Jude DiGiacomo: Building a Brand - The Story of FooDog Printing

Summary
In this episode of the You Can't Fool You podcast, Rockne O'Leary interviews Jude DiGiacomo, the owner of Foo Dog Printing. They discuss Jude's journey from being a D3 football player to transitioning into the world of entrepreneurship through screen printing. Jude shares his experiences of navigating career changes, the importance of fitness, and the challenges of starting a business during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation highlights the lessons learned from sports and how they apply to business, emphasizing resilience, discipline, and the significance of building relationships. In this conversation, Jude DiGiacomo shares his journey in the world of shirt printing, discussing his first experiences, the evolution of his business, and the importance of community and networking within the screen printing industry. He highlights the process of ordering custom shirts, current projects, and the significance of messaging in t-shirt design. The discussion also touches on personal superstitions related to sports and Jude's aspirations for the future of his business, including the recent acquisition of an automatic press to enhance productivity.

Takeaways

• Jude DiGiacomo transitioned from accounting to entrepreneurship.
• Fitness and health are priorities for Jude.
• Starting Foo Dog Printing was a creative outlet for Jude.
• Building relationships is key in business.
• Sports teach valuable life skills applicable to entrepreneurship.
• Resilience is crucial when facing career changes.
• Finding passion is essential for long-term success.
• Teamwork and accountability are important in both sports and business.
• A strong brand identity can enhance business recognition. 
• Jude printed shirts for fun during high school and later for clients.
• The process of ordering shirts varies based on the relationship with the customer.
• Networking with other screen printers has been beneficial for Jude.
• The messaging on shirts can significantly impact their popularity.
• Jude recently acquired an automatic press to improve efficiency.
• Future aspirations include hiring help to manage business operations.

Sound Bites

• "Your sport isn't what defines you."
• "I just set up fundraisers for schools."
• "It's fun to have a name and logo."
• "I enjoy it. It's fun."
• "I remember the first shirt I ever printed."
• "I like printing for construction companies."
• "I just got an automatic press recently."
• "I wore it when we went to the playoff game."

Jude DiGiacomo

https://foodogprinting.com/

IG: @foodog.printing