A new Tuesday, and a new story from our most successful series, the #TshirtTuesday! This time around we’re sharing with you a really cool, cartoonish proposal: Squeaky Chimp!
Squeaky Chimp was started by Juan Carlos Cruise and Jennifer Santolla, two creatives who joined their talents (animation and web design, respectively) to create a clothing line. At a first glance, one may think that it is just another t-shirt brand that makes jokes about hangovers and phallic symbols, but after looking carefully, one realises that everything from the prints to the website layout has been curated with an attention most won’t pay.
If you like colourful and humorous designs that doesn’t go overboard, then this just might be the brand for you.
Enjoy our newest #TshirtTuesday!
Interviewing Jessica Santolla, co-founder of Squeaky Chimp
Tell us about you, what’s your name? Where are you from? What do you do?
My name is Jennifer Santolla. I’m from Pittsburgh, PA in the USA. But I live in Spain now. Can’t beat the lifestyle here. I work from home as a web designer. I also sell themes over the internet. And now I have my new project of selling tshirts & leggings.
What about your brand? What’s its name? What makes it unique?
Our brand name is Squeaky Chimp. I think we’re unique because our designs are our own creation. The brand is made by Juan Carlos Cruise & Jennifer Santolla (me).
Juan Carlos is an amazing cartoon animator.
After seeing his designs, I thought we have to pair up. About 90% of the t-shirt designs are his work. Leggings are mine and well is the building of the website. My favourite t-shirt is “suck my duck” & “the hangover”. Which are rude t-shirts without being raunchy.
And I’m a web designer and theme creator by trade.
We quality test all our t-shirts via our supplier based out of California. We’ve tested several brands and styles. We mostly use American Apparel. But we have a few Bella + Canvas as well.
I think what makes us unique is that we’re real people. Nothing we make is done via a sweatshop. For example, you can buy leggings for $2 out of China. I’ve personally bought clothing on ebay via China. The quality is always terrible and never looks like the photo. And I’m sure was sewn via sweatshop labor to keep the prices down.
We ship internationally.
If it were a person, what would he/she be like?
Do you mean if the brand was a person? It wouldn’t be a person. It would be a crazy monkey! He he. He would jump, scream, squeak, and get attention!
Simplicity is key, describe your brand in three words:
Animated, Funny and Imagination
For how long have you been selling t-shirts? Any remarkable story you learnt on the way? Any advice for beginners?
We’ve only been live since January. It’s very much a work in progress. My biggest learning curve is marketing in a very competitive market. T-shirt stores are popping up everywhere.
I do SEO for my client’s websites. Which usually isn’t too complicated. But for a clothing line, this is new to me. There are so many out there that getting to page 1 google is hard work. But we’re getting there.
Advice:
Make sure your website flows well. That customers can access the different products easily.
Find a good supplier. We like Printful. Customer service is excellent, they offer a discount on test t-shirts so you can try before you sell. And you can talk to real people.
Also, think about your designs. I see really horrible designs out there. Don’t draw pictures in word and make a t-shirt out of it. Think about the design and spend time on it!
Key question, why should people be interested in your brand?
Hopefully they’ll like our designs and want to wear them. Our designs are unique!
Are you on Social Media? Where can we find you?
Yes!
Brilliant! Nice talking to you! Before you go, let’s shoot some quick questions!
- Dogs or cats: Dogs
- Apple or PC: PC
- Football or basketball: Basketball
- Coffee or tea: Tea
- Beach or forest: Beach!
- A colour: Blue.
- A place: Fuerteventura (beaches there are incredible)
- A quote: “Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it’s wrong”. – Ron Paul
Squeaky Chimp – Featured Garments
Suck My Duck T-shirt
Bitchface T-shirt
Downhill Longboard T-shirt
Give Peas A Chance T-shirt
Monkey Ass T-shirt
Squeaky Chimp Monkey T-shirt
The Hangover T-shirt
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Printsome is a t-shirt printing agency offering t shirt printing Cardiff and caps and t shirt printing dundee, as well as everywhere else in between. For an quick quote or even some advice on clothes printing, get in touch!
