Category: Behind the scenes

Welcome back to your virtual office! It's a new year, with a new outlook and new opportunities for kids and pets to photobomb important meetings. 

Our core values are simple: be constantly evolving, have fun and help out, make an impact, and consciously connect. And bringing them to life in the way we work is a defining characteristic of Candor Threads. That’s why, as a family-owned and design-based company that thrives on strong relationships with our customers and among our team, it’s essential to hire people who share our values. 

Like many other businesses, we started 2020 planning for growth. We introduced customizable performance shirts to our line of products and had a major rebrand in the works. We were excited to branch out into new markets like the travel and hospitality industries. 

I am finally on my last leg of the 20-hour journey that started when we left Shanghai at 9:00 AM on October 20th.  The coolest part about traveling home from China is that I’ll get to live the same day twice on two different continents.  For the past ten days, my mom, who is also my business partner, and I have spent countless hours on planes, trains, and automobiles so that we could gain a whole new appreciation for how our products are made and the people behind the magic.

A few weeks ago I had a quick procedure at the hospital that meant I would be going under for about 30 minutes.  While for most people this wouldn’t be a big deal, I was quite frightened about the anesthesia.  I’ve never gone under before and the thought of being knocked out scared me. They present you with the worst case scenarios beforehand and you have to sign so many waivers.  It’s no wonder when your head starts taking you to the “What if….?” places.  

When I was on my way home from my recent Entreprenuer's Organzation (EO) forum retreat in Austin, I was asked by a one of my group colleagues if I sometimes felt like I was on a lonely island. I replied with, “Yes, that is exactly what I feel like.”  He then told me that the saying “It’s Lonely at the Top” doesn’t just refer to big companies -- it also hits close to home with many small business owners who share this common sentiment.  You see, it can be very lonely owning a small business and being the visionary for your company ... at least until you meet your people who are willing and want to go on that journey with you.  Then we can start to fill that desolate road and populate it with like-minded, motivated, and inspiring individuals.

        In honor of Small Business Week, I have decided to give honest insight into the typical day of a small business owner.  You see, as a small business owner, you aren’t just the owner; you wear many different hats daily. You can have the strongest team on the planet (and we have an incredible team) and still be pulled in a million directions.  At the end of the day, no one cares about your business as much as you do. It’s like you wake up and go to bed every day dealing with your “third baby” -- your business!

Dear Arnie:  Thank you!  Love, Beckala         As I sit on a plane back from Detroit after attending Gateway’17, I am feeling grateful for my old man.  The Goldman Sach’s 10KSB program gave Shop4ties the opportunity to spend two days exhibiting at Gateway ‘17  (the first conference put on by Alibaba CEO Jack Ma), where we exhibited to 3,000 people from all around the world.  Everyone was there for a different purpose -- whether it be to learn how to take their business to China, meet with their international counterparts, learn the secret sauce to an e-commerce business, or just to meet and network with like-minded entrepreneurs.  

        Last week, I attended my first Small Giants Community annual summit in Detroit.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the conference far exceeded any of my expectations.  I left energized and felt that I was already part of a community that I was only recently introduced to.  

In our business, complete customization can certainly keep us on our toes!  After more than thirty years of creating custom accessories -- just when we think we have seen it all -- we get a project that not only makes us smile but gives us a chance to think outside of the box.