“To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.” Many of you have probably heard this African proverb and it certainly applies to any athletic team one is a part of. Can’t place in a cross country meet unless you have 5 runners cross the finish line. Can’t score buckets with a basketball team of one. And even the most talented ball players can’t hit and field at the same time.
Owning a business is the same. No woman (or man) can do it alone. Lest you dear reader of this blog read my last post and think I am Superwoman, let me use this missive to set the record straight.
Blue Star has been the dream and hard work of many talented souls over the years – both during the days of Dave and Anna’s ownership and now mine.
The Early Days: Bill
My dad was the son of a minister and his older siblings all became public school teachers or nonprofit leaders, so naturally Dave became a teacher as well. Eventually he landed at Jerome I. Case High School in Racine, WI. During the early ‘80s the teachers made very little and even the janitors had a better union. It is during this time that he percolated the idea for Blue Star – selling customized uniforms to high school athletic teams.
Lucky for him, Bill Greiten, a fellow teacher and coach believed in him. Bill was instrumental in Dave getting hired at Case and then looked after him in the early days of his career – inviting Dave over for home cooked meals, and hooking him up with another bachelor who was looking to rent out rooms in his first house. Dave left Racine after only a handful of years, but the friendship between him and Bill lasted 45 years. Bill was always Dave’s first call when he had a new idea and Bill invited Blue Star to the first vendor at the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association (WCCCA) – which open many doors for our company.
The Secret Sauce: Anna
By 1988, Blue Star was paying Dave full time (woohoo … I can’t wait to get to that point!) and he needed additional hands and minds to accelerate its growth. Enter, Anna (also known as mom to me). Known for her stellar phone voice, wit, and charm, Anna created the secret sauce that Blue Star became known for: its customer service.
My mom always said, “Dave dreams, I do it.” As a pair, they were incredible problem solvers: Anna had tons of both qualitative and quantitative data from chatting with customers all day about their challenges, and Dave used those to innovate new products and methods of purchasing that created new opportunities for both Blue Star and its coaches.
The quote form on our website? It’s a 21st century version of the notepads my mom created and kept by her customer service telephone and includes all the pertinent questions to help coaches think through their sports uniform and spiritwear needs.
Today: A Long List of Accountability Buddies
Today, as a woman, second generation owner of Blue Star, I get by with a little help from my friends (as the Beatles sing).
None of what I do would be possible without the support of my husband Paul. I’ve always been the risk takers, and he has been my rock, my safe harbor. He is also a dynamite graphic designer, project manager, and techie. He set up our system for design custom uniforms, helped lay our 2025 catalog, and gives me a swift kick in the pants when I hem and haw too long.
Plus these other VIPs:
- Jen VanEe – WrightTouch Marketing. Jen did a ton of market research for me and is a brilliant thought partner on all things communication.
- Chris, Jake, and Kayla – Advanced Health Training. I’m in the gym with them 3x/day getting my sweat on. Never too old or proud to be coached.
- Ed Holinkski – Vistage Chair. Ed spent decades running successful companies and now is executive coach. Again, never too old or proud to be coached.
- My fellow board members at Habitat for Humanity Kent County and the Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center. To be asked to share my knowledge and time is privilege of service I don’t take lightly.
And of course, our incredible customers! Without you, kids across the country would lose a valuable part of their education. Being a part of an athletic team is not just about building strength or winning trophies – it’s about belonging and being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Not a customer yet? Let change that. Drop us a line any time – info@bluestarsportsapparel.com.
