Back in the early 2000s, the Von Dutch ubiquitous trucker hats were seen everywhere- and their line of denim brought us the classic low-rise, sometimes frayed at the hem, sometimes with tons of bling, but never without the iconic “Von Dutch” stamped logo. That uniquely distinctive font bared the cool culture Americana aesthetic. Von Dutch’s popularity was so tremendous that in 2003, the Company was raking in $33 million in sales from their jackets, denim, t-shirts, and trucker- until the brand got hit with counterfeiting. But the story of Von Dutch isn’t just about rhinestones and rip-offs, it was a story about deception, betrayal, murder, and a scandal that would serve as the epitaph of its tombstone. Find out how it all went down in Episode 49 of The Great Fail.
Join Retail Brew’s community of retail professionals by subscribing here!
Episode Sources:
Inside The Messy, Chaotic Downfall Of Von Dutch
A New Docuseries Explores the Rise and Fall of Von Dutch
Drug fronts, murder, and Paris Hilton: the rise and fall of Von Dutch
S.C. man shot dead in Venice Beach
How Von Dutch’s Trucker Hat Empire Ended in Chaos and Death
Before There Was Snapchat: A Look Back At The Biggest Stars Of 1999
Special Guest:
Caroline Rothwell
Founder, Consultant / Member, THE BOARD / CMO
Caroline Rothwell Gerstein founded Caro Marketing Inc in 2004, as a consultancy for brands seeking to truly disrupt the marketplace. She became known for her “out of nowhere” success stories including the building of brand and US presence for Von Dutch, TOMS Shoes, and Paul & Joe.
In just under two decades, she has established herself as a pivotal insider, and trusted partner for those who are considering how to brand build and expand in the US. Working inside global companies, in partnership with brand houses, ad agencies, and new ventures, Caroline discovered there was a need for more strategic management, leadership and creativity beyond the CMO role to oversee and develop brands year over year.
Today, she consults brands on all aspects of marketing, creative and sales to better develop and enhance their position in the global marketplace.