Palexy’s Post

In 2021, I first reached out to the CEO of Biti's footwear company, the largest and most iconic shoe brand of Vietnam with 200+ stores nationwide. For the next two years, I repeatedly contacted her inviting Biti's to try out our Palexy platform, but was always told "now is not the right time." There needs to be a certain synergy for a business collaboration to work out. At that time, the conditions weren't quite aligned: the COVID-19 pandemic was ongoing, it wasn't a priority for Biti's at the moment, they had other projects underway, and so on. After being rejected multiple times, I took a step back to seriously re-evaluate whether I should keep persistently pursuing this potential partnership. I realized there was an admirable aspect to Biti's business philosophy - striving to create a balanced environment for their employees. Retail work is demanding, and the sales staff need ample support, motivation, and guidance to not only perform well but also maintain a positive quality of life. Initially, when pitching Palexy, we emphasized the benefits for the retailer itself, the management team, and of course the customers - the "gods" that the retail world revolves around. But we overlooked how crucial it is to also benefit the frontline sales associates who directly interface with those customer "gods." Stressed, fatigued, and confused employees simply cannot deliver a great customer experience. Once we understood this perspective, Biti's gave us a chance to collaborate. Leveraging Palexy's data, Biti's management shifted how they worked with staff - providing guidance, oversight, and encouragement. This lowered the pressure on associates while upholding sales conversion rates, so even when foot traffic declined, revenues didn't take as big a hit. The lesson I learned is not to give up, but also not to just stubbornly stick to the old ways. Being rejected once is understandable, but racking up repeated rejections without adapting is a mistake. Flexibility and evolving one's mindset are key! #startup #lessons #customer #success #stories

What a happy news ! :) Congratulations team ‘#Trase’ on reacquiring your brand ! It’s interesting because here the roll-up company (acquirer) on change of circumstances at their end, agreed to divest the brand back to the founders rather than fighting in courts or killing the brand or continuing it for the sake of it ! Have been hearing a lot of stories around transactions done in roll up companies where ‘what was promised’ and ‘what happened’ during the years / at that time of payouts has had a lot of gap and hence many brand owners are now in conflict with roll up companies (in which case eveyone suffers including the brand, the team and all stakeholders.) In midst of all this - seeing this ‘Trase’ transaction happen in this fashion is such a good news. #NavalRavikant says ‘Intentions don’t matter, actions do - that’s why being ethical is hard’ hence a Special Shout out to team #Upscalio for having their heart in the right place! I hope this happens for all cases where brands have been acquired and acquiring companies ain’t able to keep their end of the bargain due to - change in focus or operational issues or - ⁠inability to scale or - financial constraints! Just give the brand back! Disclaimer - At #Sirona, we acquired two brands - #BleU and #IMpower, have scaled them very well & #Founders of both brands continue to be friends & well wishers. https://lnkd.in/gAvFE_23 Well done Jitin Goel & Dhruv G. on getting your brand back ! Onwards and upwards :) PS | Thank you Charu Lamba Ma’am for the super amazing title to this story - hope you share many such stories :) & well done Aneesh Sivakumar for creating #DoneDeal where we learnt about #Trase TRASE Footwear #intentoverstory #startupindia #founderstories

How Calico helped a $2M clothing brand save $150,000 in manufacturing costs and launch 35 styles in less than 6 months: (without wasting 100's hours vetting manufacturers) This brand had recently hit a new revenue milestone and needed to expand its assortment to keep growing. But they: - Needed excellent craftsmanship with sustainable practices - Struggled to find factories that matched their quality standards - Had already spent 6 months vetting manufacturers with 0 success - Had a small team that couldn’t launch new styles without working 24/7 We started working together in January 2023. And by June, they had: ✅ Launched over 35+ new styles ✅ Produced with factories across 3 different regions ✅ Saved $150k on production errors, vetting, travel, etc We did this by: 1) Producing with factories capable of manufacturing in smaller batches, giving them the flexibility to experiment with new products and materials. 2) Leveraging Calico to optimize for the most capable manufacturers across each style instead of forcing one to do everything. 3) Brought the production process under one fully transparent platform to cut down product development time. And those 3 simple steps helped them save thousands of dollars while launching faster. Ready to skip years of trial and error and manufacture with the world's best factories? Pop me a DM and we'll chat to see how Calico can help.

Let's be consistent towards making my brand indias no 1 custom shoe brand as a teenager #CustomShoes #SneakerArt #DailyProgress #SmallBusiness #ShoeGame #StartupLife #Handmade #EntrepreneurLife #SupportSmallBusiness #BehindTheScenes

Tractor Supply Company is pushing an apparel division to their business.... an interesting growth strategy! Did you know Guided Makers has helped hard goods brands bring new apparel lines to market? Without in house expertise, we acted as an extension of the team and provided apparel expertise to develop their new apparel line. Whatever you brand size and evolution, Guided makers is able to support your business! #appareldevelopment #productdevelopment #strategy #growth

YAS! More exciting DUBS news We clinched the regional win at the StartUp Awards - we've won Manufacturing & Engineering StartUp of the Year in the South East! The next step, is the UK final at Ideas Fest! Now, let's talk about the 🐘 in the 🏡   The reality of being a self-funded startup in an industry dominated by big brands. It's tough. Really tough. Cutting through the noise and getting Dubs noticed, let alone on kids' feet, is no small feat. I don't have the luxury of pouring cash into flashy IG and FB ads (not that I'd necessarily want to). Instead, we rely on the power of word of mouth and the incredible support of our community to spread the Dubs' love far and wide. From popping up at school fairs to countless interviews and features, I've been hustling hard to get the Dubs name out there. But I know I can't do it alone. So a wee shout-out to all those in my network, If you have a podcast, blog, or interview you think Dubs would be good for, or any cunning ideas to help us amplify the Dubs message, I'm all ears! Your support and creativity could be the game-changer we've been searching for. We're making big strides in disrupting this age-old, polluting industry - it would be great if you'd like to join us on our journey. Please DM me to get involved! #StartUpAwards #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #SustainableFashion #EcoFriendly #SmallBiz #FootwearIndustry #KidsFootwear #ChildrensShoes https://lnkd.in/eVJA6EzM

Great case study showcasing some of the work we do to give clarity to the murky world of manufacturing and use technology to speed up the entire process. If you're struggling with offshore manufacturing or just want to see if it can be done better, DM me or write in the comments and we can jump on a call.

👣The Power of Prospecting: Building Better Shoes at SHOESTUDIO®️ 💚 At SHOESTUDIO®️ we believe the foundation of a great shoe lies in the quality of its materials. That's why we're constantly on the hunt for innovative and sustainable materials that elevate comfort, durability, and style for our customers, all while keeping the environment in mind. Today, we had the pleasure of visiting ROBRI , a valued supplier of our shoe soles! Their dedication to quality and sustainability, along with their vast selection of materials and technologies, truly impressed us.♻️ Here's why constant material prospecting is key: Enhanced Variety: We offer a wider range of options, from classic materials to cutting-edge advancements. Unwavering Quality & Durability: We source materials built to last, withstanding wear and tear for happy customers. Environmental Responsibility: Recycled, biodegradable, and low-impact materials are actively sought to minimize our footprint. Chasing your dreams is the fuel for success in any industry. At SHOESTUDIO®️ our passion for footwear drives us to continuously explore new materials and technologies, pushing the boundaries of what a shoe can be. A big thank you to ROBRI for the partnership and their commitment to quality and sustainability! #SHOESTUDIO #shoes #materials #innovation #sustainability #quality #ROBRI #Solas #entrepreneurship #dreamchasing #manufacturers Like this post? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow us for more!

Another Wealth Creator of our Bharat: RAMESH DUA RELAXO Meet the man who started with Rs 10,000 and built India's largest slipper brand. Ramesh Kumar Dua had a very tough childhood. His father's bicycle parts and footwear business divided, and he had to deal with the Rs 1,00,000 debt that came with it. 17-year-old Ramesh dropped out of his medical exam and decided to help his father. He dabbled with both businesses for two years until he chose footwear. To get the seed capital, he rented his family property for Rs 250 and took an advance of Rs 10,000 against it. In 1976, Relaxo was born. Ramesh had no idea about the most used raw material - Rubber. So, he went to the Plastics and Rubber Institute in London to become a rubber technologist. However, it was only for the Top 2%. So, he begged them to let him study without getting a degree. Seeing the passion, he got the admission. While Ramesh was learning rubber, India underwent the infamous emergency in 1977. The government reserved 70% of the footwear sector for small-scale manufacturers only. So, Ramesh had multiple units under Relaxo to give it the status of a small manufacturer. When he came from London, he launched Relaxo's first product. The iconic Hawaii Chappal was born. It was the first slipper made with natural and synthetic blends. To promote, Ramesh paid Rs 100 for the radio jingles when nobody did radio ads. Slowly, everybody started recognizing the brand, and the idea took off. But there was something off. The slippers were unbranded, and retailers removed his stock to sell high-margin branded items. So, he merged different units of Relaxo into one and took the company private in 1983. And the decision that he had been waiting for finally came in 1995. The footwear industry opened to big manufacturers. Seizing this opportunity, Ramesh invested Rs 7.5 crore for a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant to produce 50,000 pairs daily. Around the same time, it went public and raised Rs 4.5 crore through its IPO. Relaxo's slippers were selling like hotcakes. To keep up with the demand, Ramesh set up a second unit in 1999, followed by another unit with 100,000 pairs daily at Bhiwadi in 2001. By 2003, Relaxo made a revenue of Rs 150 crore. Competition took notice and the 70-year-old Bata Shoes added 20% more discounts. So, Rames expanded in other categories - Sports Shoes (Sparx) in 2005, followed by Sandals (Flite) and Bahamas (Casual Slippers). While Bata's revenue dropped by 85%, Relaxo became a Rs 1000 crore company, with Akshay Kumar (Sparx), Salman Khan (Bahamas), and Sonakshi Sinha (Flite) as brand ambassadors. Today, Relaxo has a revenue of Rs 2783 crore. It produces 7.25 lakh pairs of footwear and sells 18 crore slippers yearly. It exports to over five countries and has 50,500 stores in India. All this at a profit of Rs 250 crore and a market share of 9%. Story of Ramesh Kumar Dua - The Man behind the ultra-famous Hawaii Chappal.

He went from investing ₹10,000 to building India's best footwear company. In 1976, Ramesh Kumar Dua faced a debt of ₹1,00,000 when his father's bicycle parts and footwear business got divided. At 17, he quit his studies to handle the footwear business and rented his family property to fund it. This marked the beginning of Relaxo. Dua wanted to learn to use rubber at the Plastics and Rubber Institute in London, but its high admission criteria made it difficult for him. But seeing his desire to learn, even without a degree secured him a seat there. When the Indian government imposed the Emergency Rule in 1977, the policy reserved 70% of the industry for small footwear businesses. Dua set up small Relaxo units and made its first "Hawaii Chappal." He spent ₹100 on radio jingles to market Relaxo at a time when radio ads weren't even a thing. However, the retailers still didn't believe in Relaxo's potential and discarded its stock. After this setback, Dua set up Relaxo's first private unit, and later, the footwear industry started welcoming big manufacturers. He invested ₹7.5 Crores in a factory to make 50,000 pairs of slippers daily and raised ₹4.5 Crores through its IPOs. By 1999, Relaxo's second unit made 100,000 pairs daily, clocking a revenue of ₹150 Crores. Today, Relaxo is at its peak with: ➡️ Selling 18 Crores pairs of slippers annually. ➡️ It's 350+ retail outlets. ➡️ A FY23 revenue of ₹2801.3 Crores. From a college dropout to a net worth of $1 Billion, Ramesh Kumar Dua is an entrepreneur who, with his innovation, paired comfort and affordability for many. Relaxo Hawaii Chappal stands true for over a billion Indians today! #entrepreneur #innovation #business #relaxo