I finally was able to sit down with Jake Nickell, one of the founders and CEO of our favorite t-shirt company, Threadless.com and ask him a few questions. Enjoy the interview Young Go Getters!
First of all Jake, I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview for YoungGoGetter.com.
Joey: We know you’re a “Young Go Getter”, but so our readers know, howold are you?
Jake: I was born in 1980 and am currently 27 years old. I started Threadless when I was 20.
Joey: Can you tell us the quick history on Threadless.com and itsparent company Skinny Corp and how it came from an idea to product?
Jake: Well, when I was going to college I became a member of an online art forum called Dreamless and entered a tee shirt competition that wasbeing held there. I won that competition and then got to thinking how cool it was and came up with the idea of Threadless. I bounced it off a friend, it resonated and we decided to do it. Threadless was created as a hobby, a way for artists to spend a little free time making something on their computers that could become an actual object. skinnyCorp was started as the parent company to Threadless because we also did web development work for clients. We don’t do that anymore thank God.
Joey: We know you are the founder of Threadless, but I am sure there is more to you than that. What are some other things you have done prior to founding Threadless or things you are currently working on?
Jake: Before Threadless I was going to school and working as a web developer. I like to hang out with my wife and our daughter… My dad was in the army and we moved around a lot growing up. My favorite place I lived was Colorado and my wife and I are moving back there in the Fall this year. I love snowboarding and hiking and just being outdoors. I really want to get into whitewater kayaking. As far as other things I’m working on, I’m interested in starting a summer camp and growing our other projects at skinnyCorp like Naked & Angry and Threadless Kids.
Joey: What has been your biggest asset while building your business?
Jake: Honestly I think it’s my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to how to traditionally run a business. I think that figuring it out as things go has allowed us to do some pretty cool things that aren’t normally done.
Joey: Adversely, what has been your biggest vice?
Jake: Probably that same thing. We definitely hit a few snags.
Joey: What can we expect next from the talented team at Skinny Corp in the near future?
Jake: We’re really interested in setting up some multi-lingual, international Threadless awesomeness right now… We have some pretty cool plans for evolving Threadless and we’re super excited about Naked
& Angry right now. And there’s one other super secret awesome thing too.
Joey: Everyone starts to feel burn out on a project every now and then.What do you do to keep yourself motivated and focused?
Jake: I try not to make any decisions that I’m not excited about. It’s easyto make compromises despite thinking the idea might not be cool but we like to make sure that everything we do is fun and that we’re passionate about doing it.
Joey: Can you give us three tools that you use every single day to make your life as an entrepreneur more efficient, productive, or fun?
Jake: My iPhone/Gmail, the people around me and trust.
Joey: What is your favorite quote?
Jake: “we can’t stop here! this is bat country” … hunter s thompson
Joey: And last but not least, if you could give one piece of advice to
fellow Young Go Getters, what would it be?
Jake: Stay passionate about what you’re doing.
Thanks again Jake, for taking a time out with YGG this afternoon. We appreciate your input, and hopefully YGG members can take something away from this interview that will help them in the near future.
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