Checking in with O'Quinn

Is the brand growing still? Where? 

O'Quinn as a brand is growing all the time in all sorts of different ways. It's much more recognized across the country.

We have also just started a blanks business. We really feel we have one of the best fitting and quality blanks in our industry. I spent nearly two years perfecting our T-shirt quality, fit and fabrics.

I was not happy with the blanks offered by companies that typically supply the industry, so I searched all over and found a factory in Central America who made amazing Ts. After we met and I spent a ton of time down there, they loved what I was doing and asked to partner up with us. It has enabled O'Quinn to develop what a lot of people feel is the best fitting most comfortable T-shirt out there.

After so many requests from other brands on where they can get our blanks, we decided to open up that part of the business as well. I was reluctant at first to share our special recipe, but now I'm super excited to help other brands build amazing Ts and continue to help our industry build superior product.

Do you think that your blanks business will become a bigger portion of O’Quinn than your own line?

I think that a new blank supplier in our industry could make an impact with offering new fits and fabrics and it could be much bigger then O'Quinn the brand in the market. But it also helps O'Quinn as a label represent superior quality in the market place whether it's a blank or a collection at retail.

Are you in any new retailers? 

We are opening new accounts like Maui Nix in Florida and some in our own back yard like Sakal Surfboards in Huntington Beach.

We are only in a very small amount of retailers in the U.S., and don't need a lot to keep this brand alive. It’s all about survival in this economic climate. If you just want to be in "the core" accounts, then there is a good chance you are not going to survive.

I believe that it's not only being in core accounts that define you as a "core" brand, it's also who is behind the brand that makes you "core.” Everybody at O'Quinn lives and breathes this industry and that defines us as "core" in our eyes.

What has been your strategy to entering the doors you have? 

I think that the consumer is very educated now and can appreciate great quality and design over hype. There is always going to be that kid or young adult who really searches for the brand who is not everywhere and is new. We have basically survived just with those kids. These are the customers that find us and support us we are still here five years later.

Do you have any new categories or new marketing plans? 

No new categories at this time. We’re just excited to perfect the ones we are already doing. I look forward to the time we can move into other categories like shoes, eyewear and denim only because I love all of them. We are very excited to have Shawn Leydecker come on board to take over sales. His passion and hard work ethic is a breath of fresh air.