On's 16-year overnight success: Zendaya, Federer, and outrunning competition
Summary
David Alimaman, co-founder and co-CEO of On, discusses the brand’s strategy to become the most premium global sports brand by leveraging innovation and design. He explains how On targets the "movement class" through partnerships with stars like Roger Federer and Zendaya, distinguishing itself from legacy competitors by focusing on accessibility rather than luxury scarcity. The episode covers the company’s recent leadership changes, rapid retail expansion, and sustainable manufacturing breakthroughs like Light Spray technology. Alimaman emphasizes that while On is not yet the largest player,…
Topics discussed
Promo for Masters of Scale Summit and show intro
Sponsor read and introduction of David Alilaman
On's positioning as a premium global sports brand
The rise of the 'movement class' and societal shift
Innovation strategy and the CloudTec technology
Premium vs. Luxury: Defining On's market niche
Lessons from Dyson and the intersection of design
How partnerships with Federer and Zendaya started
The origin story: From garden hose to shoe
The role of design and emotion in brand building
Sponsor break and preview of second half topics
Leadership shakeup and the co-CEO transition
Navigating market volatility and maintaining innovation
The strategy behind On's physical retail expansion
Light Spray technology and robotic shoe manufacturing
Expanding from running to all forms of movement
Sustainability efforts and reducing carbon footprint
Future growth outlook and closing remarks
Host reflection on On's ambition and creativity
Sponsor outro and credits
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