Success Stories Ep 106 - "Drawing the Line towards T-shirt Success"

If there's one true thing in life and business is that nothing ever stays the same; companies and businesses are always evolving. On today's Success Stories podcast, we'll talk with Cole Lundstrom about the evolution of a career and business. He's the only guest on this podcast I've invited back for a second interview, and the reason is simple, the lessons he most recently learned with his former company, Shirt Agency, has pushed him into a new direction with a new idea called merch troop. This episode is critical to hear, because I think it's okay to stop doing one thing and start doing another. Cole will share his thoughts, and we'll get into some ideas about the industry's future that you probably need to hear.

If you were in the deco network ecosphere, you're probably well aware of Zach Dewhurst; he's everywhere with that software. But did you know that he also runs his own decorated apparel company and has roots that go back years?In this episode of Success Stories, we'll focus on that. We'll explore his background as a decorator and entrepreneur and chat about how he sees things as his presence is global. So get ready!

On today's Success Stories podcast, we'll chat with several Draw the Line Tees members. This nNew Jersey-based company is a Christian faith, biblically based company that is creating something unique and original with its approach to business.Owner Tracy Smith and her team Jahfar Gaines, Teona Pagan, and Zabaidah Gaines will share how they use live activations, fashion shows, and other ideas to celebrate their faith and build a business.

In today's success stories podcast, we're going to explore the concept of wanting to do more to be better and not to be satisfied with the status quo. Who better to discuss this topic than Atlanta-based McKenzie Brackett. He's been in the decorated apparel game since 2015 and has always strived to get better and do more. He runs his shop The Shirt Company of America that way, but has recently entered the shop software game with DecoGro. On today's show, we'll peel back the layers and find out what drives McKenzie to constantly want to improve, and where the inspiration comes from to get into the software game. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

On today's Success Stories podcast, you are in for a fantastic treat. Nicole Pape with Embellishr is going to join the show. Ang guess what -- she's the real deal folks!With a background in operations and running a shop, she knows what works and what doesn't. That led to an opportunity in equipment sales with ROQ US which also led to her branching off into her own company.If you haven't met Nicole yet, get ready to have your doors blown off. If you've known Nicole, you already know what I'm talking about!

If there's one person who is quietly churning out amazing entrepreneurial ideas to help people in the decorate apparel and promotional marketing spaces, it is our guest today, Tony Wavering. Tony is fantastic at gathering information, analyzing the situation, and then building something that capitalizes on an opportunity to help and serve others to make their work smoother. He is absolutely not afraid to put in the work and get the best people to help him along the way. On today's Success Stories podcast, we'll speak to Tony regarding what he's built, what he's building, and probably something about the future. You aren't going to want to miss this episode.

Do you need more sales? Is your marketing not up to stuff to generate interest in leads? If that sounds familiar, then today's Success Stories guest Bill Petrie with Brandivate will be just the ticket. For years, Bill has been actively helping companies succeed in educating the promotional products industry with his blend of humor, unique perspective and clarity of thought. He is one of the industry's leading sales thought leaders. This episode is one you're going to recommend to your staff and probably listen to more than once. So get your pin ready!

Many people talk about growing their business into success, but on today's Success Stories podcast, we'll talk to a young entrepreneur who is doing that literally. Zeke Chapman owns Magnolia Loom, a completely vertical operated apparel business in Georgia. This company is unlike any other you may have heard of. It sources the cotton from local farmers, mills the fibers, spins it into yarn, creates the shirts, dyes the garments, and then ultimately prints the shirts. How does that happen? We'll learn about that and more on today's show. So grab a cup of coffee and a pen and get ready to take some serious notes.

100 episodes, we've hit our bingo card milestone! And with this episode, you are in for a real treat. So Jason Peters, with S&S Activewear, is on the show today to chat about his career and also thoughts regarding the industry. Jason's been around the block, and he's been in the industry for over 25 years, holding various production leadership and consulting roles. Currently, he's the manager of the Embellishment Solutions team at S&S. So what does that mean? What does he think about the industry? How can he help your shop? We'll explore all of that on this episode of success stories.

It's time for another episode of success stories today. We're thrilled to have Charlie and Nathan Belz with us, and they're not just any couple, they're the dynamic duo behind Impress Designs in Carrollton, Texas, with a sprawling, 90,000 square foot facility, they've taken the decorated apparel world by storm!Join us today as we dive into their story from the family legacy to the innovative spirit that drives their business, you're not going to want to miss this one.