“Arts and Crafts” paid his mortgage: Russell Davis of West Broad Apparel

Sep 16 2024 • 1 hr 13 mins

Russell had been working as a firefighter for over 13 years when the idea for his business was sparked. It all started when his captain gifted the crew some hose koozies.

Within days, Russell took a leap of faith, buying his first embroidery machine to see if he could turn firehose material into koozies and hats himself. Working out of a bedroom in his home turned "arts and crafts area," he taught himself embroidery and slowly formulated some initial product ideas like hose hats.

The hobby was paying off, as Russell remembers the first day his side business covered their mortgage payment. His wife had jokingly referred to his tinkering as "arts and crafts time," but now those arts and crafts were generating essential household income.

As Russell started getting larger custom orders that pushed his home setup to the limits, he borrowed money from his business partner to invest in better equipment. This allowed him to scale up and fulfill jobs like custom hats for the local Greenville Triumph soccer team.

The new machinery also led Russell to connect with an embroidery expert named Lori. She voluntarily took Russell under her wing, teaching him the digitization process that made hats easier to produce at scale. With her guidance, his products improved as he honed in the optimal embroidered patch shape and size.

After years of growth, West Broad Apparel was at a crossroads, needing more attention than Russell's limited spare time. He decided to leave his firefighter job to focus on the business full-time. This transition gave him breathing room operationally, though he found he missed the camaraderie and satisfaction of firefighting.

Within 6 months he made the call to return to a new department, balancing his passion for the work with his drive to keep expanding the business. This balance enabled the next stage of progress for his company and personal fulfillment.

The road from side hobby to full-time business owner has had its share of highs and lows. But by taking risks, investing in relationships, and applying the dedication inherent in firefighting, Russell built West Broad Apparel into an internationally recognized brand rooted firmly in serving the fire service community. Though it wasn't the path he originally envisioned, his entrepreneurial journey reflects the spirit and work ethic of firefighters everywhere.

Connect with West Broad Apparel: https://www.westbroadapparel.com/

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