2 minute read
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT NOW
GIVE ME 5 WITH Tom Gonsiewski
Grade A Decision
I was a high school teacher who ran the school store and coached football. One of the jacket suppliers for the school store asked if I wanted to make some extra money for Christmas and sell his jackets as presents to people in my neighborhood. After doing that, people asked me if I could get imprinted clothing done. The jacket supplier also printed shirts but was very slow. I ended up buying a very small dryer, a light table and screen-printing supplies. My wife Mary and I started to print shirts in our basement. We then rented some warehouse area and set up a little bigger operation about eight months later. About four years later, I left teaching to work on the business with Mary (Kampus Klothes president) on a full-time basis.
Recipe For Nearly 40 Years of Success
We have focused on putting out a quality product on time. Many of our customers started with us because they needed a “rush” order completed. When we met that deadline, we won over a loyal customer. We have also been very fortunate to have great employees who are willing to go the extra mile to get things done to meet deadlines. Another big boost was getting into a buying group. Joining Sports, Inc., was one of the best decisions we made.
So Many Big Changes
There have been several huge changes. The advent of capital venture companies buying up multiple manufacturers/distributors greatly reduced the number of companies we are dealing with. Another change has been online (internet) shopping. In the past, booster clubs would guess what they wanted to buy for a fundraiser. After the event, we were told they could have sold more of one size and had leftovers in other sizes. Online stores eliminated those issues.
Benefits of NSGA Membership
The information we get on a regular basis about our industry from NSGA is extremely valuable. Current trends, what is happening with suppliers, and just general news about business in our industry keeps our company informed and helps us make decisions. We have participated in the Conference for years and have enjoyed the camaraderie and sharing of ideas.
The Challenges Ahead
The supply chain has been very challenging the last few years with not only products and supplies but also the purchase of equipment. I’m expecting that to improve, but I still fear there will be some issues moving forward. I also believe the economy is going to impact every industry. Team sports have been very fortunate in that parents will sacrifice to get their kids to participate. Unfortunately, a bad economy may make those choices a bit more difficult. Finally, “The Amazon Effect,” where people expect their orders the next day is becoming more and more prevalent. Those who figure out how to handle this will be successful in the future.
