Inspiring Conversations with Seth Schafer of Sethan Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Seth Schafer

Hi Seth, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 13 Years old I started my own lawn business. I went door to door, and slowly gained new clients. I hired all my friends and grew my company. It was a just a taste of entrepreneurship and I loved it. I was a troubled teenager that managed to get into college, in hopes of one day become a history teacher. During the 62 days of being there, I immediately found myself in more trouble and was promptly expelled.

With all my options exhausted, I started working on myself and changing my life. I got job at an Italian restaurant where I was waiting tables. I ended up managing the restaurant and cooking when needed. I was working 80 hours a week and was completely depleted. My father started a custom clothing company in 2010, and I decided to join him in 2013. I finally found something that I really enjoyed and was actually having success in. The learning curve was steep, but I really enjoyed making people wearable art. At that time I started saving money to buy a house and plant my roots, so to speak. Everything changed when I visited California with my bestfriends. I was enamored with this place and the opportunities here. My father and I worked together for 5 years .

In 2018 I made the hard deiced to move to Santa Monica to start my own custom clothing business. I was 24 years old and took the biggest risk I have ever taken. Every dollar that I saved for a home, I poured into growing my business. I never forgot how much I enjoyed owning my own company, and now I do, and love it every day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d love to say “everything was beautiful and nothing hurt” but unfortunately it was a tough transition. This has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I knew no one in California when I arrived except for my friend that I brought with me. I quickly learned that where you live and where you work should be as close as possible. I then learned that money burns 5x as fast here than Baltimore. My entire life savings was gone in a matter of months. I was struggling to get new customers and if you typed in Google “custom suits near me” and you were standing in my store… I was the 51st listing behind a Target and a Jewelry store. I can now proudly say that I am #1 now!

With all of my money dwindling, I started driving lyft to try to make ends meet. I would work from 7am to 8pm, and then drive lift from 8pm – Midnight. I was working all the time and nothing was working, I was cold calling 200 attorneys and getting not a single “yes”. I ended up going to the Emmys and Grammys by sneaking in, in hopes of meeting people that would be interested in my suits. I was trying everything and I just couldn’t seem to catch a break. After 10 months of being here, I had no money and no foreseeable way to make any. On February 22nd 2019 I started looking for jobs and made a resumé. My birthday is on March 1st, the same day that would be 30 days before my lease would be up. So I had to make a decision of if I was going to have to tell my landlord I need to close down my store. At this point I had 300$ to my name, my rent is coming up for my home and my business. I thanked God for the opportunity to own a business and expressed extreme gratitude . I came to the realization that I am extremely lucky to have the experience to try to achieve a dream, even if it it didn’t come true. I accepted that, I have to close down my store.

Well… In the next 6 days I sold more clothing that I did in 3 months. All of the work that I was doing decided to blossom when I needed it. The following months continued to grow and I was so optimistic. As i was sending out invitations to my 2 year anniversary party, Covid hit. My business was forced to shut down for 3 months and all momentum was halted. The beautiful part is, I never stopped believing and working to keep this alive. Every month the business would make just enough to stay a float. Luckily by 2022 we sold more than we did in 2019. We never stopped gowning since.

I share this next story for anyone running a business and is loosing hope.

I was in a bank in 2019 and I was waiting in line to see a teller. There was an older, short Italian gentleman in front of me, and we started to talk. I eventually asked him what he does for work, and said he was retired, He use to own a bakery down the street for 40 years. I told him about my business and shared how it was difficult. He told me ‘” I always thought this was the month I have to close, but every single time someone would come in and buy a loaf of bread.” He continued to tell me that it always works out and to keep hope.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sethan Hill?
At Sethan Hill we are dedicated to building you the perfect garment. We specialize in handcrafted suits, shirts, jackets, trousers, casual jackets, and tuxedos. We can make something for every occasion. We will always find a solution for your clothing needs. Our expert tailors go over and beyond to satisfy our clients. All of my clients become my friends. We believe in the traditional way of having a relationship with your tailor like you do your barber. In the time that a client is here, we talk about 20% of that about the suit and the rest about life and who they are. How am I supposed to make suggestions on what you need or make something that you will love without knowing who you are? The other part that really sets us apart and that we.re most proud of is the way we educate everyone on how to dress. You don’t just leave my store with a suit but with information on how to use it. I want everyone to get a good idea on how to look and feel their absolute best. This is why we created a YouTube channel to give away the information to anyone who wants to learn. If you are interested in a custom suit or just need some advice on how to start building your wardrobe, you can always give us a call.

What matters most to you?
Being of service to others. I have learned that helping other people with no expectation gives me the most amount of joy. I get to be a better person and get to feel those endorphins when I get to help. I.ve noticed that i have gotten more than I can ever imagine by giving. I want to help people look good and feel good. I get to do both for my career and I am so fortunate for that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sethanhill.com/
• Instagram: @seththetailor
• Facebook: @sethanhill
• Twitter: @seththetailor1
• Youtube: @sethanhill
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sethan-hill-santa-monica