Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jeff Anderlite, Founder of Baja Llama, located in Concord, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Baja Llama is a men's apparel and lifestyle brand. We make experiential apparel for those who seek excitement and enjoy exploration.

One of our main mottos is "Fight Against Boring." Everything we do and make can be attributed to this way of thinking. Our bread-and-butter is our Hawaiian-style button-ups, fun printed stretch volley swimwear, and anything with our graphics. Every article of clothing we make is super functional, comfortable, and versatile. What makes us different is our attention to the art, the stories behind the art, and our attention to details and trims.

Our customers are primarily men aged 24-55, with a sweet spot from 25-35. They are avid travelers who like to go places, have fun, and appreciate art and good times. We are based in Concord, California, but our team is remote for the most part, with our Co-Founder in Tennessee and our Head of Design in Portugal.

Tell us about yourself.

I had been home for four years working a crappy job that was boring and did not fulfill me in any meaningful way. This was after traveling for almost a year in Asia, spending a year in the Peace Corps, and owning a famous party hostel on the beach in Nicaragua. So, to say being cooped up in an office was boring the hell out of me would be an understatement. We did have Hawaiian shirts on Fridays, however.

These little sparks of individual freedom became the catalyst for Baja Llama coming to fruition. My business partners, Sean, Richie, and Bianca, all share the same thirst for travel and adventure, which has permeated our brand culture and helped in getting Baja Llama off the ground with a seamless cohesiveness.

Another thing that motivates the team and me is our collective travels worldwide, which we use as inspiration when creating new products and curating our brand story. We just went to Peru, for instance, which led to the creation of our Peruvian-inspired Spring / Summer 2023 collection. Each piece features artwork and tells the story of different places, animals, food, and the richly diverse culture of Peru.

In 2017, I had a call with my brother Jason during one of those Friday Fundays where we contemplated making a Hawaiian shirt based on art and a more radical story than anything we had come across. Jason is a very successful and established business owner in his own right, meaning he would never have joined this little business venture, but I knew who would. I called up Sean Kolina, the Co-Founder of Baja Llama, who has been my best friend for two decades, and a business partner in ventures going back to high school. I pitched him the idea, and he was all in. We started getting after it right away.

My favorite aspect of running this business is the design process and creating new products out of thin air - especially when they are entirely new garments we have never made. I don't come from a background in design, apparel, or any related field, so it's all a new adventure. I love sketching something on a notepad that looks like a D+ fifth-grade student drew it, seeing it transform, and having someone buy that garment a few months later.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I rarely look at accomplishments for too long. I can celebrate little wins with my team, but we're nowhere where I want us to end up, so I try to focus on the next goal. Our team's most significant accomplishment to date would be international distribution into some major Five-Star resorts and heavy expansion into many well-known retailers throughout the US. Our sales team, led by Sean and Bianca, has achieved great things in a short amount of time with few resources. Our success at trade shows has been tremendous, and we anticipate continuing that trend.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest part of being a business owner is the constant adaptation and motivation needed to stay relevant and successful. Additionally, a lot of stress comes with being ultimately responsible for the success or failure of a business. Luckily, we have a fantastic team that makes my job much more manageable. Little mistakes can ruin a company, so you always have to be on your toes and think strategically about how each decision can have an impact down the line.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Have a strong team that you can rely on to handle responsibilities and tasks better than you can. This includes your immediate hires, finding advisors, and anyone you can work with to utilize to help your company achieve its goals. Baja Llama is a small team, but everyone is fantastic to work with, works their ass off, and sacrifices a lot to help us get where we want to be, and that is invaluable.
  2. Make sure you're ready to commit 100%. You need to be willing to bet the house and sacrifice more than most people would in the name of success. Most people don't find success because they need to be ready to dig deep enough to cross the line.
  3. Focus on the brand, story, and unique differentiators as much as the product or service. Understanding how to market and advertise your product or service is getting harder and harder these days. You must find an angle and be consistent, persistent, and clear in what makes you worthwhile for new customers.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://bajallama.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bajallamabrand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bajallama/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BAJA_LLAMA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-anderlite-7a91b438/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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