Model Citizen: How to Start a Merchandise Business: Branding, E-Commerce & Print-on-Demand Explained ft. Jess Thibodeau Part 2

In short

In this episode of Clipped, Eric continues his conversation with Jess Dibenedetto, delving into his company Model Citizen and his entrepreneurial journey. Jess shares insights into his business model, creative branding services, and the challenges of balancing business growth with family life. They also discuss the importance of quality merch, content creation, and staying authentic in the industry.

Key takeaways

• Focus on quality and authenticity in merch and branding.
• Balance content creation with other business tasks.
• Maintain relationships and stay active in the industry.
• Embrace the challenges of balancing business and family life.
• Leverage print-on-demand to reduce inventory and overhead.

Chapters

1. 00:00

   Introduction

   Eric introduces part two of his chat with Jess Dibenedetto, an entrepreneur and marketing expert, focusing on his company Model Citizen.

2. 01:00

   Model Citizen Overview

   Jess explains Model Citizen specializes in custom apparel, promotional products, and accessories with an e-commerce focus. They offer creative services from brand identity to web and e-commerce solutions.

3. 02:27

   Entrepreneurial Journey

   Jess reflects on his 20 years of entrepreneurship, noting Model Citizen is in its fourth year. He discusses the shift from carrying out creative wishes to being a graphic designer himself.

4. 05:30

   Creative Branding Agency

   Jess describes Model Citizen as a creative branding agency specializing in custom merch, apparel, and promotional products. They offer a full creative suite, including brand identity, logo design, web, and e-commerce services.

5. 07:15

   Business Development

   Jess discusses how word-of-mouth and referrals are his primary sources of business. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining relationships and staying active in the industry.

6. 09:20

   Creature Comforts Retail

   Jess introduces Creature Comforts, his first B2C venture, a retail boutique. This new focus has led him to become more active on social media.

7. 12:50

   Print on Demand

   Jess explains that he prints on demand with his own print house, allowing for low inventory and overhead. He sees this as the future of the printing industry, making it more accessible.

8. 17:30

   Merch Quality

   Jess emphasizes the importance of quality in merch, criticizing the poor quality often found in the industry. He highlights the product knowledge required to make informed decisions.

9. 21:30

   Podcast and Content Creation

   Jess discusses his new podcast, Comforts Cast, and the challenges of balancing content creation with other business tasks. He aims to create authentic content and engage with his audience.

10. 28:30

    Balancing Business and Family

    Jess and Eric discuss the challenges of balancing business with family life, especially with young children. Jess expresses gratitude for the freedom to raise his daughter while running his business.

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