Taylor M. Llewellyn of Tucker Blair Talks to Debonair.

1. Who is Tucker Blair?

Tucker and Blair are two family names. If you go to our “About” page you can see an internal link that has a picture of my grandparents with the name.

2. What is the inspiration behind the line?

Creating products that remind our customers of the places and times they cherish most (and probably the places they wish they could be all the time)

3. What makes you different?

We’re trying to be irreverent wherever possible. A lot of young start-up clothing brands have grown by getting wide distribution in small boutiques around the country. We decided to go the other way and sell online, cut out the retail mark-up, and deliver the value back to customers. Far fewer companies are doing it this way and we hope that doesn’t change!

4. Why do you focus just online? Any desire to sell to retailers?

Our main focus is the customer and delivering great products at great prices. People are ecstatic about finding a high quality $80 needlepoint belt. Traditional retail distribution has prohibited us from doing that.

5. Where do you go for inspiration?

I have a few friends and mentors who are entrepreneurs. Brainstorming with them is always a great way to get fired up about running an upstart company.

6. What was the last book you read?

The Maltese Falcon

7. Favorite movie of all time?

Gotta be Major League.

8. Favorite cocktail?

3 way tie between Gin and Tonic, Mt. Gay Rum and Tonic, and Ramos Fizz

9. What can we expect from Tucker Blair over the next few months?

We’re going to greatly expand our belt offerings. 12 months from now we should have about twice as many belts as we do today – and our designs keep getting better and better. We’re also expanding our polo shirt line this
spring.

10. What other business ventures can we expect from you?

I’m also kicking around ideas with friends. I’m fully committed to Tucker Blair right now, but am excited about some other ideas I have.

11. How did you start Tucker Blair? Did you need investors? Partners?

Credit Cards and personal funds. I’ve been approached by a few outside investors but I don’t want to give up any of the ownership!

12. How do you get the word out?

Very low cost, social media and grassroots marketing. Now we’re starting to get in to a more structure marketing campaign. Zach has also been doing an
amazing job on our PR efforts

13. If your not wearing Tucker Blair, what are your favorite brands to
wear?

I’ve become a big fan of Bonobos pants and I have a ton of Jmclaughlin shirts.