There's no way to fake authenticity. If you really love your business and care about it, people will naturally gravitate to you. After over a decade of building his t-shirt company, Michael Draper knows firsthand that it takes hard work every day to build a truly great business.
Today on the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman talks with Michael Draper, Founder and Owner of RAYGUN, a clothing store headquartered in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. What started as Michael selling t-shirts on the streets of his college campus has grown into a $4 million business with 70 employees and four locations. For over a decade, Michael's authentic passion for what RAYGUN is all about has kept the business afloat, even in the face of financial crises and industry changes.
In this episode, hear how Michael built a thriving clothing business with a history degree, no money, and no experience.
Tune into Michael's story below:
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[1:36] Selling T-Shirts on the Street After College
[4:16] Learning a 'Come In Every Day' Work Ethic
[21:44] Dependability Trumps Everything
[29:47] Growing for the Sake of Creativity
[36:51] Caring for the Digital Side of Your Brand
[43:24] Raising Four Happy Kids (It's Harder than it Sounds!)