Babson Business: Telme' Clothing
Name of business: Telmé Clothing (www.TelmeClothing.com).
Mission:Telmé is an educational based clothing brand that the world will come to know, use, respect, and befriend as a neighborly sustainable Brand. We use the Telmé more concept to educate and create an interactive culture in an ever increasingly impersonal world. Telmé's family of employees is empowered to create a happy, creative, and rewarding workplace which in effect generates a successful company. Telmé is a sustainable brand that is dedicated to educating the world.
Began in: 2004
Where: Started in Hillsborough, NJ and Mantoloking, NJ. Moved to Ewing, NJ where business is currently based.
Founder: Kevin Shane, Kevin@kostogie.com, 732-546-4669
Founder's Past Life/Business: Peddie School (high school) '99, Babson College '03. I may have been a pirate in my past life
How the Idea Began: I was designing my graduation t-shirt as a souvenir for family and friends. There is only a limited amount of information that can be printed on the outside of a shirt to keep it attractive. I wanted to include more information, so I decided to conceal it in a spot that was easily accessible…the inside back bottom of the shirt. Just flip up the back of the shirt and be enlightened.
Initial Preparation to Germinate Idea: I made a t-shirt at Babson for the Babson Beach Club, which sold many. Then, I created a small business plan on a t-shirt company. That started the t-shirt craze in my mind.
Favorite Thing about the Business: The limitless creativity that I can use.
Worst Thing about the Business: My Company isn't a beer brewery.
Biggest Challenge: Getting to the next level of business…expansion to larger retail, higher quantities for larger promotions. Operations come into play big time!
Lesson Learned: It's what's on the inside that counts.