What if your logo could sell for you every day—quietly, consistently, and everywhere your customers go? We sit down with David Riddell of Big Frog Custom T‑Shirts to unpack a decade of growth powered by flexible production, community presence, and relentless follow-through. From single-shirt solutions to thousand-piece runs, David explains why a retail, touch-and-feel experience reduces guesswork, builds trust, and turns branded apparel into a high-ROI channel that outperforms many ads.
The conversation gets real about the financial heartbeat of a small business: cash flow. David breaks down the uncomfortable math of big orders with slow pay, the danger of over-leveraging in good times, and the simple “what if” exercises that protect your runway. We also explore the shift from being known to being chosen—why relationships don’t always convert, how to ask “Why not me?” without losing authenticity, and the importance of finding the decision maker early. If you’re leaving corporate expecting quick parity, this is the frank reset: a business plan, a marketing plan, and capital timing are non-negotiable.
Hiring and culture take center stage as David shares why he screens for service mindset, listening, and multitasking before design portfolios. Skill can be trained; fit and desire move the line. We talk about networking that actually fuels you—be interested, not just interesting—along with gratitude at scale, from personalized gifts to timely thank-yous that strengthen referral loops. And with ten years in and an empty nest, David opens up about stepping back from multiple boards to make space for a more intentional next chapter—mentoring, teaching, or building anew.
If you care about small business growth, brand visibility, and the human side of entrepreneurship, you’ll find practical wins here: model cash timing, hire for fit, ask for the sale, and keep learning in public. Press play, then tell us your biggest takeaway—and if this helped, follow, rate, and share it with a founder who needs a nudge today.

Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/
All the best!
Bill

Thanks for listening. Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at [email protected] or at https://billgilliland.biz/

All the best!

Bill