E085: Just Stand, With Tyler Merritt of Nine Line Apparel

Tyler Merritt is the guy who knows nothing about apparel but managed to build a wildly successful apparel company. “It was so easy being in the military!” laughs Tyler Merritt the founder of Nine Line Apparel. He misses the simplicity of the uniform and never having to pick his own wardrobe. With its convenient camouflage, his uniform was perfect not only for military service but for parenting. Runny noses, skinned knees, spilled drinks – any of the above could be absorbed with a hug and a wipe of that uniform. Now that he’s a civilian, Tyler’s wife – a nurse and a bikini fitness model – often catches him on his way out the door. “No, that’s bad. Go back and fix yourself,” she’ll say. And he does. So, how does a guy that so apparel-challenged lead an apparel company to such huge success? With a sharp understanding of leadership, a love for the technology and back-end systems, an outstanding team, and a lot of grit.