Thursday Boot Company’s Connor Wilson Talks Running a New York Business and More

by | Mar 8, 2016 | Fashion

FoundersWhen you’re dealing with a tough New York winter, a great pair of boots is essential. Stylin’ and profilin’ – as the legendary Ric Flair would say – aside, that great pair of boots increases body warmth and reduces the chance of slipping on an icy sidewalk. But well-crafted, non-mass-produced boots meeting those needs are likely to cost hundreds of dollars. Fortunately, the New York City-based Thursday Boot Company, which has boots starting at $149, as suitable for both work and play.

Thursday Boot Company founders Connor Wilson and Nolan Walsh met as students at Columbia Business School. The two quickly hit it off as friends, then ultimately realized the need for footwear that was simultaneously durable, comfortable and stylish. In late 2014, Connor and Nolan took the Thursday Boot Company to Kickstarter, raising over $275,000 for the company’s launch. A little over a year later, thousands of pairs of boots have been selling each month, and February 2016 was their strongest month yet.

Connor spoke to Downtown about the Thursday Boot Company – which counts Nick Jonas among its supporters – and what lies ahead for the successful start-up. For more info on TBC and their footwear, click on over here.

As the story goes, you two met while studying at Columbia Business School. What was the initial bond that brought you two together?

Connor Wilson: We actually met the very first day of classes. It was pretty clear early on that Nolan had a lot of intellectual horsepower and creative restlessness, which I admire. You find yourselves laughing at the same things, questioning the same assumptions and the next thing you know, you’ve decided to start a business together.

What led you to New York in the first place? Why Columbia for your studies?

C: I wanted to be in the middle of the scrum and move to New York. Columbia Business School was that perfect combination of a great school with entrepreneurial education, in a city where I wanted to live.

New York is not the cheapest city to live in, nor the easiest city to start a company in. What is it that keeps you based here?

C: We have built a great team out here and we continue finding talented, driven people in the city who want to work with us or help grow the business. That ambition drives a lot of what we do.

Funds for the Thursday Boot Company were raised through Kickstarter. What inspired you to utilize crowdfunding for your company?

C: We looked at crowdfunding differently than most people. Don’t get me wrong, our first run was entirely bootstrapped, thanks to the support of our backers. But we also viewed it as an opportunity to connect with a new community of enthusiasts that could help us build an amazing product and business. Even today, we still have our first supporters sharing great ideas and purchasing for their friends. They gave us our first shot — we’ve been very fortunate to earn their trust.

I’ve heard it said that your brand was built out of frustration in not being able to find boots up to your standards. In your opinion, what makes the perfect boot?

C: There are three tests we have when building the perfect boot. First, it has to be solid enough to stand up to some abuse, which means you need quality leather and construction to get you through your daily commute or the occasional snowstorm. Second, the design has to be clean, classic and sophisticated enough to work in a variety of settings. We wanted something that was equally at home in the board room or at the bar, allowing you to look good wherever. And finally, it has to be a great everyday value.

Copy of Brown President Rooftop 1Do you two also design the shoes? Do either of you come from a design background?

C: Nolan does an amazing job leading our design process and the team provides input. A lot of what informs our designs is based on our experience as the customer. The footwear market is still flooded with all kinds of overbranded, overpriced, bulky shoes. It’s just so clear to us that there’s a better way for the demands of today.

Where does the “Thursday” in your company name come from?

C: We wanted to build boots that were versatile enough for everyday wear. Thursday is that day of the week that also requires the most out of you, when you are expected to take care of business during the day, but are probably meeting out later for happy hour with friends.

Are there any plans for the Thursday Boot Company to expand into other kinds of footwear?

C: We get customer requests for new designs daily, but we still want to be really deliberate about what we do next. Every model released has to meet our quality standards and it should have a regular place in our customer’s lives.

Do you have goals for the company? Is there something that must happen for it to feel successful for you, or for you, is the success simply having a finished product that people can buy and enjoy?

C: One customer recently wrote “your boots are the greatest things to happen to my feet.” How can you not love that? While we want everyone to feel that way, our personal threshold for success goes beyond just offering a superior product and customer experience. The plan is to be a household name within the next three years. We’re just getting started.

When you’re not busy with the Thursday Boot Company, how do you like to spend your free time?

C: Honestly, we still work a lot. People don’t believe us, but it’s really thrilling to build a business with your friends, and we think we have a unique opportunity to take Thursday to the next level. I still play a little rugby with my old team and catch a concert when possible.

When it comes time to get out of the office for a meeting, where do you usually like to go? A particular restaurant near your office? 

C: Houston Hall – it’s close to our offices in SoHo and you can buy beers by the liter.

Finally, Connor, any last words for the kids?

C: It’s never too late to upgrade your boot game.

-by Darren Paltrowitz

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