The Story Behind SanMar | Wholesale Apparel for the World | President Jeremy Lott Interviewed

The juicy details behind SanMar's rise are in here. The biggest purchaser of t-shirts and apparel will leave you stunned: from humble beginnings in Seattle to a powerhouse multinational manufacturer and distributor in a competitive industry. Screen printing is in good hands with people like SanMar President Jeremy Lott, and you'll know why as soon as you listen to this exclusive interview.

Get the scoop here: https://www.printavo.com/blog/sanmar-with-jeremy-lott

Apparel wholesale giant SanMar has a fascinating story. Join President Jeremy Lott on this episode of the PrintHustlers podcast. Jeremy manages more than 4,000 employees at his family’s company – but he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. “I really had to prove to everyone that I deserved it. So I worked my ass off to get here,” Jeremy says.

SanMar became a distribution company after Jeremy’s dad sent every screen print shop in Seattle a letter with his customer list. “I’m not going to be your competitor anymore. Here’s my customer list. But I’d love to be your supplier,” Jeremy recounted. By staying small and developing a niche ability to source and manufacture garments like polo shirts, SanMar rose to prominence.

Overcoming one of the apparel industry’s major challenges during the 1990s, SanMar strategically moved toward making their own apparel. Jeremy explained: “The power imbalance between the mills and the wholesalers was huge. We started making our own product. From private label, to sourcing – we became a real apparel company.” In the 2000s, SanMar expanded its footprint and developed deeper relationships with world-class brands.

More info and truly wild stories from SanMar: https://www.printavo.com/blog/sanmar-with-jeremy-lott

On pace to grow at more than 8% through 2020, SanMar – like many others in the custom apparel industry – has been hit hard by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “But the most important time I spend is with my leadership team. That’s really what I prioritize in my day,” Jeremy says. Despite not seeing his team for more than 4 months, SanMar’s talented staff has stepped up to the challenge – without a single layoff.

SanMar continues to invest in technology to lead the way toward sustainable practices. Jeremy dives into SanMar’s focused mission on sustainability, detailing how the company uses king grass to generate clean electricity for its South American manufacturing facilities. From managing 4,000 employees to re-inventing how apparel companies generate energy, SanMar and President Jeremy Lott have led the industry toward a brighter future.

Printavo's blog has tons of interviews, insights, and ridiculously good articles about screen printers: https://www.printavo.com/blog/sanmar-with-jeremy-lott

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