The world is much different than it was a month ago. Most everyone is facing hardships in one form or another. From health concerns to social distancing, from quarantines to financial struggles, many feel the pressures of this new environment in one way or another. So, what happens when everything suddenly changes? Do we flight, or do we fight? One local business has chosen to fight, embracing an enduring philosophy: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Rocket Shirts, a local T-shirt shop in Murfreesboro, has been open for four years. However, in March the proverbial tap dried up. The amount of business the company would typically see in an hour was the total amount they took in for a week. In a business that is based around local events, community gatherings, schools and sports, these times of closures and quarantines have hit hard.
Businessman Shelby Craig, owner of Rocket Shirts, faced a decision. When schools were shut down, events were canceled and sports teams stopped playing, he was left with a scenario that many in our city can relate to. But Craig decided to fight fire with fire. He went viral.
“We had two options. We could either sit on our hands, and wait for someone to bail us out or give us money, or we can get up and we can do what we do best, which is make T-shirts,” he said. “Meanwhile, we can figure out a way to help other small businesses succeed in this time as well.”
Choosing the second option, he and his team designed a T-shirt that encompasses the business landscape of Tennessee, adding the catchphrase HERE FOR GOOD TN.
Consumers can pick the color of shirt that they want, and the business that they want the proceeds to go to, and by doing so help pay the bills for that business. If a company hasn’t yet been nominated, simply nominate them. The average size company that is benefiting from this idea has less than 10 employees. The idea is to help keep smaller businesses afloat during these uncertain times. It’s a way to share the love.
Craig’s initial post of the idea was shared on social media over 18,000 times in the first 24 hours. The orders started coming in. It’s a way for members of the community to support each other when they aren’t sure what to do. While the majority of the benefiting businesses are local, more businesses are being nominated daily, and Craig has opened the idea to the entire state. He feels that his job right now is to help others succeed during this time.
“It’s not about our business, it’s about every single one of these Murfreesboro businesses. Not only are they a customer of ours, they’re a friend of ours. Not only are they a friend of ours, they’re almost like family to us, and so, if we can help them succeed to be here for good for another 20 or 30 years—if what we do best, which is make T-shirts, can allow them to be here for my kids to enjoy their services—that’s what it’s about,” Craig said. “It’s 100 percent worth it. All we know how to do is make T-shirts, and we do it well, and we want them to do what they do well, and we want to help support them every step of the way.”
The T-shirts can be purchased for $20 at rocketshirts.net/products/hereforgoodtn.
Another project that can help businesses, churches, sports teams and other organizations during this downturn involves the organization setting up a digital T-shirt store, with $0 up-front investment, at rocket.ist/fundraiser.
The business uploads its logo, and Rocket Shirts sets up a digital ordering form. A shirt is not produced until a customer orders it, but if someone makes a purchase of a shirt with a local business’s logo on it, Rocket Shirts will produce the shirt and ship it to the purchaser. The revenue is split between Rocket Shirts and the business whose logo is on the shirt.
Even if they are closed for normal operation, businesses can sell shirts to their supporters. The consumer can make a purchase and support their favorite local business without leaving home. It’s a way for Rocket Shirts to make some money to pay its team during this bizarre time.
Another shirt currently on the main Rocket Shirts page and warranting mention reads FEAR IS A LIAR: NEVER GIVE UP. Rocket Shirts explains that if someone cannot afford the shirt, the business will send it for just the cost of shipping. If one can pay more, then the Rocket Shirts owner considers them a rockstar! The ordering page goes on to say “whatever you do, don’t you dare give up. No, not you. There’s too much at stake. You’ll be better at the end of all of this!”
For a company that last year helped schools, churches and small businesses raise over $180,000, the message has always been loud and clear: they don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk.
