Some of you know that on the video production side of our business lives a professional show services and labor company called Ideal Crewing. Ideal Crewing crews shows and events of all types of sizes – corporate, festivals, concerts, car shows, trade shows, concerts, conferences and more. Established in 2016, the company is new, and the team strives for excellence, building the kind of infrastructure that promotes a solid work ethic, rapport among the crew, professionalism and respect for each other and the clients they serve. This is a business of skill, craft and certainly, manual labor.
About two weeks ago Julie Walther, owner of Stage Hands Clothing from Chicago, IL gave Ideal a “high-5” via Instagram. So, we couldn’t help but reach out to say, “Hey, thanks for noticing!” and “…tell us your story” because, frankly, social media platforms are for engagement, right? It’s one thing to have followers and likes, etc., but it’s another to pick up the phone and have a conversation with someone in the same business, to wish them well in their endeavors and explore collaborative opportunities.
One thing I picked up on right away was their company culture and values. They were in alignment with ours. I asked her, “What do you love most about the AV and Staging industry? What’s your best day so far, as a business owner?” She answered, “Being able to champion the creativity and hard work of this industry is incredibly rewarding. My best days are when we can find the right fit for the unique need of a customer. For example, we have quite a few women customers as I pay close attention to their specific sizing needs. We outfit a wide range of audience members from lighting techs, to sound people, to stage managers. Each group needs clothing and gear specific to their niche. We carry 100% cotton for electricians’ needs and 100% polyester for wicking needs. It’s truly fulfilling to get an email about receiving clothing that fits just right and exceeds their expectations.”
As a woman-owned company (we love that), Julie’s background is in the visual arts and nonprofit leadership sectors. Her husband is an active IATSE sound engineer and stagehand. In addition to years of experience as a Sound Engineer and a Local 2, IATSE Stagehand, his expertise in software development and project management earned him the title of Chief Experience Officer at Stage Hands Clothing.
They value the people they work with – their team, vendors, customers. Each day they engage with people serving the industry. They are intentional – about how they grow the company, about their partners and manufacturers. They look for family businesses or companies that choose responsibility when it comes to sourcing – companies with similar values. They look for USA based companies first, and work with some international companies that are highly recommended or requested from the field. They also look for union options for all clothing categories.
Last, but not least, customer service is their #1 priority. They know that their customers are the lifeline of their business. They believe if they do the right thing, they’ll earn their trust and strategically build a quality, beloved brand.
We love small business owners who follow their dreams and set out to make a difference in the world. Stage Hands Clothing is doing that every day and we love their mission and respect their team. Great job, Stage Hands! High-fives back at ya!
#live #work #play #dream #passion
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