What does it take to build a business with more than $30 million in sales before you turn 30? Start with a great idea and a penchant for risk, and give your customers a voice.
That’s what Jacob DeHart, 26, and Jake Nickell, 28 did with their online T-shirt design company, Threadless.com. The pair built an online community that allows users from all corners of the world submit t-shirt designs that are voted on, and then made available for sale. Since their launch seven years ago, every design printed has completely sold out.
Retailers like Target and Urban Outfitters have taken notice but the two preferred to stay on their own. Says Nickell, “We were just another product to put in their stores, and that’s really not the way we view ourselves.”
With more than half a million registered users and growing, the voice of Threadless community is the only marketing they’ll ever need.
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Posted by AllaN
Just like Ashley Qualls, Jacob and Jake just started their simple business which lead them to become rich enough to retire before age 65. Im very impressed by people who come up with all these great business ideas, Ashley; selling myspace layouts, Threadless; selling voted on t-shirts, and even the 1-800-Got-Junk company creator is rich. I mean.. getting paid for collecting garbage? COME ON, why wasn’t i born earlier, i could have been a living millionaire!
-AllaN -
Posted by David
The first few years of the company didn’t have great success; however, they managed to pull through. They’re a great example of entrepreneurs and probably the largest design t-shirt company. Their t-shirts aren’t priced ridiculously high like other clothing companies and their designs are unique.
Here’s an advice when it comes to starting a company. Most of the time if you want to start a company, start a company that does not involve inventory but selling a skill or a service. So if it does fall back, you’re not going to be in debt or having your inventory stuck somewhere where you can’t sell. Supply and demand.
If you’re interested in Threadless, check out the interview. It may be old but its still worth checking out.
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Posted by glimmerish
Great idea with a large community backing, but the quality of some of their shirts is a bit lacking.
After a few washes they’re quite rough. Also, I really don’t like the fact that they only give winning submitters a $1000 while they take in over a hundred times that amount for each shirt. They should do a part revenue share instead.
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Posted by mojaam
Used to be a huge fan, in fact submitted a design (didn’t make it of course) early on and bought a couple of shirts off from there. But I agree, they gotta respect the designers more. Oh yeh, also learned that their sizes is actually a level smaller, like I’m used to getting XL every where else but from them, it was really small so I get an XXL to compensate. I haven’t been there in a while but they need to start making affordable and cool hoodies especially with the cold season coming up.
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Posted by BEAUTYY
That’s such an awesome idea! Each winner’s unique design becomes shared among hundreds of thousands of people over the world. Imagine walking down the street and bumping into someone wearing YOUR design! Genius.
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Posted by cindy@staged4more
i like that they are keeping it independent from the big companies. i work in real estate and i blog frequently. recently it came out in the community that this indie real estate forum that i have been blogging on was suing this big company for pretending to buy them out for $33 million, in reality, copying their trade secrets and building a competing model after the indie company’s. as an user, i was pretty annoyed finding out they were selling out, not to mention the site was member-driven: member drive the seo, the membership and basically the content since it’s a blogging forum. so good for the 2 guys who are not selling out!
anyway, i agree with others, they should pay their designers more. after all, they made a lot of money off their ideas. moreover, the shirts are inconsistent. some run ridiculously 1.5 sizes smaller. and some run normal. it made ordering difficult.
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Posted by djmikey
There were millions of other folks selling t-shirts way before these two guys so how’d they manage to get so big? Like what kicked it off in the beginning?
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Posted by elysa
It’s another case of ‘I wish I thought of it first.’ I think Threadless is a great concept.
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Posted by keith_wyk
it’s a great concept as far as i’m concerned. but to make so much before hitting 30 really gets me jealous. i’m also aiming for something but at the moment i’m still very far off.
anybody here wants to be my partner?
tell me your pluspoints. we might be able to work something out. thanks -
Posted by Dar-Ling
I’ve checked out their site and I must say that I love their designs. Original and one of a kind. Very urban and cool!
Its things like this that makes others dream of wanting to have such a business of their own.
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Posted by Poulain
It’s great for artists and illustrators too exposure wise. If only it were that easy though! I wonder how much it cost them to set up everything? They’re set for life!
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Posted by Postman
I think that it is so unfair of them to keep all the profit for themselves, when the users are doing all the work for them. They should give something for the users in return. Why are people creating designs for them? They should be part of the company too!
If I were them I wouldn’t contribute!
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