We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandon Selby a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brandon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

I think it was 2017 and I was vending at “Sneaker Con” in Washington DC, it was a LONG two day event and there was thousands of people. It was by far my most successful event due to all the connections and customers I made but one in particular stuck out. Two young men came up to my table and where in awe of my brand and began to explain to me how they were starting off their own brand as HS juniors and they were nervous and kind of lost. we talked for about 30 minutes on how I started and the fears I had when I started. They had a few shirts in their bookbag and I purchased one and gave them my phone number and told them to call me whenever they needed help or encouragement. a little while later they called me and wanted to get hoodies made, so I used my manufacture to get them their first set of hoodies. after that about 4 years go by and I get a random text message from a different number and its one of the kids explaining to me how life has been and that he took a break from clothing and is ready to get back into it. we met up for about 2 hours and spoke and now he’s back on track. He mentioned to me how that initial conversation and me still pushing my brand kept him motivated when things got tough for him with his brand. I feel like that type of inspiration is more important than any clothing I could sell. Hearing his success and motivation recharged my own battery to keep inspiring and pushing forward with my company.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Brandon Selby I’m 32yrs old and I’m the owner of Free Thinkers

I started my brand in 2013 in my college dorm room at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.
I’ve always searched for dope and unique shirts and people would always ask e where I got them from and Id show them a website or tell them the store. Until one day I said to myself why don’t I just make the shirts people would want and I can be the website they shop from.

The first brand I tried to create was called ” hometown heroes” and it only made it as far as a logo and an IG page. It sounded like a great idea at the time but I didn’t really love the brand and it didn’t fit my life message. So about a year goes by and one day I’m listening to music doing school work and the hip hop artist from Washington DC “wale” said on his mixtape called ” the mixtape about nothing” the phrase ” Thank God for the Free Thinkers.”
Once I heard that phrase I knew it was it and I immediately wrote it down so I didn’t forget. I played the song two more times and each time it felt more and more real that it was the phrase and name I needed to run with. That summer hit and I came home and went right to a printing company with my logo design and trying to get a quote. I knew NOTHING about the apparel industry but I knew I had the hustle to make it happen and learn as I grew. Two weeks later it was time to pick up my first shirts and the total was $575, and I had $574 the girl I was dating at the time let me borrow a dollar to kick off my dreams. I was so excited and happy and nervous at the same time. The same day I had a tattoo appointment and after I asked my artist if he wanted to by a T-shirt and he said yes and after that the biggest relief came over me as I made my first ever sale. fast forward 9 years later and here we are.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that I just didn’t give up, things got scary and dark and I questioned myself with my brand if it was even worth it. I’ve felt every emotion possible with it but throughout all that I just kept going. Trying different things and new designs, some were huge hits while others flopped hard.
Even when I’ve seen other brands surpass mine in notoriety I still did not give up because I’ve learned we are all on our different journeys and mine is mine and theirs is theirs.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

When I first started I knew nothing about manufacturing state side or overseas. I learned everything through trial and error and spending my own money to get things how I like them. I started off with just t-shirts and it was generic basic ones that feel rough and ae boxy cut. After shopping around for different shops I could build relationships with I landed on one in Baltimore city and that’s where I discovered more fashion forward t-shirt that are much softer and form fitting cut.
I wanted to step my game up with the hoodies and sweat pants so I took a risk on a overseas manufacture who contacted me through IG. I sent them $500 for a bunch of different samples I wanted made and was super scared because I had no guidance and it was a shot in the dark and could be a scammer. One thing I learned about this be very VERY specific on what you wants and use as many visuals as possible. what you think is the norm is not the same every where and they make things EXACTLY how you tell them to do so.
I also have learned there are really good manufactures and not so good ones and you can waste your money on them. I spent a lot of money trying to perfect women’s workout leggings from a manufacture.

the biggest lesson overall is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to using overseas manufacturers, anything these big companies can do so can the little guys and go even more with the designs.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I make sure to ALWAYS reply back to all my Dm’s from customers and repost their pictures they tag me in. To me Im just a regular guy but to others I may be a big deal so when I reply or repost it could bring them a lot of joy that one of their favorite brands is reposting them or being in constant contact with them. I know what it feels like to hit up a company and get no reply and also the feeling you get when they do reply or repost your pictures on social media so I want to keep that good feeling and good vibes going with my customer base.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.freethinkersclothing.com
• Instagram: _Freethinkers
• Facebook: Free thinkers

Image Credits
Kevin Ewing