Invited to Digital Lead, entrepreneur Aurel Bobou, founder and owner of Marelbo, explained how he developed the shoe company, from the first pair of shoes he made for his mother in a small family workshop 38 years ago, to a network of more than 50 stores across the country in 2022 year and more than 700 employees.

• The main ideas of Digital Lead:
• Before the pandemic, from Marelbo’s point of view, it was easier to do business. The business was significantly helped by the fact that it already had an online store up and running for several years, which compensated for sales during the period of physical store closures and subsequently limited access due to the restrictions imposed.
• 38 years ago, Aurel Bobu studied shoemaking with his father’s friend, and in order to purchase work materials, he borrowed 1,800 lei from his foreman. The first pair of shoes made for his mother attracted customers from the northern town of Vicovul de Sous, in Bukovina. A few years later, 200 family companies made a living making shoes in the region where the company owner comes from.
• In 2000, Marelbo produced about 2,000 pairs per day, which it sold through distributors. Noticing that shoes reach the end customer at twice the price, the owner of the enterprise decided to open the first store.
• “He who does not have competition does not have time to develop,” says the owner of the company, in an extremely competitive segment such as footwear.
• The Marelbo factory in Bukovyna is visited by 800 people/day.
• In the future, the company is preparing international expansion in Germany and France.

See the full interview on StartupCafe.ro.