Tell us a little about yourself.
Gulf Shore was created in 2010 to establish a comfortable line of clothing and apparel for those who have a love for the Gulf. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, kayaking, or being on the beach, or hanging out with good friends, Gulf Shore has the clothing and accessories to make your activities more enjoyable. We believe in “Preserving the Fun in Life”.
How and when did you start Gulf Shore?
One of my best friends, and long-time fraternity brother, talked about the idea for years. We were disappointed in many of the other clothing brands and the direction they were heading. So, one day in 2010, we decided that we would research the idea of starting our own clothing brand. I had five years of experience in screen printing and embroidery, and my partner, Andrew, had experience with the retail industry and clothing design. Our background in the clothing industry gave us a head start on the development of the brand. After over a year of research and development, we launched Gulf Shore. During this time frame, our first Campus Diplomat and good friend of ours, David, invested into the company before we launched our products.
Why should customers choose your brand?
When you wear a Gulf Shore product, it’s not just an item of clothing, but an expression of the lifestyle you live. We take pride in every product we produce and spend the extra time to ensure every detail is up to our standard. Wearing Gulf Shore products is an extension of your character – it symbolizes that you take pride in how you look, who you are, and what you stand for.
Where can our viewers buy your clothing?
At our website: www.gulf-shore.com
Additionally, we are in the process of expanding our product offerings to retail outlets. If any reader knows of a store they would like to see Gulf Shore products offered at, or any store that may be interested in carrying our products, you can suggest them on our Contacts Page: http://www.gulf-shore.com/index.php/contacts.
What separates you from your competitors?
Although we respect our competitors, we believe many companies try to be too much like one another and forget about the most important aspect of a business: their customers. Often times it seems that companies make a product before listening to their customers. We do just the opposite. We first find out what our customers want and then we design and produce a product to fulfill that need. If a product doesn’t align with our mission and image, then we simply won’t produce it. Simply stated, Gulf Shore believes in putting the customer before all else.
College kids are always looking to become a campus rep. Do you do anything like this?
Yes, currently we have Campus Diplomats at 9 universities across the United States. We are always looking for new and motivated Diplomats to represent our brand. An overview of our program and an application to become a Gulf Shore Campus Diplomat can be found at: http://www.gulf-shore.com/index.php/campusdiplomats.
Who founded Gulf Shore and what is the founder’s background? What did the founder do before starting Gulf Shore?
The three founders of Gulf Shore attended Florida Gulf Coast University and were members of a fraternity, which is how we met each other. All three of us have a different background of knowledge, that when put together, gives us a broad understanding of how to run a clothing business. On the clothing side of the business, we have experience in screen printing, embroidery and clothing design. In addition, we have business experience with entrepreneurship, sales, marketing, communications, and accounting.
Where are the headquarters?
Naples, Florida
How did you come about choosing the logo?
We came up with a lot of different logos when we started. We wanted something that would relate to our passion of fishing the Gulf of Mexico. The Red Snapper was perfect because it’s a strong fish of the Gulf that people enjoy catching and eating. On our website, we have a section called “Our Promise” which goes into more detail of how we relate our Red Snapper to our brand and to our customers.
What are the plans for the future of the company?
Within a month, we will have our new hats coming in. We are also working hard on new t-shirt designs for the summer of this year. For the fall/winter seasons, we will have two other products coming out, but we don’t want to spoil the surprise just yet on what we are working on. For updates on future products, become a fan of our page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GulfShore.
Any plans for further expansion in the North and West?
Yes. Although our brand is focused around the Gulf, we want everyone to experience our brand’s promise of “Preserving the Fun in Life”. Many people vacation around the Gulf of Mexico and we believe our products will remind them of the fun times they had while visiting. Our products enable our customers to take a part of the Gulf with them wherever they go.
