Pioneering the New Age of Cycling Socks with DeFeet Founder Shane Cooper

What do British born rock stars, the hosiery capital of the world, cycling, and dyslexics have in common?  One man: Shane Cooper. After traveling with his band and playing music/bass professionally, Shane got really into cycling and consequently, socks.

“It kind of started by mistake” Shane said when I asked him how he started one of the most successful sock companies in the world.  Shane was racing his bike and needed to make some extra money to support his cycling habit.  He took the things he knew: marketing (from marketing his band and playing the bass), socks (his father sold sock machines and sock machine parts), and his ability to think outside the "socks" (he re-engineered how yarn was used to wick moisture).  DeFeet was born.

DeFeet has endured many ups and downs since its inception in 1992: theft, fires, tornadoes, and a constantly changing retail environment.  Think about it - we barely had the internet in 1992!  This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, overcoming adversity, maintaining integrity and so much more.  

  

Topics Discussed in the Podcast  How Shane started DeFeet The fire at DeFeet and how DeFeet had to rebuild itself Producing products in America (instead of outsourcing) The Integrity of the brand How DeFeet continues to innovate some throwback socks creating products using local industry Gravel creating and producing movies Musician Cyclists Links Follow DeFeet on Instagram Follow Shane on Instagram Ride Run Play Episode Contest Thermeator sock

Other Mentions:

My producer, Roma's Youtube Music Page F*cking Magical Unicorn socks Plant-Powered Tribe Facebook Group (everyone is welcome)

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