Jim Stroesser
Jim Stroesser has been at the top of the footwear world: New Balance, LA Gear, Nike, Oakley, and then owner-partner in the legendary Converse turnaround. On this episode of Dedicated to the Craft, he explains how his team revived a bankrupt American icon. They fired the whole sales force on day one, raised prices on Chucks, and walked away from big accounts to build the right partnerships. Avril Lavigne gave them an unexpected assist along the way.
Then Jim and his partner Jen went grassroots and started Cali Strong. It began in military stores selling only black t-shirts and was built on one idea: “We have to stand for something good.” Today it has supported more than 100 nonprofits and is worn by over a thousand celebrities, including original owner-partner Bill Walton.
