Ep. 41 - AI, Philanthropy, and the Power of Community in Business with True Classic Founder Ryan Bartlett

One Day with Jon Bier

In this episode of One Day with Jon Bier, Jon sits with Ryan Bartlett to discuss how he found enormous success in the menswear industry after investing just $3000 to start his business.

Jon and Ryan also explore the potential of AI in reshaping the business world, including the implications of AI lawyers. True to the spirit of innovation, Ryan dissects the potential disruption of on-demand apparel and the importance of the human touch in certain tasks. He explains how failing to foster community can lead to a company's downfall, speaking on the value of customer service, philanthropy in business, and the significance of location in creating opportunities for collaboration.

Ryan Bartlett, founder of True Classic, went from a failed musician and poker player who slept in friends’ garages to founding a $260 million menswear company. Ryan, along with True Classic co-founders Nick Ventura and Matt Winnick, took a huge risk with a large upfront credit line to order the initial product. They sold $26,000 worth of clothing within the first month. From there, they scaled the company to the nine-figure brand that it is today.

Powerful Quotes by Ryan

Companies are taking a nosedive because they have lost touch with their audiences, what their audiences stand for, and what they want out of their product.

We over-index on customer service. The customer is always right, even when they’re wrong.

Key Highlights

· Ryan shares how an initial investment of $3,000, a strategic partnership with a manufacturer, effective use of Facebook ads, and a strong creative strategy led to the business's rapid growth. It is important for startups to consider their market and identify areas where they can offer a better product or service.

· Create immense value for the human beings that are your customers, and they will remain loyal to you forever.

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