Exploring Life & Business with JW Martin of Nashville Custom Hats

Today we’d like to introduce you to JW Martin

Hi JW, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In the summer of 2021, Jordan Cundiff and I reconnected when Jordan visited our hometown for an event he had organized. I was running my headwear brand and providing custom embroidery services, and I discussed the successes and challenges I was facing in my business. During our conversation, Jordan convinced me to explore the possibility of relocating my business to Nashville, where Jordan was operating his artist management and booking agency. The city’s business-friendly environment and the demand for custom headwear were key factors. I visited Nashville the following week and immediately recognized the advantages of living there. Inspired by our conversation, we decided to change direction and establish a new business together, Nashville Custom Hats, which would be dedicated to manufacturing custom headwear for artists, brands, sports teams, and businesses. Over the next few months, we collaborated remotely via phone and computer, and in April 2022, my family and I, made the move to Nashville to launch our new venture.

Nashville Custom Hats distinguished itself in the first year by focusing exclusively on custom manufacturing for its customers, rather than merely customizing blank hats. This strategic approach allowed us to make a significant impact not only in the Nashville area but also across the entire United States, and we successfully secured contracts with professional sports teams, larger businesses, local artists, and bars.

Building on this initial success, we immediately implemented two critical factors to ensure continued growth:

1.) An online 3D hat builder: we developed an innovative online tool that enables customers to design their custom hats in a three-dimensional virtual environment. This interactive feature enhanced the customer experience and streamlined the ordering process.
2.) Revolutionary Pricing Model: Departing from industry norms, we introduced a pricing model based on quantities per design rather than custom details added to each hat. This groundbreaking approach allowed customers to order in bulk without compromising on customization.
These bold moves positioned our business, Nashville Custom Hats, as a disrupter and trailblazer in the headwear industry, setting new standards for quality, creativity, and customer satisfaction.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always challenges to every business, and our most significant challenge lies in educating customers about the distinction between customizing a blank hat and our full-custom hat manufacturing process. Unlike our competitors, who simply add a logo to an already branded cheap pre-made hat, we create hats precisely as our customers envision them. Here’s how we do it:

1.) Materials Sourcing: We carefully select fabrics, including custom-printed options, and procure special dyes to achieve the desired colors.
2.) Customization Options: Our flexibility knows no bounds. We sew printed fabrics anywhere on the hat, incorporate embroidery or woven patches, rubber patches, and even leather patches—tailoring each hat to perfection.
3.) Finishing Touches: Custom back tags and inside labels add that personal touch, making each hat uniquely theirs.
4.) Transparent Pricing: We offer a flat price per quantity, along with free domestic shipping. Customers know the cost upfront, even before they start designing their hat.

In essence, we create hats from scratch, ensuring that each one truly belongs to the customer. It’s more than a hat; it’s an expression of their brand.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Nashville Custom Hats?
Nashville Custom Hats offers the world’s most customizable hats (ball caps, bucket hats, and beanies) with a simple flat pricing model.

What makes you happy?
We really enjoy working together downtown Nashville and building relationships with other business owners, but the most rewarding experience is spending time with our customers, and getting a feel for the ethos and vibe of their brand and then presenting those details in the hats we create for them. In short, we love hanging out with our clients and seeing them happy with the end result.

Pricing:

• 50 quantities = $15 a hat
• 100 quantities = $14.50 a hat
• 250 quantities = $13 a hat
• 500 quantities = $9.99 a hat
• 1,000 quantities = $7.50 a hat

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nashvillecustomhats.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillecustomhats
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/nashvillecustomhats
• Other: https://TikTok.com/@nashvillecustomhats