We come from humble beginnings.  There was once two kids with a dream. 

Around 2013 Brandon and I began a screen printing side hustle. We were sophomores in high school with large dreams of becoming the next Nicky Diamond of Diamond Supply Company, and we would let no one tell us that we couldn't do it. We were so determined at that time that we even had others beginning to believe we may be on to something however, the ever-changing tides of life have a way of persuading a person to pursue other goals. In the remaining two years of high school, we created two clothing brands, as well as a custom print shop that helped service the small community of Waldron, Arkansas. Our time in school was ending, and so was our business relationship. I was going to college and he was going to a trade school. Two inseparable people going their own way. We had made small plans to continue one of our clothing brands, but these plans never came to fruition, and our small business was a thing of the past.

     That was until 2020 when I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Data Analytics from Arkansas Tech University. This degree boasted an almost guaranteed job with an above-average wage that would make any recent graduate thrilled. I was making plans to move to my new dream city of Fayetteville, Arkansas, that I had recently become obsessed with during my five-year tenure at the University. Life had other plans that year. The year 2020 had to be the worst year to be graduating from college and searching for a job in a job market that had been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was still one thing that was certain at that time, and that was my 6-color 2-station silver Lawson Screen press that was sitting in my Aunt Ruby's house. It had gotten the dust knocked off of it from time to time when I would go home some weekend to print the odd job for my father's business. It had been a long time since I had tried to do anything with the small business my friend and I had created five years ago in High School. One thing about it was that nobody else was hiring, but my screen press was still spinning. I was reopening my screen printing business Paw Prints.

     My Aunt Ruby's house had been perfect for our small sweatshop operation that we ran in high school. If I were going to do my printing business as my career then I needed to do it right, which meant I needed a store on Historic Main Street. The street had been a relic of the past for my entire childhood, with many of the stores that had made the street alive having long since gone out of business, but there was new life sprouting on the street. The Day family was keeping what is now the oldest movie theater that is still in operation in Arkansas alive, and the Tull family had opened what is now an absolute staple in the town  Atlas Coffee. The Rock Cafe was still open, and we even had a few places to shop on the street! After the devastating departure of Walmart from the town the street had a small renaissance. I was fortunate to stake my claim on the street and purchase the old Parsley Five and Dime store from Rick down the street. The store had seen its better days since it had been called an institution in the town, it had since passed through the hands of a few owners, and had eventually fallen into mine. Its reputation was not lost throughout the years, however, with several of the older locals always making mention of the nostalgic times they had in the shop. With a lot of help from my father, mother, Todd, Paul, and my wife we had begun restoring the once famous building to its former glory. We were able to expose some of the brick wall that was hiding behind some now soggy plaster to help show some of the old bones of the building. We were also able to keep the original tin ceiling inside, along with the caps from the first generation wiring that was installed in the building before there was such a need for the electrical needs we have now. After what felt like years (it was seven months) we had the building back in tip-top condition. Paw Prints was ready to open its doors, and with my newly acquired knowledge, I was going to take the screen printing world by storm.

     I came to find out that just because I had a business data analytics degree did not mean that I knew anything about the business I was going all in on. I spent the next 4 years spinning my wheels just trying to find footing in the ever-changing apparel decorating business. The victories were few, and the losses felt devastating. I no longer possessed the drive I once had in high school that catapulted my side hustle. I had no vision for the shop that I had put my young career on the line for. What was worst of all was that I had stopped creating. I realized that there had to be a change, and I had to find inspiration. Many of the nights of the next few months were spent praying and pondering on what my solution would be. The town was excellent in backing my business, but in its current condition, I would not be able to keep the doors open and be able to sustain my family in the future. There was no why in my business besides it paid the bills. I wanted my business to be different than the dime-a-dozen screen printing shops that you can find spread out across the country. During this time of pondering, I also experienced a spiritual rebirth and dedicated my life to Jesus Christ. The combination of my pondering and my spiritual walk led me to my answer. Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ". How can I do my best work and have it reflect my faith? Then I received another answer, which was my inspiration. It turns out that inspiration was all around me. I was even living in it! The history of this my building, and my nostalgia for the good times my friend and I had at my Aunt Ruby's house gave me the inspiration I had been looking for. I wanted to give back to this community the history of this building that has been shared with me throughout the years, and also allow a new generation to experience the Parsley Store that so many people hold dear, but how did I fit into the Parsley Store story? 

     This is why I landed on Parsley and Ruby which nod to times of the past and promise times for the future. I hope that in the future I can supply you and your family with memories that will last for years, and I thank you for spending your time learning why this is so special to me.