Tampa T-Shirts : Tampa’s leading custom apparel and promotional items company

Q 1.    Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.

Ans:    Tampa T-Shirts is dedicated to making its clients look professional and discover their true brand potential. Tampa T-Shirts pride itself on getting their jobs done right the first time and on time. We want our customers to enjoy their time working with us while completing what is often conceived as a chore and undesirable activity.

Q 2.    Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).

Ans:    My name is Lori Davis and I have had an interest in fashion since I was 12 years old since the day I learned how to sew.

Q 3.    What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?

Ans:    I started Tampa T-Shirts because of the lack of good looking athletic apparel in the mid 80s. I first started designing/making my own apparel for my own use, but then started to get inquires from friends on where I received my apparel. I saw a niche and went for it. In the mid 80s, there as no Under Armor designing the fashionable athletic wear at the time.

Q 4.    What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?

Ans:    Save money for the raining days. When you start making money, don’t start spending it.
Check credit on your customers before providing credit and don’t extend too much.
Network. Get out and meet people.

Q 5.    What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

Ans:    The ability to stay flexible and ready to make course corrections when needed.
Don’t let failure stop you, but let it fuel you.
Listen to people, but still make your own decisions.

Q 6.    How many hours do you work a day on average?

Ans:    A normal work week.

Q 7.    To what do you most attribute your success?

Ans:    My father and my husbands help, advice, and assistance. Utilizing my network and my amazing staff.

Q 8.    How do you go about marketing your business?

Ans:    Online marketing, radio advertisement, word of mouth, and repeat happy customers.

Q 9.    Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?

Ans:    I saved my own money from my day job and I had a small loan from the Bank of Tampa to get started.

Q 10.    What is the best way to achieve long-term success?

Ans:    Do the right thing. Do what you say you’re going to do and make sure you stand behind your products and/or services.

Q 11.    Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?

Ans:    Supervising my son who will be moving into the CFO position, which is my old position and working along side of him. I see the business in the same location, but growing and meeting the needs of our customers.

Q 12.    Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

Ans:    The Columbia Group Emperor. Even though they specialize in food, they are creating experiences for their customers through food.

Company Details:

Company           : Tampa T-Shirts
First Name         : Juan
Last Name         : Davis
Address             : 5112 N. 22nd Street
City                   : Tampa
State                  :  FL
Zip Code           : 33610
Tel No               : 813-875-3024
Toll Free No      : 800-959-0126
Fax No              : 813-871-2035
E-mail Id           : info@tampatshirts.com