#48: Jake Hounshell - From $750 in Vintage Hats to Shells Vintage

<p>Jake Hounshell is the founder of Shells Vintage Hat Co., a Charlotte-based business selling vintage sports hats and original, ’90s-inspired designs. A Raleigh native and University of South Carolina graduate, Jake started buying hats to resell with $750 of graduation money in 2019. He later created his own State Snaps and city designs, leaving his sales job in 2021 to run the business full-time.</p><p></p><p>I’ve followed Jake’s work since college, so it was fun to finally hear how it all came together. We talk about developing an eye for vintage, learning to manufacture his own designs, and getting hats into the hands of professional athletes. </p><p></p><p>Subscribe to Longfire for more stories worth gathering around.</p><h2>Show links</h2><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@longfireco" target="_blank">Watch Longfire on YouTube</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/longfire/id1851467002" target="_blank">Listen on Apple Podcasts</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/longfireco/" target="_blank">Follow Longfire on Instagram</a></li></ul><h2>Guest links</h2><p>Use code <b>SHOUTOUTSHELLS21</b> for <b>15% off your first order</b> at Shells Vintage.</p><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://shellsvintage.com/" target="_blank">Shop Shells Vintage Hat Co.</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/shellsvintagehatco/" target="_blank">Follow Shells Vintage on Instagram</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/shellsvintagehatco/" target="_blank">Follow Shells Vintage on Facebook</a></li></ul><h2>Chapters</h2><ul><li><i>00:00</i> A Hundred Hats and One He’ll Never Sell</li><li><i>07:16</i> Starting Shells Vintage with $750</li><li><i>11:07</i> State Snaps and the Leap to Full-Time</li><li><i>16:08</i> Learning Design and Manufacturing from Scratch</li><li><i>18:19</i> Expensive Mistakes with Ads and Inventory</li><li><i>20:05</i> Warehousing, a First Hire, and a Cash Crunch</li><li><i>22:35</i> What Makes a Vintage Hat Worth Buying</li><li><i>25:22</i> A Day Running Shells Vintage</li><li><i>27:37</i> Getting His Hats onto Professional Athletes</li><li><i>30:26</i> New Designs and Wh