Brown Shoe invests in online retailer Jack Erwin

St. Louis -- Brown Shoe Company has invested $9 million in Jack Erwin, an online men’s shoe brand that launched last year. It’s Brown’s first investment in a startup.



Founded by Ariel Nelson and Lane Gerson, Jack Erwin creates high-quality men’s shoes, selling them directly to consumers for under $200 a pair.



“We looked at several companies and Jack Erwin really stood out to us as a great incubator brand with high growth potential and an interesting, new business model,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, president and chairman, Brown Shoe Company. “Lane and Ariel, the founders, have an unwavering commitment to quality and detail and represent the next generation of business in our industry.”