Episode 2 – Bill Mitchell of Billiam Jeans
“My goal has never been to sprint, it’s been to learn.” – Bill Mitchell
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My guest today is my friend Bill Mitchell, also known by nickname “Billiam”. Bill owns and runs Billiam Jeans, which is a denim and apparel company that sells all over the world.
Bill started tailoring jeans in a basement in 2009 and by the end of that year had a waiting list of over 400 orders!
I really think you are going to love the conversation we have. Bill has a contagious and magnetic personality, he’s creative and loves to try new things. This all makes for an awesome show today where we explore lots of different things.
Topics include:
- How Billiam Jeans got started
- Book list
- Philosophy of doing business
- Patience
- Adding more consciousness to your week
- Denim company list
- Connecting with customers and followers as well as
- And… we unpack his gear bag!
Connect with Bill and his company here:
- Website/Store: billiamjeans.com
- Instagram: @billiamjeans
- Facebook: Billiam Jeans
Don’t forget to connect with me here:
- Website/Store: fieldtreasuredesigns.com
- Instagram: @fieldtreasure
- Facebook: Field Treasure Designs
- Twitter: @fieldtreasure
Now, enjoy the show!
- Listen to it on iTunes
- Stream it by Clicking Here.
- Download it as an MP3 by Right-Clicking Here and choosing “Download File As.”
Here are the links to everything we talked about:
- Alexa (Amazon Echo Dot)
- Analog Alarm on Amazon
- Audible.com
- Shoe Dog
Book Recommendations – 10:30
- The Virgin Way by Richard Branson
- 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense by Michael Brooks
- Cool by Steven Quartz and Anette Asp
- Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance
Denim Recommendations – 14:32
- 3 Sixteen
- Rogue Territory
- Imogene + Willie
- Raleigh Denim Workshop
- Baldwin
- Noble Denim / Victor Athletics
- Companion Denim
- Ben Viapiana
- Endrime
Billiam Jeans Story – 21:10
Tech Bag and Tool Kit – 52:15
- Airpods
- Thule Roll Top Camera Bag
- Sony Alpha 6500 with 20mm lens and 50mm lens
- Gorillapod Tripod
- iPad Pro
- MacBook Pro with touch bar
- BUMB Gadget Organizer Case
- Memo Water Bottle (slim bottle)
- Gopro HERO 5
- UE Boom Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
- Bose Quietcomfort Headphones
- Teenage Engineering OP1 Synth
- Bon Iver
- Ford Transit
- Methodical Coffee Beans, Greenville, SC
- Light Blue Gatorade
- Southern Pressed Juicery, Greenville, SC
- Desiccated Cow Liver
- Wellspring Living, Anti Human Trafficking Organization in Atlanta, GA
Great Quotes:
“If you go to sleep an hour later and wake up and hour earlier, throughout the week you get an extra week of consciousness.”
“I take a little bit from everybody and make my own thing.”
“I started clothes one day and then it turned into a full fledged jean company with no training, financial investment, backing or anything.”
“Do everything off cash”
“I’m waiting to be sued by Will I Am.”
“It’s about starting the company as honestly as possible.”
“It’s gonna be more personality based than picture based.” 40:30
“Don’t be scared.”
“I’m having chocolate milk.”
“Personality is how you sell product.”
Have you listened to Episode 1? I interview Brad Rodriquez of Fix This Build That and we have an awesome conversation about how to start something on the side.
- Listen to it on iTunes
- Stream it by Clicking Here.
- Download it as an MP3 by Right-Clicking Here and choosing “Download File As.”
- Grab the show notes by Clicking Here.
As always, please let me know in the comments what you liked, how I can continue tweaking this new Podcast. I’d also love any guest recommendations you might have!
Another success with Episode 2! Wow. I gotta say, when I first started listening I didn’t think I was going to get as much out of it because we were hearing from a jean company as opposed to a woodworking/diy company. (I’ve never owned a pair of button up jeans in my life haha) Boy was I wrong.
Bill made a a great point near the end of the episode that I was thinking about halfway through the interview. To paraphrase, “Check out other people’s stuff. If you’re a woodworker, maybe you start looking at someone who makes doilies or something.” Needless to say, I’m a woodworker that’s starting to follow someone who makes jeans. Thanks Bill for some great insight.
The real eye opener for me was the piece about people over product. It isn’t about the product as much as it’s about the people behind the product/the people that support your product. The thought of posting pictures of your customers is so cool. I’m definitely using that. “It can’t be all about you. It starts with your friends and family.” That’s so true in that everything I’ve done so far has been through the support of friends and family. What a great thought.
One question I threw out to Andrew a little bit ago was all about my approach to “officially” starting things. I’ve been so caught up in the details. I appreciate the push to just get out there and go. That and Bill’s idea of “Start as honestly as possible and learn as much as you can”.
Great takeaways this week!
Travis, so glad this episode ended up being a great one for you. (By the way, button fly is the way to go! Just saying.) You are right about Bill. He is a great dude and definitely someone great to follow. Now go start something! -andrew