3 Headwear Brand Success Stories [2024]
Starting a headwear brand offers a unique blend of creativity and business savvy. In simple terms, you design and sell various types of headwear, such as hats, beanies, and caps, often branded with custom logos or messages.
The appeal in this business lies in its versatility—you can target various niches, from sporty caps for athletes to stylish beanies for fashion enthusiasts. The initial steps involve market research, creating compelling designs, and finding reliable manufacturers to produce your items.
With a growing emphasis on personal style and brand expression, a successful headwear brand can quickly become a staple in the fashion world. Establishing an online store and leveraging social media to engage with potential customers is crucial. While it demands consistent effort and innovation, building a headwear brand has the potential for substantial growth and a loyal customer base.
In this list, you'll find real-world headwear brand success stories and very profitable examples of starting a headwear brand that makes money.
1. The Haiku Guys & Gals ($420K/year)
After realizing how much joy their Free Haiku service brought to strangers, the co-founders of Haiku Guys & Gals made it their mission to bring haiku to everyone. With an estimated 60,000 haikus written, over 600 events served, and over $600,000 generated in income for the poets working with them, the business has seen impressive growth and success. Their monthly revenue averages around $35,000/month, attracting and retaining customers through word-of-mouth and brand awareness.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Haiku Guys & Gals is an entertainment service that writes personalized free haiku for guests at events; since launching in 2013, they've written over 60,000 haikus at over 600 events for a total income of over $600,000.
2. Beardo ($360K/year)
Jeff Phillips, the inventor of the Beardo beard hat, came up with the idea after tying a scarf around his face while snowboarding and realizing it looked like a real beard. He refined the concept and launched the product, selling out of his entire stock within 25 days and earning over $40,000. Phillips used his previous business experience and design skills to bring the product to market, relying on his gut instinct and taking a gamble that paid off.
How much money it makes: $360K/year
How many people on the team: 4
Beardo founder Jeff Phillips launched his unique product (a hat with a foldaway, detachable, and adjustable beard) with a rough plan in place, and within 25 days of launching, he had sold out of the entire year's stock (1,000 units) and made over $40,000, leading to expansion, international popularity and even a spot on 'Dragons Den.'
3. Bravery Co ($36K/year)
Emily, the founder of Bravery Co., came up with the idea for her business after going through three cancer diagnoses herself. Frustrated with the lack of stylish headwear options for cancer warriors, she started experimenting with scarves and found that they made her feel more like herself. She launched Bravery Co. in 2016 and has since attracted a loyal following by sharing her story and empowering other women going through similar experiences. With a successful crowdfunding campaign and recognition from various publications, Bravery Co. continues to grow and make a difference in the lives of cancer warriors.
How much money it makes: $36K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 1
Bravery Co. is a company that empowers women with cancer through designer headwear for cancer warriors, earning an average of 3-5K profit a month and celebrating numerous PR coverage and awards.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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