so I think this is the end...

defstarsteve - 9-16-2008 at 04:28 PM

after 6 years I think it's time to shut down the ole def-star and move on...

sales have been stable where they are but we are just out of operating capitol,
and since no one on this planet will lend us a dime...
fuck it...

I am tired of the 16 hour work days 7 days a week
I started this business with 40 dollars...
and I don't even have that...

basically over the last 6 years I have seen friends go to school and graduate with law degrees,

I have nothing but missed time with my kids
sore arms and back
giving up on music to do this shit
and a debt to the government for about 50 large.... (don't ask)

so now I have no job, and soon will have no money
what's a bum to do these days in one of the most expensive cities in north america...

anyone really good at making resumes

and for those of you with orders in, they will be done, I just don't think there will be any new ones taken.

Discipline - 9-16-2008 at 04:47 PM

Shitty to hear that after all the hard work you've put into the business. Any idea what you want to do next?

Lucabrasi - 9-16-2008 at 04:49 PM

fuck dude, that sucks! I had a friend who was wondering if he could get a quote from you on printing up 50 shirts of my smoking kills but so do I design.

On a positive note I do have skills in writing a resume so if you need help im more then willing to lend a hand.

CR83 - 9-16-2008 at 05:03 PM

Steve, you have my e-mail. I run a staffing agency. Send me a rough draft of your resume. I'll help.

Also, I just got me a fresh new Leeway T-Shirt from a Friend for my birthday. It is perfect!

bombidol - 9-16-2008 at 05:03 PM

Oh man, thats fucking shit.

bombidol - 9-16-2008 at 05:40 PM

I hope the few dollars we threw your waylast week for the 20BE shirts helps a little man. Let us know if you are 100% closing up shop as I might have a few more jobs in a few weeks too.

JawnDiablo - 9-16-2008 at 06:00 PM

that blows.
sorry to hear it got to this Steve.
You seem like one of the last honest / loyal dudes in the business.

morgan - 9-16-2008 at 06:55 PM

Sorry to hear. That sucks.

XHonusWagnerX - 9-16-2008 at 06:56 PM

man... I think I might be more bummed about this than you. :sniff:

Dave - 9-16-2008 at 07:02 PM

i'm sorry to hear about this steve

defstarsteve - 9-16-2008 at 07:29 PM

thanks dudes...
I swear this is the worst fucking year...
and the last week has been fucking amazing...

tireironsaint - 9-16-2008 at 07:39 PM

Fuckin' hell man, I know how hard you've worked to make this thing work and I'm sorry it's become a burden to you. I wish there was some way I could make everybody realize what great work you do and what an amazing deal you offer, but people stick with overpriced, shitty quality companies because of who they know or some other bullshit. If there's anything I can do to help out in some way, please let me know. And if you truly do close up shop, I wish you the very best of luck in whatever you choose to do and again offer any help I can. You're one of the most stand up guys I know and I am here to support you however I can.

Spoiler - 9-16-2008 at 07:43 PM

shit man,sorry to hear this.

starting up a business on your own and making it last 6 years is a real acheivment though...you should be proud of that.

Voodoobillyman - 9-16-2008 at 08:35 PM

damn Steve.................theres always the Army!!!!! :smilegrin:

I'm sure you'll come out of this fine, you got a good head on your shoulders bro. If theres anything I can do for you just let me know.

defstarsteve - 9-16-2008 at 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Voodoobillyman
damn Steve.................theres always the Army!!!!! :smilegrin:

I'm sure you'll come out of this fine, you got a good head on your shoulders bro. If theres anything I can do for you just let me know.

i was in the army in 90-91

defstarsteve - 9-16-2008 at 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spoiler
shit man,sorry to hear this.

starting up a business on your own and making it last 6 years is a real acheivment though...you should be proud of that.

pride wont get me a job...
try putting that on a resume, and you know what that get's you

minimum wage fry cook...

defstarsteve - 9-16-2008 at 09:09 PM

There are a limited number of things that can be done to save this sinking ship…
1) I need someone filling new my website with product…
2) I need people filling email accounts with spam to the new site
3) I need about 3-5 thousand dollars in sales in the next 72 hours

The website stuff is pretty damn easy to do, I just don’t have time to handle it along with my other day to day duties…

I need the site done before we can really start hitting advertising…

Once the advertising is done the jobs should roll in…

We normally do about $2000 in sales a day, so getting in the orders shouldn’t be that horrible.

But I haven’t even had so much as a new nibble in the last week and a half…
So I’m down almost $15,000 in sales so far this month
Very scary…

Unless the entire economic system fails in the next few days I can maybe make it work with some help, but I have no money to hire anyone...

If there were new jobs of some kind of substance I could try to keep it running but at this point I am just so tired of shitty customers and all the stress...

I just need the us to get some kind of healthcare system so I can take a nice break for a while

joemaconmovies - 9-16-2008 at 09:39 PM

i'm sorry to hear about all this, steve. you've done some real good fucking work and i honestly wish you the best of luck with whatever you do in the future. good luck man.

DaveMoral - 9-16-2008 at 09:52 PM

Damn Steve, sorry to hear. Too bad you can't get a loan, you should go through with you're french fries and fixin's idea. That'd be a hit anywhere and everywhere.

XHonusWagnerX - 9-16-2008 at 10:03 PM

Steve shoot me an email with what I can do.

I know awhile back I was going to do some stuff on Myspace for you and I didnt get to do it, but Ill do whatever I can!!

defstarsteve - 9-16-2008 at 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveMoral
Damn Steve, sorry to hear. Too bad you can't get a loan, you should go through with you're french fries and fixin's idea. That'd be a hit anywhere and everywhere.

I can't get a loan for $10.00 let alone anything more...
my ex-wife took care of me every having credit again...
and everything is in my wifes name but shi is over extened with the house and car and every other damn bill...

thanks guys, I'll let you know what happens

clevohardcore - 9-16-2008 at 11:12 PM

Steve I am really sorry to hear of this shit. Shits hard enough on your own struggling to but to see a brother struggle just makes the weight that much more painful. I really hope tings pick up or you find exactly what you need to make things better for you. I'm broke as fuck, but I'll be placing a order. It might not be much, but it will be something.

newbreedbrian - 9-16-2008 at 11:17 PM

really sorry to hear steve, it's obvious how hard you've worked to make shit happen for you and your family. as much as i only "know" you on the internet, you seem like a solid standup guy and i truly wish you the best in whatever you choose to do.

random - 9-17-2008 at 12:39 AM

Hope everything works out, but things aren't looking good. If it's any consolation, I'm sure the Thorp board will come together for one last run of shirts... sort of a bittersweet farewell, I guess. Maybe a Thorp Warriors shirt with a print of the Death Star being destroyed.

As for a serious recommendation, have you thought about going for an MBA? Given Army experience and running your own business for several years from $40 to expanding to both coasts and printing for the movie industy, you should have a real shot at serious programs. I have no idea if you have previous college like a BA or anything, but if so, it's something you should really consider. I'm happy to toss out whatever advice I can... send a u2u if interested.

defstarsteve - 9-17-2008 at 12:48 AM

dude thanks
I have a whole half of a semseter oc community college under my belt...
yeah that will take me far..
I'd love to go to school..
but I have a daughter starting college in 4 years, debts and bills up to my ass, and need to work full time.
there is no way I am getting to back to school wihtin the next 8 years...

random - 9-17-2008 at 01:12 AM

steve, check your u2u's.

bombidol - 9-17-2008 at 04:21 AM

Whats the address for the new site Steve? Also, I'm mailing you today about some shit.

XnMeX - 9-17-2008 at 06:20 AM

I don't even know what to say... I wish the best for you in whatever you do.

MikeFromInhuman - 9-17-2008 at 10:00 AM

ORDER SOME SHIRTS FROM STEVE DAMMIT!!!!!

ShawnRefuse - 9-17-2008 at 11:25 AM

hey man, put up a donation thing in PayPal you have enough friends that will donate. Especially if everyone puts it on myspace.

I can help you with your web site if you need it. I would rather not lose such a great resource.

bombidol - 9-17-2008 at 12:00 PM

Shawn your avatar looks disturbingly like you.

XHonusWagnerX - 9-17-2008 at 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeFromInhuman
ORDER SOME SHIRTS FROM STEVE DAMMIT!!!!!

ordered

ShawnRefuse - 9-17-2008 at 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bombidol
Shawn your avatar looks disturbingly like you.

I know. I love it hahahaha. A lot of people have said that.

Six66Mike - 9-17-2008 at 04:22 PM

Been posting Def Star on Myspace and a couple music sites to try & get some business.

DAK - 9-17-2008 at 05:33 PM

Sorry to hear this Steve.

Siczine.com - 9-17-2008 at 05:44 PM

Sadly its always the good things that end.

defstarsteve - 9-26-2008 at 03:40 AM

good news is I got in a bunch or orders.....so all is good this week...
but I'm behind in production so it's very stressful right now
my 16 hour work days have become 20 hours days...

so do I want to keep living with the stress?
will there be a U.S. economy next week?
who shot J.R.?
is printing for next to nothing worth my sanity and my health?

XHonusWagnerX - 9-26-2008 at 07:46 AM

awesome news..... I was finally able to print out those instructions you sent me so I can try to figure them out and do some work.

I also want to order the Last Rights shirts that I've been talking about forever so Ill try to get that design done and ordered!

panzerkreuzer - 9-26-2008 at 07:59 AM

@ honus or steve. if you really realize your last rights project, could you make a hoodie of the design for me. i´ll pay all extra costs, but i don´t want only shirts. winter is coming

tireironsaint - 9-26-2008 at 08:24 PM

I'm definitely down for a Last Rights shirt or hoodie. Josh or Steve, please let me know how I can get in on this shit. I may have one or two other folks out here interested too.

XHonusWagnerX - 9-26-2008 at 08:52 PM

I have a design all set, but last time I posted it lots of people were not into the back print and I really like it.

front: Last Rights in olde english with boston under it.

back: Coca-Cola (in the coke logo) with 'we dont drink no booze' under it.

panzerkreuzer - 9-26-2008 at 09:14 PM

you know, i buy everything into slapshot and connected bands.

i´m into the shirt, but it must have NO WAY! as last words.

tireironsaint - 9-26-2008 at 09:57 PM

I'd still be down for it, I just don't think that quote is the best for a shirt. If it has to be that line, I'd shift it over by two words leaving out Coca Cola and adding the NO WAY at the end as Panzerkreuzer suggested. Honestly, I don't wanna look like an ad for Coke but my desire to have a Last Rights shirt outweighs that, so I'd get one anyway.

Discipline - 9-26-2008 at 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tireironsaint
I'd still be down for it, I just don't think that quote is the best for a shirt. If it has to be that line, I'd shift it over by two words leaving out Coca Cola and adding the NO WAY at the end as Panzerkreuzer suggested. Honestly, I don't wanna look like an ad for Coke but my desire to have a Last Rights shirt outweighs that, so I'd get one anyway.

XnMeX - 9-26-2008 at 11:32 PM

I'll be placing a shirt order soon.

XHonusWagnerX - 9-27-2008 at 08:40 AM

Quote:

maybe Ill do a few with the back print (because I really like it with the Coca-Cola) and a few with no back print.

tireironsaint - 9-27-2008 at 08:41 AM

Sounds good to me!