Arch's Blog

Super Massive Update Post (I hope you got your reading glasses on)

Alright so I know it has been a while since my last post. It’s my bad. I have been a combination of busyness, exhaustion and just plain laziness.  So what I am going to do is make one massive post on the past six days. I am only going to talk about the major things that happend, in bulleted form of course. I will also post alot of pictures from the past six trips to UNDRCRWN. This is going to be a huge post so I hope you set some time aside for this.

What I am going to be soon

- UNDRCRWN has been pretty busy the past few weeks. There has been a ton of orders from all over. There have also been some huge orders from big name accounts. I am talking about thousands of shirts. Of course I am the one packing all these orders.

The new guy

-Ya thats right I got a partner in crime now. My little brother Luke has joined in on the fun. He has started last week got hooked and has been coming ever since. He is a great addition. Now I have someone to work with in the warehouse, being by myself wasn’t exactly the most fun thing ever. Also we make a decent team doing anything. We split up the work and get it done. I know Pete is happy about having him. Now he can run errands with me and have luke hold down the fort while we are gone. We get twice as much done now and that is always a good thing. I know he is having alot of fun with it too and it’s a great first job for him.

Pete and bass guitar heads

- Turns out right across the UNDRCRWN office there resides a master carpenter. His name is simply Tim. He is a master bass guitar craftsmen. He has made bass guitars for alot of famous people including the bassit from The Roots. I knew he was a baller when I walked in and he said, ” You know anybody in the market for a 2,500 bass guitar?”  Ya, thats right he is balling. He does everything in his studio. He shapes the body, the neck and does all the electronic stuff. His studio is really cool. Its interesting to see all the different tools he uses to get the finished the product. The finish product is awesome and is definitely worth the wait.

Home of world famous philly cheese steak

- Hanging out with Pete is like hanging out with a tour guide. He is always taking me to cool places in Philly. Between him and Wes they have guided me through pretty much the entire city. I have been through the richest and not so richest parts of Philly because of these two. They have taken me to the poshest firms to the the best places for a Philly cheese steak, like the one pictured above. Its great I really do know my way around the city pretty well now. I also now know the best places to eat in the city, which is always a plus.

Pete showing me the right way to back angle park

- If you have been reading this blog for half a second you will realize that Pete tends to explain buisness to me in real terms. Im not talking about buisness practices that you stay up real late the night before to pass the exam. No, I’m talking about stuff you actually need. Like how managing a brand should be done or whether you should take your company to a tradeshow. All this information he gives me I immediately store in my mind and never forget it. Sometimes when we go out to lunch and he starts talking about the clothing industry, I feel like I’m sitting with Warren Buffet. The real advice or information really has open my eyes up to how fashion really works. Its not all expensive clothes and celebrities it is alot of hard work behind the scenes. He has shown me the massive work involved behind creating, distributing and making a brand successful.

Best concept shop: abakus

-  It is always fun when Pete takes us to a cool shop. He has taken me to some really nice places. The added bonus to bringing Pete is that he knows everyone who works there including the owner usually. Always make sure to make a good first impression and remeber the persons name for the future. Not only is Pete a scholar in the everything to do in business but is the center of a massive hub of people in Philly. I have meet so many people through Pete, should be very helpful for my internship next summer.

MORE to COME!!!!

Eighth Day Working for the CRWN

When I arrived at the office today Pete was definitely set to hectic mode. He sent me to count and organize an order that had to leave in a few hours. So I went to work tagging, bagging, organizing and double checking the order. I finished and let me just say I was less then satisfied with the results. I was missing a few shirts of different styles, which is never a good thing. I reported my results to Pete lets just say he was less than happy. We both went back to the warehouse and attacked the order again. After much confussion, cursing and counting we finally got the order perfect.

We backed the box that the order was in into my car. We also stashed as much packing supplies as possible into my small car. We threw in rolls of packing tape. We stuffed as many unassembled boxes as possible into my backseat and trunk. Once Pete finished up some phone calls we set out to the UPS store. I was like a missile to UPS, of course with in all the proper speed limits and motor vehicle laws. It was in Old City which is a cool colonial part of town. We dropped off the package at the UPS store then we headed out ot find lunch.

My car stuffed with our packing treasure

We drove around for awhile and tried to figure out where we should eat. Then it hit like it always did. One of Pete’s famous business talks surfaced and took over the conversation.  We talked about the importance of marketing and sales to a company. We also talked about how important it is to hire people who share the company’s vision. The vision all needs to be adhered to because if you don’t the vision will be lost and the consumer will be confused. You never want the customer to be confused. This is especially important for small companies just starting out, the  vision tends to be the only really valuable asset the brand may have. By the way we ended up eating at Chick-fil-a while discussing all this.

In the Old City

After Chick-fil-a we stopped by the office for a quick bathroom break. Then we headed over to Wes’s office to start organizing big orders. Like orders of literally hundreds of shirts. So there I was in the cavernous warehouse organizing shirts for a big order. I was scooting around on a wheelie chair seperating the shirts into different boxes. I was like some sort of sorting machine. Every once in awhile I would stop to double check things with Pete. I did that for a few hours and then Ihad to peace back to Rider.

Seventh Day at the CRWN

So when I got to the office today I was immediately pressed into service. Apparently the big order of shirts we have been working on since my first day needed to be shipped TODAY. I was immediately bagging shirts, boxing them, making sure we fulfilled the order and tagging bags. To say the least I had my hands full. Also Pete let me know that because of my lackluster folding skills he had to refold and rebag most of the order. Well now I definitely needed to step my game up, I can’t have the big man doing my job. With that I started working on the order making sure everything was perfect.

I took on my battle station once again

Pete called me into the office and asked if  I knew how to work the scanner on the fax machine. I looked at it and let him know I had no flipping idea how to work it. Then just like that we were both in my car on our way to Staples to get a new scanner. Apparently he has been meaning to get a scanner for awhile now. We started talking about different orders and different shops that UNDRCRWN is trying to get into. This eventually lead into the start of BAPE and how every street wear brand is trying to copy the formula, but most can’t copy the success. Then we talked about KAWS and how he can get away with selling very expensive items in only a few shops. Oh yah it was one of Pete’s famous business talks.

The talk was sadly cut short when we got to Staples. We found what Pete was looking for paid and headed back to the office. And I got back to work with renewed vigor. After about an hour we took a break for lunch. We went to a cool little grocery called the  Palm Market. We both got sandwiches and headed back to the plaza he showed me on the first day. We ate there and enjoyed some tennis on the massive screen in the plaza. Once we finished the lunch we headed back to the office.

This is the massive screen in the plaza

I went back to the order. I thankfully finished and got them all in the boxes in the correct way. Pete approved of my work and sent me on my way home to practice.

Sixth Day at the CRWN

South Street is the Fun Street

Once I arrived at the offices Pete was ready to go.  We got in my car and sped off to South Street. Once we found a spot to park  we headed to one of Pete’s banks. While he was taking care of business I got to wander around for a bit. South Street is happening place. There are lots of restaurants and bar for any taste. Most of the buildings and the roads are made of red brick. This gives the area a cool old timey feel. Where we were there was a nice little fountain where people were relaxing. There was also a big roofed structure for a farmers market. Pete finished up his business and I finished up my wandering to take him to his next spot.

Red poles as far as the eye could see

Are next destination was a UPS store in Old City. As the name implies its where most of the historical tidbits of the city is held. We saw packs of kids and adults being guided by a colonial leader. Everywhere you looked there  was a piece of history and someone dressed to match it. It seemed really cool and I will definitely hit up a tour to brush up on some of my history. Once Pete got done with the UPS store  we drove into the horizon.

After that we went to another bank near the office. After that we headed back to the office. Once we got there I organized some big t-shirts (3xl +) into the boxes and got them ready for Wes to pick them up and work his magic on them. Once I got all those shirts figured out and Wes came to pick them up. He brought one of his clients Shane. Shane is working on his start up brand Duke and Winston. He has Wes printing the shirts. I chatted with him while Wes and Pete were talking business. He is a real down to earth guy and is real cool. When Wes and Pete were done I was ordered to go back to Wes’s workshop to pick up a big order of shirts.

A bunch of big shirts

I got to Wes’s and picked up all of the tee’s he finished up for UNDRCRWN. I boxed them all up and headed back to the offices. I some how stuffed all the boxes into my small car and I sped of to the office. Once I got to the office an unloaded everything I let Pete know what was missing and what I left back at Wes’s. Well Pete let me know I totally messed up and misunderstood what he told me to do, which was to bring EVERY shirt back whether or not it was bagged.

Once he was done reprimanding me he sat down. I knew what was coming and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for it. I knew he was gonna give me another nugget of invaluable business knowledge. Every once in awhile he will give me short or long lecture on a important aspect of business and fashion. The lesson for today was pre packages. Pre packages is when a company sells items in certain numbers. For example a company might only sell to stores if they buy “packages”, like 1 small, 3 medium, 3 large and 2 extra large.  He explained to me the pros and cons. For brands just starting out he said to shy away from pre packages because alot of stores won’t want to order the items. The reason being that the store may not want to get a big qaunity of shirts from a new company no one knows about and just have it sit in the store. If they just sit there the store owner is losing money.

With his lecture over with he sent me to the warehouse and organize the shirts for the big order. I did that for alittle bit. The magical time came around and I said bye to Pete. I sped off to Rider to get to practice.

Found these today, is there nothing the UNDRCRWN office does not have?

Fifth Day at UNDRCRWN

Pete was going to be late coming in today so he told me to go to Wes’s at the regular time. Being the good intern I am, I did exactly that. I walked into Wes’s and was greeted with the sight of Wes printing on Speedos.  He was actually having alot of trouble with them. The client ordered the designs to be printed over some of the seams. If you know your screen printing, then you know you simply cannot print over seams. While  I was making sure the qaulity of the print was premium Wes was hand painting on the ink to cover the seams for the designs. It was a huge pain in the ass for him, but he made them look great. After he was done we took the ones with minor stains to the cleaning gun. This “gun” is loaded with super strong detergent and is shot out at the speed of the a bullet. This “gun” can clean out already printed on graphics. It does not mess around at all.

The finished product..... and my Powerade

Turns out it was all for an advertising company, Red Tettemer.Red Tettemer is a super cool company. They needed the Speedos and bikini bottoms for a short film they wanted to do for the Cannes Film festival. Wes has been working for this company for a few years and he couldn’t stop going on about all the good things they do. Red Tettemer is now on my list for future internships. You can check out Red Tettemer’s website under my links section.

Once we finished using the “gun”, we raced off to the Red Tettemer’s office. We were a tad bit late but Wes still took me through the scenic route to the office. We took the service elevator to the offices. I felt like I was on the Real World. As soon as the elevators doors were open I was greeted by the most hip offices I have ever been in. Outside of UNDRCRWN’s of course. I got a quick tour up to where we needed to drop off the goods. They loved the Speedo’s and bikini bottoms. They were throughly impressed by the job Wes did. After all that was said and done Wes showed me the creative suite. Let me put it this way there was a shark head mounted on the wall wearing a fake beard. Enough said. We then left but not after I got a quick shot of the waiting room on the way out.

Waiting room at Red Tettemer..... that deer is nuts

We left the hustle and bustle of that part of Philly and headed toward Wes’s house. I was invited to meet his wife and baby twins. His place is really cool and in a nice part of town. The twins were adorable as to be expected. His wife was really chill and friendly. We could not stay for long though because we had to go to meet up with one of Wes’s friends to take care of some orders. So we were off back on the road like the t-shirt vagabonds we are. The good kind though not the bad.

Wes's sick abode

We got to Wes’s friend’s place to drop off the orders that Wes could not handle.  They were the Robot is the Future samples. Check Highsnobiety to get the 411 on the brand. Wes dropped all the stuff off. The place was really nice and had really nice printing equipment. It even had tanning beds. But after Wes explained everything to him we had to truck it back to Wes’s to work on the UNDRCRWN stuff.

Wes's friend's sweet place

We got back tp Wes’s and immediately started working on the UNDRCRWN stuff. This seems to be a reoccuring theme during my stay at UNDRCRWN. I got back to my old job of folding and bagging the shirts. Pete got in and did an inspection of the work I was doing. I showed him and he wasn’t too impressed. He told me and I qoute “Arch you wouldn’t get the folding job at the GAP.” He showed me how he does it, slow and properly folded so it looks good. Then he gave me one of his famous business lectures. Which I have grown to love. Everything he tells me I force into my memory permanently and I listen to in awe. Who cares if I forget about microeconomics who needs that, honestly? My lesson was that presentation is everything. Nobody wants to receive a shirt thats all wrinkly and folded badly in a plastic bag. It’s all about presentation, with the right kind you can make a crappy shirt look great. He than left. But Wes was right there to reinforce the lesson. He used the example of BAPE. If you don’t know the brand search it. He went to say when you buy that 90 dollar t-shirt it is pressed, folded nicely and in the nice BAPE dust bag. They both had good points and I commited the lesson to my mind.

The UNDRCRWN order........ so many boxes

I folded until it was time to head back to Rider. I said my usual good byes and hit 95 to head back home.

It may look innocent but it's not

Third Day at UNDRCRWN

I had my usual fun with morning commute as always. It has become second nature to me now. I just enjoy some tunes and what feels like ten minutes later I am there.  The traffic though is different everyday. Today I reported right to Wes’s for important printing buisness.

The Printer's Place

We immediately started on the order. It was alot like last time at Wes’s. Wes was printing the shirts. Me and Pete were doing everything else with the shirts from organizing to ripping tags out of the collar. Wes invited a friend, Dom. Dom was there to lend a helping hand with the screens for the screen printer. He was touching up graphics and cleaning up the screens for us. He was the screen guru. He all worked hard trying to get as much done as possible. Pete let me know that I lost my name and now I am known just as the intern. It is not that bad I guess. We breaked for a late lunch and the four of us hit up a deli joint by Wes’s.

Real Good Food

The food was great and was at a good price. I got the pancakes and everyone else got sandwiches. Dom through us all through a loop though. He got apple juice.  There is nothing wrong with it, its just I can not recall the last time I got apple juice. He really like it though so thats good. After the break we headed right back to Wes’s and got back to work.  I worked for another hour but I had to go back to Rider for practice. So I left Dom, Pete and Wes to fight the good fight.

Screen Guru at Work

Second Day at UNDRCRWN

Just like my first day at the office it started out the same. Came back from practice showered, put on some clothes and hit good old I-95. Of course I hit traffic but I was prepared for it. The traffic also gave me a chance to snap a picture of this guy.

Old School

I saw this biker next to me in traffic.Everything about him works perfectly together. The leather jacket, the oldish bag, the jeans and the shades. I feel like I should have seen him in GQ with the way it all clicks together. Kudos to you biker man.

Anyway I arrived at the offices and went straight to work. Pete showed me how to use the ordering program on the computer. After my little crash course on the program I went straight to work. I was like a machine I went through order after order for like three straight hours.

My battle station.

I spent the whole morning on this bad boy. Then noon rolled around and so did lunch. Pete took me to a local deli. It was a cool little place. Everything was fresh and the they had a lot of organic food.  I ended up getting a Dr. Pepper, a roast beef sandwich with only lettuce and a lemon seed cookie. I know I don’t usually mess with organic food, but let me tell you this organic cookie was beyond amazing.

Pete and I then headed out to the office after we finished up lunch. We picked up a few things and then we headed out Wes’s office. West is the ninja printer. Any quantiy, color, time frame, design and qaulity that needs to be done, he can do it. He also does his own designs on the side too. His office is part of a huge warehouse ,over 200,000 sqaure feet, he has his own office, presses and other equipment in his own section. You can do check out his link here. He also does alot of work with UNDRCRWN.

The print ninja in his headquarters.

After Wes finished up his sandwich we went straight to work. Wes took care of printing. Me and Pete took care of everything else. We folded, ripped the tags out of the shirts and organized all the shirts into the necessary piles.

Me hard at work.

I had to leave before the run of shirts was done, it was a big order. I liked working at Wes’s. I got to see the whole process of screen printing from beginning to end. It was really intresting. Especially to see some one that has really mastered the process like Wes. Any problems with the ink or whatever he was on it and knew exactly what to do to fix the it.

This is West's tape ball. He is going for the world record I'll keep you posted on it.