No aspect of business is as frustrating as hitting it big with customers, yet not being able to get product to them.

Like nearly every other seller of consumer goods, Xero Shoes has felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably the virus’s disruption of traditional patterns of supply and demand. But the situation has been especially daunting for Xero, a maker of innovative lightweight “minimalist” footwear for running, walking and athletics that was just taking off in the marketplace when it ran into the COVID wall. Initially, the company was well-positioned for continuing to sell product, having placed substantial orders in 2019 out of concern over the impact of tariffs on goods from China. But it has since suffered its share of pain from supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, including soaring ocean freight rates, shortages of containers and chassis, and other logistical challenges. On this episode, company president and co-founder Lena Phoenix tells the story of Xero Shoes’ success, travails and efforts to “survive” a 90% growth in sales in a single year. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

The Xero Shoes origin story.