story on successpodcast.com ➜

13. Nike ($1B/year)

How much they make: $1B/year
Current team size: 112479

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Nike - Ruling The Sneaker Industry

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.

About
They started Nike about 60 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $83.3M/month
Read by 682 founders

14. Rothy's ($132M/year)

How much they make: $132M/year
Current team size: 222

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A Case Study of Rothy's Shoes Startup

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.

About
They started Rothy's almost 12 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $11M/month
Read by 744 founders

15. Fuchsia Shoes ($7.2M/year)

How much they make: $7.2M/year
Current team size: 5

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How to Start a $60K/Month Shoe Line From Scratch

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.

About
They started Fuchsia Shoes about 8 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $600K/month
Read by 622 founders

16. Smoove Creations ($40K/year)

How much they make: $40K/year
Current team size: 8

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Smoove Creations and the power of customizing entrepreneurship at a young age

Founder of Smoove Creations generates $40,000 revenue in 2020 despite pandemic by offering unique, personalized sneakers for "sneakerheads" and fans of athletic footwear.

About
They started Smoove Creations about 5 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $3.33K/month
Read by 597 founders