Talk Commerce

In this episode of Talk Commerce, Elias Stahl, CEO of HILOS, discusses the transformative impact of 3D printing on the footwear industry. He highlights the inefficiencies and waste in traditional shoe manufacturing, where 24 billion shoes are produced annually, with a significant portion ending up in landfills. Elias explains how HILOS aims to empower designers by streamlining the design and production process, allowing for on-demand manufacturing and reducing waste. He also addresses the challenges of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and the implications of tariffs on the industry. The conversation emphasizes the potential for innovation and creativity in footwear design, making it accessible to a broader audience.

Takeaways

  • Elias Stahl is the CEO and founder of HILOS.
  • The footwear industry produces 24 billion shoes annually, with significant waste.
  • 3D printing can revolutionize shoe manufacturing by reducing waste.
  • HILOS aims to empower designers to create and launch their own products.
  • The traditional shoe manufacturing process is lengthy and inefficient.
  • HILOS is working to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.
  • The company is developing a platform called Interplay for shoe design.
  • Elias compares the potential of footwear innovation to the craft beer movement.
  • The future of footwear could see unique American aesthetics.
  • Tariffs and supply chain issues are significant challenges for U.S. manufacturing.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Hilos and Elias Stahl
02:50
The Footwear Industry's Challenges
06:54
3D Printing Revolution in Footwear
11:08
Empowering Creators in Footwear Design
13:13
Bringing Manufacturing Back to the U.S.
17:32
Navigating Tariffs and Supply Chain Dynamics

What is Talk Commerce?

If you are seeking new ways to increase your ROI on marketing with your commerce platform, or you may be an entrepreneur who wants to grow your team and be more efficient with your online business.

Talk Commerce with Brent W. Peterson draws stories from merchants, marketers, and entrepreneurs who share their experiences in the trenches to help you learn what works and what may not in your business.

Keep up with the current news on commerce platforms, marketing trends, and what is new in the entrepreneurial world. Episodes drop every Tuesday with the occasional bonus episodes.

You can check out our daily blog post and signup for our newsletter here https://talk-commerce.com

Brent Peterson (00:03.15)
Hello everyone, I'm Isaac Morey and this is Talk Commerce. Today we'll be hearing from Elias Stahl, the founder and CEO of Hilos They're changing how shoes are made with 3D printing, cutting waste, empowering designers and bringing production closer to home. We'll be talking about design, sustainability and the future of local manufacturing. What really stood out to me was Elias's vision for making creativity part of the supply chain itself.

Me and Brent are both runners, so this is a very exciting episode for a few reasons. Let's dive straight into the conversation.