One of the worst parts of being in high school is the lack of job opportunity. The Trinity gentlemen at Mahalo Clothes have found an alternate way to make money without having to clean toilets in a fast-food joint.

Mahalo is a clothing business that focuses on apparel for the skating and hip-hop community. Trinity seniors Chris Trombley, Justin Crabtree and Joey Bohn own the company.

Their business officially began during the summer before senior year; however, they had been preparing for the business  since sophomore year.

One of Trombley’s inspirations was the world around him. He said, “I believe we all have the talent to do great things. I look at other companies and I see a lot of greed. I want to make money, but I also want to help people at the same time.”

Mahalo’s creative process roots back to the name of their company. Mahalo means “thank you” in Hawaiian, and they try to incorporate Hawaii in their design as much as they can.

Crabtree, one of the designers of the shirts along with Bohn, tries to associate much of his designs with nature. Crabtree said, “We want to promote the environment.”

Once they have a design chosen, Crabtree goes into Photoshop to edit a small sketch Bohn has constructed. Crabtree then talks with the manufacturer and the clothing is made.

Their are many challenges a small business must overcome, and Mahalo is taking these problems head on. One of these challenges is marketing.

The trio use a tactic called “guerrilla marketing.” This means they focus on word of mouth, and Bohn takes the pictures himself in order save funds. He is also in charge of the company’s social media sites, which help connect to consumers.

Mahalo is quickly branching beyond the Louisville area. They have already spread into six different states and have recently been to the Chicago area to discuss getting their name out.

During their visit, they shot a skateboarding video. Soon they will sponsor a skate tournament just outside of Cincinnati.  This was a huge step for Mahalo because this is the first event they have sponsored.  

Bohn explained the importance of this: “Athletes and musicians are big on their fashion, and they are our target market.”

Mahalo has advice for other founders of small businesses. Despite the stress of starting a company, Trombley advises others to stay dedicated and to persevere through the tough times. He said, “Don’t give up. It’s a lot of work.”  

Mahalo is optimistic about the future. Crabtree hopes to get involved with the West Coast soon as well as other “tropical”  locations like Florida and the beaches of North Carolina.

Do not be surprised if one day you see Mahalo become one of the dominant players in the clothing business.