Among top businesses included in Inc. magazine’s recently announced ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies is Farylrobin Footwear, a women’s fashion footwear brand launched in 2002 by designer and female entrepreneur Faryl Robin Morse. The “Inc. 5,000” ranks Farylrobin at 1,609, which is a testament to the spectacular 94% three-year growth rate that Morse and her predominantly female team have been able to achieve in a historically male-dominated industry. Although Farylrobin is carried in more than 200 boutiques across the country, including Los Angeles’ Kitson and New York’s Searle, the brand also has a major presence in national retailers such as Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Parisians/Belk and Anthropologie and online at Zappos.com (474 on Inc.’s list), OnlineShoes.com, Piperlime.com and Endless.com. A strong celebrity following also exists. In fact, talk show host Rachael Ray chose to become immortalized in Farylrobin boots for her wax effigy at Madame Tussaud’s this year.
Despite the fact that there are nearly 10.4 million women-owned businesses in the US, generating more than $1.9 trillion in sales, according to the Center for Women's Business Research, female-owned businesses still account for a minority of companies included on the Inc. 5,000. This fact, coupled with the fact that the footwear industry consists primarily of male business owners, makes Morse’s success even more impressive.
“We are pleased to be included amongthe premiere businesses on Inc.’s list, and hope to move even further up next year,” said Morse. “Perhaps our achievement will inspire other business women to not only strive for success in the footwear industry, but also in other industries with a historical under-representation of women in ownership and senior leadership positions.”
Morse has good reason to be excited about her company’s inclusion. “If you want to find out which companies are going to change the world, look at these lists,” said Inc. Editor Jane Berentson. “These are the most innovative, dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, manufacturing products we soon discover we can’t live without. The lists are Inc. magazine’s tribute to American business ingenuity and ambition.”
Farylrobin
