Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Wright.
Hi Jeff, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The idea first came about in December of 2017 when I was looking for a fun way to flex my creative muscles that I didn’t otherwise have the option to use for my “real” 9-5 job. I had made a few random designs for shirts previously and sold them to friends on Teespring, but decided to give it a go on a larger scale. Nick, a buddy of mine since childhood, texted me when I posted my first social media announcement about Pick & Shovel Wear, asking if I was looking for a partner. From there we took off with a handful of Minnesota themed designs, eventually branching into designs for classic Minnesota sports athletes and memorable sporting events. We’ve had the opportunities to work with a number of pro teams and athletes which has been a ton of fun.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Just understanding the ins and outs of the custom apparel business was something that took a bit of time to get down to a science. Finding a local screen printer that worked with our schedule and having a good relationship with was huge. Landing on which brand of apparel took some time before we got that down, not to mention the formula for ordering sizes so we weren’t out of larges in a day but stuck with 50 smalls.
Advertising is still something we strive to improve on, and rely a TON on social media word of mouth to get our stuff in the customer’s eye. Thankfully we have awesome followers and made a bunch of new friends in the process. It helps to reach out to local folks that have a large following and bigger reach, and for the most part, they’ve been happy to share our brand with their people.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do most of the creative work, along with ordering garments and setting that all up. Nick has also done some design work, but mostly deals with fulfillment – picking up completed jobs and packing/shipping to our customers. He also takes point on most of our live events, slinging our goods at local markets. It works out pretty well since Nick is in his truck most of the day where I’m sitting in front of the computer with my feet up. 🙂
I take a lot of pride in my designs, that they’re unique and not just a boring shirt that you could find anywhere. I want it to be a conversation when someone sees it.
Contact Info:
- Email: sales@pickandshovelwear.com
- Website: pickandshovelwear.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/pickandshovelwear
- Facebook: facebook.com/pickandshovelwear | facebook.com/pickandshovelMN
