{"product_id":"9781914487866-sole-survivor-ha","title":"Sole Survivor","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHow I Built a Global Shoe Brand\u003cbr\u003eEntrepreneur Daniel Rubin reveals how he turned the shoe business he founded, Dune London, into a global footwear and accessories brand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe memoir of a British shoe dog who set up his own business\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘A thoroughly entertaining read and valuable insight into building a business.’ \u003c\/b\u003eTouker Suleyman, entrepreneur, BBC Dragons' Den\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Daniel’s journey from factory floors to building a global brand is an extraordinary story of resilience, creativity and determination.' \u003c\/b\u003eRichard Shetliffe, Chief Executive Officer, The British Footwear Association \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHow does a small London start-up become one of the best-known names on the British high street? \u003ci\u003eSole Survivor \u003c\/i\u003eis the warm, plain-spoken and irresistibly readable story of Daniel Rubin, founder of Dune London, and a life spent building beautiful shoes — and a resilient brand — step by step.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eRubin begins with family roots in the trade and a simple idea: make fashion-forward shoes that ordinary people actually want to wear, at quality you can feel and a price that makes sense. From there the road twists through factory floors in India, Italy, Brazil and the Far East; nerve-jangling bank meetings; first stores that thrill and frighten in equal measure; and the practical realities of growth — cash flow, margins, staffing, leases, suppliers, seasonality, and the sheer grit required to keep going. He is generous with the lessons learned when things went wrong: quality lapses, misjudged buys, complicated acquisitions, and the shock of a world that suddenly shuts its doors.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWhat sets this book apart is Rubin’s voice — kind, candid and deeply encouraging. He doesn’t preach; he explains. He shows how product, people and process come together: how to choose the right factory and still sleep at night; how to price for value, not vanity; how to brief designers, buy well, and protect margin; how to build a team that shares standards and spirit; and how to treat customers as the partners they truly are. He writes honestly about stress and resilience, about learning to let go, and about the joy of seeing something you imagined walk out of the shop on someone’s feet.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor readers who love business memoir, fashion, retail or simply a very good story, \u003ci\u003eSole Survivor\u003c\/i\u003e delivers:\u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn insider’s view of modern retail. From first samples to national roll-out, Rubin shows how decisions get made — and what they cost.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePractical wisdom you can use tomorrow. Sourcing, negotiating, forecasting, merchandising, marketing, e-commerce, store ops, and international expansion are explained in clear, human terms.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA humane leadership handbook. Hiring, coaching, setting standards, and staying calm when the numbers wobble.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA survival guide for hard times. Banking shocks, supply-chain snarls and the pandemic: what to do when the plan meets reality.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe result is a book that celebrates British entrepreneurship without gloss or jargon. You feel the excitement of opening day, the pride of a well-made collection, and the relief when a tough season turns a corner. You also see the discipline behind the romance: the spreadsheets, the sample rooms, the late-night phone calls to factories, the hundreds of small choices that build a brand.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIf you’re a founder or manager, you’ll find ideas to copy and mistakes to avoid. If you’re in buying or merchandising, you’ll recognise the dance between instinct and analysis. If you love shoes — or simply love the high street — you’ll enjoy the craft stories, the travel, and the quiet delight of getting the details right: last shapes, leathers, colours, fit, comfort and finish. And if you’re just looking for a hopeful, human story about meaningful work, this is a companionable, cheering read.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is it for?\u003cbr\u003eEntrepreneurs and brand builders. Retail leaders and store teams. Buyers, merchandisers and product developers. Students of business and fashion. Readers who appreciate honest memoir with practical takeaways.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy you’ll love it\u003cbr\u003eBecause it’s not theory. It’s lived experience — told with charm, humility and a craftsman’s eye. Because it treats customers and colleagues with respect. And because it proves that good judgement, good shoes and good people can still win, even when the economy wobbles.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSole Survivor \u003c\/i\u003eis, at heart, a celebration of making: making products, making shops, making teams and, finally, making a life you can be proud of. It will leave you better informed about how brands grow — and more hopeful about what determined people can build together.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReviews \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eRubin shares how he built Dune London from its modest beginnings into a global brand, weaving in fascinating history about his family’s shoemaking heritage. \u003c\/b\u003eWhether you’re an entrepreneur, a shoe enthusiast, or simply someone drawn to tales of resilience, \u003ci\u003eSole Survivor\u003c\/i\u003e is a captivating read.\u003cb\u003e –\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eDarla-Jane Gilroy, Associate Dean, University of the Arts London and author of The Little Book of Christian Louboutin\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDaniel’s journey from factory floors to building a global brand is an extraordinary story of resilience, creativity and determination. \u003c\/b\u003eWhat has always stood out to me is his generosity of spirit. – \u003ci\u003eRichard Shetliffe, Chief Executive Officer, The British Footwear Association \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003ethoroughly entertaining read and a valuable insight into building a business… \u003c\/b\u003e[and] how hard work and passion can achieve amazing results.\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e–\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e Touker Suleyman, Chairman of Hawes \u0026amp; Curtis, a serial entrepreneur, and a dragon on BBC’s Dragon’s Den\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn open and honest absorbing read of one person’s life story, with some great takeaways \u003c\/b\u003eon the lessons learned from someone who really has been there and done it \u003ci\u003e–\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e Lord Leigh of Hurley, Senior Partner, Cavendish\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe highs and lows of his 50-year career chart the very tapestry of British footwear. \u003c\/b\u003eWhat Rubin doesn’t know about the shoe trade isn’t worth knowing.\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e–\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e Jill Geoghegan, Editor, Drapers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBuy the book and start reading\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56654558658934,"sku":"9781914487866","price":18.92,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/stand_38203449_72d696e5-90f6-49f4-99de-421fd1881bd0.jpg?v=1763801068","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781914487866-sole-survivor-ha","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}