We were lucky to catch up with Stan Rudman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.
I am proud to be a 3rd generation owner of our 4th generation family business. In 1930’s my grandfather Raul Rudman was an expert tailor from Poland. During the war, he took his family and fled to the United States, but at that time the US was not allowing people into the country, so the ship stopped in Cuba for a time and they ended up staying there. My grandparents moved to this foreign island not speaking a word of Spanish (or English). Both of my parents were born in Cuba and led a nice life, my grandfather opened a tailor shop and started to produce mens suits for government officials and retailers. My father Frank grew up in the business and then helped grow it to over 700 employees. They were manufacturing suits under the brand called Palm Beach. One day Fidel Castro walked into the business to meet everyone, at that time, people liked him, but in the back of his mind, he was looking around to see what he will be taking over.

My father married very young and in 1961, he took the entire family (cousins, aunts uncles) and moved them to Miami, thinking they would only be there for a few months. Well they never went back and my mom was only 19 and absolutely left everything behind, physically and emotionally,

In Miami, my father studied night at the University of Miami and graduated in 1963, while working days as an accountant, My grandfather became a tailor at Saks Fifth Ave on Lincoln Road. It was a tough challenge. From the Penthouse in Cuba to a small efficiency in South Miami Beach. But he prevailed and my dad and grandfather started a business in 1963 designing and manufacturing Men’s and Boys swimwear and guayabera shirts under our established Weekender branded label. They sold local dealers and the larger depart’ment stores came aboard. Business grew, they created brands, including licensing the YSL mens swimwear brand for the United State, opening Saks, Neman’s and more. The 1970’s was a huge growth for them. In the 1980’s they created a lifestyle Surf brand called Sun Country Surfer, where Kelly Slater as a young surfer was one of our team riders on the circuit. Then in the late 1980’s/1990’s, I joined the company along with my brothers and we stared the Hook& Tackle Performance Fishing clothing brand, and to this day has become one of the largest recognized fishing brands in the world.

Working with family is like no other, we all look out for each other. The trust among family is what keeps us growing. We all want to succeed for each other.

Stan, 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?
Like my father, as a child I grew up in the apparel industry, working summers and learning all about the business. After graduating from the University of Miami, I specialized in sales, advertising and marketing. Today, as CMO, we have taken the brand to the next level with our powerful websites, Apps & B2B applications. I enjoy promoting our business, how much fun is it to attend and sponsor fishing tournament globally, as well as, giving back to our community. For over 24 years I am still a proud co-chairman of the Miami Dolphins Foundation Fins Weekend, where we enjoy a day of fishing and golf helping to raise money for the Miami Dolphins & the Nat Moore Foundation, giving back for kids education. It is so cool I am able to use the power of our brands to help others. I truly love that part of my job.

Over the years I have become friendly with influencers who really enjoy to fish. Shep Rose from Bravo’s Southern Charm, is a buddy and is a major fisherman, he came to Miami and spent the day with me, as he came to our facilities, he was like a kid in a candy store. Chef Tom Colicchio from TV’s Top Chef, I met at a restaurant in Miami and we hit it off, he wore Hook & Tackle on his show. He loves to fish and cook his catch. Our gear has appeared in many TV and movies, including Netflix Bloodline, Julia Roberts show Homecoming, Narcos and many more. Because Miami has become a major haven for film, many wardrobe directors contact us directly and visit our facility to outfit stars for their movies.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Wow, the word resilience is on our blood! My family went through enough in their lifetime, my grandfather having to start all over again in Cuba and then again both my parents and grandparents starting all over again in Miami. They lived a grand life in Cuba having the best life could offer only to lose it all and having to start from scratch. That is the definition of resilience and I know I have it in me to appreciate every single thing life offer to me. I believe at the end of the day everything that happens has a solution and its the best way to keep a positive mind set and move forward.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
We design, manufacture and distribute our own product. We a have a strong design/production team developing new and innovative fashions. We do have our own USA manufacturing facility with over 100,000 square feet including a large cutting, sewing and distribution center located in Miami just north of the Miami Design District. We have sewers that have been with us over 50 years. We also have offshore production globally. The most important lesson about manufacturing is the quality control. Our QC department is incredibly strict, that is your name and reputation. Our gear is made to last!

Contact Info:

• Website: hookandtackle.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hookandtackle
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hookandtackle
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/hookandtackle
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hookandtackle
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/hookandtackle