What if your child’s shoes were quietly shaping their posture, balance, and long-term development?
In this episode, Sam sits down with Nicole van Besouw, co-founder of Common Tread, the South African barefoot shoe brand born in a small home workshop and built with heart, craftsmanship, and purpose. Nicole shares how her occupational therapy background, her husband’s engineering mind, and their family’s own needs sparked a brand helping kids move the way nature intended. From early prototypes to scaling production, global demand, and the gritty realities of building a handcrafted product business — this is a story full of soul, grit, and grounded wisdom for any founder building with meaning.
Chapters
(00:00) Welcome & Nicole’s Origin Story
(01:04) How Common Tread Was Born
(02:24) What’s Wrong With Most Kids’ Shoes
(04:36) “Made With Soul” — The Heart Behind the Brand
(07:20) The Science of Barefoot Movement
(11:18) Building Products That Grow With the Customer
(14:38) How OT + Engineering Shaped Their Design
(18:51) Scaling Craftsmanship
(21:39) Early Challenges & Money Struggles
(26:58) Lessons, Growth & Staying in Their Lane
(33:19) A Customer Story That Changed Everything
(35:26) The Future of Common Tread
(37:21) Rapid Fire & Closing
Check them out: https://www.common-tread.com
About Born to Build:
Born to Build is a podcast featuring conversations with the builders, founders, and pioneers driving change from the ground up. Each episode highlights the real stories of SME owners - how they started, what they've overcome, and what keeps them building their business. It's honest, practical business insight from those shaping their industries one bold move at a time, equipping you with the tools to build and grow YOUR business.