Wild Company
Mel Ziegler
With $1,500 and no business experience, Mel and Patricia Ziegler turned a wild idea into a company that would become the international retail colossus Banana Republic. Reimagining military surplus as safari and expedition wear, the former journalist and artist created a world that captured the zeitgeist for a generation and spoke to the creativity, adventure, and independence in everyone.
In a book that’s honest, funny, and charming, Mel and Patricia tell in alternating voices how they upended business conventions and survived on their wits and imagination. Many retail and fashion merchants still consider Banana Republic’s early heyday to be one of the most remarkable stories in fashion and business history. The couple detail how, as “professional amateurs,” they developed the wildly original merchandise and marketing innovations that broke all retail records and produced what has been acclaimed by industry professionals to be “the best catalog of all time.”
A love story wrapped in a business adventure, Wild Company is a soulful, inspiring tale for listeners determined to create their own destiny with a passion for life, work, and fun.
Duration - 5h 15m.
Author - Mel Ziegler.
Narrator - George Newbern.
Published Date - Wednesday, 21 January 2026.
Copyright - © 2012 Mel Ziegler ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
With $1,500 and no business experience, Mel and Patricia Ziegler turned a wild idea into a company that would become the international retail colossus Banana Republic. Reimagining military surplus as safari and expedition wear, the former journalist and artist created a world that captured the zeitgeist for a generation and spoke to the creativity, adventure, and independence in everyone. In a book that’s honest, funny, and charming, Mel and Patricia tell in alternating voices how they upended business conventions and survived on their wits and imagination. Many retail and fashion merchants still consider Banana Republic’s early heyday to be one of the most remarkable stories in fashion and business history. The couple detail how, as “professional amateurs,” they developed the wildly original merchandise and marketing innovations that broke all retail records and produced what has been acclaimed by industry professionals to be “the best catalog of all time.” A love story wrapped in a business adventure, Wild Company is a soulful, inspiring tale for listeners determined to create their own destiny with a passion for life, work, and fun. Duration - 5h 15m. Author - Mel Ziegler. Narrator - George Newbern. Published Date - Wednesday, 21 January 2026. Copyright - © 2012 Mel Ziegler ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:17
Dedication
Duration:00:00:04
Epigraph
Duration:00:00:13
Chapter 1
Duration:00:18:29
Chapter 2
Duration:00:06:16
Chapter 3
Duration:00:06:39
Chapter 4
Duration:00:03:53
Chapter 5
Duration:00:06:31
Chapter 6
Duration:00:07:33
Chapter 7
Duration:00:09:03
Chapter 8
Duration:00:07:17
Chapter 9
Duration:00:10:14
Chapter 10
Duration:00:10:31
Chapter 11
Duration:00:07:12
Chapter 12
Duration:00:06:59
Chapter 13
Duration:00:14:34
Chapter 14
Duration:00:08:18
Chapter 15
Duration:00:10:35
Chapter 16
Duration:00:06:28
Chapter 17
Duration:00:14:46
Chapter 18
Duration:00:13:38
Chapter 19
Duration:00:14:05
Chapter 20
Duration:00:13:08
Chapter 21
Duration:00:31:51
Chapter 22
Duration:00:17:31
Chapter 23
Duration:00:14:41
Chapter 24
Duration:00:26:13
Chapter 25
Duration:00:28:02
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:52