In July 2024, we posted our first Reel: "Part 1 of Launching a Christian apparel business..."
Fast forward two years, and we've done a lot.
We've released multiple products, bought three print carousels, gone through what feels like a million tubs of ink, popped up at eight events, taken Thunder & Son interstate, and made more mistakes than we'd care to admit.
We've had shirts that didn't cure properly, months with almost no sales, designs that flopped and made decisions we'd make differently today.
We still feel like we're only getting started, but these are some of the lessons we've learned in our first two years of business.
1. A business in Jesus' name has to cost you something
Early on, we realised you can't talk about building a business for the Kingdom if it never requires sacrifice from you.
David's words in 2 Samuel 24:24 have stayed with us: "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
An offering that costs nothing isn't really an offering.
Whether it's time, finances, comfort, reputation, or saying no to opportunities that don't align with the direction God's leading you in, following Jesus in business will always ask something of you.
2. Know your why, so you don't shrink when the critics come
Christians can be... surprisingly brutal.
People will question your prices, your motives, your theology, or even whether it's okay to make money this way.
If you don't already know why you're doing this, those voices will send you into a spiral.
3. Trust Him for the next step
One of our biggest lessons has been learning not to obsess over five year plans, we rarely knew what was around the corner.
Instead, we've learned to trust Jesus for the next step. Not the whole plan, just the next step. And strangely, that uncertainty has become one of God's greatest gifts to us. It's grown a dependence on Him that certainty never could.
4. People over process
Policies matter and processes matter. But people matter more.
We've had moments where it would've been easier to hide behind policy or stand our ground because technically we were right. But that's not the kind of business we want to build.
Whether someone is making a complaint, asking a hundred questions before buying, or simply following along online, we want people to feel genuinely cared for.
Long after they're customers.
We often come back to Jesus words in John 13 when he said "Love one another as I have loved you."
We want that to shape the way we do business just as much as the products we make.
5. Trusting God won't always look normal
There have been plenty of moments where we've sensed God asking us to do something that made very little business sense.
I remember explaining to a successful businessman how we make business decisions. I talked about praying before launches, waiting on God, and trusting Jesus to lead us instead of simply following what the numbers said.
He looked at me like I had two heads. And honestly... I get it. Trusting God in business rarely looks normal from the outside.
People might think it's weird. But its not weird if it works.
6. Money can't be the main goal
When we first started, my mind naturally went to spreadsheets, margins and how we could make this business profitable.
Not long after, Ben felt God prompting us to launch what became our Kingdom Collabs.
The idea was simple: We'd partner with a Christian organisation, design them a shirt, create content around it, print it, and give them every dollar of profit.
I'll be honest, it wasn't the direction I would've chosen.
But looking back, I think it was one of God's greatest gifts to us.
Before the business had a chance to shape our hearts around money, He re-shaped them around generosity.
We partnered with four organisations, and every collaboration reminded us that profit is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.
Money matters. It just can't be the main goal.
7. There is room for everyone
Christian apparel brands seem to be popping up everywhere these days.
If we're honest, it can be tempting to compare, compete or wonder where we fit.
But there's no life in that.
The Kingdom isn't built through competition, it's built through collaboration.
Every new brand creating apparel is another opportunity for someone to wear something that invites a conversation about Jesus.
That can only be good news.
Looking back, we're pretty grateful.
Not because we've done everything well (ha! we definitely haven't) but because Jesus has been faithful through every success, every mistake and every lesson.
Here's to whatever He has planned for the next two years.