Custom Coolie Products

Coolie Nation: A small business success story

Let’s take it back, I’m talking way back, think fourth grade. At this point, Bubba had just started realizing that if he wanted to be able to save and buy the things that are very important to 9 year old boy (think baseball cards and Champion t-shirts), the way to do it was to make money. How do you make money as a 10 year old? You get creative. Not just one for a driveway lemonade stand, Bubba started offering his lawn care services to neighbors. They of course found his motivation adorable and being the kind supportive neighbors they were, he got a taste of how good it feels to own your own business, be your own boss and make your very own hard earned money. Fast forward a few years into high school. This same impresario was still going strong working at standard jobs, odd jobs, anything he could do to keep building his experience and save for the goals he had. After speaking with friends, friends of friends, friends of family of friends, he connected with a guy printing coolies in his house and a lightbulb went off in his head. These things were genius: A great product that everyone wants to use (adult “sodas” or not) that can be personalized and made to fit any event? Yes please, sign him up! And so a connection was made and Bubba began marketing his idea to friends and family and starting his very small customized beverage container business that included re-selling genuine KOOZIE® products. Throughout high school, college and his time abroad, the “entrepreneur at heart” never gave up on his business building connections little by little. He learned more and more about how to personalize KOOZIE® and other products and in his various odd jobs, started to get a good handle on the importance of customer relationships and hard work. After graduating from college, he realized he’d need to build a little bit of capital if he wanted to be able to grow his dream of creating customized drinkware and so began bartending. Through one of his more lucrative jobs, he connected with what is arguably the best decision he ever made: falling in love with his beautiful yet incredibly pushy wife who also fell head over heels for him right back. The two of them moved abroad and back, then abroad again and back again all the while growing their list of connections and starting a website for what would eventually become their platform to sell custom coolie and KOOZIE® products. Somewhere in the whirlwind of moving, creating and experiencing life, they had time to plan a wedding and enjoyed their time celebrating new phases in life very fully. It was during their longest stretch of time abroad that they were able to work with a local company to grow their business. They had the brilliant idea to bring the magic of the various coolie shapes and all of their abilities to keep drinks cold down to Panama for a large summer festival. With big dreams and plenty of inventory, they took to the streets to sell their beautifully crafted designs. Their dollar signs fell fast with a skeptical product no one was familiar with and they quickly realized they’d need a plan B. Back to the website it was to put even more effort into sales, this time through online channels. Over the next stretch of 7 years, the driven couple taught themselves how to market on social media (when social media was a new thing!). They taught themselves how to code web pages, learned where to ask for help when needed and who they needed to ask for help from. They watched a tiring amount of YouTube videos, learning graphic design skills that started with Microsoft Publisher and finally ended with being able to manipulate more sophisticated design software and the better prints it can produce. Over the years there of course have been set backs: personal ones, business-related ones and ones that related to both. But together they grew and learned that not only could they create gorgeous custom products, they could also customize t-shirts, apparel, personalize coolies and even coasters. This up and down roller coaster continued its stead climb up. Pushy-but-beautiful wife and Bubba worked hard to keep understanding more about what their customers wanted, they didn’t want to stop until they were ranked #1 for customer satisfaction (which they currently are!). It’s always been incredibly important to them to have a business that focuses on the customer and then the product instead of the other way around. Then of course, they (like the rest of the world), were thrown for one of the biggest loops of all: The pandemic. Businesses pulled out of orders left and right as conventions got canceled, weddings postponed, all social gatherings halted immediately. What were they to do? With no other option but to persevere ahead, they looked for more products to personalize. Masks when they were in demand which then lead to custom t-shirts, personalized coffee mugs, customized apparel, personal banners, custom flags for businesses, adding more personalized KOOZIE®inventory for resale to the selection they had and custom coolies to fit the ever evolving styles of cans and bottles drink companies produce. It was slow for a while, but little by little by being trustworthy to their loyal base and honest with their customers, they slowly began to grow their reputation as a perfect source for all types of custom apparel, personalized coolies and all things in between.

What will the future look like?

New machinery is a top priority as is being able to keep up with the times and what custom printing looks like today. Personalized mugs and custom drinkware have grown in popularity lately as have custom t-shirts and even adorable little personalized and reusable coasters. They continue to prioritize friendly, helpful and evolving customer service practices to keep up their streak as #1 in Trustpilot reviews with consistent 5 star ratings and flowing reviews.

Now how about a full list of what’s available now?

Coolie Nation is now proud to be able to present a host of different products. They thoughtfully source each and every one and test it multiple times before making it available to you! We don’t have any official partnerships with any of our providers but purchase and source each and every product according to each company’s procedures. Products currently in inventory and available for customization include: *a variety of KOOZIE® products *apparel, including t-shirts, hoodies and more *coffee mugs *banners *flags *coasters *and banners

How about the art process?

Art is and has always been a free part of this process! The team of highly skilled graphic designers will work with you to be sure we’re meeting and exceeding your expectations in vector format when possible. Staunch supporters of the First Amendment, Coolie Nation will print what you want and how you want it (with the only exception being messages of hate). Whatever you support, we’ve got your back!

And how fast can you get them to me?

Coolie Nation works with fast shipping giants like UPS and FedEx to guarantee deliveries in as few as 24 hours! That’s right, rushed product, overnight shipping and customized coolies to your door in as little as one day. Shipments are always guaranteed to arrive in time and there is of course a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Need your product tomorrow? We can do rush custom coolies no problem! Need some shirts asap? Let us know when you need your personalized t-shirts and we’ll print them as fast as we possibly can.