It’s so exciting to introduce RED’S RABBIT ~ a new greek company and a new Premier Tier Sponsor of sorority sugar! I recently interviewed Co-Founder and Head of Red’s Reps Campus Rep Program Jack Matusek to learn ALL about his exciting greek accessory business!
SS: How did you come to start Red’s Rabbit and why did you choose to sell Greek merchandise?
RR: Red’s Rabbit is a family business – seven cousins in all. We cumulatively grew up in our family’s award winning apparel business, Double D Ranch, which has been featured in Vogue, W, and Town & Country for the past 25 years. As second-generation manufacturers, we wanted to capitalize on Double D Ranch’s manufacturing background and supply chains, but wanted to design and market a product that appealed to our generation.
Since Greek life is our passion, (I am a FIJI at TCU) Greek and collegiate gear was at the forefront of our minds. It wasn’t until my brother, Sam, wrote an A+ business plan for a freshman-level business class that we finally decided to pull the trigger on Red’s Rabbit!
SS: Tell me about your very unique company name. What does it mean?
RR: The Story of Red’s Rabbit started with our grandfather, Pa Doug, and his coon dog in the late 1940’s. Doug and “Red” would often hunt for squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. When Red would take up chase after a rabbit, our grandfather would exclaim “It’s Red’s rabbit now!” meaning Red “had this one.”
This phrase carried on long past the days of Red and his rabbit hunting. Whether at a horse race, a basketball game, or a card table, our grandfather would use this phrase when he felt that victory was at hand. This saying eventually trickled down two generations and became a common saying with his children and us, his grandchildren. The story of our grandfather and his coon dog inspired us to brand our company as Red’s Rabbit Supply Co. in late 2013. In the words of Doug, “We got this one!”
SS: What makes your merchandise stand out in the crowded sorority marketplace?
RR: We noticed that there was a lot competition and redundancy of low-end merchandise in the Greek marketplace. No one was catering to the fashion forward Greek girl. We wanted to design and create exclusive, stylish accessories and tees for her, her sisters, and Greek alumni.
SS: What’s your favorite style or type of design?
RR: Our best seller is Red Rabbit’s coveted sorority TOTE! Every bag is carefully researched and designed to have each sorority’s key elements incorporated into it. Scriptures, mottos, crests, flowers, and gems are rendered in a “Where’s Waldo?” manner. Bold Greek letter appliqué patches and embroidery highlights are super fashionable. The ample pockets, both inside and out, makes our tote easygoing and stylishly packs everything from sorority gear, to books to spring break essentials.
SS: What’s the funniest or craziest thing that’s ever happened at your company?
RR: Our first wholesale trade show was quite an experience, one we won’t soon forget. Sam, Walker, and I were tasked with driving 2,300 miles in a cargo van stuffed to the roof with our booth and samples. The van was so packed that Walker was forced to ride shotgun in a folding lawn-chair between the two front seats (obviously not legal). Along the way, some graffiti nut spray-painted “world peace” on the van (which we totally support but just not on our van), we ran out of diesel (mid intersection), and were stalked by a crazy man in an Enterprise rent-a-truck. Needless to say, we received a few traffic violations in Georgia for driving without seat belts. To top it all off, when we finally arrived at the trade show, our booth didn’t fit into our designated space so we had to improvise. Looking back, there were enough memories from that trip to fill a book – some of which are not suitable for printing here!
SS: Does your company have any philanthropy involvement?
RR: Well, some graffiti nut suggested “World Peace” but we’ve always had a passion for animals as evidenced by our company name and background. Strays have consistently been welcomed and everyone has a dog or two. Taylor has been actively involved in his community with pet rescue and has fostered dozens of dogs. It’s only fitting that we choose to give back to our furry friends through the National Humane Society. A portion of our proceeds goes to helping shelter and care for dogs, just like our mascot Red. Be sure to watch for our “Red’s Photo Contests” on our social sites to win Red’s Rabbit prizes and a donation to your local Humane Society.
SS: Do you have any exciting new plans or new products on the horizon?
RR: We are currently in the process of adding three more sorority collections: Alpha Chi Omega, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Alpha Delta Pi! In addition, we are introducing Red’s Rabbit “Bag Baubles” – seasonal releases of Greek and university charms (perfect for gift giving) to personalize your tote.
Also, be sure to watch for our upcoming release of collegiate bags this fall and our expansion into the rest of the Big 12 and the SEC. Somewhere down the road we would like to design a men’s branded line to compliment our current products.
☆ FIND RED’S RABBIT:
http://redsrabbit.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RedsRabbit
http://instagram.com/redsrabbit
http://www.pinterest.com/RedsRabbit/
https://twitter.com/Reds_Rabbit
http://vimeo.com/redsrabbit
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