The Cobbler:
How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell from Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever
The Cobbler by
Steve Madden
The man behind the iconic shoe brand recounts his rise to the top, struggle with addiction, time in prison, and ultimate recovery in this candid memoir.
Everyone knows Steve Madden’s shoes, but few are familiar with the man behind the brand. Over the past thirty years, Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from a fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100 to a global, multibillion-dollar enterprise. But Madden’s mistakes, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic designs.
In this raw, intimate, and ultimately inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares how he got where he is and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From his unconventional hiring strategies to his slavish devotion to product, Madden offers a business perspective that is as unique as his style.
In The Cobbler, readers are treated to the wild ride though Madden’s meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and stunning comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who owns up to his mistakes, determined to give back and use his hard-won platform to create positive change.
Originally written in 2019, The Cobbler was released at the height of COVID in 2020. This new updated version includes a prologue and epilogue detailing the ups and downs of that unprecedented time, offering readers the opportunity to commiserate, cry and walk away with valuable personal and corporate lessons.
Nationally distributed by Cardinal Publishing Group
Sales and Distribution contact:
Ed Bajek, ed@bajekpublisherservices.com, bajekpublisherservices.com
ISBN: 9798986463902
Paperback
$21.00
On Sale April 18,2023
“The book is a valuable, often riveting play-by-play of one man’s rise to riches.”
— Bloomberg
“Steve has consistently and deliberately confronted and overcome various personal and business obstacles. He has achieved unprecedented levels of success and has built one of the most impressive shoe companies in the business. It is an inspirational story of an unlikely entrepreneur, who despite his continuing to defy all the rules, continues to prevail.”
- Kenneth Cole, Chairman and chief creative officer, Kenneth Cole productions
“The Cobbler gave me rare insight into the mind of a brilliant and creative businessman. Steve has his demons, that he owns up to here, with the type of honesty that is rare and refreshing. A truly great read about a fascinating man.”
- Donny Deutsch, TV personality and Chairman Emeritus, Deutsch Inc
About Steve Madden
A man who wears many hats-and shoes-Steve Madden cannot be described in one word. He is an entrepreneur, an award-winning designer, and a business titan whose eponymous company is currently worth 3 billion dollars. On the flip side, he is an ex-con, a recovering addict, and a devoted family man. Over the past thirty years, the provocative shoe designer built a booming brand and nearly lost it all to The Wolf of Wall Street, only to rebound by giving back and creating a global empire. Through it all, he hasn't forgotten his humble beginnings or his core consumer, resulting in millions of adoring fans worldwide. Considered the fashion footwear mogul of the twenty-first century, Madden has an innate sense of what's hot, what's next, what's exciting, and more importantly, how this will translate to the customer. He is also an active philanthropist and mentor who supports a number of organizations that help those in need of a second chance
