In Conversation With Marion Parke of Marion Parke footwear

Marion Parke_Blog Header

Describe your business in a few words?

Marion Parke is a female-founded and female-managed footwear company producing footwear that elevates the background of a foot and ankle surgeon to the luxury level of shoes

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I was repeatedly being told by patients that I should do it and that led to thinking about the idea constantly.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I was/am a surgically trained podiatrist. I still keep up my license.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Perhaps on some level, yes. I loved earning money as a kid, setting up lemonade stands any chance I got, babysitting, applying for a job as a restaurant hostess at age 15.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

The marketing was relatively simple because my story is so authentic. There is no spin or angle. The shoes are what we say they are: handcrafted in Italy at some of the best factories in the world and implementing the perspective of a foot and ankle surgeon behind the construction.

We always learn the most from our mistakes, share a time with us that you made a mistake or had a challenging time in business and what you learned from it?

There have been plenty! And instead of calling them mistakes I might call them “learning moments”. I’d say not following my gut or my initial instincts has led to a few circumstances that were challenging. In the beginning, I didn’t have any employees to really ask for feedback and input. Now that we have a knowledgeable and experienced team, I’ve made a habit of sharing my initial instincts and thoughts and working through any hesitations or concerns before deciding to move forward. I also utilize the professional network that I’ve grown over the years. I initially didn’t know or understand the value of a network. Now, I understand how meaningful and important it is.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Taking that first flight to Italy and deciding to move forward with our factories and team members there. It was a huge personal and professional risk that I wouldn’t change!

When hiring for your team, what is your go-to interview question? Please share any hiring tips you can share from your experience?

I like to ask applicants if there is one thing that they are most proud of on their resume, one that they wouldn’t want anyone to miss. That almost always makes an applicant sit up a little bit straighter and show some excitement and confidence in something they’ve accomplished or worked hard for.

How has your business or industry been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

The dress shoe category specifically has been impacted by gathering and events being on hold and by fewer people going into their offices. There is a very casual approach to dressing, understandably so, when people stay home. 

The positive impact is that people are thinking about COMFORT more than ever and we have always had that part of our story. It’s a true part of our DNA. I suspect that after wearing sneakers for several months, when women return to their dress shoes, they aren’t going to want to wear the uncomfortable shoes that they did in the past.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

We’re investing in both our wholesale distribution and in our direct-to-consumer channels. I feel fortunate that we have a business model designed for both. It creates a more stable business “ecosystem”, so to speak. Over the next few years, we plan to have an enhanced brand awareness and presence both at brick and mortar and online.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business?

I didn’t know a thing about inventory systems. Admittedly, it didn’t even cross my mind! I was more focused on the “why” than the “how”, as they say.

How have you managed to stay grounded this year?

My husband and our children are my greatest support system. They remind me of what’s truly important in this life.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

I think everyone has a different sense of balance and is doing the best they can. I find it helpful to literally say out loud, “I’m doing the best that I can and the best that I know how.”

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I was an All American field hockey player in high school!

What are your top 3 tips to stay productive each day?

  • Keep email under control. Any email that can be answered in less than 3 minutes I try to tackle right away.
  • I set an alarm on my phone 30 minutes and 15 minutes before an important call. I often lose track of time and this helps me avoid missing meetings or calls.
  • Make your bed! There is something about this task, which only takes about 2 minutes, that gives me a boost every morning.

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

To be brief: for me, being an Entreprenista means being a problem solver. If you can solve a problem, then that’s a business.

Share it!

Posted in
Tags

Leave a Comment





Marine Turned Chef Joanne Thomas Shares About Her Cooking Career and Business

Hi, Joanne! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi! I’m Chef Joanne Thomas, a world-renowned culinary artist known for exceptional skills, creative flair, and dedication to the art of cooking. With a career spanning decades, I’ve curated a collection of custom-blended spices, gourmet butters, and other culinary delights that cater to…

Joanie French On Her Business That Creates Unforgettable Experiences Through Nature

Hi, Joanie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hey there! I’m Joanie, the creative mind behind Harmony Escape Experiences. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, I’m passionate about crafting unforgettable moments through personalized events. As an Office Administrator by day and an aspiring entrepreneur always, I’m on a mission to create harmonious and…

U.S. Navy Vet Natasha Norris On Her Chemical-Free Skincare

Hi, Natasha! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Natasha Norris, Owner of Skincare by CMG. Last year I retired after 26 years of public service, proudly serving in the U.S. Navy. I started in the beauty industry in 2013 with a multibillion-dollar cosmetics brand, based in Dallas, Texas. The discipline,…

Demystifying the Health Insurance Industry with Dr. Noor Ali

“Show up dressed as your next level self. So, whoever that ‘her’ is that you’re projecting—whether that’s five years or 10 years—show up as her. Embodying her, not just dressed as her… Proving to yourself like, ‘Hey, I just did it 10 years before I thought that I could do it.’” When Dr. Noor Ali…

Reinventing Yourself and Your Business With Lori Harder

“Expose all of the elephants in the room. We just try to hide them… We’re trying to throw our skirt up over the elephant… I have gone into everything. It’s been a superpower. I’m like, ‘Here’s the elephant. Here’s the elephant. Here’s the elephant. Yes, I’m new at this. Yes, you might be afraid of…

Stephanie Purzycki Combines Design Services With Her Innovative Offering

Hi, Stephanie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Stephanie Purzycki, the Founder and Creative Principal of The Finish, a unique offering that provides the services of a professional interior designer, one hour at a time. At The Finish, we combine traditional design services with e-design—unlike traditional design services, there are…

Born Entrepreneur Viri Maldonado On Her Booming PR Agency

Hi, Viri! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, My name is Viri Maldonado, founder of Social Click PR, from Houston, TX. I am a first-generation Mexican-American. Both of my parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in search of a better life. I like to say that I am…

How to Legally Protect Your Business with Lauren Bercuson

“In the beginning, if you don’t have a team or a system or community around you, it’s very easy to feel lost. There are these amazing communities out there for amazing female founders that will really help guide and support you. So, the greatest lesson I learned pretty quickly was that you’re never alone. Or,…

Innovating Clean Hair Care with Nadine Ramos

“It’s not just about selling your products anymore. You need to know how your products work, you need to know what you’re putting out there, and you need to be the expert at it so that you can educate your consumer. That also builds trust, so it’s like, ‘Okay, she did the work. She has…

Nina Smith Fights Period Stigmas With Fri Period Sustainable Underwear

Hi, Nina! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi! I’m Nina Smith. I started Fri Period because I’m on a mission to make periods better—for our customers, for our planet, and for those who can’t afford to be our customers. We offer a range of sustainable period underwear made in the…

Marketing Guru Debbie Oster On Her Inspirational Career Journey

Hi, Debbie! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: Hi, I’m Debbie! With over 12 years of marketing experience, I have developed a deep understanding of how to create and execute effective marketing strategies that drive business growth. As a co-founder and the Chief Marketing Officer at Entrepreneur’s Edge, I help small…

Formulating Beauty Business Success with Emilie Mascarell

“It’s a crowded space. It’s expensive. It takes time. And not everybody is an overnight success. So, I think it’s important to know how to play with the rules of the game and how to set yourself in a way that is really going to differentiate you and… is going to serve you. I want…

Redefining the Culinary Industry with Aishwarya Iyer

“Nothing lasts forever, we’re all gonna die. It’s all very short. So, having that perspective kind of makes you say, ‘We’re not around for that long, we probably should make the most of it and be happy.’” In this episode of Entreprenista, we sat down with Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of Brightland, a stylish…

Celebrating Our Founders For International Women’s Day

On March 8, 1857, in New York City, female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. Calling for shorter workdays and fair wages, this was one of the first organized strikes by working women. Also on this date in 1908, women workers in the needle trades marched through…

Superstar Michelle Cooper Speaks About Her Financial Mentorship Business

Hi, Michelle! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business: I’m Michelle Cooper, a Business Mentor, Author, Podcast Host, and International Speaker. What began as a journey of self-awareness and healing has boomed into over a million-dollar business empire with a mission to shift the trajectory of wealth, one entrepreneur at a time.…