PalmBeachPost:
While attending the University of Maryland, Steve Gottsegen (photo) would go from dorm to dorm with a duffel bag filled with T-shirts he designed. Each shirt had a saying about the university, and he would leave the dorms with an empty bag.
The job got him started in a career selling monogrammed and embroidered clothing. ‘It’s something my brother Gregg did before me,’ Gottsegen, 38, said of the university T-shirt sales. ‘I enjoyed it because people loved the shirts and all the different designs we did. And everyone was able to relate to them because they went to the school.’
After college, he moved to Boca Raton, where his family lived. He continued to sell embroidered and monogrammed shirts, but after he and his wife Ellen had their 1st child, Chad, life changed. All it took was one gift of a burp cloth embroidered with their son’s name.
The Gottsegens gave a similar personalized item to another friend. Then another friend wanted one, and another, until Gottsegen’s embroidering business grew and became more focused on personalized items for babies and children than monogrammed polo shirts. Their business, Designs by Chad and Jake, was born in 1997 shortly after the arrival of their 2nd son, Jake. The company puts a child’s name on burp cloths, bibs, blankets and robes. Some of the items have tie-dye, ribbon or bandanna trim.
Gottsegen said he now gets about 6,000 orders a year online and by phone. ‘I remember when we used to be excited to take 10 orders in a week. Then we’d take 20 orders in a week. Just watching it grow has been great.’
The business has taken a lot of work. In the beginning, he and his wife worked late every night. But with 2 employees, Ellen Gottsegen now focuses on her teaching job while her husband focuses on the business. Gottsegen said he loves it because it allows him to help care for their 3 children, Chad, 11, Jake, 9, and Madison, 4. ‘It gives me flexibility. My wife teaches, and if I need to do something for her or the kids, I can stop what I’m doing at a moment’s notice.’ He also said he still works long days, often as long as 18 hours. He assembles orders and runs the embroidery machine.
He’s been running his own business since he was a teenager. He started washing cars, something he continued after high school, and also was a caterer. ‘I’ve always done my own thing,’ he said.
Who has been your mentor? ‘My father, Stanley. He’s always been there for me with advice. He’s an attorney and was involved in many businesses as well as a legal career. I bounce ideas off him.’ What’s the best advice you’ve been given? ‘A guy told me, Don’t work in your business. Work on your business. That means to make sure you promote. I’ve learned I can’t do it all, and that I’ve got to delegate responsibility.’
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