Rob ryan is one of the busiest yet friendliest men on the internet – he’s got time for everyone. When he’s not rapidly expanding and marketing his part Irish part Spanish tee shirt business, Lady Umbrella, he’s documenting his strategy and revealing all his secrets on his T Shirt Strategy Blog, as well as tweeting, facebooking, videoing, blogging his socks off. We caught up with the big man during the world cup to pick his brain about his growing brand, his thoughts on social media and just what makes him tick.

Hi Robert, how’s it going?

Hi Mike, all is grand here thanks, a lull in the World Cup (come on Spain) has me a tad uneasy but also led to a productive day – pros and cons I guess…big time thanks for the interview…here we go..

Tell us a bit about Lady Umbrella, where it started and where it is now.

LadyUmbrella is a ladies t-shirt company that I co-own with Elena Montes Casado, our Spanish designer. We launched our online shop on the 20th of January 2010 after about 18 months of trying, designing, refining and crying..The ball started rolling when Elena had a design that she wanted to get printed on a t-shirt as a present for a friend (she makes and gives cool presents)..I saw the design and thought it was pretty narly and that it could be worth “having a go” and trying to set up a business..Was a slog and a half to get it up and running but thankfully it has been going well..Since launching our online shop we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to open a walk in premises in The Loft Market in Powerscourt Shopping Centre in Dublin City which is kind of unprecedented but we’re grasping the chance and embracing it…

What is your daily involvement, what are you in charge of?

I guess I could say I’m in charge of everything..There are only two of us involved so it’s pretty hands on in every aspect of the business…I talk to suppliers, customers, banks, accountants, press and whoever else will talk to me really..My daily involvement I guess would be to make sure that whatever has to be done gets done..On a daily basis I try to tell about 100 new people about LadyUmbrella so that we can continue to grow..Elena is the creative force in the LU team, no doubt about that – I suppose I’m the spreadsheet guy hehe…

You’ve really used social media to your advantage to market your clothing line. What tips would you recommend to other similar startups?

Ye, I’ve just immersed myself in the whole social media buzz and thankfully am enjoying it..For us social media is pretty much our only means of getting the word out about our brand. As I said there only two of us involved and we don’t have a lot of capital to spend on ads [read as none] so I take it upon myself to bust a gut on twitter/facebook etc..My tip really is bust a gut..I hold a firm belief that if you put in the effort and the product is good then it is only a matter of time before things start to work out for you..Be honest when you are interacting with people online, be passionate and genuine – if you’re not people won’t gravitate towards you…Social media has levelled the playing field for marketing and the likes and I think the social media revolution is still only beginning..Its impact is going to become more and more profound to small business (and soon big business) and the top tip is to embrace it and don’t give yourself excuses like “I don’t have enough time” or “none of my customers use it” – you do have enough time and your customers are there…right, rant over…

You’ve recently opened the first official Lady Umbrella boutique in Ireland. How easy was it to make the transition from online to offline. What hurdles did you face?

Ye, we lucked out and were given the chance to open up in the Loft Market..Hehe, I’m still making the transition. We opened there on the 18th of June and are open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays so at the time of writing I’m still working on my salesman chops..The hardest part about the transition was the fear of failure…Things have been tipping along nicely with online sales but to enter an arena where we would have monthly overheads with no guarantee of return was a daunting one. But, like they say, you have to grab the bull by the horns and all that, better to regret trying than not trying so we are rolling the dice..Still have more hurdles to overcome but the learning curve is steep and we’re scaling it so hopefully we’ll have it fully sussed in the not too distant future…

What have you got in the pipeline? Where do you hope to take the brand?

Ah, the pipeline..Myself and Elena are dreamers..To start a t-shirt company in the middle of winter in the middle of a recession is far from a sensible plan but that is what we did…To me that it is a pretty ludicrous idea but as a result of it our pipeline and hopes are now uninhibited…We have our 2nd collection almost ready for release which will contain 3 t-shirts and a snazzy tote bag..We’ve also expanded the brand into framed prints and the likes which can be bought in our shop in the Loft (and hopefully online soon). I’m currently in talks with some suppliers about dainty printed LadyUmbrella notepads which we hope to get at some stage this year..On top of that Elena is going to unleash her design fury on some items for our autumn/winter release which I hope will include some scarves and hoodies – items apt for that time of year I guess…Also, the introduction of a LadyUmbrella umbrella is something I’d like to get sorted – makes sense I think hehe..Aside from the product side of things I want to build the brand up so that it gets global recognition (I suppose the hope and dream of all in the same position as myself) and will go gung ho until we get there..I also want to get involved in charity work with the brand and have an idea for a charity to set up..I hope that the brand will become a vessel that will enable us to be able make some positive change…big time..

What music are you listening to at the moment?

My music..well, I’m a rocker at heart and like to listen to all types of stuff really..iTunes is loaded with a diverse range of music, some nice and crunchy and heavy like Metallica, Mastodon, Slipknot, Down and some more easy going stuff like Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Kings of Leon, Pearl Jam..Good dollop of rap on there as well with Eminem, Dead Prez, Dr Dre, 2Pac and DMX..really, I listen to a wide variety of music but am always drawn back to guitar driven stuff…I used to be six string abuser so it resonates with me – rawk!

Who are you idols / heros?

Well, I just saw Pearl Jam in Belfast last week and am in awe of Eddie Vedder. I had seen Pearl Jam before but Eddie is just in a league of his own for understated stage and crowd control..He is the epitome of cool I think and all the fame etc has not gotten to him or phased him..He does his own thing and gives back what he gets..Pearl Jam have had numerous fines for playing longer than they should because Eddie realises that people pay good money to see them so might as well put on a show..Damn “the man” that says shows have to finish early etc..Another chap who I think is a bit of a champ is Warren Buffett..He is one of the shrewdest investors the world has ever seen and achieved his success by busting his gut, by understanding trends and pioneering a concept of “intrinsic value” in stocks..On top of that he is one major philanthropist who, even though he has more money than most (only 2 people with more than him in the entire planet), understands that money is but the cheapest commodity and wants to defy the transience of time by making a difference with what he has at his disposal. I’d also have a lot of time for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs – even though they are often in opposite sides of the heavyweight tech ring I think they both have to be admired for their belief in their plans and execution..Jobs is a marketing mastermind..Gary Vaynerchuk and Jason Sadler are two social media people who I would have a lot of time for and would love to have a few brews with..

What’s biting your brain and making you frustrated at the moment?

I get frustrated when things don’t happen as quickly as I’d like them to..I know it’s going to be a slog and LadyUmbrella is going to be a long haul flight but when things don’t go as I had planned I get frustrated..Another reason for this I guess is because the “buck stops with me” as it were with LadyUmbrella and if things don’t get done I only have myself to blame…

And in contrast, what are you really stoked about?

Really excited about taking pictures of our new designs… We received samples yesterday and our plans to take pictures tonight have been scuppered by an unwanted summer shower..We can’t wait to get the pictures up on our fanpage and have our fingers crossed that our friends on facebook and twitter will like them..Having seen the designs I’m gobsmacked at how cool they look..no doubt I’m biased but I think they look the bees knees..Have 2 different style t-shirts and 3 designs that will hopefully add to our brand – stay tuned

See all the new designs on the Lady Umbrella Facebook Fanpage

If there was one thing in the world that you could change, what would it be?

One thing I’d like to change? I don’t think one thing is enough – I think the world and its inhabitants needs a whole lot of help real quick.. If I were to pick one I’d like some advances in some fields of medicine pretty promptly…we are fragile and flawed creatures and the sooner we can find some cures to some of the things that ail us the better..

Big time thanks for taking the time to find out about us and what we do Mike. Have enjoyed answering the questions and hope your readers enjoy my prattle…ole…

So you’ve read all that and you likey? Now go and visit the Lady Umbrella Shop and get buying some top Irish / Spanish gear!

Exclusive 15% discount for Always Thinkin’ readers

Just visit the Lady Umbrella Shop and enter the code alwaysthinkin15 at checkout to get 15% off (and free shipping)!

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Milk and Eggs are a Californian based tee company born out of the love for simple smart graphics. Their colourways are bright, bold and full of every day humour. And Since their inception early last year, they’ve released some killer graphics which remind us a lot of the early Buro Destruct sensibilities.

The good news is that we’ve teamed up with the fabulously generous Milk and Eggs to bring you a fantastic competition. You could win a “Party like it’s 2011″ tee (pictured above) by just following the details below.

This competition is now closed.

Leave a comment at the end of this post telling us your ideas for the last party on earth ever!

Be extravagant and creative as you like, it’s the last party ever remember! Make it memorable!!

Closing date for entries is Monday 12th July Midnight GMT. Milk and Eggs will choose their favourite entry and the winner will be announced on Wed 14th July.

But if you can’t wait that long you can always buy the “Party like it’s 2011 tee” directly from the Milk and Eggs website.

Good luck and get your party thinking hat on! We look forward to hearing your penultimate party plans!

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Here is something epic by someone following their passion and adding real value to all those involved.

From The Wilde attests to be an eclectic collection of some of Britain’s most exciting and contemporary designer makers, artists and illustrators. Whether you’re after Textiles, Homewares, Ceramics, Jewellery, Fashion, Paintings, Prints, Stationery or Greeting Cards it has something awesome for you.

The site boasts over 20 independent artists, and you can purchase any individual item knowing that it’s 100% handmade with carefully sourced materials. Smashing!

Here are some of our favourite picks from the site.

Pavo Cristatus by Sally Boyle

The Wol Egg Cosie by Chain of Daisies

Emaki by Fay Martin

Garden - Hares by Beansquare Extraordinaire

We here at Always Thinkin’ always totally admire the work ethic of people who bring a community together, particularly when it’s to promote such brilliant work. So, we caught up with Helen Wilde the founder of From The Wilde, to ask her a few words about the brand.

Where did the idea come from to create From The Wilde?
I wanted to create a gallery of beautiful things that reflected my two main passions in life, the coast and the country. These collections are for people with a love of the country and the coast, for all of us who aren’t lucky enough to live there but are lucky enough to own a piece “From the Wilde”…

What do you look for when you choose the artists on the site?
I choose those most passionate about their work and what they make, the emphasis is placed on British designers and the quality of their products.

What’s in the pipeline for the brand? I'm awaiting work from several artists this week and will update the gallery on a weekly basis, we're always looking for new exciting talent! Plus, I'm currently negotiating contracts with two very exciting British artists, all I can say at this point is... watch this space!