Ep 27: From Designing a Boot to Building a Brand with Jim Bosco

Before there was Bosco & Co., there was a newly developed pillow boot — along with  a chance meeting in Italy that changed the course of Canadian footwear.

Pete Mohr sits down with Jim Bosco, Founder and President of Bosco & Co., in his Burlington, Ontario showroom for a conversation spanning more than 55 years in the footwear business.

Jim's path into the industry wasn't a straight line. He considered joining the Navy after his time in the Sea Cadets before instead joining the Bata Shoe Company as a management trainee — a decision that led to a factory training program in Batawa, Ontario and years spent traveling the world as an assistant to Bata chairman Tom Bata.

In 1968, Jim joined the Saddlebar family's Susan Shoes, where a chance meeting with Bass Shoe Company founder George Bass in Florence, Italy eventually led to the Cougar Pillow Boot — a design inspired by a boot Bass built for aviator Charles Lindbergh. Paired with an unforgettable ad campaign built around a mascot called “The Coug,” Cougar became one of the most recognizable names in Canadian footwear.

In 1979, Jim and his sons Kevin and Dean set out on their own, founding Bosco & Co. and building relationships with factories in Portugal that continue to this day. Bosco & Co. has been the Canadian distributor for Fly London for 47 years, and the business is now welcoming its third generation: Jim's grandson James.

You'll hear about:
→ The Bata Shoe Company's factory training program and what it taught Jim about manufacturing
→ The chance café meeting in Florence that led to the Cougar Pillow Boot
→ How a boot built for Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight inspired the design
→ The story behind “The Coug” and Cougar's iconic ad campaign
→ Why Jim and his sons started Bosco & Co. in Portugal in 1979
→ 47 years as Fly London's Canadian distributor
→ What it took to build a showroom and a sales team that has stayed for decades
→ Bringing a third generation, grandson James, into the business

“Life will not always be easy. We will face adversity a number of times. What matters most, however, is how you respond to these adversities.” — Jim Bosco

ABOUT JIM BOSCO
Jim Bosco is the Founder and President of Bosco & Co., a family-run footwear company based in Burlington, Ontario. His career began with the Bata Shoe Company, where he trained in retail and manufacturing at the company's factory in Batawa, Ontario, and later traveled the world as an assistant to Bata chairman Tom Bata. In 1968, Jim joined the Saddlebar family's Susan Shoes, where he helped develop the Cougar boot line and its iconic advertising campaign. In 1979, Jim founded Bosco & Co. with his sons Kevin and Dean, building factory relationships in Portugal that continue today. Bosco & Co. is the longtime Canadian distributor for Fly London, and Jim's grandson James now represents the company's third generation.

CONNECT WITH BOSCO & CO.
Toll-free: 905-498-1754
Direct: 905-467-2808
Website: https://ca.bosandco.com/

ABOUT PETE MOHR
Pete Mohr is an independent footwear retailer, business coach and host of The Footwear Retailer Podcast. Through conversations with retailers, brands and industry experts, Pete helps independent business owners build stronger businesses while creating more freedom in their lives.

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This episode of The Footwear Retailer is proudly sponsored by the National Shoe Retailers Association.

NSRA supports independent footwear retailers with tools, connections, education, and resources to help you run a stronger business. 

To learn more about the benefits of membership or to sign up, visit:
https://www.nsra.org/page/benefits

Pete Mohr is a longtime footwear retailer, business coach, and owner of two Shoetopia stores in Ontario, Canada, helping business owners build stronger companies that support a better life. 

To learn more about Pete's programs and coaching or to book a free initial chat about your business goals, visit:
https://pete-mohr.com/