11 Shoe Brand Success Stories [2024]
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.
In this list, you'll find real-world shoe brand success stories and very profitable examples of starting a shoe brand that makes money.
1. 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 money it makes: $48M/year
How many people on the team: 67
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.
2. 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 money it makes: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 6
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.
3. 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 money it makes: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
How many people on the team: 7
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.
4. 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 money it makes: $960K/year
How many people on the team: 0
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.
5. 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 money it makes: $720K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 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.
6. 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 money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
How many people on the team: 3
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.
7. 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 money it makes: $300K/year
How many people on the team: 2
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.
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 money it makes: $150K/year
How much did it cost to start: $200K
How many people on the team: 6
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.
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 money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1M
How many people on the team: 2
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.
10. 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 money it makes: $24K/year
How many people on the team: 1
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.
11. 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 money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $45K
How many people on the team: 0
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.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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