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- [00:00]
Chris Molnar
One of the things I learned with Good Life, not every brand is meant to be $100 million business, you know, and you get caught up. Like I said, if you, you know, there's a lot of, there's a lot of money in the world. There's a lot of brands that have access to endless amounts of capital for whatever reasons, whether it's, you know, self funded, whether it's just, you know, having the right connections. And you can create a brand that doesn't have to be authentic. You know, that's not my goal with Cacio Pepe. It wasn't my goal with Good Life. I think with Good Life, we got caught up with trying to keep the Joneses. You know, this brand is doing 50 million, this brand is doing 100. This brand just raised at this valuation. You know, we need to be doing that. We need to roll out retail. We have to chase that carrot to be $100 million business. I think you lose authenticity if that's what you're going after. For me, I would rather have a $20 million business that's profitable, that has an authentic story, that has a real following, that you can really grow into a true lifestyle brand over the course of, over a course of years. But you have the guts to the business. You have a real story that creates loyalty.
- [01:11]
Michael Chernow
I'm Michael Chernow and this is the Creatures of Habit podcast. Our habits will make us or break us. It's just that simple. I've lived on both sides of the tracks and have learned that the decisions we make on a consistent basis truly define who we are as human beings. On this show, I will be interviewing some of the most inspiring, motivating and high performing humans I've encountered to share their daily habits, routines and rituals that help them stay on top of their game and ultimately happy. So sit back, relax, and pay attention because what you hear over the next 30 to 45 minutes could potentially change your life.
- [01:53]
Unknown
Let's go. The pursuit for a perfect T shirt. Chris Molnar, you are a friend, you're a fellow founder, and you have built two incredibly awesome brands. One brand that I. My closet is lined with, which is Good Life clothing. And now you have stepped away from that after a decade to create Katia Pepe, which I'm so fired up about. My closet is now lined with Cacio e Pepe, but when you called me to tell me that you were creating something new, I obviously was super inspired because I personally believe that you have figured out the perfect T shirt. There's no other T shirts. I like to wear. What is that? How. What does that mean to you? Is that. Is that kind of the thought process when going into this business? In the men's apparel business? Like, is that the number one for, for the brands that you've created? Is that kind of like the mission?
- [03:07]
Chris Molnar
Yeah, I mean, you have to go back a long ways. You know, my career in industry has spanned 25 years, you know, and I worked for brands like Hugo Boss and John Varvatos and Michael Kors and some smaller stops in between in the contemporary market. And I mean, we're talking, you know, 15, 20 years ago at this point, when the basic T shirt market is nothing like it is today. You know, back then it was all designers or big brands pushing out T shirts as a part of their overall assortment. I remember, you know, when I first did Good Life, back when I was like 25, I found a factory outside of Pennsylvania that was doing American made T shirts that I started working with because I saw a void in the market where there were really good, no good basic T shirts. Everything had lame branding on it. It just. Nothing was cool. Right. And so, you know, the industry just has changed so much. It was like American Apparel was like your only option for somewhat of a better basic type brand. And it was like, you know, there was just Gildan and, you know, Hanes beefy tees and things like that. So the industry has changed so much. When we first started Good Life, yeah, it was all about creating like a perfect T shirt that was different from some of the other brands already in the space. Without naming names, things were boxy, ill fitting to European fitting. There was just all these different reasons why there wasn't good product out there. And that's how Good Life really started to break through, is because we were offering better product, better price, value. Cause we were making things domestically and it was a small, scrappy business, you know, not these big bloated brands that are fighting for margin with department stores. So that's how Good Life started with that product. Fast forward to Cacio Pepe. You can go on Instagram. You can get hit with 50 different brands in a day that are telling you they make the perfect T shirt. You know, it's totally, totally different from how it was, you know, 10, 12 years ago when I started Good Life. So it's a completely different market now. And now, you know, there's a lot of good product out there. I think some brands have probably knocked off Good Life with the scallop hem T shirt that we started doing in fall 2013. You know, I can name 10 brands right now that also have a curved hem T shirt. So you know it now it's more about, you know, you have to have great product, but you also have to have an authentic message and a story and compelling content. You know, it's not just about putting good product in the market because the competition is just so fierce.
- [05:35]
Unknown
Let's talk about story for a little bit because I agree with you. I think story is such a critical component to business that a lot of people just disregard or don't necessarily think is important. And especially like the finance guys that are looking at a business, you know, they don't necessarily consider your story as a, you know, compelling reason as to why your business is valuable. What do you think about story and what is the story?
- [06:05]
Chris Molnar
I mean, again, I think it depends on what your vision is for your brand and if you really do have authenticity to your brand to start with, and that's really where a story comes from. There's plenty of brands in the market that, however, their path to having capital, they have a blank check to acquire customers. They can use kind of gimmicky marketing and, you know, and polished content to get people in and acquire customers and continue to just, you know, pump content and write blank checks to digital marketing. And that's a way to build a brand for sure. There's definitely a number one of those, number of those brands out there. I think the story aspect, like, like I said, it comes down to, like, do you have authenticity to, you know, how you created the brand? Who's speaking about the brand, like yourself and some of the other guys on board with the, with the new, you know, it really, it really starts from having the building blocks of authenticity, I think.
- [06:59]
Unknown
But how important do you think authenticity is really? Like, we, I think that for guys like you and I, it resonates a lot, right? Authenticity, you can kind of see right through bs, right? Like, you can never, like, truly, like we were talking about this last week when we, when we were here. Like, you cannot remake a true vintage shirt. You can't do it. Anybody that sees that knows that, that it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a new vintage shirt. Like, you can't recreate it, but there's way more people selling recreated vintage T shirts than there are people selling vintage T shirts, right? So like, how important do you think in the grand scheme of things, if your priority is like money, how important is authenticity?
- [07:54]
Chris Molnar
I would say not important, you know, but there's different levels. You know, one of the things I learned with Good Life, not every brand is meant to be a hundred million dollar business, you know, and you get caught up. Like I said, if you, you know, there's a lot of, there's a lot of money in the world. There's a lot of brands that have access to endless amounts of capital for whatever reasons, whether it's, you know, self funded, whether it's just, you know, having the right connections and you can create a brand that doesn't have to be authentic. You know, that's not my goal with Cacio Pepe. It wasn't my goal with Good Life. I think with Good Life, we got caught up with trying to keep up with the Joneses. You know, this brand is doing 50 million, this brand is doing 100. This brand just raised at this valuation. You know, we need to be doing that. We need to roll out retail. We have to chase that carrot to be $100 million business. I think you lose authenticity if that's what you're going after. For me, I would rather have a $20 million business that's profitable, that has an authentic story, that has a real following, that you can really grow into a true lifestyle brand over the course of, over a course of, of years. But you have the guts to the business. You have a real story that creates loyalty. I think it, like I said, I think it just goes back to like what your real goals are with the business. Do you want to just make crappy products in some subpar factory overseas and charge a lot less for it than you could if you're making really high quality products with a much more transparent supply chain. Right. For example, I mean, so there's just.
- [09:31]
Unknown
It just depends when you think about entrepreneurs. I love that you said not every business is meant to be $100 million business or $1 billion business or, you know, I think when people think of entrepreneurship today, they're not thinking about the business that's doing 15, $20 million in revenue. That could sell for 30 to $40 million, maybe $50 million, which by the way, a ton of cash.
- [10:01]
Chris Molnar
Yeah, it's life changing.
- [10:03]
Unknown
It's a ton of money. Right. When people think of like entrepreneurship today, what they're thinking are the 400, 608, you know, billion dollar deals that are happening now, I believe, and I'd love to hear your opinion on this. There are different kinds of entrepreneurs, right? There's creative entrepreneurs, more artistic, focused entrepreneurs, more, more like entrepreneurs. Chances are like you and I, that, that really think about this as like an art, right? Like you. It has to resonate artistically, it has to resonate creatively. It has to resonate authentic like with the authentic. The, the, the, like the fabric of the brand is so important. Right. And then there are entrepreneurs who are more managerial, right. That they're just like, oh well, you know, like I get the creative side, I get the finance side. Like we're going to put the right people in place and we're going to sell this company. And you know, and then there are the billionaires or the wannabe. The gun in for the gunning for billionaires who are the shrewd difficulties like will do whatever it takes to get to a billion dollars. Like how do you feel about that? Kind of like, do you believe that that is, that is, is. Is realistic in the, in the sort of different genres of entrepreneurs?
- [11:26]
Chris Molnar
Yeah, I think those buckets are pretty accurate from what I see. And you know, we're in New York, right. So you know, you're kind of in the land of anomalies here where I have friends who have companies that are worth, you know, billions of dollars, that have made hundreds of millions of dollars. And you see people trying to chase that. And so, you know, I'm, I'm certainly not the, the shrewd billionaire. Unfortunately. Those guys are a lot smarter than me. I'm definitely falling to more of like the creative.
- [11:50]
Unknown
But would you want to be like, is that.
- [11:52]
Chris Molnar
No, it's not, it's not part of my fabric. Right. Like, you know, if Good Life did become $100 million business and you know, I stepped in shit and got that check, you know, it would have been a result of 10 plus years of hard work too. But you know, that, that would have been great. But I think I'm more of, definitely more of like the creative entrepreneur, I think, you know, ideally I think to be an entrepreneur, you know, and I, and I have elements of it currently on the team. I'm more of the creative. Even though it's a blessing and a curse, I can do the business operations and the creative. But I think, you know, I think what's happening and the most successful companies, you know, have, have the creative juice, but then they all have also have the operational. Know how some people are just, you know, cut out to be in that kind of operational position. And then some of it just comes with experience. Have you done this before? And it's like, you know, and I think, you know, similar to your track, you know, you've, you've seen a lot of it already. So you have that operational know how based off of, you know, scars, licks you've taken.
- [13:03]
Unknown
You're 10 weeks in, roughly, let's just call it three months on launching a new business. Really interesting time. Let's talk about what it feels like to be three months in on a, on a new venture, coming off of a 10 year run with a business that was pretty amazing.
- [13:26]
Chris Molnar
Yeah. Every day is a roller coaster. It's, you know, it's, it's fascinating to. Every business is different. You know, it doesn't matter if it's the same space or a completely different industry. Every business is different because it starts at different points. And like, you know, this is such a global world. Everything can affect, you know, people's buying behaviors, especially when you're talking about clothes. Clothes are a luxury. Yes, everyone needs clothes, but everyone doesn't need to be spending money on $75 T shirts. Right. So everything going on in the world around you is going to dictate, you know, potential, you know, performance of the brand, regardless if it's good or not. You know, so obviously, like you said, yeah, there's, it's a crazy time right now. So, yeah, every day is a roller coaster. You know, you have good days and you're really excited and then you have a bunch of returns which are going to happen to every company and you're like, shit, man, this is frustrating. I think it's very different doing it from when I did it 10 years ago. Original. I was so naive and I'm like, all right, I guess that's how it's going to go. I got to figure it out. And now you're way less naive and you're like, you can, it's, it's also a blessing, of course, because you can like pick up the pain points right away and pivot. But the pain, you feel it right away because you're like, I remember that. That's really frustrating. But then you have the experience to kind of pivot and you have like the instincts to, you know, to, to move in a different direction.
- [14:59]
Unknown
Do you feel, you know, I mean, I, I know what it feels like to, to launch a new business and I know that how, Like, I know the importance of like feeling like you have some sense of boundary in your life. Right. Like being able to delineate between the business and personal life. Like how important right now, how important is your health in, in, in the grand scheme of things when launching a business from scratch?
- [15:37]
Chris Molnar
I know it's more important than the emphasis I put on it, unfortunately. You know, you know, there's no participation trophy. So it's like this world is a results based environment, especially what I'm trying to do, right? You need wins and you got to show investors and potential investors and anyone supporting you that this is working. So it's like you really have to balance, like, sacrificing your mental health, your physical health, relationships. It's tough. I mean, you know what I mean? So it's like everyone can say mental health and physical health is so important and here's all the tools you need to be doing to implement that. But at the end of the day, it's like, it's also sink or swim. It's also like, all right, so is it working? Are you doing everything you can to make this business work, to create value for your current investors, entice future investors? So it's like, it's a very tough line to straddle where it's like, can I get up at 5 and start working and not work out that day and eat, like, Because I'm just like, I gotta get all this stuff done, you know? And then if you actually get up and kind of do things more methodically, you might feel better mentally. But are you like, you know, are you getting to everything that you need to do to move the business forward? You know? So, yeah, it's tough interrupting this episode.
- [17:07]
Unknown
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- [18:30]
Back to the pod. I'd love to talk about what your morning looks like now and then what it looked like a year and a half ago before you started Caciopep.
- [18:44]
Chris Molnar
You know, obviously you wake up with a lot more kind of like anxiety. It's just natural. But I think before getting into that, I think the biggest thing too is that we all share the same pain pain points. You see all these memes online about jumping off a cliff and building a plane on the way down is like kind of like, you know, similar to being an entrepreneur. Right. So everyone shares those pain points. So I think it's important to also remind yourself that like, you know, you're not the only one going through this stuff. You know, I get up as early as possible with getting enough rest. You know, I'm not making myself get up at 5:30 if I haven't slept, you know, seven hours, because then your day is ruined regardless. But I try and get up as early as possible. I'm much sharper in the morning. It's just how I am hydrate. Been drinking these electrolytes lately before I have my coffee. But then I have coffee, I do like to chill out for a little bit, catch up on my sports center. And then, you know, it's kind of like make either it's mental notes or even writing it down of like, all right, what, what do I have to do today? What are deadlines that have to get done versus like, what are things later in the day that I can do? So at the end of the day, you're hitting the priorities. And then, you know, having like a, you know, a to do list of.
- [20:03]
Unknown
Stuff, like a top three. And then like ongoing to do.
- [20:06]
Chris Molnar
Yeah. And then, you know, I try and move, whether it's, you know, walk and lift, it's run, it's, you know, any type of movement workout I try. And if I don't do it in the morning, you know, I just lose my day. So that's like, that's kind of like a morning routine.
- [20:22]
Unknown
So you, you've sustained even in this. Because look, I think the point that I'm trying to get to here is, is that like launching a business is hard. And it will, it will absolutely 100% throw you. No matter who does it, no matter how successful or difficult it is, launching a business is really hard. And it's not everybody is meant for it. And there's no doubt that, like, it will derail a lot of what you thought were priorities in your life. Because it's not even like the amount of work that needs to get done, from my experience. It's just the amount of brain space that the business occupies. It just. Even if you're not like, working, your brain is occupied. Your brain is fully occupied. And unfortunately, it's hard to see past that in a lot of like, especially in the first couple years, right? Because you're just like. There's never, you know, I said to my wife, so creatures that have it is going to celebrate four years in a few months in August, right? And I was sitting down. I've been working from home a little bit more recently because the weather's been nice. My office is a little gloomy. I'm like, all right, you know what? I'm going to work from home. I'll figure out a few things. I. Anyway, my wife walked in yesterday and I'm sitting at the table and I just looked up at her and I was like, you know, it's crazy that every platform that I'm on, email, Slack, social media, text, all of it, there is never a moment in time where I don't switch over to another one and look at it and have 45 things to do on each platform. All of them, I could sit at a desk and work from now for the next ten years without stopping. Legit.
- [22:36]
Chris Molnar
Yeah.
- [22:37]
Unknown
Like you, like you will. You will. You could and will find things to do. Right? So is your. Do you. Do you find. So I'm stoked to hear that you have continued to make fitness a priority. I think that a lot of people don't. A lot of people when they're in this time, specifically in this early day, they like, push that to the, to the side. And I think that, that, that is the mistake.
- [23:08]
Chris Molnar
Yeah, well, I mean, I'm a work in progress. Certainly not perfect. No one is. You know, I was recovering from foot surgery I had. So, you know, I was. It's. It's not every day I try to as a priority, especially now it's warmer in New York and like, I'm past, you know, the recovery as. And it's. I think it's. It's, you know, am I going to like, you know, do CrossFit every morning at 6:00am No, I mean, it's like, I Think, you know, I think it's, there's like, there's levels to it. I think the biggest thing as I've gotten older too, it's like just movement.
- [23:41]
Unknown
Just move.
- [23:41]
Chris Molnar
It's movement. Like so, like yesterday I got up and I'm like, I don't want to, I don't want to work out today. You know, I'm sore. I just don't feel like it. So I put on a vest and I just walked the high line, which is like a two mile loop. And you know, there, there's. You're moving, you're getting your steps in, you got weighted vest on. And like, you know, is it, was it the most strenuous workout? No, but like, I breathe and I like work through some stuff and it's like, it just helps you kind of move through the day way better.
- [24:11]
Unknown
And by the way, like, I think that rucking in general, and I'm not, I'm not, I'm not calling out rucking, but calling out movement for sure. Especially as we get older, right? Like, dude, I don't need to worry. I don't need every workout to be an absolute, like, savagery. Like, it just doesn't have to be. I used to think so. And I used to be injured all the time too. Now as I'm getting older, I'm like, I don't, I don't, I don't need to like feel death by the end of my workout every time. And I think people sleep on rucking. If all you did was ruck five days a week and ate well gravy, you'd be in great shape.
- [24:55]
Chris Molnar
I love it. Yeah, it's got, it's got like just a little bit of, there's a little bit of element of difficulty to it. You know, it's 30 pound vest, I'm walking. It's not like, it's not insanely heavy, but it's heavy enough to tax you totally versus just walking totally.
- [25:10]
Unknown
And I think that, that. And so anybody listening? Like, rucking, in my opinion, I just think it's, I think it's, I think it's wonderful. I want to just touch on. Like. Have you given yourself a start and an end time in, in, in, in. In work right now? Or are you just like.
- [25:31]
Chris Molnar
No, no. Like, you know, when, when Good Life was pumping, we had an office with 10 people and there was a corporate culture and there was like a, you know, even if I got in early before everyone else, you know, you're hamming it up all day, everyone's working and then, and then 5 o' clock, you know, 6 o' clock, computers get closed for the most part. Now I'm work, you know, I have a team but we're all over the place because remote and we're being scrappy and you know, I even like don't even have like a co working space currently because it's just like, you know, I'm gonna stay scrappy, I can travel, I work from home, etc. So my schedule's all over the place and it's probably not ideal. I need more structure, I think. But you know, like, I think the biggest thing I've learned too, it's like, and I'm working through it every day is like, just don't be so hard on yourself. It's like what you're trying to do is very difficult and you know, you can always be better but you know, it's like you kind of just got to move through things as they come at you.
- [26:35]
Unknown
Let's talk about all the exciting how like what are, like what is exciting for you about this, this, this, this new business?
- [26:42]
Chris Molnar
Katya Pepe I love just, I love creating. You know, it's in my blood. That's the biggest thing for me. But what, what I'm most excited about and like I said before, I mean there's so much competition in the marketplace. There's a lot of good product, there's some crappy product, there's good product, people copying each other, innovative stuff. And I don't claim to have, you know, I haven't reinvented the wheel but what I'm most excited about is the story, the authenticity and the transparency of the brand. That's important to me but also the ability to create community is what we're starting to see some success with these run clubs we're doing. So we're doing like these 5k runs. Brian who you know is also involved with Cacio Pepe as a co founder and you know his, his connection to fitness and wellness made the idea of these run clubs kind of come to fruition. You know, run clubs are a huge thing right now with Satisfy Running and Bandit Running here in New York, Diplo's Run Club, you know, everyone has like a run oriented community. So our idea was to take the run club idea but combine it with the ethos of Cacho Pepe, which is about simple pleasures and simple things that you can live a well balanced life and run and work out, but then you can also sit down to a bowl of pasta with your friends and family and it's not this straight edge. We don't eat carbs and all we do is work out. It's a true mashup of the two, which is really how I think everyone should live their life is being health conscious and fit, but also being able to sit down and enjoy a bowl of pasta. So these run clubs are a big success so far. We're doing these 5k runs, not a race. And then we're partnering with an Italian restaurant after to sit down and have pasta together.
- [28:39]
Unknown
That's fun.
- [28:40]
Chris Molnar
And so to answer your question, that's what I'm most excited about is that I think in this day and age, you have to be able to build organic community. You have to be able to come up with experiences that grow that organic community. And if you don't, I think your brand is not going to get to where you want it to go. At least in the space we're in.
- [29:05]
Unknown
What, like stuff that's coming down the pipe, like, what's, what's exciting to you, like, what are you looking forward to right now, apparel wise?
- [29:16]
Chris Molnar
With us? It's, it's, you know, it's, it's a little nerdy, but it's like watching sales come in and understanding what people are liking.
- [29:26]
Unknown
What are they liking?
- [29:27]
Chris Molnar
I mean, obviously our T shirts are number one. It's, it's what I know. I think, I think I've exhibited my ability to create, you know, a fantastic.
- [29:37]
Unknown
Especially this, this T shirt.
- [29:38]
Chris Molnar
Yeah.
- [29:39]
Unknown
Which you gave me last week, which is this, this new fabric that you're dropping this summer, Right?
- [29:44]
Chris Molnar
Yeah, that's the organic hemp cotton. So everything we're doing with Cachoe Pepe is, you know, sustainable, as in, you know, natural fibers or recycled synthetics. So that is an organic hemp cotton. So everyone knows what hemp is. And then mixed with the softness of cotton, it almost has like a linen feel to it.
- [30:06]
Unknown
Totally.
- [30:06]
Chris Molnar
Like a dry, lightweight linen feel. But it's also super soft because it's blended with the cotton. And it's just like an epic T shirt for summer.
- [30:14]
Unknown
I also, I, I mean, I've been wearing it kind of around the clock over the last few days. Between this one and the black one you gave me. The best part of it is that like as you wear the shirt throughout the day, it kind of, it just kind of like forms to the, to the amount of activity that you're actually like exuding in the shirt.
- [30:34]
Chris Molnar
Similar to the Good Life. You know, I like, I like a slim fitting T shirt personally. Obviously the trends have changed also big time over the last few years where people are wearing, I don't want to say baggier, but boxier, boxier shirts. So we do have a boxier fit as well.
- [30:51]
Unknown
But you know, which is my favorite before this one.
- [30:54]
Chris Molnar
Yeah. So what I always say is with our, with our, our fabrics are they're going to fit a little slim when you first put it on, but then your body heat and your movement, it relaxes the fabric, it opens up. And when I used to travel around to Nordstrom stores pre Covid, you know, I went to like 80 Nordstrom stores in two years. And you know, I would say when you first put it on, the customer puts on. It's going to be slim. It's going to be tight in the arms, it's going to be tight in the chest. But it's better to be slimmer when you first put it on and then have it open up as you wear it in an hour. It's going to feel looser putting it on. And it's already kind of loose and baggy. Obviously, like I said, trends have changed a lot and guys are definitely wearing looser fitting clothing now, so you have to have options for them. But I personally like stuff that like opens up as you wear it.
- [31:43]
Unknown
Your father was, was deeply embedded in the world of, of fashion. He brought Hugo Boss to the States, didn't he?
- [31:52]
Chris Molnar
Yep. Yeah, late 70s.
- [31:54]
Unknown
And so you were, you were obviously influenced by your pops.
- [31:58]
Chris Molnar
Yeah.
- [32:00]
Unknown
Is that, did you always know like that you were going to be in fashion from like.
- [32:07]
Chris Molnar
No, not at all. Yeah, my dad brought Hugo boss to the US in the late 70s. So he was basically like a pioneer in the fashion industry in the U.S. you know, opened up Barney's and Neiman Marcus and Mario's and like, you know, every premier store in the US he basically introduced Boss to, you know, dressed Miami Vice, you know, Rocky for the. Wearing Hugo Boss sweatshirts. So he put a lot of that together. So. So yeah, my, I had so much exposure to fashion at a young age, but I had no idea what it meant to work in fashion. It's not, it's, it's like I don't think most people where I grew up in New Jersey even knew what my dad did because it's like, so you're an executive at a fashion brand. Like, that was so long ago. Obviously now it's much more commonplace. But I remember, you know, I'd be, I'd wear like, you know, I remember the first T shirt he brought me. He was at Pitti uomo in Florence, like the, the seasonal fashion fair trade show. And he brought me home a CP company T shirt. I still wear CP company otter today, but it was like this sick. Like, I remember it was like this rust colored kind of PK T shirt. And I was like obsessed with it. I was like probably 13. And I'd wear it with like Lucky brand jeans and like my, my Lava Andre Agassiz. And I was just like, I was combining the two, but it was really like a high end Italian T shirt. So I already kind of became obsessed with like premium T shirts and knitwear. But no, I had no idea that I wanted to get into fashion. I went to college, you know, wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Started landscaping that summer after freshman year, and that wasn't it. You know, I was like cleaning other people's yards. You know, I thought I was gonna get tan and get a workout all summer. And I'm like, I don't want to be doing this. And I called my dad and I was like, you know, do you think you could put a word in at the Hugo Boss office in New York? I was like, I want to work there. I was lucky to have that connection for sure. But, you know, I started an unpaid internship there the next week. And you know, it was like my first foray into really seeing what goes on in the world of fashion. So.
- [34:15]
Unknown
Wow.
- [34:16]
Chris Molnar
Yeah.
- [34:18]
Unknown
It's so funny, you know, you, we, you talk about, I'm assuming that's like you're in your teens. That's like early 90s, right. Like in those early teen years. How old are you?
- [34:30]
Chris Molnar
I'm 45.
- [34:31]
Unknown
45. So we're the same age. And I just remember, you know, growing up and specifically growing up in Manhattan in New York City, I was kind of like in the epicenter, I think, in that like late 80s and all of 90s time frame. That was like a real moment in subculture. But subculture in New York was culture. Right. And New Jersey close. You know, right there. Right. Like we're basically seeing the same shit. New York city in the 90s was like now fashion right now, today is, is feels like the 90s. It feels like they've taken everything back.
- [35:17]
Chris Molnar
Sure.
- [35:18]
Unknown
From the 90s and they've just re repurposed it today. And I just remember growing up in those years and for whatever reason, I'm. I'm assuming you and I are again very similar in this creative, artistic kind of way of looking through our eyes. But I've always been passionate about Fashion and not, not high fashion, just style.
- [35:45]
Chris Molnar
Right.
- [35:46]
Unknown
Like, it's always been something that I've just like paid close attention to. Always. And so when I was, when I was in my teenage years, like, there was a massive polo Ralph Lauren era, right, where like polo raffle round was just it. It was just it. And, and I remember being so, like, if I wanted to wear that gear, I just had to work for it, you know, I had to work for it. I remember very specifically being like, I want Jordans, I want polo. I kind of was like, not, not like a Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger person. But I just remember that I was drawn to that and I still am. And your brands have been such like an easy. I think with the way I would describe and how I've described your brands over the years is just like, it is the best high quality basics. You know, it's similar to Creatures of habit Meal 1. You find something that works really well. You know, it's quality, you know, it's made with the best of intentions and ingredients and, and it's. You just draw a line through that part of your life. Like, you don't have to worry about, like, I know I get something from Cachio Pepe. You send me a box of something. Like it just works, right? Like, I don't have to think about where am I gonna get my, you know, my fucking favorite. Like, where are those T shirts, like good life T shirts, shorts, joggers, hats. Katio Pepe, same. Draw a line through that part of life.
- [37:26]
Michael Chernow
Imagine, imagine being able to just have.
- [37:28]
Unknown
A bunch of those things checked off in your life where you're just like, I don't need to worry, I don't need to think about that. That. That is taken care of. It's amazing, dude. It's amazing.
- [37:37]
Chris Molnar
Thank you.
- [37:38]
Unknown
And you know, I think sitting here across the table from you, right in the pit of early day, launching a business and you're sitting here, right. I'm sure your, your, your brain is live. Yeah, yeah. You know, so I really appreciate you taking the time to come and sit.
- [38:01]
Chris Molnar
Thank you very much for having me.
- [38:03]
Unknown
I know, I know these times, even if it's a 45 minute sit down is kind of like I got to do. So I appreciate it.
- [38:11]
Chris Molnar
No, it's. Yeah, look, I mean, also sitting here, it's like, it's, it's good to talk about this stuff too. It's like if you keep it all in, it's got nowhere to go, you know, and so it's like, it's it's like having like a break to actually talk about how things are going or get your mind off of like the daunting to do lists I have when I leave this, you know, studio. It's because it's good for you.
- [38:32]
Unknown
So is there anything. Two last things. One, it's a little early to ask, but, but why not, right? We're friends and we've got a pretty awesome audience of entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs right now sitting here in this, this moment. If there's anything that you could have done or would have done differently with Cacio Pepe right now, like, have you been able to identify something that you would have done differently? This is where I think people really get value.
- [39:08]
Chris Molnar
I think, I mean, it's a little early to. It's probably a little bit me beating myself up and it's a little early, but you know, I mean, the brand is pretty hyper focused in the beginning, but maybe I would have even made it even more hyper focused because of like, you know, of some of the early sales I'm seeing. You know, we're hitting numbers and things are moving in the right direction. But, but it's part of my DNA and it's like my instincts are immediately looking for, you know, how to identify, you know, it's not so much how I do things differently because the brand is so new, but it's more about identifying things you're seeing so that you can affect, you know, the next six months.
- [39:54]
Unknown
For the, the audience that is wishing they were in your chair, that you just launched a business, this is your second one. Like, I know how hard it is sitting in your chair, but for the, for the audience, they, they, you know, that, that are, that are aspiring, they would give anything to sit in your chair because you, you said you were going to do something. You put a team together, you did it.
- [40:26]
Chris Molnar
Yeah. Yeah. I think that a lot of us, especially entrepreneurs, forget, you know, how hard it is, you know, and I think it's just, it's just about starting and keeping your head down. Right. And I think the biggest thing too is to not, don't compare yourself to other people or other companies or brands that you feel are doing things bigger, better, differently. It's like, you know, just, just keep your head down and, you know, and move forward.
- [40:57]
Unknown
Chris Molner, you're the man. I appreciate you taking the time, dude, I can't wait to open up this box of stuff here.
- [41:02]
Chris Molnar
That's right.
- [41:03]
Unknown
Where can people find you? Katya Pepe, obviously support this man and, and, and, and the business and pick up a couple of T shirts. The T shirts are off the also these kicks. They just dropped these. These sneakers a couple weeks ago. And these things are flame. I'm wearing the same collar, super comfortable cork sole, cork insoles so you can rock them without socks, which I love in summertime. Where can people find you?
- [41:29]
Chris Molnar
And we're online@cachopepebrand.com we just dropped a little, you know, like a little teaser collab with Emilio's Bellotto so you can get some branded Emilio's Bellotto stuff down at the restaurant, which is like a precursor to a bigger collaboration we're doing with Emilio for this fall. We're doing some fun stuff in Montauk this summer. If anyone just interested in the run clubs, follow us on Instagram, shoot us a dm. But right now, we're online only.
- [41:58]
Unknown
Sick. You're the man, dude. I can't wait to see what happens with Katio Pepe. First of all, I love the name. I love you. Product is off the chart. And I appreciate you coming, man.
- [42:08]
Chris Molnar
Thank you for having me.
- [42:10]
Unknown
There you have it, guys. I'm just like, I'm a. I'm a. I'm a sucker for a great T shirt. I'm a sucker for a great T shirt. And Chris knows how to make a great T shirt. And you know, I'm not joking when I'm saying that my whole entire closet is. Is a blend of. Of Good Life T shirts and Katia Pepe T shirts, because I've been collecting Good Life shirts for years and years. And. And I probably have some of. Some of those shirts in there from six, seven, eight years ago that are. That are still holding, holding strong. And so you know it. Quality basics. High quality basics in life in general. The essentials. It's so nice to have that locked up. It's so nice to have that locked up. And with a brand like Katia Pepe, you know, with the stuff that they're putting out there, easily, easily lock that stuff up, you know, like, how many. How many guys do I know that are just like, man, I wish I just had the perfect tee. And I'm like, got that. Anyway, I love sitting down with entrepreneurs to talk about what you know, especially in the thick of it, in the. In the belly of the beast, in the center of the flames. Chris is in it right now, and it's just fun to be able to sit down with a fellow entrepreneur, ask him the real questions, get the real answers, and share it with you guys. So, you know, I appreciate you guys. I appreciate you subscribing, giving us, you know, if you like this podcast, share with a friend, share with a family member, share it with with some of your share, share it with some of your your homeboys. It would mean a lot to, to us. We're trying to grow this thing as, as big and bad as we can. If you're feeling generous, a five star rating and a review would be primo. And aside from that, guys, have a great week. Until the next one, y' all, Peace.