Even if you’ve only just met Sam, it’s hard not to notice his varying passions and interests right off the bat. Not only is he the creative director of The Goods and a two-time entrepreneur, he also has the vibrant personality everyone loves. Get to know him and read about his inspirations in the first story of our Series!
What did you want to do when you were young? What was your earliest ambition?
I think I wanted to be a doctor, maybe that’s just crazy talk now but that probably had been my goal at one point in my life.
Where did you grow up and what was it like?
I grew up in Taipei, and it’s a really friendly city with wonderful food and drinks and a lot of creative influences from many parts of the world.
Where did you go to school and what did you study?
I went to UC San Diego for Bioengineering, so seriously nothing to do with design.
What was your first job after college?
I worked as a research analyst at a headhunting firm.
What prompted you to do something totally different from your studies?
I was really influenced by fashion and design during college and the interest was further developed with trips to Japan and Italy. My first and second job were starting to be really stale, so I jumped on the chance I got to start my own brand.
Why were you inspired to create The Goods and what is your vision for it?
As I was getting older (not old, just older), I really wanted to create a men’s product brand that was made in USA and also very low key. I found it difficult to find items I want in one place and The Goods is trying to solve that issue.
What have you taken away from your experiences of being an entrepreneur and starting two different labels?
I believe a strong brand with a good story is especially important. The Goods has tried really hard to be consistent in its branding and its product offerings, and I really hope the consumers can see the hard work we have put into designing our products.
As a creative director, where do you find inspiration?
I am often really influenced by other forms of design, including interior, architecture, graphic, and other products. I like designs that are thoughtful in the user experience and I generally keep an eye out for that.
What do you find to be the most challenging in your endeavors and what have you learned so far?
The most challenging was finding the right way to manufacture our goods. We try to do everything in house as much as we can because it was so hard to find manufacturing partners in the United States. From this experience, we learned that it is not crazy to bring manufacturing back to the United States.
What integrity do you uphold most in yourself and the companies you’ve started?
Authenticity is so important. It is seen in our pricing and our manufacturing process. We want to be as realistic to ourselves and to our customers.
Is there a best piece of advice from someone that you go back to all the time?
“Believe yourself"
Quick takes!
Favorite city to vacation: Is Taipei too obvious of a choice?
Coffee of choice: Nitro Cold Brew
Winter, summer, fall or spring: Winter, more fun to layer
Describe yourself in 3 words: Spontaneous, Passionate, Creative
Top 3 items in your wardrobe: Plain T-shirts, Chinos, Dress Shirts
Top 3 The Goods products you can’t live without: The Hit, The Loop, and The Flip.