Behind the Scenes at Brownfield's - 1

CHAT WITH MARK FRITZ, CO-FOUNDER & CEO OF LAKESHIRTS/BLUE84
Written by Hannah Dillow

As a young adult, I often wonder where my career path will take me.  The news is full of success stories about those who decided to start their own companies and I have watched these businesspeople in awe

One such entrepreneur is Mark Fritz, co-founder and CEO of Lakeshirts/Blue84, a wholesale supplier of custom apparel. Brownfield’s has worked with them for over 2 decades and as the marketing assistant here, I was able to chat with him to share with you today!

His story is one of lifelong entrepreneurial spirit and the determination to stick with those instincts and grow the business from a basement operation with two ovens to a well-known company that now fills shelves in shops all over the country!

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO...

“Growing up, I guess you would have described me as having an entrepreneur-type mindset – I used to catch worms and sell nightcrawlers to bait stores out of my parents garage. I had a lawn mowing business – Mike, my partner, joined me later in that after high school – mowing lawns, putting in docks, painting, waxing skis. Once, I bought a whole bunch of Christmas trees and sold them out of a little gas station convenience store.”

“Do you have any advice for future entrepreneurs?” 

“All the old clichés are somewhat true: Underpromise and over-deliver; personal relationships matter and I think people sense things like work ethic and heart... I’d rather work with someone 100% engaged than someone just mailing it in. Someone starting out is all in!”

SEE MORE ABOUT THEIR STORY @ LAKESHIRTS.COM/OUR-STORY

CHECK OUT OUR AMAZING APPAREL @ SHOPBROWNFIELDS.COM/COLLECTIONS

Voted “Best Place to Work” in the Area for Large Employers