Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McCurdy.
Rachel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Oh goodness. Well, it all started in 2013 with one t-shirt. My oldest daughter was 6 at the time and I was looking for age-appropriate play clothes. I left the big box store disappointed with the t-shirt selection and went home and had my husband, Brandon, put together a tee with a positive message. I sold over 3,000 t-shirts of that one simple design in less than a month. Turns out I wasn’t the only mom out there wanting kind, positive and appropriate apparel for my little ones!
Has it been a smooth road?
So many struggles! I started this company with $75 in our bank account. I wanted (NEEDED) to do something to contribute financially to our family and the t-shirt thing fell in my lap. Really, our biggest struggles have been financial struggles. My biggest customers work on NET30 terms. That means we have to come up with the inventory and ship it and THEN wait for a month for payment. For a big company, it’s not a huge deal. For the mom working out of her home it is a massive issue. Things always work themselves out, but not without a great deal of worry and stress along the way.
Balance is another difficulty. I’m a mom and a wife and an entrepreneur. These things are not easy to balance. I’m blessed to have an extremely supportive husband and amazing daughters who are understanding and work alongside me a lot of the time.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Talking Shirt – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our moto is “Kindness is Always in Style”. We design and print all of our tees ourselves in our hometown of Frankfort IL, just southwest of Chicago. A t-shirt is a like a billboard advertising who you are really. We hope our tees encourage people to radiate kindness and positivity.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is the best! Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive, Navy Pier, The Magnificent Mile, THE CUBBIES!!!!!! Those are just a few of my favorite things.
I HATE it that Chicago is known for violent crimes. It breaks my heart that people try to settle things with a gun and the ending of a life. Chicago is not all about the murders that happen.
Contact Info:
- Address: 11 S White Street
Suite 203
Frankfort IL 60423 - Website: thetalkingshirt.com
- Phone: 312-502-7065
- Email: info@thetalkingshirt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetalkingshirt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetalkingshirt/?fref=ts
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
