GUDO

Seeing the gap

The idea came from time spent in the Caribbean, where flip-flops were part of everyday life. I saw a gap between the comfort I wanted and the styles I wanted to wear. I wanted to bring the two together in a product people could wear every day.

I began exploring the concept in 2013 while still running my food businesses, then put it aside as Le Gourmet Burger’s international expansion took over.

From idea to product

After exiting Le Gourmet Burger in the Middle East, I picked the project back up while spending time in Lebanon. I began redeveloping the concept and continued the work when I returned to Montreal in 2019.

The process brought together product design, materials, molds, and manufacturing, turning the original idea into a physical product. Manufacturing and shipping during the pandemic made that process more difficult, but we brought the product to market.

Building the brand and distribution

Through GUDO World, I worked on the e-commerce website, marketing, influencer partnerships, and brand collaborations. I also developed the business-to-business and wholesale side, alongside the logistics, third-party fulfillment, and distribution needed to support it.

I developed other products to complement the footwear and collaborated with other brands to offer a broader beachwear selection through the e-commerce business.

We participated in trade shows and worked on international distribution, targeting the United States and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on Florida and Los Angeles. We also began testing the European market through influencer collaborations.

Raising the capital to grow

Fundraising was a major part of my work alongside developing the product and the brand. I worked continuously on raising funds and bringing in investors, first to finance the molds and production, then to support the business’s expansion.

The aim stayed the same throughout: everyday footwear that brought comfort and style together.