Since opening in late February, the shop has had its share of customers, but when a local community group, who had made contact with team Barbados, came in to ask for some t-shirts in Barbados colours, Robertson kindly offered her expertise. The result was ‘Glasbados’.
This soon became popular with the team themselves, who have ordered 200 more for the closing ceremony, and once again Robertson agreed.
Rather than other teams asking for t-shirts, individuals asked for specific shirts that either represent their own country or show how they have embraced Scotland. On the back of the Glasbados shirts, there is a thistle representing Scotland.
Being close to Hampden has made access to her shop restricted, but that hasn’t dimmed her mood towards the Games at all. On the contrary, she has enjoyed every single minute of it, especially the opening ceremony. She doesn’t know if she will go to the closing one in person yet, or if she’ll enjoy it at home.
The most popular shirts in the shops are the ‘Aye’ shirts, the ‘Naw’ shirts and the ‘Mibbie’ shirts dedicated to the independence referendum in September.
“We have some families who are split right down the middle, and they have an ‘Aye’ and a ‘Naw’. And I think it’ll be interesting around their dinner table in the evenings,” Kim said.
“They’re very popular, as are some of the Glasgow banter ones.”
Most of Kim's customers are people requesting special birthday t-shirts or shirts for special occasions. Some even ask for a slogan on a shirt, or something more personal that makes little sense to others. Her customers go there for something different - and different is what she excels in.
The weirdest shirts that have been requested are usually ones for stag nights and hen nights - t-shirts, she says, which tend to "raise an eyebrow".
In recent months, the Tee Bar has become more popular due to the warmer climate in Scotland.
Kim said: “So, as the weather has been getting better, and people have been getting out and enjoying the sunshine, they’ve been coming in more and more often. And then they come back - so they come in and know that we can turn things around quickly for them, and if they have an event or a birthday, or they’re just looking for something a wee bit different, they’ll come back.”
Her favourite top is the shop is ‘Too Dumb for New York, Too Ugly for L.A.’ and a shirt that ladies can relate with saying ‘More Issues than Vogue’. She likes what she calls “ironic, sort of funny, catchy kind of t-shirts”.
With hopes to grow her business exponentially based on things such as word of mouth and big organisations - like the Barbados team - purchasing from her, Kim hopes to branch out to other communities and groups.
Kim used to be a journalist for The Herald, and has interviewed people like Chris Hoy and Andy Murray. The decision to open her own t-shirt shop was inspired by her nephew. The first shirt she made was for him - a top with his name, Lawrence, on it.
The Tee Bar may not be the biggest store, but the shop has some of the most unique t-shirts on the market. If you’re looking for original and quirky then The Tee Bar is the shop for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment