Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Aviles
Hi Angel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story begins around 25 years ago in the year 2000, right after I graduated from high school. I was eager to find a “real job” to replace the fast-food positions I had held during my school years. My high school friend William was working at a local shop that needed a second helper. Because of our friendship, I was hired without hesitation.
I spent several years there, acquiring skills that I still use today. One of the business owners, Andrew, became a mentor to me. At 18, I had already moved out and was attempting to navigate life on my own. His guidance was invaluable in shaping who I am today, and I will always be grateful for him (RIP Andrew).
Fast forward to 2008: I was newly married with a young son and another child on the way. I knew I wanted to continue in the same line of work, but I felt it was time to venture out on my own. We moved and settled in Lake Mary. As newlyweds in our mid-20s with children, we didn’t have much to invest, so our start was humble. We put $500 into a used heat press from eBay, and that’s how our business was born in our garage.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a business owner for 17 years, I’ve faced my share of challenges. One of the biggest struggles for me has been managing growth and being careful with investments.
When I started this business as a new father and husband, failure wasn’t an option. I wasn’t willing to risk my family’s well-being, so I took a slow and steady approach. While many new businesses grew rapidly, they often failed just as quickly. I worked from my garage without AC for seven years before opening a brick-and-mortar store. I never took a bank loan (they wouldn’t lend to us anyway), a partner, or an investor. I didn’t even hire an employee until five years in.
My goal was never to be the first one to the top. Slow and steady….you know the rest!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Speedy Threads is our primary business, specializing in high-volume embroidery and shirt printing for local businesses and schools. We also recently launched Varsity Uniform Co, a comprehensive uniform solution tailored for larger operations like private schools and major corporations.
Speedy Threads specializes in customization, providing clients with the ability to select their own apparel and designs for printing or embroidery. Varsity Uniform Co functions more as a retail space, offering a range of finished goods.
What truly distinguishes us is our dedication to our clients. Our very first client, dating back to 2008, is still a valued customer today. We take pride in fostering a warm, family-like atmosphere, reminiscent of my upbringing in Newark, NJ, in the 80’s, where the corner store owners knew us by name and always asked about my family. As they say in Puerto Rico, “Estás en tu casa,” which means “you are at home”. I never want to be too big where I don’t know my clients or become fully automated where you deal with an AI sales person. We are humans dealing with humans. I want to know about your project, who’s wearing the shirts, where the event is being held. Who knows, I may even want to attend it!
Although we operate a 9 to 5, I personally invest 12-15 hours daily, often times including weekends, to ensure we meet every deadline. I am dedicated to going above and beyond, even if it requires working late or starting early, and occasionally sacrificing personal time. Often times our customers have no clue the lengths and hoops we have to jump through just to make a job happen on time and correctly.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished at Speedy Threads & Varsity Uniform Co. From a humble $500 investment in a Lake Mary garage, we’ve grown into an award-winning shop, complete with a free-standing office, showroom, and a warehouse with multiple machines producing thousands of shirts and hats weekly!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I know it might sound a little cliché, but my wife is my biggest supporter. She has always believed in me—even when I doubted myself—and she consistently stood by my decisions without question. She knew I always had her back because she always had mine.
I also always have to shout out my clients. Having been in business for so long, I feel as though I’ve grown alongside them. Their success is integral to my own, so I am as much a cheerleader for them as they are for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.speedythreads.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speedy_sanford
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speedythreads
