Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Bass.
Hi Jason, 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.
I’ve been a creative and business-minded since an early age. My mother and Grandmother were a continuous source of inspiration and examples of entrepreneurs. I grew up in my mother’s pet shop and commercial aquarium business called Aqua Lease where she also had a side business of selling snowballs in the hot summer street of Liberty Heights in the ’80s. Two or three doors down was my grandmother’s music school called Margaret’s School of Music.
Fast forward to recent years, I was inspired to start Great Trade Co. because of my love for makers and the hospitality industry. I noticed there weren’t many premium options when it comes to workwear and apparel available in the market. I sought to create better options. Great Trade Co produces workwear thats considerate of the customers trade skills and creative passions with a style influenced by streetwear. I’ve worked adjacent or within the hospitality industry for over 15 years which gave me a close up view into my target customers day to day experience. I currently serve as the Hyatt’s only Director of Culture and Impact for Revival Baltimore – a full-service lifestyle hotel in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore City. In the hotel, we have 3 food and beverage outlets; Topside, The Dashery, and B-Side. They are all very different expressions, and you see and learn a lot in an environment such as Revival.
Previous to my role at Revival, I was the co-founder of the former Treason Toting Company, a Baltimore-based travel accessory brand invested in by Sagamore Ventures and Conscious Venture Labs; I used that experience to bring Great Trade Co. to life. Baltimore is a city of makers, creatives, and hard workers. I hope to only support and amplify what we do every day. We are all great!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth, no. But it helps to have previous experience in the business, so you don’t repeat mistakes. Use also develop processes that save time and learn no skills that save money. That means I can put my focus on other small business challenges. The cost of goods and difficulty finding labor can be where the metaphorical road gets curvy and bumpy. The prices of everything have gone up. It’s hard to find people to produce products, manufacture goods, and work events.
As you know, we’re big fans of Great Trade Co. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am currently making aprons, full bib aprons and half, for food and beverage-based workers. That’s not to say they can’t be used by an artist that paints or makes ceramics. We all need to protect ourselves while making or doing great things. I also offer apparel that speaks to the same community of people, which are t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and hats. We are hosting a Made-to-Order event for industry people only sponsored by Martell Cognac at Alma Cocina on Tuesday Feb 7th that allow guests to see the products, pick their fabrics, and order bulk aprons for their business. We will also show other products that can be made to order based on the needs of the business.
What do you think about happiness?
I am happy when I make others happy. Being of service brings joy to my life. I am passionate about creating and only hope that what I create brings others joy in their lives.
I’ve tried to figured out why I am this way, and the best answer I’ve found is based in personal growth and discovery. I’ve tried to be solely focused on me and be selfish. It never made me happy, and in fact, I think it prevented me from finding true joy in life. Material things are cool but more satisfying to know you made someone else happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.greattradeco.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/greattradeco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greattradeco
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/greattradeco
Image Credits
Ryan Rhodes
