Meet Maxwell Clemens of Golf Items For the Troops

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxwell Clemens. 

Hi Maxwell, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Maxwell Clemens and I go to Babson College and attended Loomis Chaffee. As a young, and passionate entrepreneur, who loves engineering, I began my journey at the age of 13. While in my 7th-grade year, I started a 3D printing repair service that primarily focused on the repair, construction, and coaching of 3D printers. I realized, at the time, that my school was understaffed and had a lack of knowledge when it came to the use of their new machines, and I began working as a contractor for the school until I was 15. Shortly after the creation of 3D Fixer, my mother had recommended that I should work at a pizza shop over summer break, I asked myself if that was the right spot for me, I simply answered “no” I’ll create an opportunity for myself. Based on my location, I am around a plethora of boats and with a flashing lightbulb over my head, I created New Seabury Boat Wash. The newly founded service focused on the cleaning and care of boats, anywhere from 20′ to 60′ with only a singular price, $50. Creating the pricing, I came to the conclusion that customers hate math, so I did the math for them, and now we have been cleaning boats for over 5 years. 

Now, you may ask, what has led you to this point of modeling, working in the fashion industry, and being the founder of multiple startups. After my freshman year of high school, I began transforming my fashion taste because I believe that what you wear is how you express yourself. And during my sophomore year, I started a fashion brand called Maxwell Clemens Designs as well as Mixedvoid. Maxwell Clemens Designs started after I realized that finding staple pieces for important were quite scarce and the price for those pieces was thousands of dollars. I began creating designs using color blocking, something that would stand out but also contain a simple message. With the mission in mind, I created my first line called the “Black and White Coat” which featured a design that was half white and half black using high-end materials such as wool and Peruvian Silk, at a drastically lower price point than the majority of my competition. Realizing that I had a message that the fashion world needed to hear, I followed up with another brand called MixedVoid which specialized on the idea that each piece designed had to have a story behind it, always asking the question, what am I wearing? and the customer creates the meaning for themselves. Each piece designed by Mixedvoid starts with the idea that each instance in a reality is not only unique but constant, MixedVoid highlights this unique constant with the message of being Lost and Curious. Following the creation of both ventures I needed something that I could market myself with, I chose the Instagram platform. I created an account called Everydayfitz which highlights my outfits as well as other people’s outfits on a daily basis and so far, I have been posting every day for four hundred and eighty-nine days. In the storm of school work and business, my brother, Marshall, had approached me with a non-profit idea that would create a goal to support active duty and veterans in the game of golf. Because our grandfather is a WW2 veteran, I believed it was my duty to give back to the military community, and thus created Golf Items For the Troops (GIFT) which currently hosts golf tournaments in order to raise money, which we donate part of the profits to veteran charities and the other part of profits goes towards the funding of golf equipment which is given to both veterans and active military personnel. 

Yes, I do a lot in the space of entrepreneurship as well as charity management, but I had a friend of mine reach out to me about becoming a model. At the time, I realized that was quite a farfetched idea, but I may as well take a swing at it and hopefully hit a home run. With many agencies in mind, I set up meetings with a New York-based agency as well as another in New England, and after a few weeks, I heard back from both saying they wanted to sign me. Currently, I am modeling at two agencies and plan to branch out further. 

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?
All the time, especially when creating businesses at a young age, I suffer setbacks. I rarely use the word “Failure” because it connotes that what I experience, especially when a business doesn’t work out, is nothing and that is not true. Whenever I start a project and it doesn’t end up the way I want it to, at the least I gained experience which I can apply to future projects. Learning is key, and if you have a smooth road into success, you have either won the lottery or you won the lottery because success truly stems from hard work and setbacks which are the seeds of experience. Remember, gaining experience is absolutely key at a young age or any age for that matter. Never stop learning! 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Golf Items For the Troops is a charity that my brother and I started, in the honor of our grandfather, Robert Caggiano. To give a little insight, Grandad, or Bob, fought in the first division in World War two, he went on to Guadalcanal, Okinawa, and Peleliu then got his purple heart after being injured by a grenade. He is the inspiration to our charity and after obtaining the 501(c)(3) filing, we focused on raising money for active military personnel as well as veterans. ‘GIFT’ specializes in holding golf events featuring veterans, and with the money raised with our events, we donate to other veteran-based charities and buy golf equipment for the troops as well. What sets us apart from other veteran-based charities is the usage of friends and family. We tend to market towards friends and family because we believe that keeping a family-owned feel is important, and within our marketing, we choose to target the word by mouth method. 

We are very proud of the open arms we receive as well as the community we have built within GIFT! GIFT is coming out with a donation process that lets you pick items that veterans can have such as a set of golf clubs, golf balls, and various golf accessories! We believe that picking real items serves a better purpose than picking a numeral-style donation. 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is very important in every aspect of life and within GIFT. I believe that risk-taking is a key piece in becoming successful. Risk-taking can help overcome strides that you may not have taken before and what I mean by that is submitting an application for a job, an entertainment contract, or simply a math test. I wouldn’t advise you to question yourself, but I would advise taking a risk that may further a development that you envy. Submit that contract, if you believe you deserve a part in the music industry or modeling industry, I recommend receiving meaningful reviews from your peers until you do submit a final product. And for a job, I would absolutely go to an interview you may feel as if you are unfit because you can always grow into bigger shoes. And lastly, in school, it may make you feel uncomfortable taking a higher-level course, but realize that no matter what, you are bringing yourself to the next level, gaining valuable experience that will stay with you throughout life. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: GolfTroops.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayfitz/?hl=en
• Other: MixedVoid.com

Image Credits
Eric Chapman