The Choosy Beggar

There’s one situation that Choosy Beggars know very well — struggling to find top quality shoes at an affordable price. This is exactly what led to the creation of Jack Erwin in 2013. Timing just happened to be right for the two founders, Lane Gerson and Ariel Nelson. While Gerson was striking out in his search for wedding footwear, the two friends began their journey to understand the shoe industry and how it could be revolutionized. While at a barbershop a few months later, Nelson overheard former Private Brands Director of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bertrand Guillaume, complain about spending 20 years in the shoe industry without any sense of ownership. The two hit it off and Guillaume joined the team at Jack Erwin.

Now with just over 20 employees, Jack Erwin shoes retail for $95-$220. Inventory costs are virtually eliminated by having only one storefront location and a pop up shop, where customers can try on shoes and have a pair shipped to them. (Or you can just order directly online). For low production costs, they’ve established close relationships with select factories in Spain and Portugal. The team also constantly tests new materials to strike the perfect balance of quality and price.

For a little outside perspective, Jack Erwin asked The Choosy Beggar to review two styles, The Chester and The Mitch. See how they stack up and enter to win a pair on Instagram and Twitter.

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