In 1970, George Zimmer was a college graduate with no real job prospects and little direction. That's when his father, an executive at a boy's clothing company, asked him to go on an important business trip to Asia. It was that trip that propelled him into the world of men's apparel. In 1973, the first Men's Wearhouse opened in Houston with little fanfare. B ... Show More
Today
Faherty Brand: Alex and Mike Faherty. How Jersey Shore + Manhattan Chic grew to 80 stores.
When identical twins Mike and Alex Faherty launched their clothing brand, they made a daring move– launching wholesale, retail, and online, pretty much at the same time. Investors said it was outdated, maybe even doomed.But that contrarian bet helped grow Faherty into a hugely po ... Show More
1h 13m
Oct 6
Pressbox and Tide Cleaners: Vijen Patel. The $1.99 Gamble That Built a National Brand
What if the best startup isn’t sexy at all? In 2013, Vijen Patel left private equity to pursue “the least-worst idea”: dry cleaning. No patents. No app wizardry. Just laundry lockers in high-rises, ruthless unit economics, and a $1.99-a-shirt price that was seared into America’s ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2021
Sponsored: Small Business Stories | Columbia Sportswear | 2
This episode is brought to you by Wondery in partnership with Dell Technologies. In honor of small businesses, we're featuring inspiring stories of successful companies that started out small.It’s 1970 and Gert Boyle’s life is in ruins. Her husband’s just died, and now, as a midd ... Show More
31m 23s
Oct 2021
Fast Fashion | Stitch by Stitch | 2
It’s 1974 and Amancio Ortega, determined to break the cycle of poverty he experienced growing up in Spain, uses his background in retail and manufacturing to found future fast fashion giant Zara. Meanwhile, Topshop is born as a small section in the basement of a department store ... Show More
24m 25s
Jun 2024
JCPenney Sells Out with Joel Kim Booster and Scott Seiss | 39
When JCPenney, the 100-year-old department store, decided to rebrand in 2011, they sought the best in the biz to give them a makeover. Enter Ron Johnson, the affable retail genius behind the Apple Store. Hailed as a techy visionary, Johnson was supposed to reinvent the brand. Ins ... Show More
49m 2s
May 2024
Stan Herman on a Lifetime in Fashion
Stan Herman may be 95 years old, but the designer, activist and former president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America remains an unstoppable force. His recent memoir, “Uncross Your Legs: A Life in Fashion” details his journey through the American fashion industry, inclu ... Show More
36m 4s
Apr 2020
An Inside Look at The North Face with Former CEO Hap Klopp | 7
One of the key players in the story of The North Face is Hap Klopp, who in 1968, bought the then-burgeoning outdoor sports equipment store. He bought the company for the bargain price of $60,000.Klopp was CEO of The North Face for the next 20 years, and turned the small chain of ... Show More
23m 15s
Dec 2021
George Lucas: Creating a Hollywood Empire | A New Hope | 1
Filmmaker George Lucas created the most successful movie franchise of all time. Star Wars revolutionized cinema, taught Hollywood the true value of merchandise and turned a niche film genre into a billion dollar industry. To build his own empire, George will defy the odds, risk i ... Show More
39m 13s
Oct 2022
Giorgio Armani, Fashion’s Most Successful Designer
BoF editor-at-large Tim Blanks describes the designer and businessman’s life, continuing impact on fashion, mysterious succession plans and newfound vulnerability. Over his decades-long career, Giorgio Armani has built one of fashion’s most successful businesses. Known for his si ... Show More
24m 5s