Meet Marcus Gibson of W. M. Gibson Co in Knox-Henderson

Marcus, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I, Marcus, started my career in the professional services industry, and we were frustrated by the lack of men’s dress shoes options. The shoes that fit my style were crazy expensive, and the shoes that were reasonably priced didn’t fit my style. Compounding this issue is the fact that leather shoes should be rotated. So it wasn’t just hurdle of buying one expensive pair, it was buying 3 or 4.

Convinced that there had to be a better way, we designed our own. Through many different versions, we finally had a finished product we were proud of. That shoe is the OG. A classically designed horse bit loafer.

We are able to offer a durable, high-quality shoe at an extremely attractive price through our lean business model and our direct relationship with the customer. We have basically cut out the waste and middle man to provide more value to our customers!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anything worthwhile is challenging, and our business wasn’t any different. Getting started always presents challenges and obstacles. The fear of the unknown is one of the biggest mental challenges to get over. Even with our market research, there was still the risk of “Would anyone buy our shoes?” or “How would they find us?” Thankfully our customers have found us and love our shoes!

We have also worked hard to strike the balance between supply and demand. Different factors have caused significant spikes in demand, and we have had issues with being out of stock. (Admittedly – selling out is a great problem to have!)

As we strive to better serve our customers, we still face challenges and obstacles today.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about W. M. Gibson Co – what should we know?
We are a men’s dress and casual shoe brand. We design classic styles that deserve a place in every man’s rotation. Our OG loafer, a classic bit loafer, is our best selling shoe. We are best known for the value we generate for our customers and the service we provide.

The first leg of what we are known for/what sets us apart is the value we generate. Since we face the client directly, we are able to cut our the traditional markups and provide high-quality shoes at an unbelievable price. At the same time, we bring a personal touch to each and every order. The personal client service is the second leg. When clients open the box before they find their new shoes, they will find a handwritten personal note. Not just a “Thanks for ordering – WMG Team” We write 4 to 5 sentences to each customer thanking them for the ordering and inviting them to become apart of the brand. The service is continued through the customer inquiry process. Being a smaller shop, we are afforded the luxury of the co-founders answering questions directly. When you email [email protected], you will be talking directly to the co-founder.

The third leg of our differentiating stool is the brand. We strive to be more than just leather and stitching. When you visit wmgibson.com you the first thing, you will see it “Let’s make a dent in the universe.” This is what drives us as a business. This ethos drives us to produce amazing products, it drives us to work tirelessly with a servant’s heart, and it drives us to give back to the community. When our customers hang their head during a bad day, what are they looking at? Their Gibbys! Our goal is to make their Gibbys the sign/reminder of their determination, their reason for pushing through, their why in life.

I am most proud about the number of people we have served. Every time a customer comments on our dedication to customer service, I am reminded of why we started this business. Not only do we provide men with shoes that look great at a fair price, but we put the humanity back into business, which is something very hard to find in the e-commerce world.

We are a wife (Beca) and husband (Marcus) team. Beca is the CEO as all executive decisions go through her. I am in charge of all of the details. We also have two golden retrievers (Zoey & Stella) who are our Chief Moral Officers, picture uploaded.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We are a team with a passion to serve. Even though we sell a physical product, service is at the heart of every business. Our passion to serve is a part of every aspect of the business. From design to manufacturing, to facing the customer each moment in attacked with a servants heart.