We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zach Clark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zach below.

Zach, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

To me, my parents have always been my go-to people for everything. From a young age, they taught me how to be a good person and treat everyone with respect. They are the ones who instilled in me a sense of giving back at such a young age. My parents led by example, consistently volunteering their time and resources to help those in need. They took me along to community service events and nursing homes where I witnessed firsthand the positive impact we could have on others’ lives. Their dedication to making a difference inspired me to adopt a similar mindset and commit to helping others whenever I can. As I grew older, I started finding my own opportunities to give back. In October of 2017, when I was a junior in high school, I lost a close friend to suicide. That tragic and unexpected loss marked the beginning of my personal journey in giving back. This experience not only reinforced the values that my parents taught me but also helped me develop leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by different people and communities. Since then, I have stayed committed to fundraising for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention with the help of some amazing friends and family, and can proudly say that we have raised over $30,000 for this very important organization.

Overall, my parents taught me the importance of giving back and have equipped me with the values to make a meaningful impact. Their guidance continues to inspire me every day, and I am grateful for the foundation they provided.

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 Zach Clark, I’m 24 years old and I am the owner of Eastern Visions and Clarkie’s Custom Apparel. Clarkie’s is a screen printing and embroidery shop and Eastern Visions is a Maine-based clothing brand. My journey into the screen printing industry began around the age of 13. My dad had been a screen printer for about 15 years before he decided to venture off on his own and establish Clarkie’s Graphic Design. During those early years, I helped him by catching shirts off the dryer, stacking, and folding them while he printed. By the time I was a sophomore in high school, I started doing sales, earning commissions from each sale I made. In 2020, My dad and I decided to become business partners and rebranded our company to Clarkie’s Custom Apparel. I believe the name change was an important part of the journey because although we do offer graphic design, we mainly focus on screen printed and embroidered apparel.

When you own a screen printing company, you start to think, “what can I create to launch a clothing brand? I have everything I need to make it happen.” That thought led me to establish Eastern Visions in 2021. My goal with Eastern Visions is to inspire people to get outside and explore everything that the East Coast has to offer. Currently, I focus on designs inspired by Maine but I look forward to expanding down the East Coast to showcase as many attractions as possible.

Something I’m most proud of? I’m proud of a couple things. One being the amount of people who are representing my brand. I always see people wearing EV and I’ve had others tell me that they’ve seen people out in public wearing my brand as well. It’s a cool feeling knowing that others appreciate your work. I’m also proud of the relationships I’ve built with clients and the reputation I’ve earned along the way.

The main thing I hope everyone takes out of this is that I’m dedicated to creating high quality apparel, not only for my brand, but for your brand/business too.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of finding new clients for me has been creating a large network. I’m actively involved with multiple organizations, such as a local Little League Organization, a prominent cornhole club, and various other community activities.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation has been built on my commitment to customer service, consistently delivering high-quality products and ensuring quick turnaround times to meet tight deadlines. Additionally, I am dedicated to giving back to my community through initiatives such as running fundraisers for schools or donating a portion of proceeds from sales to non-profits. These efforts reflect my values of helping others whenever possible, and they have played a significant role in establishing trust and credibility within my market.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.clarkiescustomapparel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkiescustomapparel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Clarkies-Custom-Apparel/100063630188385/
• Other: https://www.easternvisionsme.com/
  https://www.instagram.com/easternvisions_/
  https://www.facebook.com/people/Eastern-Visions/100083547290474/