Today we’d like to introduce you to Bret Rasmussen.
Bret has had a passion for footwear since he was a kid, he still has his sketches from back then to prove it. During college, he grew up and realized he needed something that was actually going to make some money so he got a degree in Finance and started working at a startup.
Unfortunately, he was eventually laid off but it turned out for the best because he quickly realized that going back to his love of footwear was the answer. He studied the science and biomechanics of the foot and applied it to the KURUSOLE Technology.
Originally, Bret did not set out to create a shoe that prevented foot pain and problems but it worked out that way and over 11 years later, he is still passionate about making footwear for all occasions that keep your feet naturally comfortable.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
KURU has grown so much over the past 11 years and along with that, so has the market. It has become incredibly competitive and increasingly hard to find world-class talent to join our team. Luckily, we have still been able to find some super talented team members who align with KURUS values and truly believe in our future as a company.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about KURU Footwear?
KURU Footwear is a direct-to-consumer shoe company that is on a mission to eliminate foot pain around the world. Our three-part KURUSOLE Technology provides built-in as well as custom molded arch support and cradle-like heel support that prevents your fat pad from flattening with every step. Our true-to-nature design works with your feet to align and stabilize your feet and keep them comfortable all day.
Bret is most proud of the team he has created in the past 11 years. KURU has a stellar team with a great work ethic, and we are in the process of building it out to help us scale and grow to the next level constantly. Bret also owes much of his success in such a great work environment to his five company values:
We are CURIOUS
We are IMAGINATIVE
We are TENACIOUS
We MAKE IT COUNT
We are SCRAPPY and SMART
Bret is not only passionate about footwear but also creating a business that is globally good as well. He cares deeply about giving back and making an impact in his local community, which is something KURU Footwear has done since its inception through the KURU CARES program. Bret chose causes that focus on The Four Pillars of Sustainability and Social Responsibility. The four pillars include education, economic development, health, and environmental impact. By selecting these pillars, customers can trust the chosen charities will make a lasting difference.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Bret followed his childhood dream which can be a risk for anyone when that dream is to design shoes in an already very competitive market. Bret has worked for over a decade, building a solid team, creating a unique solution to such a common problem as foot pain, and still instilling KURU’s values into every fiber of his company.
Contact Info:
- Website: kurufootwear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurufootwear/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kurufootwear
