Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Pete Lucchesi, Owner and Creative Director of Streaker Sports, located in New York, New York, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Streaker Sports is a lifestyle brand that focuses on sports culture: the iconic moments, teams, athletes, personalities, movies, and art that have shaped the landscape of sports. We're NOT a brand that just slaps a logo on a t-shirt and calls it a day - we bring our own unique and creative approach to licensed and non-licensed sports apparel that we believe creates a more genuine connection to sports fans than the more mainstream brands do who aren't putting as much creativity into their product. Our customers are people who appreciate the more niche nostalgic stories in sports.
Tell us about yourself
I'm someone who has always loved the aesthetics of sports. As a kid, I collected jerseys, pennants, figurines, and posters that covered the walls and shelves of my bedroom. I gravitated toward the bright colors, wild team logos, and graphics of the 1990s, which is the era I grew up in. I was also somebody who always loved fashion - I think I've had a GQ subscription since I was 11 or 12. So it was only natural that I combined these two passions to mold my career - but it took me a little while to figure that out. I graduated college with an Economics degree, went to work for a financial magazine out of college, and then at a corporate interior design company as a marketing professional. None of it made sense for what my true passions were, but I was just doing what I thought I was "supposed" to do: climb the corporate ladder and gain financial stability. The kicker was I was absolutely miserable. The only good part was that I was living in NYC and was meeting interesting entrepreneurs all the time and being inspired constantly by the hustle of the city - I absolutely soaked it all in. Eventually, I scraped together a few dollars and convinced my childhood best friend to join me in starting a clothing business out of my apartment. There were many twists and turns since that day, but amazingly, it's worked out.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The day that we crossed that $1M annual revenue mark was the first day I truly felt "holy sh*t...we actually have a real business here." I'll never forget that feeling of accomplishment. Also, the day I found out we got the PEANUTS license was a big deal for me personally for many reasons, but it proved to be a pivotal moment for the brand.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The constant feeling of always needing to be doing something to not only grow but just operate the normal day-to-day. We have a small team and we all have multiple responsibilities. There's always something that needs to get done and it's hard to shut it down and truly unplug.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Do something that you are passionate about and can stay dedicated to. The reality is your business will be your life, especially in the early years - it has to be if you want it to reach its full potential. If I didn't absolutely love the space we are in and didn't love designing products for this market, there's no way I could spend the amount of hours I do on it each week. It's a TON of work and sacrifice, but because I'm doing something I truly love and building something that's my own, I never feel like I'm going to work. I would do this for free.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.streakersports.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/streakersports/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/streakersports
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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