We recently connected with Paul Farmer and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I have liked making custom apparel since I was 15 years old. I started getting into it when I use to play airsoft with my friends. I am a national bowler and I love talking to people so I made my own brand called Strike Nation. I made my own logo and did all the work to make it a live trademark without a lawyer or anything. After I had the trademark I started making bowling towels, shirts, and hats. I found that I loved making apparel so I bought an embroidery machine and taught myself everything. Once I learned for about 2 years I decided I wanted to do more than just bowling apparel. My Wife, brother, sister and I sat down and because I am all about family Ohana Embroidery was born. I have messed up so many shirts and hats in the past 5 years but have learned even more on how to be one of the best embroiderers around. Life is all about learning and growing. I work really hard and love what I do so it always shows in my work. Being a business owner is hard but so if life, you just have to keep working hard for what you want and you will succeed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello, my name is Paul Farmer, and I am the proud owner of Ohana Embroidery. Growing up in a military family, I had the opportunity to experience the world through the eyes of my parents. Family has always been at the core of who I am, instilling in me values of respect and empathy towards others. As a father, husband, friend, national bowler, and a man of faith, I strive to embody these principles in every aspect of my life.

My journey into the world of custom apparel began when I was around 20 years old. I ventured into the business world creating Strike Nation, a bowling company aimed at uniting bowlers worldwide. I crafted towels, shirts, and hats, shipping them not only across the country but also as far as Australia. This endeavor ignited my passion for creating personalized apparel and fostering connections with people.

Balancing a full-time job in the school district, I immersed myself in learning the craft of embroidery. I invested in an embroidery machine, printer with a heat press, and dedicated nights, weekends, and holidays to honing my skills for two years. Through perseverance and dedication, I honed my craft and established a reputation as one of the best embroiderers in the industry.

In 2018, I founded Ohana Embroidery, marking a significant milestone in my entrepreneurial journey. However, the following year brought one of the most impactful and challenging experiences of my life. In 2019, my sister tragically gave birth to twins prematurely, and both babies passed away in the hospital. This heartbreaking event left me juggling between the demands of my business, the school district, and grappling with my own emotions.

Amidst this turmoil, I realized the importance of prioritizing my well-being and being present for my loved ones. Making a difficult decision, I chose to leave my position in the school district to focus full-time on my business. The name “Ohana,” meaning family in Hawaiian, holds deep significance for me. It embodies the essence of my business philosophy, where every customer and order is treated with the same care and dedication as family.

At Ohana Embroidery, our motto “My Ohana grows one stitch at a time” reflects my commitment to infusing love and hard work into every aspect of my business. I am grateful for the blessings and lessons that come my way, and I attribute my success to unwavering faith, perseverance, and a profound appreciation for the importance of family.

In just a few short years, I have been able to double the growth of my business annually since 2020. With each order, I have dedicated myself to learning and refining my craft. It has been a privilege to collaborate with various organizations such as non-profits, schools, businesses, churches, and even prestigious institutions like IMG Academy. The recognition received as a nominee for Small Business of the Year in Manatee County from 2021 to 2023 has been an incredible honor. Winning the award in 2023 has only strengthened my pride in the success of my business.

Thank you for considering my journey and the values that drive Ohana Embroidery.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building an audience is tricky for most people. For me I have always been a man of my word. If you work hard and always do what you say you’re going to do people will share and follow you through anything. Business is not just about making money. Yes You need money to grow and support your family and bills. Business is also about making a difference even for just 1 person. I always try to make a difference in one person everyday. My audience grows because I always ask for reviews and people just share and talk about their experience with me. I love when someone calls and says “I hear you are the man”. My favorite type of order is when some says I was told by multiple companies my logo is too complicated and can not be done. To me embroidery is an artform and I love being able to show my abilities with thread.

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

My problem is I am too nice. Being in business you have to be 100% transparent with customers. I was in a lot of debt because I would not take money upfront and always thought people were like me and would pay. I had to sit on credit card debt and bills because of customers being busy to pick up and not coming to pay. When you are transparent you can still be nice you just have to say your price upfront and take either full amount or a deposit before starting the job.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ohanaembroidery.com
• Instagram: @ohanaembroidery
• Facebook: @ohanaembroidery
• Youtube: @ohanaembroidery

Image Credits

Paul Farmer