We all have our go-to preferred vendors with whom we have developed long-standing relationships over the years. However, I feel it is crucial to always perform your due diligence and know what else is out in the market and doing well in that space. Sometimes you may be surprised, as I was in the headwear space, where I was locked down with my go-to brands.
Then, a few seasons ago, my team convinced me to give Branded Bills a chance to see how they would be received. I was blown away with their creativity and desire to make anything you could dream up – very inspiring. They’ve created so many great options to choose from using our Bear Paw logos, U.S. flags and our mountain ranges that turned out amazing. Now this brand that my team convinced me to try is in the regular rotation and doing really well.
I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’m always looking for someone who is more creative than me. Branded Bills really thinks outside the box and isn’t afraid to try new things. Two years ago, we brought in 48 pieces; last year, we did 400 pieces; and this year, we will do 1,200, as we have a scheduled drop for every month throughout the season. Other brands we decided to try that have done well are Donald Ross Sport for men, Pinned Range Finders and Straight Down for women. Don’t be afraid to see what’s on the other side of the fence; you may be pleasantly surprised.