Startup Sapience's Podcast

The Rise and Fall of Timberland

The first Timberland shoe, introduced in 1973, was actually targeted for outdoors-men and blue-collar workers. The Swartz brothers, Herman and Sidney, designed the shoe to be sturdy and water-resistant. The build quality was such that it was even sold in army-navy stores. Nowadays Timberland offers a range of outdoor footwear and apparel. But let’s back up a bit.

Tiffany & Co - The Rise and Fall and Rise Again

Tiffany & Co rose to be a symbol of luxury over the years. But the company did not have an all rosy history, running into severe financial troubles in the early 1900s. Let’s dive in to see how they made a comeback.

The Rise of Taco Bell

Taco Bell might be the most innovative fast food chain in the US. The Mexican chain, now part of Yum Brands, has grown to nearly 7,000 locations generating system wide sales shy of 12 billion dollars. Let’s dive in to see how they made it.

The Rise of Panda Express

If you ever crave Chinese food, you should definitely try Panda Express. With its over 2,200 locations generating more than 3 billion dollars in revenues, Panda Express is the largest Asian restaurant chain in the US. How did they grow into a leader in the quick serve business? Let’s dive in to see how they made it.

The Rise and Fall of Mervyn's

Big Brands. Small Prices. That was the catchy slogan of Mervyn’s. The chain essentially pioneered the branded apparel discounting concept and grew rapidly on the West Coast. But it seems that it could not take the heat from the rise of other discount chains. The chain finally filed for bankruptcy in 2008. So, what really went wrong along the way? Let’s dive in.

Lego - The Rise and Fall and Rise Again

Lego had cemented such a strong position in the toy market that I would have never thought it would one day come close to bankruptcy. So, what really pushed the giant to the brink of collapse? Let’s dive in.

The Rise and Fall of Winchell's Donuts

Winchell’s Donut quickly became a household name in the 70s and 80s, operating about 1,000 stores at its peak. Nowadays, it operates merely 170 stores. So, what really happened to such a big chain that was poised for success?

Converse - The Rise and Fall and Rise Again

When I was a teenager, I would wear converse shoes to school everyday. For some reason, I really liked their style. Nowadays I wear any pair of shoes that provides me comfort. I don’t really pay attention to the brand. I thought that Converse was doing well at the time, only to find out that they filed for bankruptcy twice. Thus, I decided to take a closer look at their story. Let’s dive in.

The Rise and Fall of Souplantation

Souplantation was known for its buffet style dining concept featuring a variety of salads, soups, pastas and bakery items. The chain was famous in the San Diego area and had expanded to over 15 states. However, the chain filed for bankruptcy in 2016, and permanently closed all its locations in 2020. So, what caused the demise of the chain? Let’s dive in. 

The Rise of Trader Joe's

For those who don’t know the chain, let me tell you now. Trader Joe’s is not your typical grocery store. Its unconventional business strategies and inventories enabled it to open over 500 stores in the U.S. And I am sure you are dying to know how they made it. Let’s dive in.