Hello everyone, welcome to the new Company Spotlight! Through these spotlights, I hope to provide a chance for growing companies to tell people in combat sports who they are and what they are all about. I want the readers to meet the entrepreneurs who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to grow their company. This time I got a chance to interview Jay, the founder of Art of Ringraft! Art of Ringcraft is a fightwear company that makes the "Dopest Fight Apparel in the Galaxy"
Without further ado, here is the interview with Jay about Art of Ringcraft. Enjoy!
1. Tell us a little bit about your brand. Who are you and what do you guys represent?
I started Art of Ringcraft because I couldn't find quality fight shirts with unique designs. Most of what I saw out there was corny quotes and fighter silhouettes. You know, real cliché designs/quotes without any thought or creativity behind them. So, I started making fight shirts for myself. I received so many compliments and people asking where I got them from that I figured I was on to something. So, I researched how to start a clothing brand and got to work.
My name is Jay. I'm a former pro fighter/retired US Navy Chief. I currently train boxers here in California. Our brand represents legacy builders. Check out the About Us section at artofringcraft.com to get the full details.
2. What are some of your proudest moments in developing your brand?
I wouldn't really say I have proud moments. Just starting a business is challenging enough. So, first I was just happy to get it off the ground. The overwhelming positive acceptance of our designs by the fight community is something I'm also grateful for. Being able to help Muay Thai 4 Orphans was something that we were also glad to be able to do.
3. How do you spend your time building your brand (marketing, advertising, etc.)?
We used to do Facebook marketing ads, but we're not on FB anymore. At this point, it's Instagram, our sponsored fighters, and word of mouth. Of course, people with a big following that are kind enough to shout us out also helps. People like Paul Banasiak & Robin Black.
4. What are some of the hardships that you have faced when building your company, and how did you (or how are you planning to) overcome them?
The biggest challenge was getting started with no previous knowledge in the industry. I'm trained in military medicine and this was completely different. In the beginning it was difficult convincing people in the fight community to pay a premium for custom, high quality shirts. So, we pivoted and found ways to change manufacturers and get the cost down.
5. Where do you see your brand in 5-10 years? If you could summarize your brand in a quote, what would it be?
The goal is to be the #1 source of unique & meaningful fight shirts. Our brand in one quote... "The Dopest Fight Apparel In The Galaxy."
6. What advice would you give to your past self of when you first started the company?
Be patient. Follow your instincts. Be mindful of the startup costs.
7. Are there any particular types of athletes you had in mind to sponsor? Combat Sports Athletes that embody our brand values.
8. What do you look for when sponsoring someone? We look for someone with character who embodies our values. Someone that does what they say they're going to do. 9. Do you have any projects or products you are working on/would like to promote? Right now we re-released our limited, most popular design, Thai Warriors. A dope tee that I guarantee will get you compliments. It's available until the 10th of December on our website.
10. Is there anyone you would like to give a shoutout to? We'd love to give a shoutout to our sponsored fighter Louis Fairhurst. He's a Legacy Builder & a true ambassador of Art of Ringcraft. A young Champion that embodies our brand values. His IG handle is louis.j.f.