What It Really Takes to Build a Shoe Brand | Ft. Funmi Abodenyi S1 E8

Sarting a footwear brand sounds exciting… but what does it really take to build one? 👀 In this episode, we sit down with Funmilayo Abodenyi founder of dshoecollector, to talk about her journey of building a footwear brand from the ground up. From finding the right manufacturers and dealing with quality issues, to pricing, marketing, and navigating challenges like the pandemic — she shares what it truly takes behind the scenes. If you’re thinking of starting a shoe brand, fashion business, or any creative venture, this conversation is packed with real, practical insights you don’t want to miss. 0:00 – Intro 1:24 – How dshoecollector started 5:55 – When a business idea becomes viable 8:32 – Impact of the pandemic on the business 11:08 – Starting online or with a physical store 11:38 – Early challenges encountered 14:35 – Size runs and production decisions 16:52 – Balancing creativity in design 18:04 – Credit Direct hype 18:47 – Producing in Nigeria vs abroad 21:02 – Quality control challenges 23:01 – Issues with factories abroad 32:10 – How pricing was determined 35:54 – Balancing store costs and pricing 38:21 – Marketing strategies that worked 40:31 – Advice for starting a footwear brand 42:29 – Do you need to “dance” on social media to sell? 👀 48:45 – Giveaway 🎁 49:09 – Outro Don't forget to like, share and subscribe.