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Business Bloopers

Unlock insights into the world of business blunders with our comprehensive examination of equity missteps, retirement fund pitfalls, cryptocurrency crashes, and bond market failures. Join a community of savvy Australian investors who learn from the mistakes of others, from the trading desk to the boardroom.

Shoes of Prey: How $25 Million Fashion-Tech Startup Collapsed Into Liquidation
CASE CLOSED
Shoes of Prey: How $25 Million Fashion-Tech Startup Collapsed Into Liquidation
A custom footwear startup that raised millions but collapsed after chasing mass-market growth.
Verdict: Scaling Failure
case file - damage report
$36M
Investor value wiped out
A$25M+
Venture capital consumed
24M (USD)
Estimated investor losses
How It Unravelled
2009
Founded with an online platform for customised shoes.
2014–2015
Raised over A$25 million and expanded internationally.
2016–2018
Expansion costs soared as sales failed to keep pace.
March 2019
Entered liquidation after failing to secure new funding.
Read full case
Australian Retail • Business Failure
Godfreys: How Australia’s Oldest Vacuum Chain Collapsed After 93 Years

Godfreys survived wars, recessions and the Great Depression, but rising costs, online competition and changing consumer habits ultimately led to the collapse of Australia’s oldest vacuum cleaner retailer.

$45M Unpaid Debt
By Shivangi
AUSTRALIAN RETAIL
The $140 Million Collapse of Colette by Colette Hayman 

Colette by Colette Hayman grew into a $140 million fashion accessories retailer with nearly 140 stores across Australia and New Zealand. But rapid expansion, high rental costs, weak…

A$140M RETAIL EMPIRE COLLAPSED
By Shivangi
Australia • Luxury Retail
What Went Wrong at Oroton? The $14.2 Million Collapse of an Australian Luxury Brand

Oroton was once one of Australia’s leading luxury fashion brands, but a series of costly business decisions changed its future. From an expensive partnership with Gap to a…

A$14.2M LOST
By Shivangi

More business bloopers News

01
How Australia’s Cotton On Got Trapped Under 900 Stores and a $1 Million Retail Disaster
BUSINESS BLOOPERS

How Australia’s Cotton On Got Trapped Under 900 Stores and a $1 Million Retail Disaster

Australia’s Cotton On became one of the country’s biggest fast-fashion retailers through aggressive global expansion and rapid store growth. However, the company later faced slowing sales, failed international markets, rising retail costs, and a $1 million AUD regulatory penalty. Operating more than 900 physical stores during the rise of e-commerce created enormous pressure on the business. This case study explains how Cotton On became trapped inside a costly expansion strategy while online shopping transformed the global retail industry. The article explores the company’s biggest mistakes, failed markets, operational struggles, and lessons from its retail business failure.

By Shivangi
02
Kogan.com’s Business Crash: The Cost of Betting Wrong After COVID
BUSINESS BLOOPERS

Kogan.com’s Business Crash: The Cost of Betting Wrong After COVID

Kogan.com became one of Australia’s biggest online retail winners during the COVID-19 pandemic as online shopping demand surged across the country. The company aggressively expanded inventory levels, expecting the boom to continue for years. But as lockdowns ended and consumer spending slowed, Kogan was left with massive unsold stock, rising warehousing costs, and declining sales. The business reported consecutive multi-million dollar losses between FY22 and FY23 while customer numbers also dropped sharply. This article explores how Kogan.com’s pandemic growth strategy turned into a major business failure before the company later stabilized operations.

By Shivangi
03
The 2013 Squeeze: How Webjet Lost 52% of Its Net Profit Overnight
BUSINESS BLOOPERS

The 2013 Squeeze: How Webjet Lost 52% of Its Net Profit Overnight

Before Webjet became a multi-billion dollar giant, it hit absolute rock bottom. By 2013, the pioneer of Australian online travel found itself caught in a lethal single-revenue trap. When global titans like Expedia and Booking.com invaded the domestic market with massive advertising war chests, Webjet’s margins vanished overnight. Combined with a multimillion-dollar acquisition blunder, the company suffered a catastrophic 52% collapse in net profit and a 30% stock market crash. This case study details the dark corporate crisis that nearly ended a homegrown digital trailblazer.

By Shivangi