In a recent episode of The Shades of Entrepreneurship, I sat down with Jeremy Parker, an innovative entrepreneur who took the leap from documentary filmmaking to building a successful empire in the promotional products industry.
From his early days running a t-shirt company to co-founding swag.com, Jeremy’s journey offers invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Let’s dive into the insights he shared: From T-Shirts to Swag: Lessons from Jeremy Parker’s Entrepreneurial Journey on The Shades of Entrepreneurship
The Path from Filmmaker to Entrepreneur
Jeremy’s story begins in college, where he studied documentary filmmaking. While it may seem like a far cry from his current success in the promotional products industry, his creative background played a pivotal role in his entrepreneurial journey.
His first venture, Teas Antats, was a t-shirt company he launched while still in school.
Though the business presented its own challenges, it opened the door for Jeremy to explore the promotional products space—a niche that ultimately ignited his passion for entrepreneurship.
The lesson here is that your path may not be linear. Sometimes, taking a leap into something new, even if it feels unrelated, can lead you to the exact place you need to be.
For Jeremy, it was the discovery of an industry he fell in love with, and one that allowed him to channel his creativity in a new way.
The Power of Networking and Learning from Failure
Entrepreneurship is full of highs and lows, and Jeremy is no stranger to this reality. In our conversation, he emphasized the importance of networking and learning from both successes and failures.
One of his key strategies has been reaching out to influential figures—one of whom was none other than Mark Cuban. By building these connections, Jeremy gained valuable insights that helped shape his entrepreneurial approach.
He also shared the story of a failed social networking app he once launched, which served as a turning point. Rather than seeing the failure as a setback, Jeremy treated it as a learning experience, using the lessons to fuel future ventures. He attributes much of his success to his ability to adapt, evolve, and learn from each experience.
For entrepreneurs, this highlights the importance of resilience. Failure is not the end—it’s a stepping stone. Networking and being open to learning from both wins and losses are key ingredients for long-term success.
Launching Swag.com: Finding the Right Customer
In 2016, Jeremy co-founded swag.com, a platform that has become a leader in the promotional products space. The business grew quickly, but its success didn’t happen overnight.
Initially, Jeremy and his team targeted marketing departments as their core customer base. However, they soon realized that office managers were a better fit, as they often controlled purchases for company-branded swag.
By targeting office managers, swag.com was able to function as a “Trojan horse,” with its products being introduced to marketing and sales teams through these gatekeepers.
This strategic pivot highlights a critical lesson for entrepreneurs: know your customer. Sometimes, who you think is the ideal customer may not be the one making the purchasing decisions. Flexibility and an openness to testing assumptions are crucial for finding the right market fit.
The Creation and Vision for Swag Space
Building on the success of swag.com, Jeremy’s entrepreneurial vision didn’t stop there. During our interview, he introduced Swag Space, a new venture aimed at providing smaller promotional product distributors with a turnkey e-commerce platform and back-end operations.
His goal is to empower these businesses to compete more effectively in a fast-evolving industry, like my company Swag4MyBrand, where we deliver high-quality, custom-branded merchandise that helps individuals, brands, and companies stand out.
Swag Space underscores Jeremy’s understanding of the importance of scalability and empowerment in business.
By creating solutions that help smaller players level the playing field, Jeremy is demonstrating his commitment to not only growing his own ventures but also supporting the broader industry.
Entrepreneurial Advice: Open-Mindedness and Removing Ego
When asked for advice for entrepreneurs, Jeremy didn’t hold back. One of the most crucial pieces of wisdom he shared was the importance of being open-minded and removing ego from the equation. In the world of business, ego can cloud judgment, and it’s easy to get caught up in chasing the “grand slam.” Instead, Jeremy advises focusing on providing real value to customers and taking a more grounded, long-term approach.
He also stressed the importance of listening to your market and being willing to pivot when necessary. Sometimes, the right idea is hiding in plain sight, but you need to be open to seeing it.
Trends in the Promotional Products Industry
Finally, we discussed the future of the promotional products industry. Jeremy shared how the industry has evolved from simply selling branded t-shirts and hats to offering more personalized, functional items that provide real value to customers. This shift has been crucial for swag.com’s success, as they continue to focus on quality over quantity.
This trend toward personalization and usefulness offers a valuable takeaway for entrepreneurs across industries: it’s not just about selling a product, but about providing something that enriches the customer experience. In today’s market, consumers are looking for more than just a logo—they want items that are relevant and useful in their daily lives.
Final Thoughts
My conversation with Jeremy Parker was filled with lessons on resilience, creativity, and strategic thinking. From his early days running a t-shirt company to building swag.com into a promotional products powerhouse, Jeremy’s journey is a masterclass in entrepreneurship.
He taught us the importance of networking, learning from failures, and, most importantly, staying aligned with customer needs. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner, Jeremy’s insights on finding the right customer, adapting your strategy, and removing ego from decision-making are invaluable.
If you missed the episode, be sure to catch the full recording on The Shades of Entrepreneurship website, and don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring interviews with entrepreneurs like Jeremy Parker.
Together, we continue to learn, grow, and shape the future of business.
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