Shoppers Go Bananas For Local T-Shirt Company

Rick Waters—an Elmsford resident and the founder, owner and operator of Omunky—certainly has reason to celebrate.

Since starting his company in 2009, Omunky has gone from a hobby to a serious t-shirt business that helps to support and protect wildlife around the world. Five percent of Omunky profits go to WildAid, a non-profit that strives to end the illegal poaching and sale of animal parts, like elephant tusks.

Omunky’s website sells cotton tees with goofy animal prints—from giraffes sporting sunglasses to goats in Vaudeville attire. And in the past year, Waters’ business sold 1,000 t-shirts.

With no previous business experience, Waters credits his company’s success to excellent customer service, unique designs and engaging customers via social media.

“I do a lot of social networking, a lot of contests,” Waters said. Before sending designs to the printer, Waters will post the possible t-shirts to the Omunky Facebook and Twitter pages. When the company is torn between two designs, the Omunky fans and followers will be left to decide.

“If people feel invested in the process, they’re more likely to want to own one of the products,” Waters said.

While social media is a great way to create buzz, Waters also creates opportunities for local residents to purchase Omunky products.

At fairs downtown, people have chance to hold the shirts to gauge their fit and feel.

“Once people take that leap [of coming to the fairs], they come back,” Waters said.

Made from 100 percent ring spun cottons, the shirts are light, comfortable and grow softer as you wash them, Waters added.

Still, Waters realizes that t-shirts brands can come and go as a passing trend.

“I constantly have to better myself and my brand”, said Waters.

Recently, his dedication paid off: Waters appeared on MSNBC’s Your Business, serving as an example for small business owners on how to make a pitch.

“I had a great time, and the publicity can’t hurt,” Waters said.

So what’s in the future? Waters dreams of a storefront with a lot of employees—but he is determined not to lose the accessibility and originality that launched his company.

Waters said that the most rewarding part of owning his own business occurs on a small scale.

“Just to watch somebody take that first glance, look away then walk back again with that excited face—that’s fun,” he said.