Shoes of Prey launched in 2009. It allowed people to design their dream shoes online, get them expertly manufactured, and have them shipped to anywhere in the world within two weeks. The startup broke even at two months, hit multi-million dollar revenues in under two years, raised tens of millions in funding from top-tier investors and shipped to more than 100 countries. All the metrics pointed to huge scalability. To a huge business. To a huge success.
But it didn’t succeed. In 2018 the business failed. And this is that story.
Reboot tells the truth of what it is like to be at the helm of a global business. From the high highs of besting Karl Lagerfeld on global awards to the low lows of closing the doors on your dream, join author Jodie Fox on a raw journey as she reveals for the first time the story behind the story of fashion darling Shoes of Prey.
This incredible ride will share lessons on raising capital, building a brand, finding suppliers, doing business in China and, most importantly, how to learn and grow from your successes and your mistakes and be ready every day to reboot for the next challenge.
Table of Contents
Foreword vii
About the Author ix
Introduction xi
Phase 1: On Learning and Choosing 1
1 Learning by doing 3
2 Choosing to try 13
3 Naming our idea 21
Phase 2: On Building and Determination 29
4 Finding suppliers in Hong Kong 31
5 My first China trip 37
6 Testing, testing 45
Phase 3: On Launching and Commitment 57
7 Ready? 59
8 New normals 67
9 Telling the world 77
Phase 4: On Raising Funds and Evolving 85
10 Can we please move the status quo? Thanks. 87
11 Things you can control and things you cannot 97
12 The money question 105
Phase 5: On Establishment and Tenacity 115
13 Growing in China 117
14 Working with your ex 129
15 New horizons 139
Phase 6: On Moving and Grounding 151
16 A new factory in China, a new office in America 153
17 Emotional intelligence goes a long way 165
Phase 7: On Failing and Resilience 175
18 Testing and pivoting 177
Phase 8: On Closing and Acceptance 191
19 The start of the real hustle 193
20 Knowing it’s the end 209
Phase 9: On Rebooting 215
21 What I know now 217
22 The reboot button 231
A whole lot of thank you 233
Appendix A: Values document 235
Appendix B: Moving checklist 241
Appendix C: Fundraising 249
Index 261
