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

Jeremy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

In the veteran-owned business community, there are a few apparel companies that stand out. The most successful of these is Grunt Style. For the last couple years, after graduating college, I worked in the recreational cannabis community. During my time in that community I created the idea for Blunt Style LLC. Over the span of 18 months I mulled the idea of making a parody to provide an alternative to the other veteran apparel companies. I pitched the idea to coworkers and customers, especially veterans. This is where I found my mentor/partner Diamond Print Shop LLC. My pitch was consistently a resounding success with everyone in the discussion. I came up with name of the business, Blunt Style LLC. I then created our motto, ‘It’s a Pipe Dream’. Finally, I created our mascot Major Lee Stoned. What I had created was turning Blunt Style LLC into the ‘Weird Al’ of veteran apparel companies. I love Weird Al, not just as a performer, but as a business mode. Maybe, one day, he’ll sport one of my shirts. My company, like Weird Al, is a parody of the other veteran-owned apparel companies. Imitation is the ‘highest’ form of flattery.

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 Jeremy Poley. I am the Owner/CEO of Blunt Style LLC. I am a Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient. Over the last 18 months I mulled the idea of making a parody, veteran-owned apparel company. I love the veteran community. However, many of the clothing companies that appeal to veterans are too political or feed into the stereotype of being so socially and emotionally blunted that veterans can’t function ‘normally’. The only politics my company believes in is the legalization of marijuana because it is medicine. And, I believe all veterans should have access to alternative forms of therapy for the wide range of ailments and disabilities associated with the rigors of military service. I pitched the idea to coworkers and customers, especially veterans. This is where I found my mentor and graphic designer, Yuves with Diamond Print Shop. Blunt Style LLC currently offers a small selection of t-shirts. We are putting together designs for sweatshirts, hats, and stickers that will be launching soon. Blunt Style LLC offers high quality, American-made apparel for anyone who believes the stigma surrounding marijuana as medicine is an enigma. What sets us apart from other veteran-owned companies is that 50% of Blunt Style LLC profit will be donated to veteran charities and medical marijuana research. We are most proud of the willingness amongst the cannabis community to support this mission. The cannabis community rivals the diversity of the veteran community. Americans from almost all walks of life join the military. Also, Americans from almost all walks of life use cannabis, recreationally and medicinally. Blunt Style LLC, it’s a pipe dream… and pipe dreams can come true.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My management and entrepreneurial philosophy was formed through the managerial experiences and lessons learned while leading soldiers in the United States Army. It is through this experience that a person can truly learn effective team building. The special forces community is the only team that is built from individuals chosen by that team. In the regular military, leaders don’t get to choose their teams. Those teams are thrown together and it is up to the leadership to craft a team out of random people. This method of creating effective teams from random people puts into practice numerous psychological theories about leadership. It is through ‘trial by fire’ that a person realizes effective managerial skills and dynamic leadership abilities.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

On December 15th, 2007 I was wounded by an improvised explosive device, or IED. My injuries were many, but the most significant injury resulted in me being medically evacuated from Kirkuk, Iraq to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. From January 2008 until May 2008 I spent months rehabbing my body from physical wounds. Most importantly, those months were spent recalibrating my brain. My most significant wound was a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Two years after literally being an inch from dying, I was overcoming my obstacles and fears. In 2010, I deployed to Afghanistan as a squad leader, where I also earned a Bronze Star. It has been 15 years and I still deal with significant side effects from that near-death experience. Despite those everlasting physical, psychological, and mental ailments, I have been able to earn two college degrees and start my own business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bluntstylellc.com
• Instagram: @bluntstylellc
• Facebook: Blunt Style LLC
• Linkedin: Blunt Style LLC
• Twitter: @bluntstylellc
• Youtube: Blunt Style LLC
• Other: Tik Tok- @bluntstylellc

Image Credits
Jeremy Poley, Yuves Young at Diamond Print Sop LLC