The Cobbler : How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell from Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever
(Book)

Everyone knows Steve Madden's name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty-years, Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with $1,100 to a global multi-billion-dollar brand. In the 1990s, Madden's iconic designs, such as the Marilyn, the Mary Lou, and the Slinky, established him as the preeminent designer of shoes for young women. Along the way, he revolutionized the industry, merging his entrepreneurial, maverick approach to business with innovative, trend-focused designs. Today, Steve Madden is a true lifestyle and destination for footwear, having acquired and successfully stewarded brands such as Betsey Johnson, Dolce Vita, Big Buddha, Blondo, BB Dakota, Greats, and many more. But Madden's personal mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as integral to his story as his most iconic shoes. In this raw, intimate, and ultimately inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here and the lessons he's learned along the way. From his unconventional hiring strategies to his unyielding devotion to product, Madden offers a business philosophy that is as unique as his styles. In The Cobbler, readers are treated to the wide ride through his rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes and come back determined to give back and use his hard-won platform to create positive change.