We have investment rounds every 12-24 months to maintain funds and really capture some big opportunities that our team is ready for. Cash flow is also a big part of our strategy. So many companies fail due to growing too fast and not being able to keep up or growing too slow and dying out. I’d say the biggest problem, or more so challenge really, was and continues to be, how to grow at the right speed. What was the biggest problem you encountered with your business and how did you overcome it? One of the Shark Tank producers really fell in love with our story, so we also got help on that end. That got us a lot of attention that we were able to leverage and really introduce ourselves to the world. The DJ Khaled collab we did also played a major factor. As far as Shark Tank, that really came to fruition through persistent pitching for about 3 years. I mean, her team had custom team hats, sweaters, water bottles, pants, and just about anything else you could imagine, except slides. And to be honest, I’m not sure exactly what led me to quite literally start the research and process, but I do recall being at one of my daughter’s soccer games and noticing the custom gear that went head to toe… well almost. The idea of creating a product, service, business model, and working with incredible minds had long been a dream of mine. Having spent 10 years at Reebok at that point, I knew I wanted to create a brand of my own. I was the Head of Basketball Product at Reebok when ISlide became an idea. Tell us how you started your company and then ended up on Shark Tank? From licensed and custom logos, to phrases, to family photos, and even inside jokes, people love the opportunity to create something that they feel connected to. And with that, we’ve seen an incredible amount of designs. Fast forward, 7 incredible years later, and we’re the only premium slide sandal company in the world that can make and send out a pair to anyone under two weeks. I saw there was no one filling the void of creating a high-quality version that is also customizable. Back in 2013, the trends in footwear showed as much as a 25% growth in the slide industry, specifically. ISlide is all about self-expression, and the freedom to do so. Self-representation with peers, family, and friends, embodying the message “Stand In What You Stand For.” What is ISlide all about? ISlide enables consumers to create their custom design on high-quality athletic and high fashion-inspired slides and recently added, premium socks, enabling individual expression and Founded in 2013 by Justin Kittredge, a footwear industry veteran with 2 decades of experience, ISlide has amassed over 50 licenses including the NBA, MLB, NHL, Warner Brother, Nickelodeon, tens of NCAA schools, and more than a dozen partnerships. Here’s what else he told us about… Interested in ISlides? Buy a pair here.ISlide is the industry leader in premium, custom slides. We’re starting a movement and plan on helping to reshape the customization world as we know it today.” We plan to do more than just make slides. “It is truly endless.”Īs for his future plans, he replied, “Business is booming and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. “From NBA to Lebron James to Kentucky Basketball to Playboy Playmates to your 5th grade dance team,” he went on to list when asked about some of their custom designs. To say it caught on is an understatement since now everyone from Dwyane Wade to Justin Bieber have been seen sporting the footwear. We interviewed owner Justin Kittredge, who launched the company in 2013. ISlide entered the show’s Shark Tank on the Season 8 premiere. It is more than you may think… Filmed and edited by Doza Visuals Create your own pair of Slides at / Follow us for giveaways, updates, and other fun content! Facebook: /ISlideUSA/ Twitter: /ISlideUSA Instagram: /islideusa/ ISlide The comfiest sandals in… ISlide Presents: The Process An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into the process of making a pair of custom ISlides.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |