We've interviewed thousands of successful founders at Starter Story and asked what advice they would give to entrepreneurs who are just getting started.

Here's the best advice we discovered for starting a men's clothing line:

#1: Rob Kessler, founder of Million Dollar Collar:

We chatted with with Rob, founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month). In our interview, Rob says:

It takes 10 times more work, 10 times more contacts, 10 times more money, and 10 times more energy than you ever think it well to start a company no matter how great your idea is.

Additionally:

We didn’t see it as a failure but as a learning experience and opportunity to gain insight from actual paying customers.

Further:

I will tell you one thing, if you aren’t making mistakes, that means you’re not pushing the envelope and you’re never going to be wildly successful.

Read the full interview ➜

#2: Paul Chittenden, founder of Bad Ass Work Gear:

We chatted with with Paul, founder of Bad Ass Work Gear ($15K/month). In our interview, Paul says:

Starting a business is hard work. Often, it is lonely work. You have to be persistent. A lot of people give up, just before their business is about to take the next step.

Read the full interview ➜

#3: Paul Kaster, founder of Crooked Branch Studio:

We chatted with with Paul, founder of Crooked Branch Studio ($2.5K/month). In our interview, Paul says:

There are many theories of how to attract customers, but what I’ve seen from most successful brands is that instead of focusing on one, big thing to attract customers they instead focus on getting many, small things right.

Additionally:

I now knew that there was demand and I had sold several dozen pre-orders in the campaign, but I still didn’t know how to make them at a large scale. There was no secret to figuring this step out except trial and error.

Further:

Everyone on the outside expects that you are succeeding, and it can be hard to ask for help when you’re struggling because your friends and family can’t help you.

Read the full interview ➜

#4: Julian Samarjiev, founder of DULO:

We chatted with with Julian, founder of DULO ($1.23K/month). In our interview, Julian says:

There is no replacement for doing. I've been in Tim Ferriss binge listen mode, but at some point, the rubber needs to hit the road and you need to get your hands dirty. Otherwise, it's just productive procrastination.

Read the full interview ➜

#5: Rob Kessler, founder of Million Dollar Collar:

We chatted with with Rob, founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month). In our interview, Rob says:

Do the little things to keep you going. Do whatever it takes. If you are truly passionate about your project you will find the energy.

Read the full interview ➜

#6: Jeff Schattner , founder of Lawrence Hunt :

We chatted with with Jeff, founder of Lawrence Hunt ($20K/month). In our interview, Jeff says:

Put yourself in a position to have a long runaway. If I had quit my day job when we first launched, I wouldn’t have lasted a year. It took four years for our patent to come through.

Read the full interview ➜

#7: Justin Clark, founder of RomperJack:

We chatted with with Justin, founder of RomperJack ($60K/month). In our interview, Justin says:

If you are going to fail, fail as fast as possible. Don’t reinvent the wheel.

Read the full interview ➜

#8: Valentin Ozich, founder of I Love Ugly:

We chatted with with Valentin, founder of I Love Ugly ($300K/month). In our interview, Valentin says:

I knew nothing about clothing, but I could see what the silhouettes and designs looked like in my head.

Additionally:

To this day, I still attend every photoshoot we do and have for the last 10 years.

Further:

We rang customers asking them questions about what they liked and didn’t like about the brand, it was old school but it worked.

Read the full interview ➜

#9: Julian Samarjiev, founder of DULO:

We chatted with with Julian, founder of DULO ($1.23K/month). In our interview, Julian says:

Keep your head down and stay in your lane. Ignore what most people are saying and feel free to ignore the competition.

Read the full interview ➜

#10: Rob Kessler, founder of Million Dollar Collar:

We chatted with with Rob, founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month). In our interview, Rob says:

Within 5 years, we’ll have a thriving Business Casual Brand under the goTIELESS name, where you’ll be able to shop head-to-toe online. No matter what event you are going to, you’ll be one of the best-dressed people in the room.

Additionally:

Surround yourself with people smarter than you. I love being the dumbest guy in the room. If I am the smartest guy, I am in the wrong room. Find people that can help you grow. Some people want to just tear you down, but truly successful people are not threatened by your success.

Read the full interview ➜

#11: Anastasia Osindero, founder of Boystrous:

We chatted with with Anastasia, founder of Boystrous ($150/month). In our interview, Anastasia says:

Don’t hold back! Start with something eye-catching, unique, and memorable. Find your niche and harness it - nobody does what you do, quite like you do.

Additionally:

Make sure you start your business with enough funds in case your business doesn’t break-even or make a profit in the first 2-3 months.

Read the full interview ➜

#12: Rob Kessler, founder of Million Dollar Collar:

We chatted with with Rob, founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month). In our interview, Rob says:

Ask your customers questions, and LISTEN to what they have to say, they have shelled out money to pay for your product or service, they have more of an opinion you should listen to than anyone else.

Read the full interview ➜

#13: Rob Kessler, founder of Million Dollar Collar:

We chatted with with Rob, founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month). In our interview, Rob says:

1% movement forward every day will get you a long way, and that has kept us going over all of these years.

Read the full interview ➜

#14: Justin Clark, founder of RomperJack:

We chatted with with Justin, founder of RomperJack ($60K/month). In our interview, Justin says:

We officially launched the store on July 10, 2017 and on the first day, I remember we did about $1,200 in sales. We were so stoked and have only continued to grow since then.

Additionally:

Inventory has killed more companies than the plague. If you are familiar with the book The 80/20 Rule, you could clearly apply this rule to your different SKUs and see that there is a very true correlation.

Further:

Start something you actually enjoy doing otherwise you will just get bored and the probability of it failing is much higher.

Read the full interview ➜

#15: Rob Kessler, founder of Million Dollar Collar:

We chatted with with Rob, founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month). In our interview, Rob says:

If you treat every customer like they are your mom/dad and you want to give them the best product, the best service, the best price you can, you will find an abundance of success.

Read the full interview ➜

Part of

Starting A Men's Clothing Line: Everything You Need To Know

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