Do you know what was behind the founding of Bosonožky , a family brand that is now one of the big players in the field of "barefoot footwear"? Sometimes even one small shortage in the market can lead to the start of big things.
"The whole story of Bosonožka began very personally - with the search for shoes for our owner's son that would give him freedom and not restrict his movement. From this need, we grew within a few years into the largest barefoot shoe retailer in Central Europe with a turnover of over 200 million crowns," describes Jaroslav Bednář, CTO of Bosonožka.
But growth wasn't just about numbers at the company. From the beginning, a clear philosophy was formed around the brand, which has accompanied it to this day.
A philosophy that keeps the direction
Barefoot footwear is not just a product category. It is an approach to movement, health and the perception of one's own body. It is a return to nature and safety. Barefoot has been building on this principle for a long time - and this is what has allowed it to differentiate itself from ordinary e-commerce projects.
"Our purpose is to offer people shoes that are as natural as possible and incredibly comfortable. We are not just sellers - we believe in barefoot so much that we participate in the development of the shoes ourselves," explains Bednář.
Changing customer behavior is also playing an important role. What was a marginal trend a few years ago is gradually becoming the standard. "I'm pleased that people are now choosing really carefully and looking for quality. There is a growing demand for shoes that allow natural movement."
Boznožka is growing not only thanks to strong marketing or expansion, but also because its values are gradually meeting what customers themselves are looking for.
Growth that changes the way a company operates
As a company grows, not only does the volume of orders change, but so do the demands on daily operations. What worked on a small scale in the beginning is simply no longer enough.
For Bosonožka, this moment was reflected primarily in the area of the warehouse and internal processes. "Before implementing a smart system in the warehouse , we struggled with organization and records. We wasted a lot of time with internal processes that hindered us from doing what we do best - taking care of customers and developing the barefoot segment," describes Bednář.
This is a typical scenario familiar to most growing e-commerce companies - the team is struggling to cope with the growing volume of work, but gradually more energy is devoted to operations than to development.
And paradoxically, growth will start to slow down the company.
The moment when improvisation is no longer enough
The turning point does not come when a company is growing, but when it realizes that further growth is no longer possible without change.
For Bosonožka, this meant looking at its own operations systematically - and starting to address warehousing and logistics as a key part of the business , not just as a necessary operation.
An important step was an independent audit, which helped to identify weak points and showed the direction of further development. "There were many reasons for change, but the recommendation from the independent auditor was absolutely key for us. GRiT helped us simplify these processes and bring them to a professional level," explains Jaroslav Bednář, the benefit.
This moment – the transition from intuitive management to a controlled system – is crucial for many companies, and Bosonožka was no different.
Stable background as a condition for further growth
Implementing a smart warehouse system and setting up processes doesn't just bring efficiency. It brings peace of mind. And that is an often underestimated growth factor.
" LOKiA WMS has brought us functionality and incredible simplicity, which has freed our hands. The warehouse now operates with confidence and clarity, which is also reflected in the speed that our customers appreciate," Bednář praises the benefits.
The change was not only reflected inside the company, but also outwardly – in the customer experience. Speed, reliability and the ability to scale services are commonplace in e-commerce today. However, without a stable background, they are difficult to sustain.
And perhaps even more important is another effect: freed up capacity . “We finally have space for rebranding and other business activities abroad,” adds Bednář.
And that is the moment when logistics ceases to be a brake and, on the contrary, becomes an engine of growth.
The future: a brand that can continue to grow
Today, Bosonožka is at a stage where it is no longer just dealing with operations, but with another strategic shift. Rebranding, working with the brand, and expanding into foreign markets. But all of this would be significantly more complicated – or impossible – without a stable operating foundation.
"Our main challenge is still the same - a return to natural movement and natural walking. Thanks to the fact that we have resolved the company's background and internal processes, we can now fully devote ourselves to this mission," Bednář is pleased.
The story of Bosonožka is not just about success in one segment. It is an example of how important it is at a certain stage to be able to stop, look at one's own functioning and create the conditions for further growth. Because without a stable background, growth remains just an ambition. With a stable background, it becomes a strategy.
Are you dealing with invoice approval?
30 minutes, no obligation. We will show you how iNVOiCE FLOW fits into your ERP.
