We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justin Bracken. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justin below.

Alright, Justin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love for you to retell the story of how you came up with the idea for your business. We think our audience will really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I came up with the idea for Simply Dyed while I was on medical leave. At the time, I was living with my now-wife and her family and desperately needed an outlet for all the emotions I was experiencing. I was going through a very difficult period mentally and didn’t know how to cope with the stress life was throwing at me.

One day, my wife asked, “Would you like to go to Michaels and look at some craft stuff with me?” Of course, I went. While we were walking around, the tie-dye kits caught my eye. It reminded me of when my siblings and I were young and used to dunk-dye our shirts and shoes. It was such a great memory that we decided to grab a kit, and from there it was history.

We made some shirts, and I absolutely fell in love with tie-dye. From that point on, I made it my mission to color the world with positive vibes, good intentions, and vibrant styles. Our motto at Simply Dyed is “Color Your World”—because we value self-expression above all else.

We’ve been operating since the summer of 2020 and don’t plan on stopping until we achieve our goal: a shirt on every back and a positive vibe on every face. For me, this is more than worth every second because I don’t do it for the money. In fact, our shirts are only $25 for a reason: stay affordable, stay loyal. By not making money the focus, we’re able to pour more intention, care, and love into every shirt.

The real reason I was so drawn to tie-dye was because it gave me a sense of purpose again. After struggling with depression, it was difficult to gain control over my thoughts and emotions—but this craft brought me clarity. My mind feels calm, I feel happy, and I know this is what I’m meant to do.

Justin, we love having you share your insights with us. Before we dive into more questions, can you introduce yourself to our readers who may have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Justin Bracken, the owner and operator of Simply Dyed, a growing tie-dye clothing company. I run the business alongside my wife, Kassi, who handles the administrative work. We’re both in our mid-30s, finding our purpose within our passions. While my wife pursues her photography career, I’ve chosen the clothing industry.

I have a wide range of interests—I enjoy everything from Sub-EDM to Deathcore music and play several instruments including guitar, bass, drums, and piano. I also enjoy drawing, sculpting, and crafting. Honestly, I got into tie-dye by chance. While shopping one day, we came across the tie-dye section, and I was immediately intrigued. That spark grew into a passion I wanted to share with the world.

At Simply Dyed, customers enjoy a fully customizable experience. From shirt sizes to color choices (we offer over 40 colors, with more rotating in all the time), every piece is unique. We even have a quick consultation with each customer to ensure clarity and satisfaction.

What sets us apart is our focus on passion rather than profit. I didn’t start Simply Dyed to make money—I started it to spread my love of color. Every shirt is made individually from start to finish, not in batches. That’s the quality our customers expect, and we’re proud to deliver it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth. Can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This might sound surprising, but I believe every business owner eventually learns this: the saying “the customer is always right” isn’t always true.

Not long after we opened, I received an order for two shirts, with a turnaround time of 14 business days (we don’t operate on Sundays). I spent a couple of days working with the customer on colors and designs, but eventually, I had to set boundaries. I explained that after our initial consultation, I would work with the notes I had, and that was final.

When the shirts were ready, the customer didn’t respond to calls for pickup or delivery. I left a text and voicemail explaining that, per our purchase agreement, I would hold the shirts for 7 business days. If they weren’t claimed, I’d issue a full refund. The customer later accused me of stealing her money, but I provided proof of the refund in progress, along with screenshots and transcripts. She wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t going to be bullied. It was a tough lesson, but I learned that setting boundaries is just as important as customer service.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into something much bigger.

Even after five years, Simply Dyed is still technically a side hustle, but I hope to grow it into a full-time career. Recently, we expanded to social media (TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook), and our following is growing steadily. We’ve hosted giveaways to attract new customers and actively spread the word every day.

One of our biggest milestones has been building customer loyalty. Our most loyal customer has purchased multiple items—including hoodies, shirts, and a long sleeve—since 2020. Recently, she left a review saying: “The quality of this dye is insane. The color outlasted the shirt itself.”

That review perfectly reflects what Simply Dyed stands for: quality, care, and love in every piece.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://simplydyed.wixsite.com/sd816
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/SimplyDyed816
• Facebook: Search Simply Dyed in Lee’s Summit, Missouri!
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@SimplyDyed816

Image Credits

Credits: Photos by Kassi B.

https://photosbykassib.wixsite.com/pbkb