From a shoemaker to a shoe tycoon, a Pole can do it!

Is it easy in Poland to create an international company whose products are recognized around the world? Henryk Konopka believes that if you want, he has determination, a good plan and, above all, an excellent product, you can do anything. 40 years ago he created the Conhpol brand and started producing suit shoes. After 4 decades, these shoes are worn in 50 countries of the world on 5 continents. They wear, among others. businessmen, high school graduates, people getting married and even Arab sheikhs. Two pairs went to the Pope himself!

Shoes for the father, shoes for the son - how to create a successful business

We know perfectly well that Poles are an entrepreneurial nation and are able to conquer the world with their ideas. We often do not realize that a strong brand is Polish at all. This is also the case of the Conhpol brand and its founder Henryk Konopka. The company produces as much as 70% of footwear for export, abroad it is a respected and well-known brand, which stands for quality, beautiful tradition and history.

- I started practically at home. It should be remembered that Conhpol has been producing suit shoes for men from the very beginning. It was our first product and although of course they looked completely different than now, the gentlemen liked them so much that even in the difficult times of the People's Republic of Poland, where the availability of materials was negligible and the communist system did not allow it to develop, I had to show my self-denial and stubbornness, because I knew I had clients for these shoes. Of course, I didn't have so many people and machines at my disposal then, everything had to be done by hand, craftsmanship. The shoes, however, served a very long time. I decided that I would always produce shoes in such a way that their quality was confirmed by the fact that they were worn by the father, and now the son is buying the same brand. Customers recommend our shoes, which have never let them down, says Henryk Konopka, the founder of Conhpol.

Dozens of people and one pair of shoes

The fashion industry is not easy, the competition is fierce, trends are changing, people are looking at price not quality. However, it is possible to be successful. How? - You have to know what you want to do and you mustn't compromise. Someone offers you a cheaper replacement to reduce production costs? If it causes a loss of quality, don't do it! If the trust of customers is paramount to a company, then flights should never be 'cut down'. It is difficult to regain a customer that has been lost once. More than 70 people work on one pair with us, it is a huge responsibility that results in excellent shoes - adds Henryk Konopka.

Tradition combined with modernity

Conhpol shoes come from a true craft tradition, and currently each of Henryk Konopka's five children works in the footwear industry, where he continues the tradition of creating shoes. Conhpol specializes in the production of wedding shoes in addition to suit and casual shoes and men's increasing shoes. In addition, in Conhpol elite stores, both women and men will find footwear for many occasions, regardless of whether it is an evening party, business meeting or just a walk. The brand regularly visits fairs in Milan and Las Vegas, from where it brings fashion novelties so that women in Poland can walk in beautiful shoes. What's more, it is this Polish company from Stanisław Dolny that sheikhs and magnates come to order to order special shoes, e.g. made of crocodile leather. Two pairs of Conhpol shoes also went to Pope Francis.

After 40 years of the company's operation, handing it over to children, the creation of separate brands, Conhpol Bis, Conhpol Dynamic, Conhpol Relax and Conhpol elite brand stores, the brand has become one of the leaders of the high-quality footwear market, and in 2018 it is planning further expansion and will surely surprise new projects.