“Cut out the middleman.” Online-only brands have made this age-old retail adage new again, keeping prices low by eliminating the expense of maintaining premium spaces. On Nov. 13, online men’s dress-shoe brand Jack Erwin will open a brick-and-mortar store in New York’s Tribeca but maintain that cost-cutting model. The Fitting...
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“A step above: Shoemaker Jack Erwin is disrupting the market”
Ariel Nelson's decision to get a buzz cut in the middle of a sweltering New York summer four years ago was a turning point in his career. After a frustrating May 2012 shopping expedition for dress shoes, he and his friend Lane Gerson, then 29 and 30 years old, had...
“This startup's dress shoes can compete with others that cost a lot”
Few items in a man's closet are as important as his dress shoes. Whether they're worn to a formal event, the office, or a nice night out, they're a key element of his look. Jack Erwin, the brand that impressed us — and continues to impress us — with its boat shoes...
“The 10 best dress shoes under $200”
Every man should have a great pair of dress shoes (or two). When it comes to looking sharp in a suit, there's nothing that can touch a great shoe. But just because they're necessary doesn't mean you need to shell out—there are plenty of well-priced options fit for everything...
“A new wave of shoe makers wants to cut out all the middlemen”
Three years ago, Ariel Nelson was working in food and beverage distribution, and Lane Gerson was gutting it out in the finance department at a 3D printing company. The friends were pushing 30 and trying to spruce up their wardrobes for the stream of weddings they were scheduled to attend....
“The archetypical foundation of a man’s footwear wardrobe”
Handcrafted in Spain with a full-grain calfskin upper, these understated bluchers are the archetypical foundation of a man’s footwear wardrobe. The lack of ornamentation means that little things like the stacked heel and the hand-stitched outsole have a powerful impact, but not in a flashy way. On the other hand,...
“Brown Shoe Company, founded 1878, invests in Jack Erwin”
As CEO of a 135-year-old business, Diane Sullivan was looking for new ideas for growth and a fresh take on men’s shoes for Brown Shoe Company. She thinks she may have found it in Jack Erwin, an upstart New York City-based online shoe brand that just started selling its footwear...
“Jack Erwin raises $2M from Crosslink, Shasta and Menlo to develop…”
Today Jack Erwin, an upper-end male shoe ecommerce play, announced that it has raised a $2 million Series A led by Crosslink Capital. The funding event was participated in by Shasta Ventures and Menlo Ventures.
Just as technology and politics are finding themselves increasingly intertwined, so too are technology and...