C of Dead Clothing Co. is reviving Calgary brands that have gone the way of the dinosaurs. We spoke with the owners of the company to find out why these extinct brands deserve a second run.
What is your business called and what does it do?
C OF DEAD CLOTHING CO. is reviving your favourite DEAD sports franchises from a simpler time. A time when the Calgary tower rose above the city, when the Saddledome and those c-train cars were new. A time of Electric Avenue, Ralph Klein and the ’88 Olympics. The best part? You get all the nostalgia, without the 80s style.
C of Dead was created to honour the city and remember the landmarks, sports teams and businesses of the past that made Calgary one of the best cities in the world.
What made you want to do this work?
Jonathan Anderson and Garrett Crump were looking for Calgary Cannons and Calgary 88’s merchandise. The internet provided very few options so we decided to go down a wormhole of looking to acquire trademarks. From there we brought on Ryan Williamson to create the artwork and eventually cofdead.ca was born. We started with 25 shirts and hats and now offer over 65 different products!
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
Calgary has so many unique facets of our history but no real way of honouring them. We wanted to create an apparel brand that honoured our past and celebrated the city. People from Calgary are a special breed, everyone has a story connected to this place. We felt it was important to give residents the opportunity to share their stories.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our clientele is anyone with roots in Calgary, we’ve done kids clothes and adults apparel. Anyone who has roots in Calgary can associate with our brand. We’ve been very fortunate to get support from a number of influential individuals including, Mike Soroka – Atlanta Braves, Alex Singleton, Philadelphia Eagles, Corey Mace – Calgary Stampeders, Bret Hart – WWE legend, TJ Wilson – WWE, Andrew Phung – Netflix/CBC, Terry Cahill – Fubar.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We’re strictly online through www.cofdead.ca, we offer a pop-up location every Saturday at Dandy Brewing Company as well. We have done a number of collaborations with individuals and businesses including, Andrew Phung, Terry Cahill, The Calgary Zoo and Dandy Brewing Co.
Where in Calgary can we find your profession?
We’re online at www.cofdead.ca but our merchandise is sold at the Calgary Zoo and Dandy Brewing Company. Customers that place online orders and want to avoid shipping can select a free pick up option and pick up their order every Saturday at www.cofdead.ca
Although we ship all over the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Q: What makes our apparel worth buying?
A: The quality! Our stuff is made from the highest quality and is very comfy. A lot of tee shirt companies offer baggy or boxy clothing. Ours is very fitted, comfortable and durable. We try to offer products that you can wear year-round and in a number of different settings.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is getting to connect with so many people passionate about the city of Calgary. It’s awesome to hear everyone’s stories related to the products we sell. The challenge is providing a service that requires shipping. Postage across Canada can be very expensive.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
We LOVE Dandy Brewing Company, they were our first collaboration tee shirt and the finished product is something we are very proud of. We’re extremely grateful for the relationship we have with them, and that they allow us to offer a pop up shop at their address every Saturday.
