SCALING 13 FIFTY APPAREL FROM A GARAGE TO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BRAND

13 Fifty Apparel started as my dream—an idea to create a T-shirt that represented law enforcement and first responders in an authentic way. I had no investors, no roadmap, and absolutely zero experience in apparel, e-commerce, or marketing. But what I did have was a relentless drive to figure it out.

While working full-time as a detective, I ran the business in my garage, selling shirts out of the trunk of my police car. Orders started rolling in faster than I could keep up. I knew I had something, but I needed help to scale it beyond a side hustle.

That’s when Lauren came into the picture. We met as the business was taking off, and in 2017, she made a bold move—leaving her corporate job to run 13 Fifty Apparel’s day-to-day operations as we opened our first official headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida.

BUILDING THE BUSINESS: LEARNING EVERYTHNG FROM SCRATCH

Neither of us had experience in screen printing, e-commerce fulfillment, or digital marketing. So, we did what any scrappy entrepreneurs would do—we self-taught everything through YouTube, online forums, and trial and error.

As the business grew, we became experts in every aspect of the operation, handling:

Screen Printing & Apparel Production – We started with heat pressing in our garage and scaled to a full in-house screen-printing operation.

E-Commerce & Shopify Management – We built and optimized our online store, learning how to convert visitors into buyers.

Digital Marketing & Advertising – We figured out Facebook, Instagram, and Google Ads from scratch, running campaigns that brought in millions in revenue.

Customer Service & Fulfillment – We set up Gorgias for customer support, implemented ShipStation for fulfillment, and optimized order processing.

Retail & B2B Expansion – We transitioned from D2C to B2B sales, securing partnerships with law enforcement agencies nationwide.

SCALING UP: FROM A GARAGE TO A NATIONAL BRAND

13FA E-Commerce Fulfillment Center – West Palm Beach, FL. The backbone of our operation, where efficiency meets precision to deliver quality gear nationwide.

With demand exploding, we outgrew our garage and first HQ in under a year. By 2018, we expanded to a 10,000 sq ft warehouse in West Palm Beach, complete with:

A full-scale e-commerce fulfillment center handling thousands of daily orders.

A retail store powered by Shopify POS.

A content creation studio for product photography and videography.

A podcast studio to connect with our audience and build brand loyalty.

A strong community presence, hosting large-scale law enforcement events.

The 13FA Retail Storefront – More Than Just Gear. Our HQ guests enjoyed a one-of-a-kind experience, complete with a full bar, blending retail with community and camaraderie.

Lauren ran the day-to-day operations, ensuring fulfillment and logistics ran smoothly, while I focused on growth—marketing, product development, and brand expansion.

Building a Legacy—Chris, Lauren, and their first son, Cole, at the heart of 13 Fifty Apparel HQ. From humble beginnings to a national brand, this business has always been about family, purpose, and impact.

SCALING UP: FROM A GARAGE TO A NATIONAL BRAND

By 2019, 13 Fifty Apparel had grown to over 40 team members, including a state-of-the-art production center, a fulfillment center, a retail storefront, teams of graphic designers, product development teams, marketing teams, content creators, and sales professionals. The company had expanded beyond just apparel, becoming a fully integrated brand with in-house capabilities for design, production, and distribution.

The Heart of 13FA – Our West Palm Beach HQ. More than a building, this was the command center for innovation, fulfillment, and community—where the brand came to life every day.

By 2023, 13 Fifty Apparel had grown into a 100,000 sq ft headquarters in Atlanta, serving thousands of customers across the country.

At this point, we had:

Built a high-performing e-commerce engine generating millions in revenue.

Perfected fulfillment and logistics to ensure fast, efficient order processing.

Developed a brand identity that resonated with a loyal customer base.

Led a team of designers, marketers, and operations specialists.

THE NATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH: SCALING TO 100,000 SQ FT

Key Takeaways: What We Became Experts In

Building and scaling an e-commerce brand from scratch
Creating and executing multi-channel digital marketing strategies
Streamlining fulfillment and logistics for efficiency and profitability
Leveraging automation and technology to scale operations
Expanding from D2C to B2B and securing large-scale contracts

Inside 13FA’s 100,000 Sq. Ft. Atlanta HQ – A powerhouse of innovation, production, and fulfillment. From high-capacity screen printing and DTF production to a cutting-edge eCommerce fulfillment center and corporate offices, this facility was built to scale and dominate.

FINAL RESULT: A BUSINESS BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP

By 2024, 13 Fifty Apparel had been acquired, marking the end of an incredible journey. What started as a dream in my garage became a nationally recognized brand, built through relentless problem-solving, innovation, and a lot of trial and error.

Lauren and I figured it out as we went, hired experts as we scaled, and adapted to every challenge. Now, I take everything I’ve learned and help other brands grow, optimize, and scale just like we did.

SCALING 13 FIFTY APPAREL FROM A GARAGE TO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BRAND

While working full-time as a detective, I ran the business in my garage, selling shirts out of the trunk of my police car. Orders started rolling in faster than I could keep up. I knew I had something, but I needed help to scale it beyond a side hustle.

That’s when Lauren came into the picture. We met as the business was taking off, and in 2017, she made a bold move—leaving her corporate job to run 13 Fifty Apparel’s day-to-day operations as we opened our first official headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida.

BUILDING THE BUSINESS: LEARNING EVERYTHNG FROM SCRATCH

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SCALING UP: FROM A GARAGE TO A NATIONAL BRAND

13FA E-Commerce Fulfillment Center – West Palm Beach, FL. The backbone of our operation, where efficiency meets precision to deliver quality gear nationwide.

With demand exploding, we outgrew our garage and first HQ in under a year. By 2018, we expanded to a 10,000 sq ft warehouse in West Palm Beach, complete with:

The 13FA Retail Storefront – More Than Just Gear. Our HQ guests enjoyed a one-of-a-kind experience, complete with a full bar, blending retail with community and camaraderie.

Lauren ran the day-to-day operations, ensuring fulfillment and logistics ran smoothly, while I focused on growth—marketing, product development, and brand expansion.

Building a Legacy—Chris, Lauren, and their first son, Cole, at the heart of 13 Fifty Apparel HQ. From humble beginnings to a national brand, this business has always been about family, purpose, and impact.

SCALING UP: FROM A GARAGE TO A NATIONAL BRAND

The Heart of 13FA – Our West Palm Beach HQ. More than a building, this was the command center for innovation, fulfillment, and community—where the brand came to life every day.

By 2023, 13 Fifty Apparel had grown into a 100,000 sq ft headquarters in Atlanta, serving thousands of customers across the country.

THE NATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH: SCALING TO 100,000 SQ FT

Inside 13FA’s 100,000 Sq. Ft. Atlanta HQ – A powerhouse of innovation, production, and fulfillment. From high-capacity screen printing and DTF production to a cutting-edge eCommerce fulfillment center and corporate offices, this facility was built to scale and dominate.

FINAL RESULT: A BUSINESS BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP