Andrew Roberts acquired luxury footwear brand Del Toro shoes in 2019, after having been a customer for many years. He admits, “I wore the [Del Toro] Chukka sneakers to many final exams,” proving how much he loves the shoes. Roberts had been following the brand closely for years, but when he noticed it went through a rebranding, he saw an opportunity for a new career path. Roberts is both CEO and customer service representative at the moment to ensure his customers have a good experience.

Entrepreneur Roberts overhauled the company and relaunched it in 2020, keeping Del Toro’s original logo. Taking over the brand during COVID-19 wasn’t easy, as it was barely operating when purchased by Roberts and a small group of investors. He knew it wasn’t a great time to try to sell a luxury slipper but was grateful for being able to take his time with the relaunch process.

“One of my first initiatives as the CEO was to liquidate old inventory. I was able to place the inventory on a consignment basis during the bankruptcy proceedings of Lord and Taylor [Le Tote] last year. I could not have navigated that process without the lessons I learned at Stanford Law School, specifically in bankruptcy class. Thankfully, I had kept my bankruptcy textbook, which I consulted on many late nights!

“From negotiating adequate protections with the Lord and Taylor GC, avoiding the fate of consignors we learned about in Sports Authority, to following along first-day motions and consulting with my generous SLS classmates, who are currently bankruptcy associates, I got Del Toro a very favorable outcome at the end of the liquidation. While I am not a practicing lawyer, I was able to make use of my SLS education and network,” says Roberts.

Originally launched in 2005, Del Toro shoes are known for their timeless Italian velvet slippers. The shoes are handmade in Italy, with special attention to quality and craftsmanship. Del Toro still sells its famous velvet slippers, plus has added accessories like ties, pocket squares, belts, suspenders, and even masks.