Tim Brown is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO alongside Joey Zwillinger of footwear company, Allbirds. In just under a five years, the company has amassed over 500 employees, 17 retail locations and over a billion dollars in valuation. What most may not know is that this idea was the brainchild of Tim's for years while he was a professional soccer player.
Having played for the Newcastle Jets, the Welllington Phoenix and the 2010 World Cup, Tim began designing sneakers and visiting factories to create more than hundreds of variations for a prototype shoe all during his offseasons. What started as just a fun idea for the athlete transformed into a successful Kickstarter campaign which eventually led to joining forces with his Co-CEO Joey in creating one of the most popular shoe brands today.
In this episode, Tim breaks down his transition from professional soccer to brand building and how despite the doubt, these challenges empowered the CEO to bring his idea to fruition. He also highlights the importance transitioning Allbirds into a sustainable product using merino wool and recycled plastics to leave a carbon neutral footprint—because for Tim, a product can only be great if it is sustainable.
Thank you so much for tuning into the Business of HYPE. As always, thank you for tuning into HYPEBEAST Radio and Business of HYPE. Please don't forget to rate, comment and subscribe to our other shows. This episode was recorded prior to COVID-19 with the interludes recorded during. We hope you guys stay safe, wash your hands, practice social distancing and find ways to still stay inspired during this time.
For more info: https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/tim-brown-allbirds-interview-business-of-hype-jeffstaple-episode-72