Houston Apparel Co

Thrilled to announce the launch of Houston Apparel Co., a venture co-founded with my business partner and fellow mompreneur, Venessa Homewood. 

Drawing from the success and lessons from our corporate roles we're poised to propel Houston Apparel Co. to new heights.

Houston Apparel Co. was born out of our shared vision to enhance business brands through premium quality products and exceptional service. 

Venessa and I, both driven by our entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence, have created a company that specializes in solving custom apparel sourcing for corporations and SMBs alike.

We've established two distinct divisions to cater to the unique needs of our clients. 

Our Corporate Division focuses on providing large-scale, custom apparel solutions for businesses looking to enhance their brand identity. 

Meanwhile, our SMB Division offers personalized, flexible solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, ensuring that every company, regardless of size, can access premium quality products and services.

At Houston Apparel Co., we're dedicated to offering top-notch products that reflect the quality and professionalism of our clients’ brands. 

Our client-focused approach ensures that every interaction is tailored to meet the specific needs of our customers, providing a seamless and satisfying experience. 

We offer a wide range of customization options, allowing businesses to create unique apparel that truly represents their brand. Staying ahead of industry trends, we deliver innovative designs that make our clients stand out.

Starting Houston Apparel Co. has been an inspiring journey of collaboration and innovation. Our commitment to excellence drives us to continually push boundaries and exceed expectations.

Venessa and I are excited to embark on this new venture, knowing that our dedication and hard-earned expertise will propel Houston Apparel Co. to become a leader in the custom apparel industry.

Co-Founder

Dottie’s Designs TX

The journey to founding Dottie's Designs began during the challenging times of COVID-19. After being laid off from a major corporation, I faced uncertainty about the future. My dog, Dottie, was a beacon of light, providing comfort and joy when I needed it most. Inspired by her unwavering support, I named my business after her, symbolizing resilience and hope.

As a mompreneur, balancing home life and starting a new business was no easy feat. With a family to support, I knew I could do more with my life and decided to jump in feet first into the world of custom apparel. I took on multiple roles—salesperson, marketer, logistics manager, and accountant—learning and adapting as I went along. Each day presented new challenges, but also new opportunities to grow and innovate.

Starting from scratch, I immersed myself in learning about custom apparel, driven by a passion for creativity and a desire to make a meaningful impact. Overcoming initial doubts, I embraced each challenge, gradually building confidence and expertise. Dottie's Designs quickly grew from a small venture into a thriving business, known for its unique designs and personalized service.

Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with my responsibilities at home required a great deal of perseverance and dedication. Late nights and early mornings became routine as I worked tirelessly to build a brand that resonated with customers. The support from my family and the joy of seeing my business grow kept me motivated.

Through dedication and perseverance, I transformed a difficult period into an opportunity for growth and innovation. 

Little did I know, this was setting me up for my next opportunity. My journey with Dottie's Designs not only allowed me to create a successful business but also reinforced the importance of resilience, passion, and believing in oneself. This experience showed me that even in the face of adversity, we have the power to redefine our paths and achieve remarkable success.

Founder, Principal

Sysco

In my tenure, I gained valuable skills and insights that have uniquely prepared me for entrepreneurship.

I oversaw product categories and managed strategic broker relationships, driving impressive sales growth through innovative initiatives. My responsibilities included developing and executing category management plans, focusing on optimizing product assortment, competitive pricing, and effective promotion strategies.

By analyzing market trends and consumer behavior, I ensured our product lines exceeded customer expectations, resulting in substantial revenue growth. Working with strategic brokers, I forged and nurtured strong, performance-driven partnerships, implementing strategies that enhanced broker productivity and collaboration—skills invaluable for any aspiring entrepreneur.

I played a crucial role in crafting and executing sales and marketing strategies aligned with the company's goals. This involved identifying growth opportunities and launching innovative products. Leading a diverse team of category managers and brokers, I refined my leadership and mentorship abilities, fostering a culture of innovation, teamwork, and excellence.

My tenure was marked by significant achievements, including driving remarkable revenue growth and expanding our market footprint through successful new product launches and strategic market entry initiatives. My contributions were recognized through accolades for exceptional performance and dedication to the company's success.

These experiences have honed my strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and results-oriented approach—essential qualities for a successful entrepreneur. The skills I gained in strategic planning, relationship management, and performance optimization have equipped me to build and lead a thriving business.

As I embark on my entrepreneurial journey, I'm eager to leverage these experiences to create innovative solutions and drive meaningful impact.

Director of Category Management and Strategic Broker Network

Serving as a District Sales Manager at Sysco has been an invaluable experience that has equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful future as an entrepreneur. 

This role has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of sales, leadership, and strategic planning, all of which are essential for running a successful business.

Managing a diverse team of Marketing Associates has honed my leadership abilities. I learned how to motivate, mentor, and guide a team towards achieving common goals. These skills are crucial for any entrepreneur who must inspire and lead a team to success.

Developing and implementing sales strategies to meet district targets has given me a strong foundation in strategic planning. I learned how to analyze market trends, identify opportunities, and create actionable plans. This experience is directly transferable to the strategic thinking required to launch and grow a business.

Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients was at the core of my role at Sysco. 

Understanding client needs and providing tailored solutions taught me the importance of customer-centricity in business. As an entrepreneur, this ability to connect with and satisfy customers will be vital to building a loyal customer base.

Monitoring and analyzing sales performance has given me a keen eye for identifying strengths and areas for improvement. This analytical skill is essential for any entrepreneur, as it allows for continuous improvement and adaptation in a competitive business environment.

In conclusion, my role as a District Sales Manager at Sysco has prepared me to take on the challenges of entrepreneurship with confidence. 

The skills and experiences I gained in leadership, strategic planning, client relationship management, and performance analysis have equipped me with the tools necessary to build and lead a successful business.

I am excited to leverage this experience as I embark on my entrepreneurial journey.

District Sales Manager

🤝 I'm Jada, specializing in custom promotional apparel and products for Houston corporations, driving brand visibility and engagement through tailored solutions.
 
With over a decade at Sysco, I earned multiple awards as a District Sales Manager and served as Director of Category Management. I led a team managing $𝟮𝟰𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 and oversaw 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿k, including the six largest national food brokerages.

Now, as a mompreneur, I combine my corporate acumen with a passion for creativity, offering bespoke solutions that meet the unique needs of my corporate clients.

👉 We specialize in custom-designed apparel, embroidery, brand design, and promotional products, all tailored to help Houston corporations stand out in today's competitive market. 

My commitment to excellence and attention to detail ensures that our clients receive high-quality products and exceptional service, every time.

👫In addition to my startup, I'm a dedicated cheer mom, sports mom, and dog mama to two lovely doggies. 

Balancing these roles has taught me the importance of organization, perseverance, and dedication—qualities I bring to every client project. 

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗬𝗢𝗨

I work with companies in the 𝗢𝗶𝗹, 𝗚𝗮𝘀, 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 sectors to enhance their brands through premium promotional apparel and products. 

We understand the demanding environments and specific branding needs of these industries. 

Whether it's outfitting your team with durable, branded workwear or creating memorable promotional items for industry events, my solutions help reinforce your brand's strength and professionalism.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗢 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨

My journey from corporate sales to mompreneurship has been driven by a desire to combine professional expertise with personal passion. 

We believe in the power of strong branding to make a lasting impact.

Our team is dedicated to helping your business stand out with high-quality, custom solutions tailored to your unique needs.

Join me in transforming your brand vision into reality with 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 that truly make an impact. 

Your success is our priority, and we're committed to exceeding your expectations with every project.

Together, we can create a brand experience that not only captures attention but also builds lasting connections.

📩 Contact us today to discover how our custom promotional products and apparel solutions can enhance your brand.

I spent years at Sysco learning everything about working hard, staying organized, and closing deals. 

It was a place where I stuck to proven sales strategies, followed routines, and always knew my targets.

What surprised me most after leaving was what happened when there wasn’t a set playbook anymore.

Entrepreneurship forced me to find a creative side I never knew existed. 

Suddenly, I wasn’t just selling someone else’s products.

I was building something from scratch. 

Every day, I had to decide how my brand would look, sound, and feel.

It wasn’t just about picking what shirts get the logo. 

It was about picking the exact shade of blue because it felt right for the client. 

It was about designing a branded jacket that people would actually want to wear, not just tuck away in a closet.

I started thinking about things like: 

How does a work shirt help a crew feel proud? 

How do we make sure a company’s gear actually stands out at an event or on a jobsite?

These creative choices felt scary at first. 

I was used to following proven paths and relying on experience....mine or someone else’s. 

Now, every decision was mine. 

There’s no manual for how to make your brand memorable in a noisy world. 

No step-by-step for how to make your first customers feel like part of your story.

But that’s the wild part. 

When you don’t have a map, you start trusting your own ideas more. 

You start building things you didn’t know you could.

If I could give one piece of advice to corporate leaders thinking about entrepreneurship, it’s this: 

If you’ve ever made money for someone else’s company, if you’ve built teams or solved big problems, you already have a head start. 

You just need to believe that you can do it for yourself.

Most of us don’t realize how much more we have to offer until we step out of the routine. 

Your creativity, your instincts, they might just be waiting for you to take that leap.

So, next time you think about starting your own thing, remember...there’s a whole side of you you haven’t met yet. 

And it might just be the creative spark your new business needs. 

📸 Venessa Homewood and I presenting at HTown Handshakes with Founder Edward Ferguson

Jada Powell

Empowering Houston SMBs and Startups with Custom Promotional Products that Drive Engagement & Growth | Former Marketing Communications Director Turned Mompreneur | Dedicated to Community Impact |

HTown Handshakes

CEO at The Webpage Site | Helping Businesses Unlock Website Potential | Digital Marketing Expert.

Enhancing Brand Visibility for Houston's Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction Sectors with Premium Branded Workwear | Achieving Measurable Results | Ex-Sysco Corporate Now Entrepreneur | OGGN BD & Podcast Host

𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 👷♂️

But what really sets a team apart on an oil rig or in a corporate office? 

𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙧. 

It’s the 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 woven into every stitch of their custom apparel. 

I’ve led teams that powered $224M in revenue. 💰

𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. 

Here’s the irony: companies spend millions on safety equipment, tech, and training. 

But they often overlook the one thing every employee wears day in, day out. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. 

Custom apparel isn’t just about logos and colors. 

It’s the difference between a worker who clocks in and out, and a 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿. 

Years ago, I visited a job site where the crew wore mismatched shirts and faded hats. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲? 

Disconnected. No one felt like part of something bigger. 

A few months later, the same crew showed up in new, branded gear. 

𝘋𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘴. 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦.

Safety meetings actually felt like shared moments, not just another box to check. 

Some might call it superficial. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡. 

Employees feel valued, not just as workers, but as vital threads in the fabric of the company. 

𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴.

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴.

Uniforms aren’t just clothing. They’re statements. When the crew looks sharp, the work matches. 

𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯.

Your employees become walking ambassadors. That pride spills over into every client conversation, every handshake, every project handed off. 

It’s easy to overlook the impact. But walk onto any site where the team is decked out in c𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗽, 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀. 

In energy, the work is tough. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦. But a simple act carefully chosen, high quality apparel can remind every worker they’re valued. 

If you’re leading a team, whether on a rig or in a boardroom, don’t miss the most overlooked advantage you can give them. 🛢️

Employee pride isn’t a line item. It’s the foundation. 

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱? 

Speaking of boots, check out this pair of Steel Blue Southern Cross steel toe boots. I love mine 💙

𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲? 🏌️♀️⛳

Let’s be honest.....no one really talks about how intimidating it can feel to show up for a round as a woman executive.

If you’re brand new, even the idea of teeing off can feel overwhelming.

And if you do play, you might wonder if you’re actually taking advantage of everything golf offers for 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙.

The truth is: golf has never really been about your score. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘴. 

It’s about talking shop, sharing ideas, and building trust where it matters most.....outside the office.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.

That’s why Oil and Gas Global Network is proud to Present Tee Up! Power Networking for Professional Women. 𝘈𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘭𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩.

Mark your calendar for October 27th at The Woodlands Country Club, 10am to 3:30pm.

𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘄𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯? 𝗧hat’s perfect. This is where you learn the basics in a relaxed way, no judgment, just hands-on guidance from people who get it.

𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲? You’ll walk away with new strategies for using the course to build relationships, meet decision makers, and drive results for your company or your next big venture.

For companies, this is more than just a day on the course. 

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆. 

Golf isn’t just a game, it’s a tool for building the relationships and trust that create new opportunities in business.

Ready to learn more, or interested in partnering as a sponsor?

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

There’s room for everyone on the green and that’s when the real business happens!!

Mark LaCour S.L. (Sindee Lee) Gillespie redM Join The Movement David Reid Keisha Durant Hazen, MS, CSM, CSPO

From high heels in boardrooms to muddy boots on job sites......my journey wasn’t just a career switch, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙨. 🌎

I spent over a decade in the polished boardrooms at Sysco.

Numbers? 𝙈𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙚.
Strategy decks? 𝗠𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲.

I led a team that managed $244M in revenue. I handled 1,000 brokers across the country.

I wore heels, prepped for quarterly reviews, and 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮.

Suddenly, the daily grind of business suits and budget meetings felt different.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭.

So I did something only a few of my peers understood:

𝗜 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀.

One day, I was in a conference room, closing a major deal with a handshake.

The next, I was standing on a construction site, boots caked in Houston mud, talking to a foreman about why his crew needed custom branded jackets that could survive a Texas sized downpour.

Here’s what no one tells you about entrepreneurship when you come from corporate:

The grit you build in highs takes meetings is 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 what helps you navigate chaos on the ground.

The creativity you hide in quarterly reports is what turns a generic polo into a 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺’𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

The discipline of managing a $244M budget? 

It keeps your startup from blowing through cash on shiny objects. 💍

I learned to:

𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.

𝘈𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘯'.

That’s how Houston Apparel Co. was born.

Not in a glitzy (knees) launch party. Jason Duff 😜

I wanted to serve companies that don’t just want to look good, they want to feel proud when their team puts on that jacket.

Here’s what my clients taught me:

𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗘𝗢𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗣𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽.

Corporate taught me the importance of brand.

The job site taught me humility.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your corporate past and your creative future, you’re not alone.

Sometimes, the best brands are built by people who know how to thrive in both worlds.

📸 We still get cleaned up every now and again!

𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 "𝗻𝗼" 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘆. 

Not long ago, a client reached out with a simple request.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

On the surface, it sounded easy enough.

But deep down, I felt that familiar knot in my stomach. 🤢

You see, our business model isn’t about piece meal services. 🧩

It’s about white glove, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

From sourcing premium materials to delivering the final product, Venessa Homewood and I obsess over every detail.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘶𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳.

In my early days, I would have said yes.

I wanted to be everything for everyone.

I wanted to help, to please, to never turn away a potential partner.

That mindset nearly broke me. 

Then one day, a mentor sat me down and dropped a truth bomb. 💣

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣."

She said it with the wisdom that comes from experience.

She had seen too many founders burn out trying to be all things to all people.

She told me something I’ll never forget:

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚.

So the next time a client wanted to bring their own blanks, I took a deep breath and explained:

We handle procurement for a reason.

It lets us guarantee 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.

It’s how we protect your brand and ours. ❤️

I braced for disappointment, maybe even anger.

But something surprising happened.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿.

Some even thanked me for being honest about our process.

𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳.

We spent less time on damage control and more time on what we do best.

𝗦𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁.
𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱.

I still want to help everyone who walks through our doors.

But I’ve realized that the best way to serve is to stay true to what we do best.

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲.

And that’s okay.

So, if you’re struggling with saying no, remember:

𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.
𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮.

The right clients will find you and they’ll thank you for it. 

Ever struggled to turn down a project that didn’t align with your values?

A month ago, our beloved Hill Country in Texas face an unimaginable disaster. 

Floodwaters swept through Kerr County, leaving behind destruction and despair that no one expected. 

It was heart breaking to see homes submerged, families displaced, and a community that’s known for its resilience now fighting to rebuild what was lost.

At Houston Apparel Co., Venessaand I believe deeply in giving back.

We felt compelled to do something more than just watch from afar. 

That’s when the idea of a simple act, a small gesture began to take shape.

Venessa designed two limited edition T-shirts in our 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

A symbol of hope, unity, and strength for our fellow Texans.

And here’s what made it special: 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗱 would go directly to the American Red Cross to support Kerr County in rebuilding efforts.

This isn’t just about a T-shirt. 

It’s about standing in solidarity with our neighbors.

𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

The response was overwhelming. 

Each shirt sold was a reminder that when we come together, even the smallest contributions can make a 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

But here’s the thing....our campaign is still going. 

We’ve extended it another week because we want to give everyone one last chance to be part of this movement.

If you haven’t grabbed your Texas Strong shirt yet, now’s your moment.

Every purchase helps rebuild Kerr County, one brick at a time.

And most importantly, it’s a reminder that giving back isn’t just a good deed....𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴.

In a world that often feels divided, I believe it’s acts like these that truly unite us. 

I’m proud to be part of a community that 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦.

Thank you to everyone who has already joined us in this effort. 

If you want to make a difference, there’s still time. 

Let’s show Kerr County what Texas strength truly looks like.

Link to the showroom below. ⬇️

Is the only way to get noticed in the energy sector with a massive, in your face logo plastered across your team’s gear? 🤔

I’ve watched companies pour thousands into flashy designs, only to realize their 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘦. 

The teams who opt for subtle, perfectly placed branding on quality workwear build more trust, spark more conversations AND drive more sales. 🏁

Here’s what most leaders miss:

Trust is built in the details, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙡𝙚.

Your team is already your best brand ambassador. 

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

When your company’s name is tastefully embroidered or printed, it says you don’t need to shout to be noticed. 📣

This quiet confidence builds authority.

Strategic placement speaks volumes.

A discreet logo on a sleeve, a patch on the chest, a branded collar are trust building cues.

Think about the energy sector.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘆. 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝘕𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

And trust? That’s what opens doors.

That’s what turns first impressions into lasting relationships.

Here’s a hard truth:

Nine times out of ten, your clients aren’t dazzled by a flashy logo.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺:

Consistency
Professionalism
Subtle cues that say, “𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹.”

So, why do so many brands get it wrong?

Because the temptation to go big and scream for attention 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴.

But the leaders who build brands that last know:

The strongest brands whisper, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵.

Next time you’re updating your team’s workwear, ask yourself:

𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯?

𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳?

𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀.
𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁.
𝗢𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

A logo can’t do the heavy lifting alone.

But a subtle, strategic approach to branding woven right into the fabric of your team can transform how your business is perceived. 🧵

Teams outfitted with understated, high quality apparel walk onto job sites with their heads higher.

They connect more easily.

They’re remembered for their work, not just their wardrobe.

𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘢𝘳.

And suddenly, your brand is the one everyone wants to work with.

So, forget the flash. ⚡

Focus on trust.

That’s where real sales begin.

𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵.

Is a hoodie just a sweatshirt? 

Imagine your team in custom-designed, high-quality hoodies. 

They’re not just warm....they’re walking billboards. 

Hoodies are the most worn piece of clothing. 

Every time someone wears one, they’re spreading your brand. 

Plus, they’re a huge canvas for logos, slogans, or bold messages. 

Durability? It matters. 

A hoodie that falls apart after a few washes? 

That’s a wasted investment. 

Investing in quality….fabrics, fit, and expert embroidery is key. 

When you choose the right hoodie, it’s not just about looks. 

It’s about making sure your brand stays intact after many washes and wears. 

A premium hoodie with your logo? It’s like a cozy hug from your brand. 

It builds pride among your team and turns them into ambassadors without saying a word. 

These hoodies are perfect for casual Fridays, company events, client meetings, or even corporate gifts. 

They’re a subtle way to elevate your brand’s visibility in everyday settings. 

And let’s not forget they create a sense of unity and belonging. 

When your team wears something that looks good and feels right, it boosts morale. 

But not all hoodies are created equal. 

Cheap fabrics and bad embroidery cheapen your brand and send the wrong message. 

Choosing the right materials, cut, and embroidery techniques makes all the difference.

It shows you care about qualityand that your brand is premium, too. 

Think beyond just apparel. 

Custom hoodies are a strategic tool for branding, merchandising, and even marketing campaigns. 

They can be part of your brand awareness programs, events, or even as giveaway prizes. 

The right hoodie can be a conversation starter, a memorable keepsake, or a badge of honor for your clients and team. 

So, if you think a hoodie is just a hoodie, think again. 
It’s a powerful branding tool waiting to work for you. 

Ready to make your logo stand out? 

Let’s create custom hoodies your team will love and your competitors will envy. 

In branding, it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. 

And a well-designed, high-quality hoodie? 
It’s anything but little. 

Reach out today, let’s turn your brand into the next big thing, one hoodie at a time! 

#livideo

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 🚫

Only continue reading this self depricating career post if you want to laugh your ass off.

I have done something so embarassing. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲.

This is the story of how I managed to out do myself as a sales phenom and live to tell the tale. 🤯

The President of Sysco Gulf Coast comes for a visit. 

My all male senior district sales manager counterparts scream "Not it!!!"

My boss said "𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲".

𝗖𝗮𝗿: washed, vacuumed, gleaming like it’s fresh off the lot. ☑️
𝗦𝘂𝗶𝘁: pressed, not a wrinkle in sight. ☑️
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: called, prepped, and borderline excited for “the visit.” ☑️
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: lined up, notes ready, stories rehearsed. ☑️

We set off. I’m feeling good. 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩.

We pull up to our first client, a loyal restaurant owner.

I reach for my laptop bag on the back seat.

Except...There is no laptop bag on the back seat. 💻

I check the trunk. I check the floorboard, under the seat, everywhere short of checking under the President’s coat.

I have left 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗽, the single most important tool for a sales rep sitting on my kitchen counter.

I admit it quickly and improvise with a napkin and a pen. 🖊️

I own it and keep moving. 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.

The President chuckled, thankfully.

𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.

I promised myself this would never, ever happen again.

𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿. Different day, different executive.

The day starts off smooth and we arrive at our first stop.

I swing into the parking lot, dressed to impress. 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗽.

Guess what’s not there? 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣.

I stare at the empty seat, then at the VP, then back at the seat.

He looks at me and just laughs. 😆

I had spent more time worrying about whether my windshield was streak free than whether I had my actual work tools with me.

What did I learn after two nearly identical, 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗯𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀?

No amount of preparation can replace remembering the fundamentals.

Sometimes, your most embarrassing moments become your best stories. 📚

The world doesn’t end when you look less than perfect. 𝗜𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Executive leadership saw I could roll with the punches. 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯.

And I learned to check for my laptop every single day.

Because forgetting your laptop in front of top brass is something you only forget once. 

Or in my case, 𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗲.

I didn’t quit corporate life to run from it. 

I took it with me, every single lesson, every latenight win, every tough conversation. 

The truth? 

Entrepreneurship isn’t a clean break. 

It’s a suitcase you never really unpack. 

I learned this the hard way. 

A few years ago, my days at Sysco were a blur of targets and team huddles. 
 
But something kept tugging at me. 
It wasn’t a craving for freedom. 
It was the itch to create. 
To build something of my own. 

To see if what I’d learned: the discipline, the standards, the hunger for brand excellence could survive outside the corporate walls. 

Not with a dramatic exit, but with a promise to myself: take the best of what you learned and use it for something that matters. 

The first week of running Houston Apparel Co. was brutal. 

No big name resources, no built in credibility, no safety net. 

Just me, a laptop, and a notebook full of ideas. 

That’s when the first major client call came in. 

A Houston construction firm needed new branded workwear for an industry event. 

I remembered what corporate taught me: brand visibility is everything. 

In the boardroom, we fought for attention. 

On the street, that fight is even tougher. 

So I went back to my playbook.

What makes a brand memorable?

How do you turn a Tshirt into a talking point?

Why does every detail from thread color to packaging, matter? 

I didn’t just sell apparel. 

I sold the story of their company woven into every stitch. 

We didn’t settle for basic polos. 

We designed durable, standout workwear that looked sharp and performed better. 

We built kits for their team with custom touches: personalized embroidery, packaging that made an impression, a process that felt seamless. 

When their team walked into that event, people noticed. 

They were the brand everyone remembered. 

The CEO called me a week later. 

He said, We got more leads from that event than the last three years combined. 

That’s when I realized: you don’t have to leave the best of corporate behind. 
You bring it with you. 
You honor it. 
You adapt it. 
You make it your own. 

Here’s what I carried from corporate to entrepreneurship: 

Relentless focus on the client’s brand. 

Obsession with quality, no matter the order size. 

Systems for follow up and accountability. 
Never losing sight of the little things. 

But here’s what I left behind: 
The red tape.
The onesizefitsall solutions.
The idea that only big budgets deserve big effort. 

If you’re thinking about starting your own thing, don’t slam the door on your past. 

Bring the best parts with you. 
Let them fuel your next chapter. 

The most successful entrepreneurs I know aren’t rebels without a cause. 

They’re students of what worked before, now writing their own rules.

Imagine your team walking onto a trade show floor, all wearing the same crisp, branded workwear. 👕

People stop talking.

Heads turn.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆?????

I used to think swag bags were the secret weapon.

Pens, stress balls, USB drives, classic trade show fare. ✒️

Real Talk.....

You could have a bag stuffed with gold, and it wouldn’t save you from a tired, 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘴.

It is stuff that my nightmares are made of.

Let me tell you a lil' story.

A few years back, I worked with a Houston energy company prepping for one of the biggest industry expos in the country.

They called me late, 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘.

Their booth was ready.

Their giveaways were set. 🛍️

But their team’s uniform was...well, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

I’ll never forget the CEO’s words:

Our booth looks amazing, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲. 😬

We got to work.

With just days to spare, we outfitted every single team member in custom branded workwear:

The kind that catches your eye from across the expo hall.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘩.

The results?

People stopped by......not just for the swag bags, but to ask, Who are you guys?

Conversations that started with, "Love the look!" turned into real business leads.

Their team felt different too.

You could see it in the way they stood, the way they spoke about their company.

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮.
And it was contagious.

Here’s what most trade show playbooks get wrong:

𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
Your team is your walking billboard......make them count.

But if you have to choose where to invest, dress your team for the business you want to earn.

Ask yourself:

Would you rather be remembered for a pen or for the impression your team made?

𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧 𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 🔫

Your best weapon?

𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.
𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗹𝘆.

It’s never the team with the biggest swag bag. 

𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙.

I’ve seen it with oil execs, construction crews, and fast growing startups. 🎯

Want your team to be the ones everyone talks about?

Comment below with your wildest trade show story.

 📸 Venessa and I at Gastech!

Are you tired of 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 and 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘢𝘳? 

Want your brand to truly stand out in a crowded marketplace? 

The secret isn’t just in the logo or the colors. 

It’s in how you 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 your custom apparel to make a real impact. 

If you’re ready to elevate your brand with apparel that turns heads and sparks conversations, I’ve got some gamechanging tips for you.

In today’s competitive landscape, 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁. 

Your apparel needs to be memorable, durable, and aligned with your brand’s personality. 

That’s where strategic design and quality materials come into play. 

Here are my top tips to ensure your custom apparel isn’t just another item on the shelf but a powerful branding tool:

𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙄𝙩 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡
• Incorporate your logo, tagline, or a unique design element that tells your brand story.

• Personalized touches like embroidered names or custom artwork, set you apart.

• When people wear your brand with pride, it creates authentic exposure.

𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙎𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡
• Avoid clutter; stick with bold, clean visuals.

• Use contrasting colors to enhance visibility.

• A simple, striking design is more memorable.

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩
• Select fabrics suited to your environment, moisture wicking for active teams, heavyduty for construction workers.

• Comfortable apparel encourages more wear, more exposure.

• Think about practicality; it’s a reflection of your brand’s professionalism.

𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙨
• Partner with a trusted supplier who understands your vision.

• They can guide you through fabric choices, design options, and finishing techniques.

• A good partner ensures your apparel looks polished and aligns with your brand standards.

Remember, your custom apparel is a walking billboard. 

It’s a direct reflection of your 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭, and your 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.

Investing in stand out apparel isn’t just a purchase; it’s a strategic move to boost brand recognition and foster loyalty. 

When done right, it becomes a powerful tool that helps your business leave a lasting impression.

If you’re serious about making your brand unforgettable, take these tips to heart. 

Work with a partner who values excellence and understands that every stitch tells a story. 

The right apparel can do more than dress your team, it can elevate your entire brand.

Let’s chat about how we can make your brand shine through custom apparel that speaks volumes. 

Because when your apparel stands out, so does your business.

#livideo

Your brand has seconds to make an impression....how will you use them? 🕐

In Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction, custom apparel goes 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮.

It’s about visibility, trust, and loyalty, inside your company and out in the field.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨:

They order bulk generic polos and hope their logo does all the work.

But if that shirt is scratchy, badly sized, or just plain unappealing, it ends up at the back of the closet.

𝗢𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲: 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵. ♻️

What does that actually say about your brand?

Ask your team.......they know the answer.

The companies that win at branding treat every piece of workwear as a signal. 

𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨:

Would I be proud to wear this outside of work?

Does this reflect what our company stands for: quality, safety, reputation?

Will this turn heads at a trade show, a job site, or a community event?

Here’s what I’ve learned after years of helping companies design branded workwear:

The right material matters. 𝘐𝘧 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵, 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘵.

A great logo is just the start. Placement, color contrast, and even custom touches (like employee names or project milestones) 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.

Consistency turns your people into brand ambassadors. When teams wear matching, high-quality gear, it’s instantly memorable and 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨.

Little upgrades matter. Water-repellent fabrics for field teams. UV protection for pipeline crews. Breathable polos for meetings. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵.

I’ve seen first hand how a simple investment in better gear changes the game.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽.
𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

Clients see the difference, even before a single word is spoken.

Your brand isn’t just a logo on a shirt.
It’s the story you tell, the quality you show, and the experience people have with your team...𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮.

So, next time you’re ordering workwear, ask yourself:

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁?

And what piece of branded gear does your team love enough to wear on the weekends?

If you think branding is just slapping a logo on a shirt, think again.

Most entrepreneurs miss the real power of promotional and apparel branding.

It’s not about what you sell, it’s about what your brand says about you.

In a crowded market, authenticity and consistency aren’t nice-to-haves.

They’re the difference between being forgotten and being worn every day.

Building a recognizable brand goes beyond custom apparel.

It’s about creating an experience that your audience feels, remembers, and wants to share.

Think about it:

Choosing colors that evoke feelings, not just look good

Crafting stories behind every campaign that make your brand relatable

Designing products that become part of your customer’s everyday life

Developing a consistent message that resonates across all touchpoints

When you invest in your brand, you're not just making a sale, you're building trust.

That trust turns into loyalty.

Loyal customers become ambassadors, spreading your message naturally.

As mompreneurs, we juggle a million roles.

We handle everything from managing kids to running a business.

But when we get branding right, it simplifies everything.

It saves time.

It builds loyalty.

It elevates your business in ways you never imagined.

And it’s not just about the big campaigns or fancy designs.

It’s also about the small details:

Thoughtful corporate gifts that leave a lasting impression

Event planning that makes your brand unforgettable

Creative merchandising that tells your story without words

Your promotional products are your silent salespeople.

They carry your message long after the event is over.

So, here’s the question:

How are you turning your authentic story into your promotional products today?

And what’s one branding tactic that’s made a real difference for you?

What has worked, and what hasn’t?

Let’s share ideas.....your insight might just inspire someone else to take their branding to the next level.

Remember, branding isn’t just a logo, it’s the feeling people get when they see your name.

Make it memorable. Make it authentic. And watch your business grow.

Most branded workwear looks the same.

Logos slapped on polos. 👕

Colors that don’t mean anything.

𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 🚫

If you want your team’s apparel to get noticed, and actually say something about your brand....𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺:

Start with your why.

Before picking shirts or hats, get clear on what you want people to feel when they see your name.

Is it trust? 👍

𝗚𝗿𝗶𝘁? 

Progress? 

Figure out the vibe first. 😎

𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.

Instead of just your logo, add something unique.

Maybe it’s a tagline, a founding year, or a nod to your hometown. 📍

𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧.

Mix materials and styles.

Everything doesn’t have to match.

A collection with a mix of textures, patterns, or even a retro piece sparks real conversations. 🗨️

Keep it wearable.

No one wants to wear a billboard.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻.

Get team input.

Ask your employees to vote on designs.
If they love it, they’ll wear it everywhere, turning them into walking storytellers for your brand. 📚

It’s simple....if you want to stand out, don’t settle for cookie-cutter.

Make every piece of apparel say something real about who you are. 😍

If you had to choose ONE element, logo, tagline, color, or story....what would you build your next collection around?

𝗠𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 

School is officially back in session in Fulshear, and suddenly... 

No more snack requests every ten minutes. 🍿 

𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵. 

No last-minute plans for water parks or ice cream runs.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿. 🌞

But then the quiet hits, and it’s almost too much.

Funny how you can miss the noise, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡.

If you’re a parent, you know that odd feeling: 

Relief and a little sadness, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

It reminds me a little of entrepreneurship. 

There are seasons where everything is loud...constant demands, busy days, full calendars. 

And then suddenly, things slow down. 

You think you want the quiet, but sometimes, you miss the “𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀.”

If you’re settling back into the new routine this week, 𝗜 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁. 
 
The adjustment is real, at home and at work.

𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵?

I used to think “networking” just meant showing up to events and handing out business cards.

If I’m honest, I dreaded it. 

Everything felt transactional, like everyone in the room was just waiting for their turn to talk about themselves.

But finding my tribe in Houston’s business scene changed everything for me.

Here’s how it played out:

At first, I started going to more focused events, industry luncheons, leadership breakfasts, even local volunteer days. 

Instead of trying to work the whole room, I picked a few people and just had real conversations. 

No awkward pitch. 

No hard sell. 

Just listening and sharing a little about what I do.

Over time, I noticed something different. 

The same faces kept popping up. 

We’d remember each other, not because of a business card, but because of a real conversation. 

We started rooting for each other and sharing ideas, even outside of those events.

That’s when the magic really started to happen.

One day, someone from my “tribe” called and said, “Hey, I met a company that needs branded workwear. Thought of you immediately...ready for an intro?” 

A few days later, another person sent a note: “There’s a group looking for custom apparel for an upcoming event. I told them you’re the best.”

Those referrals didn’t happen because I asked for them. 

They happened because we built real trust and respect. 

My tribe got to know my business and me as a person. They wanted to see me win.

That’s the part most people miss about networking.

Don't just collect contacts. 

Finding your people, those who get your challenges, share your values, and want to support your growth.

My best clients have always come from these connections. 

Not cold emails. 

Not spammy LinkedIn DMs. DON'T GET ME STARTED!!!

Not ads that disappear into the void.

If you want better clients, and frankly, a better business...invest in relationships, not just transactions.

Find your tribe and show up for them, every single time. 

Because when you do, they’ll start showing up for you.

#livideo

Have you ever thought about the things we take for granted every day?

Like the fact that the person who walked into a job site this morning will walk back out tonight. 

The fact that when danger shows up, sometimes in a flash of heat or a sudden spark....someone’s gear will hold up, because it has to.

That’s what this conversation is about.
On Wednesday at 9am CT, we’re going live for Beyond the Logo: John Nichols on Gear That Guards Lives.

John is the driving force behind RPS Solutions, a company that creates flame-resistant and PPE products trusted by people in some of the toughest jobs in the world.
And this isn’t about product specs or marketing buzzwords. It’s about meaning.

It’s about what it feels like to be responsible for gear that stands between someone and harm. It’s about the stories that keep John and his team committed to a higher standard every single day.

We’ll talk about:
 ✔ Why safety gear is more than equipment, it’s a lifeline
 ✔ How trust is earned in industries where failure isn’t an option
 ✔ What it means to build a brand that saves lives, not just sells products

If you lead a team, run a business, or care about the people who make everything in our world work, you need this conversation.

Because at the end of the day, the best brands aren’t about logos or labels. 
They’re about people. 

And this one is about protecting them.

Join us live. Bring your coffee. 

And leave with a new understanding of what it means to go beyond the logo.

See you there live with John Nichols and Venessa Homewood!

The toughest projects don’t send calendar invites. 🗓️

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵. 

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱.

If you’re an entrepreneur (or a corporate leader looking to shake things up), you learn pretty quickly, 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡.

I remember launching my custom apparel business after years in big corporate. 

Excitement? 𝗬𝗲𝘀.

But fear? 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆.

Shifting from running billion-dollar brands from a conference room......

To connecting boots-on-the-ground in Houston construction yards, rig sites, and office towers. 🏢

𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: 

What if the doors don’t open? 

What if your workwear or promo drop snags, and there’s nowhere to hide? 

In those moments, confidence isn’t a feeling, it’s a discipline 🔁

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀.

Brand evolution means building your client’s trust by putting their leaders in products you designed.

𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙐𝙇𝙏𝙎 won’t negotiate with your comfort zone.

Here’s the truth I stand by:

Building resilience is about consistency. No gloss or shortcuts.

It’s 𝘁𝗵𝗲 little handshake that closes repeat business.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 referral that comes in after someone brags about their gear—because it holds up on a 15-hour shift.

Your push through “𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧?” is what compounds over time.

Courage comes dressed in safety gear, scrubbed hands, and phone calls to double-check timelines.

The wins that matter most are slow cooked, with everyday reps and responsible risks. 🍳

Don’t ignore that edge-of-your-seat feeling; 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴. 

If you’re transitioning—career-wise, company-wise, brand-wise, I’ve been right there.

Redefine what confidence looks like.

𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨.

𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭.

Stand stronger with every odd you beat.

⭕ Reputation and community were not sidelined...they remade my entire trajectory.

So no...you never have to wait for 0% nerves to make something remarkable happen.

Ready is a myth, 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

If you’re reading this, keep pushing.

Because showing up real.

And ready to work, is who we remember.

📸 Venessa Homewood and I doin' it scared since 2024.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? 

It’s not just about size or visibility. 😀

Sometimes, the secret lies in how your audience 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥.

Here’s a little known tactic that can make your company's logo way more memorable: 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙏𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙.

The reason is simple but often overlooked.

Billboards are great for mass exposure, but they’re passive. 

People see them, maybe glance at them, but they 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲.

Tshirts, on the other hand, create a different kind of connection. 

They turn your logo into a wearable experience. 

When someone wears your brand, it becomes 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆. 

It’s not just seen from afar, it’s carried around and displayed in everyday life.

Here’s how this tactic works and why it’s more effective:

It transforms your logo into a personal badge, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

It encourages organic conversations. ♻️

When someone sees a Tshirt with your logo, they might ask about it, prompting personal interactions.

It creates ongoing exposure. 

Unlike a billboard that disappears after a few seconds, a Tshirt is worn repeatedly, 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

And let’s be honest, a Tshirt is a mobile billboard. 

But it’s also a 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦, and 𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣.

How do you leverage this?

Invest in high quality, eye catching designs that resonate with your target audience.

Distribute these Tshirts strategically at events, in your community, or as part of employee uniforms.

Encourage wearers to share photos on social media, turning your brand into a 𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.

Remember, it’s not just about the logo. 

It’s about embedding your brand into the daily lives of your 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 and 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴.

Next time you plan your branding strategy, ask yourself: 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦? 👍

Or are we creating something people want to wear, talk about, and carry with them?

Sometimes, the most subtle approach leaves the biggest impression. 

And in marketing, 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜.

📸 Venessa Homewood and I in our signature colors. 💙💛

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