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

Hi Nino , thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

We landed our first client by offering to help a local nonprofit, Community Housing Network of Michigan. They help low income families stay in their homes or find a new one. They also have countless drives that collect goods for the families. On a personal level, my wife and I adopted a family for Christmas through this nonprofit and we loved it.

When I started Hudson|Farley as a joke and some fun, I reached out to design, create and distribute tees and other items to help their cause. So a partnership was started that has been beneficial for both sides. From there we received other nonprofits and businesses to now even a TikTok influencer from Virginia with 1M followers to handle and design his merchandise.

It was never my intention to become a merchandise designer for anyone other than Community Housing Network but it almost blossomed organically. It took on its own direction with minimal effort once we showed what we can do for you.

Nino , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into this as a creative outlet for myself during the start of the pandemic. During that period of the 2 month lockdown, I took online classes on graphic design because it’s been an interest of mine. We’re an all content and creativity creators. We will film, we will design brand items, we will social media post and we will even record audio of different variety.

I’m most proud of being myself through this process. I think I have been very open and inclusive with followers I haven’t even met in person. I also am proud to show off my surrounding community. I love where we live and who we meet along the way.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

There are several ways we keep in touch with our followers and even eventual clients. Instagram has been the best platform for us to basically handle all our day to day business. I will DM to see how a client’s day is going. I will like and/or share a follower’s post or story. And we’re genuine about it, we don’t just do it just because. If we really agree or like your post we will share it. I think it’s a small and easy way to show you actually do listen.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

As it turns out by chance, the best source of new clients and followers has been the grooming industry. We designed a cool mustache tee that my wife hand sketched after the idea for the design is as thought of. That tee has been popular with the mustache and beard community all over. It really opened my eyes too just how big grooming is and the competitions all over the world that include women also who create artisan beards. Very impressive stuff out there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HudsonFarley?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1239575525
• Instagram: @the_hudson_farley
• Facebook: @Hudson-Farley Goods
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UChdwXWgDW91xrzb-BqVXDRg

Image Credits
Nino Di Pace Francesco M. Francesca P. Bob B.