Thinking about starting an apparel brand or adding merchandise to your existing business?

In this episode, Ryan Williams from Industry Threadworks sits down with Nik and Lee Hawks - entrepreneurs with 17+ years of brick-and-mortar experience and a background in apparel that includes getting their line into Nordstrom and Fred Segal - to talk about what actually works when launching apparel.

Whether you're a coffee shop, restaurant, gym, or lifestyle brand looking to add merch, or you're building an apparel brand from scratch, this conversation is packed with real-world advice.

In this episode we cover:

How to test apparel designs with minimum risk (start at 50 units or similar MOQ).
Print-on-demand vs. screen printing - what new brands actually need to know.
Using DTF heat transfers to test hoodies and specialty items without holding inventory.
How to track sales data and size ratios to make smarter reorders (the $10 Shopify app that does it).
Why storytelling impacts purchasing decisions more than quality or price.
How to build a local brand community that spreads organically.
The best blank T-shirt and tank top vendors for new apparel brands (S&S Activewear, Alternative Apparel, Allmade, Next Level, Comfort Colors).
Garment dye, dolman cuts, and blank selection for lifestyle and wellness brands.
How timing and market saturation affect your brand's chances of breaking through.
Adding an immersive in-store merch experience to drive sales and brand loyalty.

Mentioned in this episode:

Stories That Stick by Kindra Hall
DeepMine app for Shopify
S&S Activewear for blanks
Allmade organic blanks
Alternative Apparel
Next Level 6210, 3600, 3633, 1533 tank tops

This is a must-watch for apparel entrepreneurs, small business owners, coffee shop owners, gym owners, and anyone looking to launch a merchandise line or add some lifestyle merch to their existing brand without overcomplicating it.

If you got something out of this episode check out our FREE Facebook group where we talk about all the details of the apparel world, from starting and scaling a full fledged apparel brand to just getting some T shirts for your coffee business without getting ripped off. https://www.facebook.com/groups/industrythreadworks

If you'd like to have us produce your apparel and/or fulfill your products, hit us up at the links below & let's chat!

Screen Printing & Embroidery
Industry Threadworks Website - https://www.industrythreadworks.com
Industry Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/industry_threadworks
Industry Threadworks Email - Info@IndustryThreadworks.com

3PL Fulfillment Services
Archive 3PL Website - https://archive3pl.com
Archive 3PL Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/archive3pl
Archive 3PL Email - Info@Archive3PL.com

Nik & Lee's Connections
Nik's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nikhawks
Paleo Treats Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paleotreats

Adding apaprel to an existing business is TOTALLY different than starting & scaling an apaprel line. It's actually way simpler than most people think it can be.

In this episode, Ryan Williams from Industry Threadworks sits down with Tim Speer, CEO of Veteran Inc. - a non-profit 501(c)(3) that provides free tattoos to veterans as a form of therapy and community. Tim and Ryan go through the process step by step of how to add apparel to an existing business profitably, without it becoming a distraction, and the systems that make it all run smoothly.

Topics Covered:

• 0:00 — Intro: What is Veteran Inc. and why add apparel?
• 1:02 — Apparel as a value-add vs. running an apparel brand
• 3:41 — Common mistake: launching too many designs too fast
• 4:58 — Recommended starting point: one design, two colors, 100 units
• 5:54 — Choosing the right colors and sizing ratios (the bell curve)
• 9:22 — How sizing ratios work and why they matter
• 11:45 — Vector files vs. raster files: what print shops actually need
• 14:09 — Adobe Illustrator: why every brand owner should learn it
• 17:37 — Private labeling, neck labels, and FTC compliance requirements
• 20:20 — "Made in the USA" labeling rules and the garment industry loophole
• 22:54 — Pricing breakdown: what 100 units actually costs all-in
• 23:36 — The production process from file submission to pickup
• 24:55 — Tips on running apparel at events: packing, booth setup, and POS systems
• 27:53 — Setting up a Shopify store and POS for in-person sales
• 30:28 — Using AI (ChatGPT) to create product mock-ups and lifestyle photos
• 34:03 — Print-on-demand vs. screen printing: DTF transfers explained
• 36:10 — Fulfillment: how to self-fulfill orders efficiently (thermal printers, poly mailers, ShipStation)
• 39:02 — When to outsource to a 3PL (and what that threshold looks like)
• 40:00 — Wrap-up and mention of the Liberty Risk podcast

If you got something out of this episode check out our FREE Facebook group where we talk about all the details of the apaprel world, from starting and scaling a full fledged apparel brand to just getting some T shirts for your coffee business without getting ripped off. https://www.facebook.com/groups/industrythreadworks

If you'd like to have us produce your apparel and/or fulfill your products, hit us up at the links below & let's chat!

Screen Printing & Embroidery
Industry Threadworks Website - https://www.industrythreadworks.com
Industry Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/industry_threadworks
Industry Threadworks Email - Info@IndustryThreadworks.com

3PL Fulfillment Services
Archive 3PL Website - https://archive3pl.com
Archive 3PL Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/archive3pl
Archive 3PL Email - Info@Archive3PL.com