We recently connected with Lindsay Shaver and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsay, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I definitely accredit my mother for being a very hard working example in my life. Growing up with a single mother, I watched her do everything possible to make ends meet & supply us with a good life. She worked multiple jobs, and taught me how to balance a checkbook at the age of 10, (so I could fully understand where money was going). I always had to work for anything I wanted, and she showed me that. Want a car? Get a job to pay for gas & insurance. Want to go out with friends and need cash? Do some chores to earn it. I wasn’t handed things, and that played a huge role in my how my work ethic developed. On my fathers side, while he wasn’t a large part of my childhood, he was an entrepreneur, as was my grandfather, so being at work all the time was very well known to me. Seeing people that worked all the time was normal for me, but most importantly, that they took pride in their work, and pride in being able to provide for their family.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As the owner of DeadRockers, (a Long Beach, CA based punk rock record& clothing store), I like to always refine what I’m focusing on. Things are always changing, and in turn, concerns as a business owner change as well. As of lately, sustainability has been increasingly important. Sourcing clothing that’s being manufactured more mindfully, packaging that is recycled, (or even reusable), I’m always learning & implementing new things. We now have our own line of clothing, in which sustainability has played a huge role in (we use over 30% of a fabric that is made from recycled water bottles in our women’s denim line!) Sustainability isn’t something that has played a huge roll in alternative fashion, and we are hoping that with recurring efforts, that can change. DeadRockers is a unique mix of punk rock, rock n roll, ska, & metal influences under one roof. We are always looking for new ways to connect with the community through in-store events, and local music. And have some exciting things in the works for 2024 – follow our Instagram for announcements!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
3 Skills/Qualities that have helped me tremendously: Money Management Skills, A Watchful Eye, & Passion. Money Management for obvious reasons, but especially in the start up or growth phases of a business. You need to at least know how to budget, manage debt, cash flow, and always, ALWAYS have a savings account. A watchful eye in any retail industry is key to knowing what people want to buy. As a buyer, I have to stay keen on what people want to wear & listen to, from brands & bands, to fabrics, & basic styling. And lastly Passion, cause let’s be real, you aren’t going to be tremendously successful at anything that you don’t have have the slightest interest or passion about.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always looking for new people to collaborate with! From clothing brands that align with our aesthetic, to bands that we can do exclusive vinyl pressings with, and influencers/marketing folks who want to help us drive more traffic to our unique shop. The best way to get in touch is via email: [email protected] or IG @deadrockers
Contact Info:
- Website: www.DeadRockers.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/deadrockers
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/deadrockers
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/deadrockers-long-beach
Image Credits
Danny Torres, Lindsay Shaver
