2017 was a big year for me:
I finally admitted I was getting “old” and needed reading glasses.
But when the time came, I didn’t get an expensive pair of Ralph Lauren or Prada glasses from my local LensCrafters.
Instead, I went to an online eyewear company called Warby Parker.
Warby Parker is what’s called a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) business. DTC businesses cut out the middlemen. Instead, they sell to their customers directly.
These businesses are making a huge impact on retail right now. For example:
Warby Parker was founded just six years ago and it’s already worth $1.2 billion…
A DTC razor company called Dollar Shave Club was recently acquired by Unilever for $1 billion…
And Casper, a new DTC mattress start-up, is already worth $750 million.
By offering a top-notch customer experience, high-quality products, and low prices, these DTC businesses are killing traditional retailers — and they’re making their early investors a fortune.
Unfortunately, the biggest profits in the three start-ups I mentioned above have already been made.
But now there’s a new Direct-to-Consumer start-up in town.
And if it succeeds, not only could it put some fancy shoes on your feet…
But it could put some big profits directly in your pocket.
A New Type of Shoe Store
Feet are funny things.
Research shows that 95% of people’s left and right feet are different sizes. For example, your left foot might be a size 9 and your right foot might be a 10.
That makes it tough to get the right fit, and easy to find yourself with some serious foot pain.
Sure, you could buy custom-made shoes. But that kind of luxury can set you back thousands of dollars.
But now there’s a new option…
Introducing: True Gault
True Gault is a Direct-to-Consumer shoe company.
It’s attacking the $65 billion footwear industry in the U.S.
Initially, the company is targeting women. It then plans to expand into men’s shoes, licensing, and white-labeling.
Let’s see how it works…
How it Works
After downloading its free app from the app store, you take three “scans” of each of your feet. Those scans generate 3D models with your exact measurements.
Then you use the app to shop for shoes. Currently, there are more than 20 styles. Prices start at $250, which True Gault says is about 50% less than comparable (but ill-fitting) shoes you might buy at a store.
Once you’ve selected a style, your custom-made shoes are handcrafted in Spain, and delivered to your door in less than 4 weeks.
And because this is Direct-to-Consumer — with no expensive inventory sitting around in high-rent retail storefronts — the company can keep its costs low…
And those lower costs are passed on to you through lower prices.
Progress
True Gault is making quick progress.
Thousands of women (including supermodels like Nikki Taylor) have already scanned their feet and bought True Gault’s shoes, and more than 30% of these women have turned into repeat customers.
In addition, the company has recruited a team of all-star advisors. They include:
- Nina Garcia, Editor-in-Chief of Elle Magazine, and a judge on Project Runway
- Susan Posen, Chairwoman of luxury fashion company Zac Posen; and
- Joanne Wilson, prominent angel investor (and the wife of top-tier venture investor Fred Wilson).
Perhaps more importantly, True Gault has caught the attention of Google.
You see, Google recently selected it to be one of just eight start-ups in its Accelerated Growth Program.
This is the same program that helped launch Warby Parker and Casper!
What’s Next
Now that the company has established a strong foundation, it’s ready to expand.
In particular, it aims to increase brand awareness, launch new styles, and go global.
To help it achieve all that, it recently opened a $1 million investment round.
All investors are welcome to participate, and the minimum investment is just $25.
Keep in mind: like all start-up ventures, this is a risky investment…
So before you contemplate an investment, please be sure to do significant research!
But as you learned today, DTC businesses are very popular right now — and the best ones have turned into very successful early-stage investments.
If you’d like to learn more, click here »
Happy Investing
Please note: Crowdability has no relationship with True Gault, or with any of the companies or platforms we write about. Crowdability is an independent provider of education, information and research on start-ups and alternative investments.
Best Regards,
Founder
Crowdability.com
