Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Kays.
Hi Tia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
While attending the University of Missouri for Mechanical Engineering in 2012, I started having craft nights with a friend just for fun. We eventually decided to open Etsy shops to sell some of the things we were creating, and what started as a hobby quickly became something much bigger.
For several years, I balanced my engineering career with growing my business on the side. By 2015, my Etsy shop earnings had surpassed what I was making at my engineering job, and I made the decision to leave engineering and pursue my creative business full time.
In 2016, I became Greek licensed and began selling sorority merchandise. That was a huge turning point for the business and helped shape what Go Greek Chic is today.
At the time, everything was still being run out of a spare bedroom in my house. As the business continued to grow, I moved into our current warehouse in Bridgeton, Missouri in 2019. Today, we use the space to store inventory, house our offices, and run all of our in-house production equipment, including embroidery machines and laser engravers. We have a small team of amazing employees that make it all happen.
It’s been incredibly rewarding to grow something that started as college craft nights into a full-time business and brand that serves sorority women across the country.
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?
There have definitely been ups and downs throughout the journey. Like many entrepreneurs, I started out very focused on revenue and chasing certain sales goals. As I’ve grown as a business owner, I’ve realized that profitability matters far more than top-line revenue, and that has completely changed the way I make decisions within the business. Sometimes that means making difficult choices, like discontinuing products we personally love because they simply aren’t profitable.
I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team in St. Louis. Because we operate with a small team, everyone wears multiple hats and cross-trains across different areas of the business. That flexibility is essential for us to keep operations running smoothly, especially during busy seasons or when someone is out of the office.
One of the biggest challenges in the sorority industry is seasonality. Our busiest time of year is the back-to-school season and sorority recruitment period, and with our made-to-order business model, demand can quickly exceed what we’re able to produce in real time. To prepare, we begin producing and storing inventory months in advance during the spring so we’re ready for sorority rush in August. That preparation comes with its own challenges, including cash flow pressures, storage limitations, and the constant need for organization and planning.
As you know, we’re big fans of Go Greek Chic. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Go Greek Chic is an officially licensed sorority brand offering apparel, accessories, and gifts for 22 sororities. We take pride in combining high-quality products with quick turnaround times and exceptional customer service.
We embroider and print apparel in-house, and we also laser engrave drinkware and personalized gift items. One of the things that sets our brand apart is our ability to bridge the gap between classic Greek apparel and modern, trend-forward designs. We strive to create products that feel both timeless and stylish while still reflecting the personality and individuality of today’s sorority women.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I think we’ll continue to see a major shift toward smaller, more agile brands that can adapt quickly to trends. Social media has completely changed how trends emerge and spread, and brands that are able to pivot quickly and create products that feel current and authentic will become the first choice for customers.
I also think consumer buying habits are changing when it comes to sorority apparel and accessories. Instead of purchasing large amounts of traditional event-specific merchandise, shoppers are gravitating toward trendier, more versatile pieces they can wear beyond sorority events and throughout everyday life. I believe people will continue moving toward buying fewer, more intentional items that feel higher quality, more fashionable, and designed to last.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gogreekchic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gogreekchic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gogreekchic
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gogreekchic
Image Credits
Photos 1, 2, 3: Lily Notz
Photos 4, 5, 7: Tia Kays
Photo 6: Abigail Mellovitz
