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NWA Founders is a voice for Founders, Owners, and Builders driving growth in Northwest Arkansas, and is hosted by Cameron Clark and Nick Beyer.
'NWA Founders' is a voice for Founders, Owners, and Builders driving growth in Northwest Arkansas, and is hosted by Cameron Clark and Nick Beyer.
To recommend a guest or ask questions, reach out at nwafounders@gmail.com and follow us on YouTube and LinkedIn for video content.
Ben Clark: [00:00:00] Really the first sorority was Kappa Kappa Gamma for me. 'cause that's, uh, I literally had that one sorority at one time, decided to really focus in on them and do everything the very best I could for them. Simple formula, good art and good quality product. Do things on time. And those are things they weren't getting other sororities said, Hey, we want what they're getting.
And they were posting a lot of stuff on Pinterest. We started getting calls from other university students from outside of University of Arkansas saying, Hey, I really love these dad's day designs that I'm seeing. I like this one, this one, this one, and this one. How can we use y'all? And we're like, wow.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You can use this.
Good morning, Ben. Or shall I say, dad should say Dad always. Yeah. No, this is. Special for me getting to sit down and listen to you [00:01:00] tell, you know, one of my heroes, getting to tell your story with everybody. So it's, it's special. I was thinking kind of get, you know, before we get rolling here, obviously, you know, you've had a lot of different seasons whatnot.
Maybe kick us off, one of the main things I feel like I learned from you in particular more than anything was failure, which people don't, don't wanna talk about as much failure. How do you fail? Why is it important and how do you learn from failure?
Ben Clark: Um, that's a good question. That's something actually, uh, first of all, I just wanna say thank you for having me on the show, Cameron.
Yeah, I mean, I'm proud of you, proud of Nick. Just the whole podcast deal that y'all doing and it's just incredible and it's, it's an honor, honestly, to be on this. I. Like, this is one of the highest honors. I mean, other people have asked me to do things, but this is the highest honor. So I really appreciate that.
So. Hmm. Um, but, um, to answer your [00:02:00] question about, um, failure. Failure, I would say now that I, now that I have grandkids, Josie is one of a good example of this, but, um, I had the joy of keeping my grandkids here for a week while you and your wife were away. And, uh, it was just a great time. But one thing I noticed is that when I was just going down the street with her and she fell and she, she fell over and she just, she's pretty, she's tough.
I mean, so she got up and she just kept going. She scraped her knees. She didn't even say she scraped her knees. I had no idea she did. But one thing I told her, I said, like, you're learning right now in gymnastics, Josie. I said. I said, when you fall, just tumble, you know, just, just roll like you do in gymnastics.
And I says, that way you won't hurt yourself, you know? And so, um, I look at failure, kinda like, kind of like it's a training, like how to [00:03:00] fall or how to, how to fail and how to recover, you know? Mm-hmm. So, um, now I look back at like, I've had a lot of failures. I mean, I can list a ton. I mean, as far as just starting off, even just, I.
Genetically just as far as like a DD and dyslexia in, in high school and barely graduating high school, not graduating college for sure. Uh, failing most of my tests and just keeping it very hidden and private. Um, and, uh, having to, um, finally get suspended from the University of Arkansas. And then I just, uh, but always worked hard.
My dad taught me how to work hard and just, uh, resilience and, uh, and always said he was proud of me regardless. I mean, like, so even if I had made a CI mean they treated it like it was an A, you know, and they just really just were and celebrate that. Um. But more importantly, they, they taught me that even school [00:04:00] and other just tangible things weren't as important in life as other things.
And so, uh, more so spiritually. Um, and so that's really kinda stuck with me too as well. But I would say, you know, out of all the different business failures I've had and all the different things, like, um, just, um, again, like a DD and dyslexia and stuff like that, that with school, that it's just, uh, it's taught me how to be more resilient and just how to get back up and just, and kinda learn from those things and how to keep going really more than anything.
And my biggest fear for my friends. All you friends out there that might be listening, I don't know, is that, that, you know, you're the, you know, that there was the quarterback on the football team, a straight A student went to school on a full ride and got out and went to graduate school. And then you get into a business and you, you're selling and one of the corporations, and then you're like, ah, man, I can do anything.
You know? And then you go [00:05:00] out and you get into a small business, and then you're just like, immediately you fail and you're just like, and then you're just like, you're scarred for life, you know, and you're just like, all of a sudden you don't know how to recover. But like I said, back to the Josie story, it's like, you know, you kind of take those classes and it's like, it's been, it was classes for me through those failures of how to, how to recover, you know, and how to, and how to do it well, you know?
And so, and just how to be resilient. So, um, and how to keep moving forward. Hmm.
Well, well tell, uh, I mean. You started telling the background a little bit. I mean, obviously I obviously know it super well. Nick hasn't, you know, probably heard as much in detail, but tell everybody where you grew up, how you grew up, and then kind of how that took you into the business world.
Um.
Ben Clark: Well, I, starting
off,
Ben Clark: I grew, I was born in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the few people that was born [00:06:00] there and then moved out instead of moving in Nashville, Tennessee. But, uh, so it's always fun going back. I have probably over 200 relatives. Hey guys out there if you listen to this. I love you. Uh, they know family well and they teach me every time I go over there, how, how important family is when I go to Nashville.
But it's, uh, uh, my dad moved away, moved to Arkansas, uh, and I grew up in North Little Rock. And if you know, north Little Rock, Dogtown Boys, the, uh, we, uh. You know, we work hard. We're a blue collar kind of city. It's different than Little Rock. We're on the other side. They call it Dogtown because that's where they put all the stray dogs.
Um, uh, and then it just, just kind of stuck. But, uh, I'm very proud to be a Dogtown boy, and so it's a, uh, I feel very comfortable in that setting. Um, but my dad at early age, I mean, I. I was kind of the classic guy that I threw a newspaper [00:07:00] when I was in third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade. And then by the time I was in seventh grade, I, I worked at the local, uh, just a little called the Catfish Hoe down the street and washed dishes, uh, for, uh, a couple of years until I turned 15.
And then my brothers were working at a really nice steakhouse that I really wanted to work at, and I remember interviewing with 'em, and, and they only hired 16 and up to be busboy. And so I went in there to the interview and they said, how old are you? And I said, 15. They said, oh, did you say 16? And I said.
Yes. 16. I said, okay. And so I got that job and I actually worked as a busboy, and then they turned me into, uh, uh, the oyster, um, cracker, you know, the shucking oysters? Yeah. Shing oysters there in the window at the cocktail bar, uh, there at, uh, sirloins Zim back in the day at North Little Rock. And it's, um, so I shucked oysters, uh, for about a year before, uh, [00:08:00] uh, as I, uh, my senior year in college, uh, high school.
And then I, I went to the University of Arkansas. My counselor told me not to. They told me that I should go to some sort of, uh, trade school, which I wish I would've done, honestly. Now I see the importance of trade schools. Um, but, um, I was just thinking my brothers all went to the University of Arkansas.
I just, my parents never said that I'm not going to the University of Arkansas. Why should I not, you know.
Mm,
Ben Clark: they don't know what they're talking about. And obviously they did because I barely got out of high school, but it's just, um, went up to the University of Arkansas. When I got there, they immediately put me in all remedial classes.
And so I started off my first semester in remedial classes that didn't even count for college. And so flunked remedial classes. Okay. So if you can flunk remedial classes, that's not a good sign. Okay. So that's kind of where, you know, that's where all [00:09:00] this kind of set in at the time. I'm telling you this is for all the young people or kids out there listening to this or maybe having the same issues.
It's like it's um, um, you know, you feel a lot of shame or just a lot of, um, you feel, um, I. You just, you, your self image is really low in some instances. But I hid that when I was a kid. And so, and I think that, you know, and, and did that was kind of traumatizing to me, I think as a kid, you know, I had to learn how to grow past that.
And really, and honestly it was through my spiritual life, through Christ that actually helped me kind of overcome that. Uh, and so from there I, um, I applied for an internship with Chick-fil-A because I was working at Chick-fil-A, uh, at the Northwest Arkansas Mall when I came up here to. A school at the University of Arkansas and they had, when Chick-fil-A was only in [00:10:00] malls and Chick-fil-A was only in malls.
Wow. There's only 300 Chick-fil-A's in the nation at the time, they were only in malls and they wanted to be in every mall across the country. I'll never forget that. Wow. Their growth plan back in, that was, that was, that was their growth plan. And I don't think they saw past that, honestly. That's crazy. I mean, that's when everything was, you know, I knew the, I knew the whole family.
I knew Truet Kathy, I knew all his kids. It's just, you just kind of, uh, it was a, it was a very small, intimate place, but, um, they hired me for an internship and so I, I flew out to Atlanta, Georgia, and again, I just always knew how to work hard. I might not have been a good test taker, but I did know how to work hard and I did know how to, um, and so through just hard work, they flew me across the country and they, um, and every store that I went into, I'd help develop the, the.
Store operators how to increase their sales. And so from, from just doing street fight marketing, all free stuff, I mean just mm-hmm. From doing cross promotions with other [00:11:00] businesses, from just kind of creating kind of excitement in the store for customers, uh, from teaching the employees how to upsell.
But every store that I went into had anywhere between a 50% increase in sales to a 200, two, uh, percent increase in sales. And that was just like, it was pretty remarkable. And that was, that was during like a six month period. And so after I got off that journey of flying all over the United States as a 23-year-old, um, they, um.
They actually put me on the magazine. They didn't have the, all the cool internet and website stuff that back then, but it, but they put me on the cover of their magazine. Hmm. And they really, uh, they really tall at me big time. And it really did, that really built a lot of courage in me at that moment. Hmm.
And so, and I'll never forget, uh, uh, the Kathy's asked me if I wanted to store a Chick-fil-A store. And, uh, and they asked me, these are the ones that are available. Take your pick. [00:12:00] And so I, I looked and I thought, wow. Um, Tulsa was the closest one that was available, uh, at the time. And so, uh, I said, I'd love to be in Tulsa.
It's close to Little Rock where I grew up. And so. So I was able to get into the franchise of Chick-fil-A at the time. So, and they were really, they were a real key kind of, now I look back, just kind of a staple of training me on how to, um, just, and different customer relations skills and, uh, communication skills and whatnot.
So
what was it like to believe in yourself back then on it, it felt like that was kind of the unleash of your creativity, maybe for the, in a business sense, for the first, for the first time. But maybe, maybe we were able to foster some of that and in your part-time jobs through high school and college, but like, I don't know, what would, what would you tell somebody who's maybe going into something like that where, [00:13:00] hey, you made a really big difference in, in kind of a smaller organization.
Like, I don't, what would you tell somebody who maybe is, is. About to go into something similar.
Ben Clark: I would say go. I mean, whatever you do do with excellence and just, and work hard. I mean, because that's what's gonna get you to the next step and the next level. It doesn't matter where you're at. If everyone thinks, oh, I need to be an entrepreneur.
I want to own my own business. But it's really just, just taking the opportunities that. God's given you, you know, be and has, um, put before you. And so I would say that, you know, you take those opportunities and you just work as hard as you can. And just now that at home be unlimited. And, and that's that story I'm sure you'll hear about here in a second.
But it's just, it's just, uh, you know, just the people that are there. I want, I really want them just to work hard because I know in, in my spirit that they're [00:14:00] either, they'll either be promoted up and be unlimited or they'll just be, be promoted up in life, you know? Mm-hmm. In whatever they're doing. So it's like, you know, do everything with excellence and hard work, and that just, that tends to get you where you need to be.
Yeah.
Ben Clark: You can't skip the steps either. You can't skip the steps. No, there's no, there's no skipping the steps. There's no lying on resumes, there's no, there's no cheating. On your taxes. There's no, I mean, you, you start doing stuff like that at a young age, I can tell you right now, that will like destroy you later in life.
Mm-hmm. You know, that's not gonna get you where you want to go. And if you're trying to get there fast, it's, it doesn't work.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: I mean, just, it doesn't work. It's the journey. It's the journey. Yeah. It's good. And to be honest with you, now that I'm 60 years old now, and I'm proud to be that, but it's just, it's uh, it's kind of crazy because, you know, I've always worked hard to achieve and I feel like I've kind of gotten what I've wanted in life, but it's, um, but really when I look [00:15:00] back, I was thinking, wow, everything I ever wanted I've got, but also, and more, way more than whatever I wanted.
But, uh, I just, uh, but when I look back, I think, man, it's, it's the, it's the journey that I really enjoyed more than I. Destination, you know? Mm-hmm. So I would say whatever part of the journey you're on, you just enjoy that moment. It's kinda like having a baby, you know? It's not fun having an infant. I mean, changing that diaper every like hour, you know, type of deal.
But man, just enjoy that moment because that is gone in a second. And so, and just celebrate every, all those little, all those little things.
So,
Ben Clark: mm.
So what was after Chick-fil-A? What was the So you got, got the store in Tulsa.
Ben Clark: Got the store in Tulsa. I had two best friends kind of on both sides of me. And, and I, I had introduced them together and they had, uh, decided to start a business in a t-shirt company down in Little Rock, and they convinced me to, to quit Chick-fil-A and to move down to the Little Rock and sell [00:16:00] t-shirts for them.
In a startup. And so it was just them two and they convinced me to come down and be the salesman.
You know,
Ben Clark: why leave? Like,
just everyone knows, like, why leave Chick? You're Chick-fil-A now. It's like, why would you leave Chick-fil-A? Like what? I know, right? It's not the
Ben Clark: same. Chick-fil-A is not Chick-fil-A as it was back then.
And then Tulsa was in a, is in a, was in a really weird state of recession. The economy recess. Yeah. Yeah. It was in definitely a, a, a deep recession, maybe in a depression, because when you walked in Woodland Hills Mall, those that know, uh, Tulsa, I mean, back in the early nineties, it was, the stores were boarded up.
Wow.
Ben Clark: It was dead. People weren't buying things. Homes were in foreclosure everywhere, all over Tulsa. Um, something to do with the oil business. Mm-hmm. There and just it, um, so anyway, that, so it was just a weird time to be in Tulsa. It was, uh, and business wasn't great. Yeah. Even with Chick-fil-A, it wasn't great.
I mean, [00:17:00] that's the days of when you would stand out in front of your store, sampling the chicken, trying to get people to try it so they would come back and so, and I did a lot of that. That's crazy.
Then, so Little Rock got the opportunity. New startup, it was in. T-shirt. T-shirt business.
Ben Clark: Yes. And so, uh, just worked.
I mean, I remember just every day, uh, my two best friends, they would have me like build, they, they really had it pretty structured because they had a, they worked for another printing company, a paper printing company or a paper company. And they kind of used their systems when they first started their company, about, they were both salespeople and so they wanted to replicate that in their company.
And so I had a call sheet and I'd have to list out all the people I talked to that day, their names, their phone numbers, and the response that I got. And I would hand that piece of paper in every day. And I think I had to have, gosh, I don't know how many calls, but it was, you know, like. Somewhere between 10 and [00:18:00] 30 calls a day that I would have to do.
And so, and that's, you know, that's pretty tough. And so I would, but I was, again, I wanted to do things with excellence and try to do things right. And so I'd go out and I, sometimes it would be just a gas station, I'd just go up and say, Hey, do you need t-shirts? You know, and just, or sometimes, I mean, it was just, we were just spreading a net out.
We didn't have any equipment. We didn't, I mean, we'd have, we had a designer and, um, and that was about it at the time. So, uh, then they were, then they were purchasing, uh, they purchased some equipment. And anyway, we, I did that for five years there with them at, in Enterprises, actually down in Little Rock.
And, uh, both of them are both dear friends and definitely play a big part in my story. And, um, we're, uh. We we're definitely, we stay in close contact. Mm-hmm. So I think one of them, um, you call Uncle Rodney and the other one you call Uncle Brian, you know, so, yeah. So it's, uh, uh, but Brian ended up coming up and actually started being unlimited.[00:19:00]
Um, he left, he left in Enterprises and, and moved up to Fayville and started, um. Enterprise, uh, be unlimited. And then, um, I moved up shortly after that, about a year later, and I started, uh, I just kind of started a bunch of, I was just kind of casting nets and started a little marketing company and was doing painting and doing whatever it took just to kind of make some, uh, ends meet.
Uh, and then one of the companies I was doing marketing for was Corky's Ribs and Barbecue and the R'S Hamburgers places and for this investment group outta Little Rock. And, and none of their, their places were slowly kind of dying and, and not making profit. And so I agreed to buy out their debt to be able to become 51% partner in that deal.
And, and what I quickly learned is that one is that it wasn't Chick-fil-A and I didn't have all that support and I really wasn't a true operator like I thought I was for a restaurant. And, uh, and so I could never get, I. That [00:20:00] restaurant out of the red. And so after a few years, I had to, I had to close it down.
It was a big failure in my life. I mean, it seemed like an overwhelming failure. I had to, uh, claim bankruptcy at the time. And it was funny. It was like for $70,000, you know. Um, and, uh, but it was, uh, but it was, you know, it was, uh, and, and one thing I learned in that, that scenario right there is, I remember just some of that three years, I put my whole heart in that business, I would've put, I would've tattooed corky's, rib and barbecue on my arm.
I was just like doing everything I could and I would just to survive. And after that, the lesson I really learned there is that. After coming out of a deep depression after it was all over, is that you just don't put your identity in your business. Mm-hmm. And that's not where your identity comes from, you know?
Mm-hmm. And so that was a, that was a huge lesson and it still sticks to me this day. Um, [00:21:00] so, and what
I mean, so yeah, don't put your identity to your business. Anything else you tell folks, like going through, I mean, in, in the middle of a bankruptcy. Coming. Going into one, coming outta one, what would you, what would you tell somebody?
I'm sure you, I'm
Nick Beyer: sure you have
a
Nick Beyer: family then too.
Ben Clark: Oh yeah. I had, oh yeah, I had three kids. Yeah. I had, um, Cameron was, I mean this wasn't Cameron, you were like 14 or something, right? Or or how long old were you think? No, I was, I was younger. I think I was in elementary school. Elementary, okay. Yeah. The um, so yeah, I mean, I had a family back then.
We were, um, yeah, we were living up, we lived up in Springdale. We lived in a very small house in Springdale with a little one car garage. Um, all three of my sons. Uh, well, Cameron, Cameron and Coleman were both going to George Elementary, um, out there on the east side of Springdale. And, and honestly, that was the only place the bank, my first house up here was I kept trying to [00:22:00] buy a house in Fayetteville and the bank said, Nope, nope, nope.
It was like finally, it's like, okay, you can afford this one, you know? And so it actually was a blessing 'cause we, we, we became friends with several people there, and it was great for our kids and great for, uh, George Elementary was just a wonderful elementary school for, for Cameron and, uh, and Coleman. Uh, it wasn't until, but.
The question that you were asking
me was, what would you tell someone going through that that you guys asked? Nick was saying, you know, you had, you and mom had three kids at the time, but going through bankruptcy, what would you like, what would you tell, what would you tell somebody there?
Ben Clark: I'll, well, I'll tell you this.
Pick your woman, right, because I'm telling you, it's the girl that you marry is really key to your success. And so even though I was having the hardest time of my life, my wife was celebrating because she was so ready to get me out of that situation and knew that that's not the place [00:23:00] that I should be.
And so it was really interesting. She actually threw me a party and I could, I can hardly remember 'cause I was just in kind of a dark place, but I. She was in her life. She was celebrating it because she felt like it was, Hey, we're moving out of that chapter into a new chapter. And, um, and she was happy about that.
So it was, I would just say, pick your, pick your spouse. Good. Yeah. So don't, uh, because that's definitely gonna be the, one of the most important decisions you make in your life through all the ups and downs that you're gonna have to go through, especially as an entrepreneur. So,
Hmm. So Corky's closes. What, what happens after that?
What's next
Ben Clark: after that? Uh, I had two good buddies. Uh, again, Brian being one of 'em. Uh, Brian Rle. Shout out to Brian. Uh, uh, some of y'all know him. The, uh. [00:24:00] And then, uh, Rob Stanley, both of them were good friends and Rob was building houses and doing different things, and uh, and Brian was too. He had, uh, he was, he had started being unlimited and he was, he had already kind of gotten into the, uh, development world and so he wanted to start developing and he wanted to get out of the, uh, screenprinting business.
And I was looking for something to get in, and so he kind of curated a way that I could do it. He actually encouraged me to sell my house. In, uh, Springdale and build my house in Fay and build a house in Fayetteville. And I was like, well, I can't do that. And so he's like, yes, you can, you know? And so again, he poured courage into my life and just told me he could.
And then, and then Rob Stanley said, look, I'll come in next to you and I'll walk alongside you on this journey. I've done this before. I can help you. I can, I can sign these, um, you know, sign off your documents and all this [00:25:00] stuff. And so he just kind of, uh, walked alongside me and helped me understand that, hey, once you have that cash, you put that cash in the bank.
The bank, the bank, uh, from my cell of my house. He said, the, the bank will look at that and go, okay, they'll give you a, uh, a loan to build. You know mm-hmm. Your house. So, and it did. And they did. And it kind of was kind of our dream house. And I really thought I would stay there forever. And we built a house over in Stonebridge, down in South Fayetteville.
Um, and it was, uh, it was a great house down on the cul-de-sac. A perfect house for three boys that liked to run through the creek and run in the fields and stuff like that. So we lived there for a good bit of time. So it was, it was, uh, it was a great place to kinda raise, raise all three of y'all.
Hmm.
Ben Clark: Uh, but through that, lemme just tell you this.
Yeah.
Ben Clark: But it was buying that house and then after I built that house was the equity, the equity I had in that house was a hundred thousand dollars. And that's what I needed. I needed that a hundred thousand dollars to put down on Be [00:26:00] Unlimited, to be able to purchase, be Unlimited, uh, as a down payment.
Hmm.
Ben Clark: So. I was able to borrow that money from the bank to, to invest and be unlimited at the time. And so I got creative thought outside the box, and so it was through friendships that really helped me understand that. And I never, I didn't understand you could do that.
Yeah.
Ben Clark: And, and I didn't understand that you could grow wealth that way either.
So it was like, it was very interesting. And so that, that taught me some, that was another lesson I guess I learned in life is that, you know, how you can not just work, but you can kind of use your borrowing power different ways to structure things. Yeah. The way to structure things and it, uh, so anyway, and then you can actually build wealth from that.
Uh, that's, you know, actually generational wealth instead of just like working and getting a paycheck type of deal, so. Mm-hmm.
Nick Beyer: So that was like roughly 2004, 2006. I
Ben Clark: mean, just, oh goodness.
Yeah. [00:27:00]
Ben Clark: Uh, that was, uh, oh yeah, that was, uh, 2006.
Nick Beyer: Okay.
Ben Clark: Or no, no, no, that was 2000. I'm sorry. That was roughly, yes, that was 2006 when that happened.
Yeah. Cool. Yeah. So you, when that happened, that was 2006, you
Nick Beyer: buy B Unlimited? Yeah. Was that the name of the
Ben Clark: business then? Yeah, that was the name of the business. Okay. And do we know how that, uh, they didn't, at the time I bought it, uh, Inc. Enterprises had, had, uh, had stepped in for a little bit and for, uh, and I was, I was working for them through this transition because.
They had actually bought B Unlimited for four years. And then I actually, the sale was actually, uh, I bought it from bn from In Enterprises and Brian rdo. Okay. Uh, I kind of finished off their payments that they were paying Brian, but it's, um, so it was kind of a, a triangle deal. I was paying off the bank.
I was paying off Ink Enterprises. Uh, and then I was also paying off Brian Rle, the leftover payments that, uh, ink Enterprises had. So, I mean, I was [00:28:00] having to make some really hefty payments there at the beginning. Mm-hmm. But I knew that was a short term deal, and as soon as that was over, then I knew, you know, that money would start coming in.
And so, and I knew what I had to do to, to, to make that happen. And then, and it was very, you know, I calculated the risk and I knew that I could do it at, by that time in my life, I kind of thought, okay, I've got these customers. I know what it takes, I can do this. So, um, but when I, when I bought being unlimited, I didn't have any equipment.
It was just me and one artist. And so that was kind of an interesting thing too. And we did have the license, uh, for the University of Arkansas. We might have had a couple of other ones, but we did, we did have the license for the University of Arkansas and that was kind of important
back then.
Ben Clark: And
pause before you start diving into all the details.
People who don't know what is a collegiate license screen printer. What, what is that business? What is it? Do you, is it just a t-shirt business and what do you
Ben Clark: what,
how,
Ben Clark: so we're T-shirt business that focuses on license apparel for universities. So we're licensed [00:29:00] with about 70 universities and we focus on, uh, the fraternities and sororities.
And we also focus on just organizational stuff within those universities. And we focus on like the wholesale business in the bookstores. And we also have some retail stores ourself that are at several of these universities. And so that's, that's what we focus on and that's what we, we try to, it's kinda like Chick-fil-A sells chicken and they focus on chicken.
We sell, uh, we sell, uh, university t-shirts to universities. I mean, that's really what we focus on. Although we do other things, we, um, that's the biggest portion of our business.
Nick Beyer: And it sounds like that was. Was that the strategy from the beginning having the, the, the license with the University of Arkansas or, you know, strangely
Ben Clark: enough, I think Brian Rle had really kind of wanted to, hi.
His strategy was to kinda work in the fraternity and sorority system. I, it wasn't so much my strategy when after I had taken over the business, uh, but then I circled back around to that after throwing out nets of [00:30:00] just trying to, if you remember, I took over in 2006, but I don't know if. Y'all were around or really understood the 2000 7, 8, 9.
Mm-hmm. Just the housing market collapsed and all that stuff. I mean, so at that moment, nobody was really buying anything and everyone was coming after my business. I was going after other people's businesses. 'cause you were just trying to get any kinda cash you could get in the door. And so we were doing websites, we were doing logos, we were, we were printing for whoever.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: And, uh, a good friend of mine, uh, Steve Graves actually kind of, he stepped in and he kind of really helped kind of navigate me during that time and which was, is very, very, very helpful. And he talked, he really just kind of talked to me about forming an. Kind of a niche instead of just kind of doing everything for everybody.
And then also, he used the word scale and I was like, scale. I really had never heard that word before. Which is [00:31:00] funny, you know, I just thought, oh, this is something you stand on and you weigh yourself with, you know, but you know, he's like scaling a business and how you do that, right? And it's like you have to have kind of a niche and then you duplicate that over and over again.
And so we started scaling when we, um, through really the first sorority was Kappa Kappa Gamma for me. 'cause that's, I, I literally had that one sorority at one time and that's when I decided to really focus in on them and do everything the very best I could for them and see how we could do it better than anyone else.
And then from that. Um, other sororities said, Hey, we want what they're getting. And so then we started getting other sororities, you know, tried out Kyle Omega here at the University of Arkansas and so and so. It was just, you know, it was a really simple formula. I mean, this is really good art really was one thing that they wanted and get quality product, and they wanted us to do what we said we would do, do things on time.
You know, if they needed [00:32:00] that by Friday, they wanted it on Friday, you know, and so, and those are things they weren't getting. From other places and they wanted an easy processing, payment processing. And back then in the day, there wasn't Shopify. So if you can imagine, I would just take a stack of checks from all the university kids and cash, and you just get like this huge stack and you're just like, I'd have to go through it.
And they would mark on it, on the check, like extra large, large. And I'd have to like tally it all up, you know? It was crazy. But, um, so that's how it used to be. And then, um, so from there we actually, we, we, we got on a platform that doesn't even exist anymore, but it was one of the early platforms and we started, um, we used that for Kappa and then we, anyway, we started duplicating that.
We got all of the university chapters and then, uh, from there we kind of. They started Pinterest came out and Facebook and Instagram, and we didn't have any of that at the business and didn't really see the [00:33:00] importance of it. But the girls knew, and the college students knew, and they were posting a lot of stuff on Pinterest.
They were posting our their shirts and then bragging about 'em, and we started getting calls from other university students from outside of University of Arkansas saying, Hey, I really love these dad's day designs that I'm seeing. I like this one, this one, this one, and this one. How can we use y'all? And we're like, wow, okay.
So it's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You can use this. Yeah, we would love to. So it's like, so we'd have to get ahold of the university and we would get a license with them saying, Hey, you got a student body, uh, that wants to use our company? Can we get licensed with y'all? And so anyway, we'd have to go through the formal process of getting licensed first and then, and then we would, uh, then we would start printing for them.
And then slowly at that university, they all started using us from those. How's this seeing us? You know, uh, we never did the kind of the university [00:34:00] reps or anything like that. We did everything right here in Fayetteville, Arkansas, just under one roof. And, and as we started gaining more customers, we, you know, I had, I'd have to hire another employee or another artist or another, uh, you know, something, you know, so it was
Nick Beyer: just, and when you say artist, can you talk about how important that is?
To your business? I think people hear the word artists, that can mean a million different things. So what does that mean at Be Unlimited? Um,
Ben Clark: really because we didn't have, the way we started off not having, um, equipment that really kind of helped us know how to form a art house. And so we really started off through just being an art house that, that actually farmed out screen printing after we did design work.
And so, so
Nick Beyer: you would use someone else's
Ben Clark: machine? We'd use someone else's screen printing and it's called contract printing. And there's contract printers out there and so you can send it to them and we would send 'em the shirts and they would print it and they would ship it back to us and we [00:35:00] would box it up and give it to our customers.
Uh, and the customers were more concerned about the design. Mm-hmm. And so we had the connections, we had the licenses to be able to, to get that business. Then we would use these contract printers to help print the jobs. It wasn't until the contract printers couldn't keep up with our demand and keep up with our schedule.
That forced us to get into printing. And then, uh, through one of the, my early hires, his name is Ben Str, he's really, he's became, he's become now one, a really, a kind of a famous artist here in just our area. And, um, he's, we've been together probably 18 years now, but he's, um, he's an incredible artist. He really talked to me and said, Ben, we need to do water-based screen printing.
Uh, we don't need to do plastic salt screen printing. I was like, what are you talking about? No one asks for water-based screen printing, and that's more expensive and it's more difficult, you know, [00:36:00] like, we've never done screenprinting before. And, uh, the girls aren't asking for it. He says, yeah, but it's, it's eco-friendly.
You know, this would be better for our environment. I wrestled with it and I wrestled with him over it. And, uh, you know, and I thought, he's right. We should do, we should, we should do water-based screen printing. And how do we do that? Well, so before we bought any equipment, we kind of did our research. We flew out to California to some other shops that were doing water-based screen printing well up to Denver, Colorado, where they were doing some water based screen printing.
And we just do, uh, we thought, you know, we're gonna invest. If we're gonna invest equipment, let's invest in the right equipment and do it and do it right. And so we hired people and we said, look, this isn't. Your normal screen printing shop, this isn't as easy as just putting plastic salt ink in a screen and, and, uh, swiping it, you know, it's a little bit more difficult and it's more technical.
Um, so, uh, and so they would [00:37:00] agree that, okay, I'm, I'm ready for the challenge. And so they would, they came on board and they really help format, um, what we have now, you know, as a water-based screen printing shop. And we've actually had the pleasure of even holding, uh, like a origins is what we call it, but it's a, as a water-based training for other shops in our shop to kind of encourage them to switch over to water-based, um, inks, you know, uh, and the great, what I didn't know at the time is that, uh, being the salesman and marketer than I am, but it's just, uh, is that water-based screenprinting is so much softer.
It feels good. The precision of the design comes out so much better on the shirt than using plastic saw. It's like, you don't even know the feel of water-based ink is like, you don't even know you're wearing a shirt with a, with a design on it because it doesn't stick to you when you're sweating or anything like that.
So it's just, it just feels great. So, um, that was a, so that was a big win back in the day. And then you'd [00:38:00] have shops going, oh, we do water-based spring too, but they didn't have the dryers long enough to cure the ink, so they didn't have the right equipment. And if you don't, then it's just like, I mean, it just sucks.
I mean, like the first was it just washes out, you know, and you're like, and so your competitors trying to do it, but they didn't invest in the right equipment at the front end. And so it's, and it, uh, and it just was a big fail for him, you know, so it's, uh, so that was kind of an interesting, that was interesting back in the day.
And then also comfort colors. Uh mm-hmm. Most of y'all know who comfort colors are, but, uh. They were seaside down in Florida, was using comfort colors. And we would have a lot of the girls down there, uh, from sororities asking us, Hey, can you get this t-shirt, comfort colors? And no distributor carried that company.
And they weren't on, they didn't have a website. They didn't, I mean, no one could find them. And I had an intern at being limited, and I still appreciate you, um, Tyler Prude if you're listening, but I just, uh, shout out to [00:39:00] you. But I just, but he was, he was an intern back in the day, uh, from the University of Arkansas.
And he just did the research and he found this little company up in New York that made this shirt. And, uh, we, we called 'em and contacted 'em and they said they would sell directly to us Oh,
way.
Ben Clark: And they started selling directly to us. And our competitors didn't know how to get comfort colors. And so that became kind of a big thing for us too at the time as we were selling comfort colors.
Then slowly. People found out and actually gild in, bought comfort colors out and, and really expanded their reach. But, uh, but for the first few years that really helped us grow. That really, um, helped our growth a lot because we had an item that no one else knew about or knew how to get, you know? And so that was kind of, that was, that was pretty cool.
So back then in the day,
Nick Beyer: so kind of in those early days, do you remember when you had to, was, was buying that equipment, was that like a big milestone for [00:40:00] you mentally? Do you remember like how much those machines were? Oh gosh. Was that like just a big Oh
Ben Clark: my gosh. Okay. That's a good story and that's a good story for a lot of you entrepreneurs out there and people that are starting businesses because.
Even when I was ready to buy equipment and start buying equipment, you know how messy as an entrepreneur you, your credit rating is when you first start? I mean, it just gets, I mean, it sucks. I mean, because you're just kind of, it's almost like you're stealing from, uh, Paul to pay Peter whatnot. So it's like you're, uh, you're just juggling cash constantly to pay your, get your employees paid.
You're not getting paid sometimes just to pay your employees. And, and so it's, it's a, it's a pretty rough start. And so when you're going to fill out a credit, uh, form, you know, to buy equipment, I would get declined because my credit rating wasn't good. And then I would even go to a leasing company, which I hate to say this, they leasing companies love to.
I [00:41:00] mean, you know, take advantage of it. They just take advantage of it. You know, like, it's like they just really, yeah, I mean, I mean, it's not like they, I mean it's because I mean, people need 'em and Sure. So I even went to them and they said no, and they said, but a year later I went back and I, I kept working on my credit and just trying to get it better.
And so as soon as my credit was good enough for a leasing company, they, they, uh, I bought my first piece of equipment and, um, I forget how much it was. It wasn't probably that much, it was probably like around 50 grand or something, but it was, uh, I bought my first piece of equipment and, but really they owned it.
You know, the leasing company owns it, and you have to pay this lease out and then. And then at the end of your payments, you, so I probably bought it for a hundred grand, you know, and yeah. And honestly, I mean, it was really hard making those payments every, every month. But I did that. And then by the time I finished with them, I didn't need to use a leasing company anymore.
I could use a bank and I could [00:42:00] get proper credit, uh, interest rates and whatnot. So, and then that was, that was huge too as well. So, uh, we rented a space for a long time too, as well. But I remember when I first, we needed a bigger space, couldn't afford the rent in a bigger space, couldn't like, and so I kind of had my eye on a space down in South Fayetteville.
It was, it was a skate park and I knew that it was in bankruptcy. An indoor skate park. Indoor skate park is what it was. And at the time, and it was, uh, it had gotten shut down. Um. Kinda like I had done earlier in my career as well, you know, so I understood. And actually the guy that owned that was a good friend of mine, and so it was disheartening to see, because I'd gone through that.
So I knew exactly what he was going through. And, uh, but also I, and I knew we couldn't afford the, the building at its normal rate, you know? But, um, so we were looking for something like that, that was in bankruptcy that we could bid on. And, [00:43:00] um, I remember, uh, to this day was, it was, the bank was called, is was called Iberia.
Now it's, uh, first Horizon, but, uh, Keaton Smith. Thank you, Keaton. Uh, I just wanna tell you a shout out to him because honestly, um, he's a, he was a really good guy in small business at the time, and he still is. I, I see him just advocate for small businesses and for, um, affordable housing and things like that.
But for me, he said, Hey, the president of our bank is coming to town. And he's kinda ride with me one day. I said, is there any way you could get him to come over to this building that's in foreclosure and I could meet y'all there? And he said, um, yeah, I think I can, let me see. And so he calls me back and says, yeah, I, I've got this time slot, I can meet you there at 10:00 AM in the morning.
And I was like, great. So I'm like, great. I don't own the building. I've got the president of Iberia Bank [00:44:00] coming up from New Orleans, and um, my loan officer at Iberia Bank here locally is coming over there. And, and Keaton couldn't do anymore for me because I just didn't have the credit or didn't have the ability.
But, um, and in the back of my mind, I knew that the president could kind of override, you know, like everything, you know. And so I knew I had to have my a game on. So I literally went over there. I broke into that building. And, uh, literally at the time it was, it was, uh, a wreck. I mean, there was homeless people living in there and stuff too, as well at that moment.
I mean, there's, I mean, and you would see needles and stuff. I mean, it kind of got in really bad shape. I mean, it was, uh, it had closed down from the skate park and there was, I mean, it was just kind of a, everything was overgrown and it was in a bad shape. Uh, but I had made these poster boards and really a clear vision for where we were headed sales wise, and then [00:45:00] what the vision was for that building, for being limited.
And I remember setting up a table, setting up three chairs, putting up an easel, and having several of these big poster boards set up for my meeting with the president. And he had no idea what he was about to walk into. And then I put an ice chest with a champagne bottle and three glasses. Alright. And so I sat there.
And prayed about it. And I really, you know, and I was very nervous, but I just, uh, when they, when they got, when they drove down that driveway, that was kind of all busted up and everything. It was just, and then, you know, I opened the garage and we're sitting there, all the lights and everything are turned off.
I mean, it's, so you're just kind of getting lighting from the outside with the, this huge, um, garage door, uh, that was letting it in. But, uh, I remember going over where our growth was of being limited and what was going on, and showing him my projections [00:46:00] of where I believed we were going and that why we needed to be in that space.
And I'll never forget him just really being a really good listener for one and two. After, after I was completely done, he looked over at Keaton and said, I. Do whatever this man needs.
Hmm.
Ben Clark: And I mean, and he did not know, I mean, like, I was hanging on a thread and if I didn't get that, I mean, like, if, if he would've said no, I don't know what we would've done, honestly.
And, uh, because I couldn't afford and I knew that I could go in there and get that. And so, um, so at that point I said, I don't know if you drink. I don't know if, you know, I said, and I know it's 10 o'clock in the morning, but do you mind if I pull out the champagne glasses and pull out this champagne and, and pop this open and just, and have a toast right now?
'cause it would be very special to me. [00:47:00] And he said, and he said, it's not a problem. And so I pulled out that and we had a toast and it was just, it was really a, that was a really, yeah, it was awesome milestone. It was a change. It was, that was a really momentum moment there too as well. So it's like you have to kind of, and I'll be honest with you, I had, I had been watching that building for, I mean, probably two years.
Mm.
Ben Clark: So I kind of eyed it and no one else really knew about it, knew what was going on. But I kind of had the inside scoop 'cause he was a friend of mine. And, and I loved this guy dearly too as well, that had that and had to go through all that. And, but the, um, it's uh. So it was, it was really interesting how that, how all that went down.
So it was just, uh, so anyway, we, they auctioned off that building at the courthouse steps, like they do everything else here in Fayetteville, when things go in bankruptcy, you just go up there and you, you bid on it. And someone encouraged me [00:48:00] to, uh, hire these, uh, lawyers that are good at kind of negotiating and know what, you know, because I was thinking, I don't know how to do this.
They said, you should probably hire these people to do it. And they came, they drove up from Little Rock and they, um, they were there sitting next to me and they would raise their hand and bid up, you know, and bid up until they, they knew it was the right time. 'cause you also have the bank that's gonna bid on it themselves because they want, they wanna make sure they're getting a certain, certain price for it too as well.
But, um, I, I got that building for just really a steal. Mm-hmm. And I couldn't have got it without that. Meeting with the president and then, and, uh, the work of Keaton, and then also just with, um, um, those guys coming up and helping me. So you always have to have kind of that team around you, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: I would really say that for anybody, and I always, I kind of preach this to my sons. It's like, you, you need that good accountant, you need that good lawyer, you need that, um, um, you need that good doctor, you [00:49:00] know, to stay healthy, that you can pick up the phone with and, and, you know, have 'em on speed dial.
Um, you need those people and then you need good friends around you too, that are, you know, helping, standing, walking alongside you like I did with, with Brian and Rob. And you need, uh, I mean, there's a lot of, a lot of components there that you need, uh, to make that journey, you know, so along the way, so,
Nick Beyer: so the business is kind of slowly growing between 2006 20.
15, 20 16. The building is kind of 20 16, 20 17, is that right?
Ben Clark: Yes.
Nick Beyer: And y'all buy the building, I assume there's a ton of work to do in there, the way you're kind of casting how it looked. Oh my
Ben Clark: gosh. Yeah. We've got a video. Y'all should play it. It's on my Instagram, but it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a video of, of us just tearing out the floor, tearing out the building, bringing dumpsters.
It's just, it's the artist, it's the salespeople. It's, it's amazing. It's the people working [00:50:00] in shipping and receiving and being limited that are all over there and we're all doing this together.
Hmm.
Ben Clark: What a great team building thing. But 'cause yeah, it barely got in the building and now it's like, okay, how do we make it ours?
You know? And so we just had to, we had to do all the pulling out the refrigerators. I mean, you, Cameron, Cameron was working there at the time. What was that like, Cameron, for you? I mean, like,
well, I mean, I think the, the important thing that, I mean, I hope people get out of this is you are like, you're one of your top superpowers is being an authentic leader.
And like, and p it rallies people. It like, somehow just everyone who is there that day felt complete on it felt like they owned the building. Like in all reality, they did not own, they had no ownership in the building or whatever. But if you had asked, you know, anybody there, like it's, this is our building, you know?
Yeah. It's like this is our, is our place. Um, and uh, [00:51:00] yeah, I just think that that's was one of. I I'm never gonna, I'm never going to forget just who, who, who you are. And to this day, and then I been through the, all those seasons, just this authentic visionary leader that like Yeah. Is putting the, here's the projections, Mr.
Banker, here's, here's where we're going, team. Um, and you know, here, here's how we're gonna get there too. But, but like, um. And being okay showing the bumps in the road. 'cause that's what, that's what really, uh, mobilizes people, it gets people excited. It bought in on, on, on everything. Oh yeah. Um, but yeah, it was a special, I remember tearing out the, the ramps, um, the skate ramps.
Um, yeah. And, uh, I think some of us thought we could bring skateboards and, and, you know, relive, I did relive the Tony Hot video [00:52:00] games. Oh yeah. But, um, it was that going on too? It was a lot of fun. Yeah. Uh, it was a lot of fun. It was, um, it felt like a new chapter and, uh, it felt like being unlimited, kind of being more just established and like in, in the business community and the, and the, and, and the university community.
Hey, here's a, these are two really big buildings. There's a lot of capacity here. We're here to stay. We're a competitor. It's, it's on, it's on, you know, it's happening. Oh, yeah.
Nick Beyer: And talk about that a little. Talk about the building a little bit and then talk about what you could fit in that building and how that worked through your plan to scale.
Because, so, so the headquarters is 10,000 ish square feet, and then you've got 20,000 square feet of warehouse around it for the machines, or kind of,
Ben Clark: uh, gosh, I always have to. Um, we [00:53:00] have, uh,
I think it's around, we have probably around 30, 35,000 square feet total right there. Mm-hmm. In that area, you know? Mm-hmm. Um, I believe I'm saying that right. I think it's 35,000. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Um, and so it's, um. That actually when I first got that, I thought, okay, the way I'm gonna pay for this is that I'm gonna rent that small building out that's next to the big building.
And as soon as we moved in there, we needed the small building. I mean, it's like, it was just, we were just, our growth was just happening super fast. And so, and that was, that wasn't, uh, you know, I'm telling you all these things. It's also developing a good team. That was when it was real important. Those hires were real important all along the way.
And, uh, just hiring the right person for the right jobs and the right positions, you know, and getting, I always, back in the day, I'd always say I'd, I'd hire nice people and I really encourage people to hire nice people because, um, [00:54:00] it was, uh, I didn't wanna work with, you know, a host or whatever, you know, so it's like, it's wants to be around jerks.
Yeah. Who wants to be around jerks? It's like, I just wanted to work. I mean, and who. I don't wanna, I don't wanna put other people in the situation where they're having to work around jerks. Mm-hmm. You know, so I just really tried to hire nice people that respected each other. It didn't matter what your belief system was or what your political stance was or anything like that, it just, it really mattered to me about just, did you, were you respectful of others?
You know? And, uh, the more unique you were actually, the more fun it was actually too as well. So I just, I love people in general. I love everybody, and I really do. And it's just, and it's, and I like to, I like to surround myself with a lot of different people personally and so, uh, with different ideas, uh, and ideologies and whatnot.
And so it's just a, uh, and then we really have, we really had a really good eclectic group, [00:55:00] you know, um, there, so we had people that could actually do it and, and, and enjoyed working together too, as well. So.
Nick Beyer: It's good. So y'all get in that building. That sounds like, you know, kind of reading the talk business, politics, articles, et cetera.
That's 2017 to 2019. Y'all are really like starting to scale. You used that word earlier and think 2019 it was like 10 million in revenue is the big mark that y'all hit. Yeah. So kind of talk about those years and what was going on. What allowed you guys to scale the team that was in place at that time, all the different colleges, just kind of some of your big milestone memories from that time period.
Ben Clark: Um, I can remember like during that time was again just, just, uh, human resources, I guess. This is like, is really the, the people that. We hired that was real important. So I had a pretty good, I had [00:56:00] formed kind of a pretty good, uh, innate ability to just know when, if they were gonna be a good person or a good fit for being limited.
And I could remember even like, uh, one particular guy who all, all of y'all know in this room is, his name's Will Snead shout out to Will. But, uh, he was, I remember he was, he was the president of SAE at the time, and I just thought, man, I really like this guy. He, he just, the energy and the positivity and just his work ethic and how, and how he works and the, and even though I needed him a year earlier, uh, because we had already started growing, I thought he, I need, I need him on our team.
You know? And I just remember very being very intentional about like, I. Going after him and just trying to like really develop a relationship with him and getting to meet, I met his parents and just, and just, and, uh, and we really hit it. We really hit it off too, as just [00:57:00] friends. I mean, if y'all, if the ones of y'all that know me and Will, I mean like we're, we're truly friends.
I mean, but we, um, so during that time he was able to kind of, he was a, he's a very strategic thinker and he was, he was able to kind of put that strategic thinking together and just kind of, uh, if anyone, if you're gonna be successful, you, you've kind of gotta stay up late at night and you have to, you have to figure it out, you know, and you have to be willing to put in the time.
And he was, me and him traveled quite a bit all over the country, uh, to different universities and whatnot. And he was, uh, he was willing to put in that time and. You know, I'm sure, uh, we, we laugh about it. I'm not sure Natalie, his wife laughs about it because, you know, I pulled her away from him and I remember him buying her a dog and to kind of give her somebody to have at home.
'cause he was just gone a lot. And Natalie, I'm so thankful for you. Um, but I just, uh, I don't take you for granted at all. [00:58:00] The, uh, because we did, we had to put in a lot of time. I mean, it was a lot of time. It was a lot. It was, it was hard work, you know. And so, uh, we were gone a lot. And, but that's what it took, um, to make it happen.
And so it was, uh. Some of that, I kind of, some of that I got, I look back at and I go, man, those were fun years. Those are great years. But then also some of it I look at and I go, oh man, you know, there's a place where culture's great and it's fun and you enjoy being around everybody, but then also there's a place where you can kind of cross that line and, and all of a sudden it's like, what?
You're taking the place of other important things in their lives. And so there needs to be balance, and balance is real important. And I didn't, I didn't understand that at the time, but I've, I've, I've come to learn to grow and understand that and make sure that, uh, the employees there being limited have balance.
Hmm.
Ben Clark: Um, when we really didn't have enough balance back [00:59:00] then. I personally believe, uh, and we got, we've been TD on many different articles about our culture and because people just love working there, you know? Mm-hmm. But also there's a, and it really, balance is real important in someone's life. And so, um, so now I definitely.
Concentrate more on that. I don't try to pull people away after work or pull people away as much as I used to. Um, so anyway, that's another lesson I guess I've learned along the way. I don't know if that, but the people, I mean, definitely forming the right teams and the right, putting the right people in, in place.
Um, uh, there was another guy, um, who's dear to my heart, his name's Kevin, and he's, he was a, he's a really good organizer. He's a real processor, and, um, he's a, um, I guess, uh, systems automation. I mean, he just thinks those ways really well. [01:00:00] And so he, he helped kind of organize my life and organize us as a company too, as well.
And so that was, that was really good, uh, during the, the, the stench that he was there and that, and, you know, those, those are the people that I really. I am very appreciative of, and I will always be, you know, um, we've got people that are still there, pose, running the company. I mean, she's the president of being limited right now, and I've always said from day one, I mean when she walked in, I mean, that girl knows how to work and she's just a workhorse and people follow her leadership, but also she's just, she's very caring and she loves people and she's, um, uh, and people, you know, can get behind her and follow her because she doesn't mind doing the hard work herself too as well.
And so having her. Uh, now as president of being Unlimited is, is pretty awesome because she's, uh, you know, we're, [01:01:00] we service females and it's, it's, I've always thought that being limited need to be ran by a, a woman too, as well. I've always felt that way. I mean, because it's just, that's our customer base and I, I love having the female kinda leadership there.
Mm-hmm. For that reason as well.
Nick Beyer: Is the majority of the customer base sororities rather than fraternities? Yeah, the majority
Ben Clark: is definitely, the sales come from sororities for us. Cool. And so, so having it, having a lot of female leadership in our organization is, is really cool. Yeah. You know, so,
Nick Beyer: yeah. I think one thing I don't want us to gloss over, like the growth that happened, it wasn't, I'm sure some of it was word of mouth, but it's not like I.
A business that's just getting a ton of inbound leads. I mean, y'all, it sounds like you were in the trenches, like it was, you were traveling to these colleges all across the us staying [01:02:00] in hotels, probably eating trash food. Oh yeah. Times. I don't know how many times you're doing that in a year. A lot, but I imagine that was really difficult.
Oh yeah. So talk, talk a little bit more about that so people can really get a grasp of what it, what it was like to grow. That's a very, I. Different business model than some of the businesses that we've talked talked to. So,
Ben Clark: I mean, it was feet on the ground. I mean, it was like, you know, I had to go out there and shake hands, meet people.
I'd have to meet the licensing directors of these universities. I'd have to meet the, the, the president of the. Of the sororities and the fraternities and, and the t-shirt chairs and the social chairs, and, and sit down and talk with 'em, you know, and find out what their needs were. And it's, uh, and that is, it's, and when you, I mean, you're talking, it's a lot.
I mean, it's a lot. And they're all, they're spread out all across the country. And so you're, uh, you are doing a lot of traveling and, um, and so definitely if you're gonna, if you are gonna do that, you wanna do it with somebody that [01:03:00] you enjoy being with and just kind of enjoy it and have fun doing it. And so we had a good time doing it.
It was, it was fun. I mean, it was, I mean, when you're talking about a business like t-shirts, I mean, that's just like, you're talking about textile, you're talking about design, you're talking about color. I mean, you're talking about events, you're talking about kind of, uh, uh, people's ideas and their thoughts.
And just, and then turning them into something, uh, it's, it's a lot of fun. Mm-hmm. And then so they're just one project after the next and, and you're, you're turning their ideas into something way beyond they've ever thought it could be. And so that's, it's, those were definitely fun years for sure. No doubt.
Nick Beyer: And how were those years managing the business? Because I assume that's a ton of expenses traveling and I don't know if it was just you and Will or if there was like a team of y'all traveling. Were there years where you're like, we spent a ton of money on traveling. We never
Ben Clark: spent a ton of money. No, we never, we didn't spend a ton of money.
We did [01:04:00] everything on the, we did everything so cheap. I mean, like, we'd all cram into one room. I mean, we really, like, we'd eat McDonald's. I mean, it was like, it wasn't, we weren't spending money. Yeah. We weren't, it wasn't like luxury. Yeah. You know, staying in luxury hotels and all that stuff. I just, it would, it would always, it was always funny to me to see other companies and they're like, everyone got their own room and they were staying at these really nice hotels and it was like, now we did, there were some things.
I kind of splurged on, and that was probably everyone. We would go to a nice restaurant. I just kind of got into like, I really enjoyed sitting down and going into nice restaurants. And so I guess if I, if there was places we did splurge, that was the one place that I splurged on. But, uh, I mean, we would always find ourself in kind of the grunge bar or something like that, or just, I mean, just something that was cheap, you know, uh, dollar beer, you know, or coffee shop, you know, it's just.
Drinking coffee. I mean, we were just, we were burning it at both ends. Honestly. When you're dealing with university students, you know, and they're always pushing the limits and so you're having to be [01:05:00] there alongside them pushing the limits too as well. So it's, it was pretty tough. And then, is your customer in that business?
Is it pretty sticky?
Nick Beyer: I.
Ben Clark: Like, well, it not really, because it's like you got a new customer every year. Every year. Yeah. So I mean, you're recreating it every year. Mm-hmm. So it's not like, okay, we've got such a great relationship with the Kappa Deltas up in, you know, in Kentucky. Mm-hmm. And then you're just like, all of a sudden it's like, well, it's a new girl this year.
New T-shirt chair. Yeah. New t-shirt chair. And she's, this other one moved away and she didn't even introduce us to the new one. Now we, we don't even know who she is. It's like, it's just like, okay. It's like it's, we're starting all over again. And so we had to learn how to do those transitions well and, you know, and how to connect that and those dots.
And so, uh, we've learned a lot of lessons through that too as well. So it's, uh, anybody that's starting a t-shirt company that's wanting to compete, that's, that's, you know, those things are important, you know, so it's, uh, it's, uh. [01:06:00] I, I love competition, by the way, anybody that's listening, that's a competitor.
I know. Like I listen to other competitors thing, but it's just like, competition's so good because it just keeps making you better, you know? Mm-hmm. And it just really does. And it's, it's, it's valuable for a customer that we have competitors. 'cause it keeps our prices low, it keeps us fair and, but it also keeps us always wanting to do things better.
So, and it, and it challenges us and they challenge our, our competitors challenge us. I mean, especially in this day of age, of just things developing so quickly. Um, I remember, um, Henry Ho, who owns a company here called, um, field Agent, um, he was another great just mentor friend of mine. And he, uh. He just told me, Ben, if you're not changing every five years, this is a long time ago.
Every five years, you know, if you're not, if your business isn't changing, then you're gonna die.
Mm. I
Ben Clark: thought, wow. And then it wasn't like long after that, and I got back to him. I said, Henry, if our business isn't changing in every three [01:07:00] years, you know, we're gonna die. You know? And then re I mean, honestly, recently, it's like, Henry, if our business isn't change in every year and in constant change, we're gonna die.
You know? So it has to be in constant change. And so that's something you always have to prepare your, uh, your employees for.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: Uh, because you'll have employees going, well, we're always changing. Well, if we're not always changing, we're gonna die. Mm-hmm. You know, and so we have to always be changing.
And so honestly, for all you competitors out there, again, I just, uh. You know, use our old ways, use the ways that you see us, because we're already doing something different today anyway. Mm-hmm. So it doesn't really matter to me. I mean, so even me touting anything on this, you know, podcast or anything, I, it's kind of funny because it's always developing and changing from the next year.
So whatever it was last year, you know, uh, it's kinda like, you know, there's really no secrets out there, but you just have to always kind of be, I guess the biggest [01:08:00] secret is just, uh, just always talking to your customers and asking them, you know, what they want and what they need. Uh, and just making sure you're meeting their needs is kind of our biggest thing.
And talk about, I mean,
20 14, 20 19. I was there a good chunk of that time. It was exciting. Business is growing, growing, growing, growing, growing, growing. 2020. The merger, uh, with JCG kind of comes into the picture. And then also, and also COVID kind of at this exact same time. A lot of transition, a lot of change.
Ben Clark: So true. So after your, your company's growing, growing, growing, and then all of a sudden, you know, COVID hits? Well, right before COVID hit, my brother passed away and he had always been another great mentor of mine. Uh, he owned several of the Chick-fil-As up in Rogers in Bentonville. And uh, his name was Scott Clark.
And he was, uh, just a really dear friend and brother. He is best man in my wedding and just kind of a important, important place in my [01:09:00] life, important role in my life. But, and he had, he had four kids and they, um. I just saw he was 57 and then I just saw how short life is and how quick you can be taken from this earth.
'cause he was full of life and just energy and could really just had the capacity of any human I had ever met. And he had been snow skiing three times that winter with different friend groups and, and he'd gotten back and he couldn't get rid of a headache. And anyway, he, he ended up having melanoma that he'd gotten up to his brain and, and he didn't realize it and they said, you're gonna die tonight.
And he was like, what? You know? And so, and shortly he didn't die that night because they were able to do some things, but he did die three, three weeks later. And, but it, but it really had an effect on my life as far as that. And then also Cameron was working at B Unlimited here. And uh, [01:10:00] and Cameron came up to me and said, Hey dad, you know, I don't wanna be a CEO of a big company.
And that's kind of was his projection, you know, he was kind of working his, his way in that way. And, um, he says, I want to go off and do my own thing. And I thought, that's great. You know, fine. I mean, like with all my kids, I, you know, it's like I just want you to do whatever you want to. I'd love for you to be here and us work together, but also I want you to do whatever you wanna do.
But, uh, it's. But then that just kind of freed me up to kind of think differently outside the box with being limited. And we were, we were looking at, at growth at that point, I was getting advised to like, Hey, your growth is gonna come from doing some acquisitions, doing some things like that. And so we started looking at acquiring some different businesses.
And one of, uh, a competitor of mine in Oxford, Mississippi actually, uh, was able to contact me through another friend that he met down in Florida. And his name is, [01:11:00] um, his name's Nathan Lot. He owned, uh, uh, JCG apparel and um, JCG apparel in, um, Oxford, Mississippi. And we competed in that region. And he, um. We started talking about, uh, kind of an acquisition or merger and just kind of, he said, what would you think if we did a merger?
And I said, that would be awesome. You know, I'm thinking that, well, I didn't just say that off the bat. I was thinking, I've never had a, well, what I said is, I said, I really don't believe in business partners. I really, I mean, I've, I've seen two of my good friends kind of split up over a, a business deal and it just really hurt and I just don't want to have a business partner.
I don't wanna have to go through that, you know? Mm. And he says, I've got a business partner in another deal, and let me explain how that works. And he, and he explained it to me beautifully and I was thinking. Really, because I, I've never really had that, I never kind of saw that as business partners before, uh, that side of business partners.
And so he explained it to [01:12:00] me and I prayed about it and thought about it and talked to Christine about it and, and, uh, and said, yeah, I think a merger would be good. And then, uh, they were a little bit smaller than being unlimited at the time. And, and he, uh, he said, what would you think? Kind of the last minute, he said, what would you think if I bought 15% of your shares?
And, and we became 50 50 partners? And I've never really taken anything off the plate of being unlimited. I've always had to just pour everything back into being unlimited, you know, um, to help growth, uh, the growth of being unlimited. And so I thought, you know, I'm at the age and stage of life where I've kinda want to take some off the plate.
I, I'm not ready to retire. I don't even believe in retirement, honestly. I believe we're here put on this earth just to create, you know, our whole life while we're here. But it's, um, but I did think I needed some rest and I did. And I really felt like having a business partner was, uh, I'm just, was perfect timing.
And [01:13:00] him buying 15% of my shares was perfect timing too. 'cause it allowed me to, uh, buy a place down in Florida and, and it, and it allowed me to kind of ha get some rest. Kinda let go of some things that, because I'd always been kinda the operator, CEO of being limited. And it allowed me some time to kind of, um, rest.
Because I'll tell you as a, as a entrepreneur, it's really, I don't want to, I hate to describe it, like going to war and as a soldier, because those guys are incredible. But it's, but you do get wounded and you do get, I mean, you're, you're taking shots all the time and you don't realize it, and you're not resting like you should.
And even on Sunday mornings, you might be at church and, you know, it's maybe called the day of rest. And, but in, you're, you're taking notes just like everyone else, but your notes are about your business and everyone else's notes is about what the preacher's saying up there. And you're sitting there thinking about what the week's gonna look like, you know, and your brain is just going 90 to nothing.
And, um, [01:14:00] so I don't know. God, I really felt like I added up all the time that. I didn't have rest in my life. And it, it added, it added up to two years. And I really thought, I'm just gonna give myself two years. So down in Florida, I just really kind of like, I would go down there and I just, one, I, my business partner lives in Florida and he doesn't live far from me.
So we got to build kind of a, a really good friendship and relationship with each other, that just a trust and a bond. And then also just, uh, and kind of got to know each other better. And then two, I just got to, uh, rest, rest my soul, get, let the ocean massage my brain and just kind of, and there's a time that you need to do that.
You need to do that constantly on the way, on the jour during the journey, not after a journey. You really need to do that during the journey. But, um, so anyway, so another lesson learned, uh, if you wanna mark that down in your notes, but how important rest is,
Nick Beyer: [01:15:00] what are some things about whether it was that conversation with Nathan.
Kind of pre partnership, him explaining and outlining what a partnership would look like, or you're five years in now, some things that you feel like we've done this really well, and if you're listening to this about to enter a partnership, like here's some things I'd I'd caution you on, or here's some things I'd really challenge you to talk to, um, with the person that you, you know, might be doing a partnership with.
Ben Clark: Um, I think with, uh. A partnership is like a marriage, and so you, you need to pick that person carefully, you know? Um, we've almost gone into some partnerships with some other people along the way and we backed out of it. Um, the, um, but, uh, for me and Nathan, I felt like we're both kinda like me and my wife, we're very opposite in a lot of ways.
Uh, we have very opposite strengths and, [01:16:00] uh, very opposite weaknesses. And, um, we recognize those within each other. And, uh, we both have, we're both grounded in the same, our belief systems very similar. And so, uh, it's. You know, that's, uh, that's important, I believe, uh, and a partner, a true partnership. Um, we have a, we have a deep trust within each other.
Um, we lay everything out on the table, very honest, you know, and trying to, uh, with each other and just trying to, and so we, we don't, we're not trying to swindle each other. I mean, we really, um, he's taught me a lot, actually. One, he is taught me just to put the other person first, you know, and he's taught me to, uh, to cons because consider them before yourself.
And so it's like he always like. He's, he always treats others more important than himself, and then he does that in a partnership, which [01:17:00] in return makes me wanna do the same thing. And so he's, he's been a great mentor for me as far as like, he's always been the owner of his company where he wasn't working inside the company, kind of growing it.
I always kinda worked inside the company. I was always considered the CEO of being limited and, and just kind of working in the company all those years before 2020. And then, um, and so then after that it was just, he kind of taught me how to be an owner and not. Not being an operator. And that was, and I needed that at, at this stage in my life anyway, so I have, I enjoyed being an operator.
I love operating and growing and doing that, you know, structuring and hiring and all this stuff. But, uh, he's taught me how to be an owner. Well, and so that's good too, as well. So, I don't know. I, I think that, um, you know, again, somebody that is friendly and you like, and that, you know, you want to, you know, because you're gonna be, I mean, you wanna look at [01:18:00] it like you're spending the rest of your life with 'em.
I mean, you know, so, uh, regardless if you do or don't, it's not like a marriage, but it's, but it's also, you know, it's still business, but it's, uh, but you want to, but you wanna treat it like, you know, someone I enjoy being with too as well. And so we, we do a lot together, you know, so it's, it's somebody I really do enjoy hanging out with.
That's good.
Nick Beyer: And then the, the, their business at the time y'all merged 2020 ish was primarily brick and mortar retail stores in SEC kind of country. Is that correct?
Ben Clark: Uh, no. They did, they did retail better than we did. Okay. Um, they, they didn't have, I don't, I forget how many retail stores, I think they had four retail stores at the time.
The um, uh, and then they were doing the same thing we were doing too as well, where we kind of outshine them, I think, as just the art. They had a hard time getting artists and just, and they really looked at our art a lot and went, wow. I mean, I think that was kind [01:19:00] of the biggest thing for them is that they looked at the art and then, and so, um.
And me and Nathan's relationship, honestly is like, it's almost like a handshake deal. I mean, like, I mean, we pretty much just, uh, I've got a picture of when we agreed to be a partner and that was, I mean, before any kind of like document or anything like that was even signed. I mean, that was, that was really when it was signed.
It didn't, everything else didn't matter. You know, um, the, um, I'm trying to, and you know, and a lot of prayer went into that too as well, you know, consideration and then, and we both, I, I think he had a sign that really was kind of staggering 'cause we both kinda like, okay, well you wanna buy 15%, this is how much it's gonna be, how much do you think it's worth?
And how much do you think? Because I mean, you know, it's only worth what someone's willing to pay and what someone's willing to give it up for too as well. Mm-hmm. And so we both just had that same number in our head, which was Remi. I mean, like, we both, it's [01:20:00] almost like we wrote it down. We slid a piece of paper across the table.
And unveiled it, and we both had the same number. That's crazy. You know, and then it's like, and it was like he had, uh, and I remember him telling me that he, he was, he had been dealing in the stock market and stuff and, and had a lot of prayer and just thinking, Lord, if you can show me a sign that I'm supposed to do this.
And so, um, and he asked God, he said, if, if you can raise my stock to this amount, you know. And that's, and we were literally sitting there that day and he kept looking down at his phone and the stock right then rose to right there at that amount. And it was just a, I mean, it was just, it was almost like a, I mean, those moments, you know, when you ask, uh, your wife to marry you or you kind of do those different moments in your life, those kind of, you're, you're putting a nail on the ground.
I mean, they have [01:21:00] to be kind of, um, divine intervention, you know, type of deals. So, I mean, it's not just, those aren't just like, you can work hard and all this stuff, but those, there's certain moments that are just divine interventions and, and that was one for us there that day. So. That's
awesome.
Nick Beyer: So what, in, in that merger, that was kind of around COVID time, so I think that was, let's talk a little bit about that.
I mean, you're, you're doing t-shirts for. Colleges, I don't know how many at this point. A couple hundred all across the nation or 50 across, mm-hmm. Whatever, whatever that number is across the nation. COVID happens, functions get shut down, events get shut down, kind of what happens to the business. Walk us through those emotions.
I mean,
Ben Clark: we're pretty fast to act. I mean, I remember us coming to my house here and going like, Hey, um, we had to list everybody on a board and, and go, okay, y'all, we've gotta like, [01:22:00] we've gotta let everybody go and who are we gonna let go and who's not, who actually do we have to have here rowing the boat right now?
And I never, I mean, there were so much tears shed that day in our executive team during that meeting because there wasn't one person we wanted to let go, you know? But this is before they announced. What the government was gonna do and help, but at the time we were like, schools are closed. We're not gonna be able to make payroll next in two weeks.
I mean, we don't, we don't have cash. And so we sat there around that room and had to sit there and like, make some really the hardest decisions of our lives in that room that day. And that was, that was, that was probably one of the toughest meetings I've had with an executive team that we had to do this together.
And I was glad we did it together. It was, it was good. It was good for all of us. We, we all learned a lot through that. [01:23:00] And, you know, and during that time there was a rollercoaster. I mean, it was kinda like we hire everybody back. Oh wait, we gotta let some people go. We gotta hire people. I mean, like, it was just like, what is going on here?
You know? And so how can we keep people, how, what can we be doing? Let's start making masks. We got creative outside the box. We started making masks outta t-shirts. We started cutting up t-shirts and making masks. We started, uh, uh, we started doing local business stuff to help other businesses doing this thing where we were printing, you know, every local restaurant and bar and just businesses and putting their logo on shirts and getting people to buy their shirts.
And we were splitting the profits with that business. And, and that was, uh, that was a huge thing that actually got us on the paper and, you know, of showing kind of stuff that we were doing outside the box. Um, it seemed like, uh, we got a lot of good press over a lot of that stuff that was, we were doing, but we were just doing, because we were trying to help ourselves survive.
And they were trying to just help our community survive too as well during that time. And so, um, 'cause no one really knew what was happening, [01:24:00] you know, during that time, you know? Um, so it was kind of uncharted, uncharted territory for anybody. Um, calling friends, asking them what they're doing and what they're, you know, everybody handled it differently.
You know, some people just shut down, you know, completely, you know, and, uh, they were never able to reopen or rebound from that either, you know? So, and some people really kind of made the most of it. Um, so, um, so anyway, that's, that was kind of during that time. Now, I'll be honest with you, after, after COVID happened, if you kind of remember the last five years, I mean, we've been through a, a lot.
I mean, like there was, um, just the landscape of business. I don't think we'll ever go back to the way it was. Pre COVID. I mean, people learn, you know, working from home, work life balance, what am I doing with my life? You know, you had a lot of people asking those questions, you know, and those were good for people to ask and they need to be asking those questions.
But it just [01:25:00] really helped people kind of guide them to kind of more of a balanced lifestyle. And then also, and it, uh, but with a, as an employer, you know, we were dealing with a lot of people, like slowly quitting, you know, like you, what was that term? That silent Quitting. Yeah, silent quitting. You know, they would, they just kind of stopped working, you know, but they, but they were still getting a paycheck type of deal.
It was just weird. You had a lot of that going on, you know, and you had like a lot, I mean, and then you had all this, uh, you know, you had the, uh, just a lot of different movements happening across the nation, you know, uh, whether you agreed or not with any of those movements, it really affected. Midsize businesses because you had people on both sides that you're trying to, you're trying to console with and you're like, wait, let's not let that come
between
Ben Clark: us in between us.
You know? How do we, we don't need to draw a line in the sand between us and like, okay, I'm over here. You're over there, you [01:26:00] know, type of deal. How do we continue to res, you know, keep the culture that being limp had always had before of just be yourself, be unique, you know, be limp, be, you know, and just really respect one another and, uh, learn from each other, you know, and not try to just bully each other or try to, you know.
And so that was, it was, uh, you know, we, every one of us learned something different during that time. Mm-hmm. I mean, I learned a lot. All the employees, everybody learned something different from that time. And probably a lot of us regret some things we did and some both of us wish we would've done other things.
You know, I mean, it's just, it was just, like I say, it was uncharted territory, you know? And then you're just kind of gasping at air too as well at the same time just trying to, uh, so it was, uh. It's really interesting and it's, it's changed the landscape of business and then all this AI and all this other stuff here now that's come out, you know what I mean?
Like it's [01:27:00] really, business has changed. I just went to that economic summit that the university did, and they were talking about how, how high the, uh, unemployment rate is for just, uh, newly graduates at the university. Um, I don't know if it's the highest it's ever been, but it's, it's higher than it's been in a long time.
And it's, uh, and that's one of the highest groups, I guess out of all unemployment. The high, one of the highest groups is just recently grads. Mm-hmm. Which is interesting. Um, but it's because AI has taken on. Place a lot of the jobs that they were kind of, those entry level positions AI is able to do now.
And so there's those positions don't last. So really, I mean, a lot of those people are having to just go work for free or go do, I mean, and learn, get an an internship internship, get an internship, or go, you know, go back to school and get some more training or something or, um, but it's, um, so it's interesting.
Or take a job that they normally wouldn't take, maybe, you know, so
Yeah. [01:28:00] What of the, the wins and challenges of the last couple years call it, you know, Laura steps into the CEO route? It kind of feels like the more of the last couple years kind of feels like more of the now where we're at with the business, if you feel like that.
Um,
Ben Clark: uh, now, I mean, the business is like, we're really kind of, I mean, over the, we kind of got into a, I mean. We were, we were continuing to do business, like we used to do business back in the day and that wasn't getting us where we, where it used to get us. And so we've, we had to make a lot of changes to kind of.
Kind of, oh, it's almost like I, I almost feel like we're in a, a new stage, you know, a new chapter of being limited. Wow. I don't feel like it, I know we are, and I see that across the board with a lot of businesses where they've had to make a lot of changes. They've, they're doing business differently.
They're having to cut a lot of [01:29:00] expenses, um, wherever they can because, uh, just to survive, to keep the boat afloat again. I mean, it's kinda like one of those weird deals. I mean, healthcare's gone up, expenses has gone up, everything's gone up. You know, supplies have gone up. Any new equipment. Mm-hmm. Costs double.
Uh, you know, we bought some land to build a new building down in South Fayetteville. And what we got quoted on originally and then what it was gonna cost after that, after, you know, after COVID was just crazy. And then the interest rates went up and it's like, okay, you know, it's just. Our payment for that building went double of what it was gonna be and what it was gonna be in the beginning was already kind of pushing it, you know?
And we're like, we can do this though. You know, we're growing, you know, it's like, so we had now we've had to kinda slow row that and, and, uh, and kinda rethink how when's the right time to start building, you [01:30:00] know, than what it was Yeah. Uh, five years ago, honestly. I mean, so we're still planning on it, but just kind of a just, uh, just trying to figure out the appropriate time and when, when that is.
So right now, I mean, it's, it's more for us is we've kind of, uh, we've, we had grown through all those really high growth years, and now it's how to manage more, not as many growth years, and just kind of like leveling it out and like, okay, let's, this is our foundation.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: Now we're starting another, it's almost like starting another startup, but at a lot higher, you know?
Yeah.
Ben Clark: Uh. You know, sales. And so it's, uh, kinda reinventing ourself right now. So it's a, it's a fun stage. Actually right now we're in a good stage 'cause we've, we've got a lot of new people and it's just kind of, it's a, it's almost, it feels like a new startup. And I wish this podcast was, I. Going out last week, because I could tell, uh, once a year we do a big art show, and that's, uh, [01:31:00] it's, this is the fourth year we've done this, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger where the community's coming out.
Mm-hmm. And we have our artists kind of, this is kind of their outlet of what natural trades used to be for 'em, where they get to do stuff outside the box of university stuff and really create just original pieces. And all the proceeds go to, uh, the community creative center here in Fayetteville, uh, for that.
But it's, but it brings out hundreds of people and it's, it brings out even designers and stuff that, uh, are designing stuff for, uh, uh, interior designers that, that are looking for unique pieces that, you know, for these million dollar homes that they have to go in and design and, and put together. And so they go there and they find things that they couldn't find other places, you know, and they've, but, uh, so anyway, if you'll miss it this year, but.
No, we'll have it again next year. And it's just an open house where we, people get to print their own shirts and we have music and food and
yeah,
Ben Clark: drinks. And it's just, it's [01:32:00] just a fun time. It's a fun community time and we really enjoy doing it and we love giving back to the community too as well. So
I'm looking forward to it tonight.
Um, we'll talk, I don't know if there's anything else there you wanted to, on which part? Ga gauge on and kind of this current, current phase. I wanted to talk more on the future.
Nick Beyer: Yeah. The, I guess a little bit more on the retail locations. I mean, you opened up the, the be unlimited spot in, in Fayetteville.
Is that two years ago?
Ben Clark: Yeah.
Nick Beyer: Or something. Yeah, off, off of Block Street. Yeah, like. Was that,
Ben Clark: I mean, that's based off the other retail spaces that we have at, in like in Oxford and Stark Starksville and Baton Rouge, and we had in Gainesville and um, and in, um, um, over in, uh, Georgia. Um, Athens. Athens. But it's, it's based off of that, those stores.
And, uh, and then really that's just, that's a way that we can, it's a, it's a good distribution [01:33:00] center for us. It's a good place for us to, um, uh, for the girls to be able to come in and, and, and buy university. Here for the games and whatnot. So it's, uh, it's a fun outlet for us too as well. So it's, and that's, that's really growing.
And then we've also, we acquired, uh, the 30 a brand, uh, apparel brand that, so in Florida, uh, exclusively to, so we do all the 30 A. So if you're, if you're, if you vacation down on 30 A in that area, uh, we recently took it over about a year ago and we've been elevating that brand. And, uh, we have several different retail stores down there too as well.
Uh, along 30 a and, and then we wholesale a lot of that product within those different locations and different stores there in 30 A.
Nick Beyer: So do you own the brand or you license the brand and own the, uh, we own the, we ex distribution. We
Ben Clark: exclusively own the, the brand for, to do a, for apparel [01:34:00] rights. Okay. So, uh, so it's not, so we, we pay, it's pretty much like university stuff, but we pay.
We pay royalty for it. But we're, but we're exclusive on that one where it's not like we have competitors that are, you know, we're actually, we actually have to pay the leases mm-hmm. And pay the employees and all that stuff. And so, but it's, uh, it's a, it's a cool, it's a cool thing. And, uh, that's, uh, happening down there on 30 a, um, we love, love going down there.
Hmm. And yeah. And I, I think I wanna talk, talk on the now, the, so you found yourself kind of back in the beginning startup phase of, of a, of a new venture. Oh yeah. Like, so be, I mean, obviously be, be, be unlimited is, is sailing. You're, you're in the owner seat there. And then, uh. Uh, bold creators. What, what's this?
You've now, you've kind of come outta this phase of rest and now you're focused on a startup phase. I've got, I've got a lot of energy
Ben Clark: [01:35:00] and thankful to, again, my business partner, Nathan, and, and, uh, and thanks. Thankful for Lara Poe, uh, running be unlimited, that it gives me the time and the energy and the, uh, just the capacity, I guess more so than anything, just to, um, I went over to, uh, Uganda three years ago, was able to talk to some businessmen and really saw, uh, Ugandans the average age of Ugandans.
80, 78% of Ugandans are under the age of 30. And so, and now with Elon Musk bringing internet to all of Africa. And you've got these just incredible, talented, smart learners, uh, workforce that's coming up out of Africa. That is, uh. And that's, that has the resilience because they've learned what it takes, and they have the grit, resilience, and grit.
I mean, those are things they, they should be classes [01:36:00] at the university, honestly, because those are two things that a formula for success right there. And if you've got a nation with resilience and grit and that at a young population like that, you're gonna see some cool things happening out of that country.
And so it's been really cool. Last year I was able to take a group of, uh, of entrepreneur minded guys over there, and we were, uh, we worked with, uh, 50, uh, Ugandans, uh, in the entrepreneurial world just to help walk alongside them and elevate them into, uh, uh, their businesses. Uh. And so I'm taking another group this year.
We actually leave in about a month. Uh, but we right now we're, we all meet together every week, every Tuesday morning we meet, there's, there's 60 of us on this call, on this Zoom call, and we split up into seven groups, and we're going through the work matters material. And that's just about the core values of a Christian businessman.
[01:37:00] Just it's, it's really any business person. I mean, it's like, uh, I mean, it's just love, integrity, balance, uh, all the things we've talked about really on this podcast. I mean, just, uh, servant leadership. I mean, just things that if you want to be a successful entrepreneur or, or, and businessman, I mean, these are the core, you, you have to have these core values, you know?
Mm-hmm. They have to be innate inside of you. And so, um, so anyway, we, we kind of start off there and get to know each other through kind of a more, um, organic way, and then. Then we, we travel over there and we, we go through their businesses and we, uh, we get to tour their businesses and talk about their challenges.
And then we have a, then we have a business retreat, a three day business retreat actually this year. Uh, uh, Donny Smith, one of the ex CEOs of, uh, Tyson's coming over and he's speaking. And, uh, we've got a lot of, well, honestly, we've got a lot of just great people [01:38:00] coming over, um, this year, uh, that's going over there with me.
And it's, and I'm real excited about this trip. So, and just the relationships that I formed, if, if you haven't formed any relationships with any people from Africa, and especially the country of Uganda, I strongly encourage you to because it will change your life.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: Wow.
Um, I was gonna kind of start wrapping us up here.
That's good. Um, the. It's really special for me to have for you, for you to come on today. So, um, it's really, it's very special for me too, Cameron. It's, uh,
Ben Clark: it's awesome.
I really appreciate
Ben Clark: it. Thanks for, I had no idea y'all had ask me to come on here. I'm not really a, it's the founders of NWA and, um, just like any marriage, everything's always changing.
So you're always a founder in a sense, you know? Uh. Brian Rle found it be unlimited. Mm. Uh, but although he founded it, I think I found it like probably 10 be unlimited 10 times [01:39:00] during my journey, you know? Yeah. Throughout, throughout the deal. And so it's, uh, and now founding, I, I have found it like bold creators
mm-hmm.
Ben Clark: And stuff, and I definitely feel like a founder in many other businesses in the past that weren't successful. But, uh, I really appreciate y'all having me on, and thank you so much. And it means a lot to me, and it's, it's very special. Nick, thank you for allowing me to be on here with my son, and y'all are doing an excellent job, and I really appreciate it.
Yeah, thanks. Well, we got two last questions for you that we ask every guest at the end of, uh, end. End of it. What's my favorite ice cream? No. I wish they were that easy. Oh, gosh, no. Why? Uh, so Northwest Arkansas Founders, why build a business in northwest Arkansas?
Ben Clark: Oh, I can tell you right now,
yeah.
Ben Clark: I hit a gold mine raising three sons in northwest Arkansas.
Mm-hmm. Because I feel like right now at their, at, well, any age, honestly, I mean, it, you can be my agents [01:40:00] and, and go out and start a business right now, but right now you're in the golden years of, of northwest Arkansas with the influx of people coming in and just the, it's just, it's, it's in a new chapter.
I mean, it's, it's a place where you would want to come and start. I mean, it's, things are just, it's thriving and any place that's thriving is a great place to, to start a business and, uh, start your journey. I mean, you're, you have a lot more, it's kinda like there's, when you see like McDonald's or Chick-fil-A and things like that, they all run the same way, but location matters.
Location does matter. And I'm telling you, northwest Arkansas, you're seeing some of the brightest people move in here and start things, and it's just. Uh, to, to walk alongside and kind of, and, uh, and, uh, do your journey alongside of those people. It's just a, it's a magical thing for success
actually. So. Hmm.
And then on [01:41:00] success, how do you define success? What success is?
Ben Clark: I define the success. Being able to sit here next to my son in this podcast right now, and I don't care anything else. This is where, this is true success right here. So that's, that's it.
I feel it too. I feel it too. Um, yeah.
Nick Beyer: Well, one of the things we do at the end of every episode is we like to highlight some of the biggest things that we learn from you, but I think I usually do it today.
I think Cameron's gonna do it, which is a surprise to him. But that's where, that's why, that's why we do this. We do it so that it's raw and that people can truly learn from you. It's not scripted. There was no, you know, prescreening or anything. So Kim, if you wanna share some of the biggest things you've learned from your dad through, through the lens of business, I think that would, we'd all learn from that.
So,
yeah, I think we talked about one very [01:42:00] beginning, it's okay to fail failure's part of life. It's part of the journey. And like, embrace it and be, and I think you as a dad and a business, you know, I've, I've gotten to see you as been the dad, been the CEO, been the visionary, been the owner, all the different things.
But the authentic leader kind of comes across all of those. And like, it's okay to fail, embrace it, learn from it. Don't be afraid of it. Don't be a fool. Like, but it's all right. It's the, you can be who you are and that's who God made. God made you who you are to be who you are, not somebody else. If you're trying to be somebody else, then you're, it's, it's not gonna work out.
Yeah. Um, and uh, yeah, and then we've said the word probably four or five times now, but the journey is what it's about. Like what you were saying earlier, there's, um, the, every stage is has its sweet sides and its hard [01:43:00] sides. And like, and, uh, and if you're, if you're gonna be an entrepreneur, part of it's getting kicked to the nuts a lot.
And it's like just being able to keep going and like, and, uh, um, keep moving forward. But I mean, I could sit here and talk for another hour on all, all, all these things, but, uh. Um, love you dad. Thank you for coming on. I love you, Cameron. Appreciate it. Thank you. Absolutely.
Nick Beyer: Well, how can, uh, how can people find out more about Be Unlimited or more reach out to you, Ben?
Ben Clark: Um, I'm a big in Instagramer. I used to be, anyway, I don't Instagram as much as I used to, but I just, uh, the, uh, LinkedIn. I'm trying to, I'm gonna start trying to do LinkedIn a little bit more so you can look me up on LinkedIn also, just be unlimited. It's be-unlimited.com is our website at, uh. Get on that website, or if you're interested in, um, being part of Bold Creators, that's bold creators.org, um, and seeing what we're doing there.
So [01:44:00] I appreciate y'all very much. Yeah, thank you. Thanks for coming. Yeah. Thank you.
Thanks. Thank you for listening to this episode of NWA Founders, where we sit down with founders, owners and builders driving growth here in northwest Arkansas. For recommendations are to connect with us, reach out at nwa, founders@gmail.com.
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