The Party that Pays: Welcome to T2 Apparel

Back at Missouri State I got a job working at the only “Las Vegas Style Nightclub” in Springfield, MO. It was one of two really popular places downtown not overrun with freshmen all weekend so I thought I was pretty cool. But really I saw a party that made lots of money for people. And like that I was an entrepreneur. My friend Rick and I made plans for a bar franchise for both tropical and mountainous locales: Paradise Island and Paradise Mountain. Thankfully Rick has gone on to a successful career selling for Vanguard Packaging and we’ve avoided that path. 

Since then there’s been a lot of experiences: server at a winery where I met my better half, event Photo Booth owner (first business), social media manager, content manager, aftermarket tractor parts (first in marketing then moved into purchasing which I fell in love with), lighting manufacturer, FBA store and Etsy shop owner (second business), and then I moved to Montana from St. Louis to buy a custom drapery workroom and installation business which I ran for five years. 

Those five years were tough. More specifically they almost killed me, almost wrecked my marriage, and almost broke my passion. Had it not been for my family keeping the meaning of it all in focus it would have. But it didn’t. I was able to pay off then sell the business for more than I got it. We moved home to St. Louis and I swore off business ownership.

Before I left, my neighbor, Bob the Rainmaker, called me out for ignoring what had become blatantly obvious. Bob was the hardest person for me to break the news I was leaving to. He was a mentor and confidant to me through a time when such things were much needed and in short supply. He said, “Brandon what the hell are you gonna do go work for some asshole? C’mon.”

Now...I can still say I’m glad I didn’t listen to him because you wouldn’t be reading this had I not gotten a job. But, of course, he was right. I got a job as a buyer for the apparel program in a 300+ location travel center chain. I loved it. It turned out I was born to do apparel. But not for a distributor with one primary apparel customer. It would have to be something with more opportunity.

Then I meet Paul Kallush at ASD in the Get Down Art booth. We were fast friends. Kindred spirits. Next I went to the Licensing Expo. Thankfully I called Paul to let him know I’d be there. That’s a show where you really have to make all your appointments in advance or get turned away from booths when not lost in Mandalay Bay’s confusing layout for four days straight. 

But as it turned out Paul is a legend of the licensing industry known to insiders as “Kalli” and famous literally worldwide for his stories over five decades in licensing and product development. He’d done it all and, as many small business owners can appreciate, understood as only one with experience can the woes of ownership. But he was still so excited about all the stuff at the expo and he knew and introduced me to all the best people. The seed was officially planted. I moved home in October. This was in April. I’m writing this a week before Halloween. 

So, Bob, I made it about a year. Paul needed a new gig and one of my oldest friends, Sean Mulvey (coincidentally a bartender at the other popular bar in Springfield circa 200whatever), was looking to forge his own path forward.

Every now and then I’ll catch a whiff of stale beer in a sink and get Deja vu back to the bar. You’d have to convict me of something to own that place or somewhere like it now. But it was never the bar. It was the party. My friends were perpetually everywhere and I got paid to have fun with them. I was safe and had status because of all the cool people that trusted me to be on and eventually lead their team. 

And now, finally, it looks like I have my party back.

Welcome to T2.