Can't get enough of Joe Flacco? Where I'm From clothing company partnering with Browns QB

Peter Holland Jr., Canton Repository
A look at some of the Joe Flacco apparel being sold by Where I'm From, an Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.
A look at some of the Joe Flacco apparel being sold by Where I'm From, an Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.

Cleveland Browns fans can't get enough of Joe Flacco.

He has been a hot name since taking over as the starting quarterback and helping the team reach the NFL playoffs for only the third time in more than two decades.

As the team prepares for its AFC wild card game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind of Where I'm From — a Columbus-based apparel company — are reaping the benefits of Flacco-mania.

Their company struck gold when it agreed to partner with the beloved quarterback on a clothing deal. And in the last 10 days, with Flacco fever increasing, they began selling their Flacco apparel, including T-shirts and sweatshirts with sayings such as "Flacco fan since '23."

“It has been a pretty fun and interesting ride and a lot of it has ties and connections to Canton and the Northeast Ohio area,” Napier said.

Browns quarterback Joe Flacco runs out onto the field prior to a game against the Chicago Bears last month in Cleveland.
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco runs out onto the field prior to a game against the Chicago Bears last month in Cleveland.
A Where I'm From model wears a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.
A Where I'm From model wears a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.

More: Joe Flacco personifies a Cleveland Browns team that has stayed ready all season

Napier and VanderLind are the co-founders of Where I'm From, and have been in the apparel business for 10 years. Throughout the decade, they have built their business from the ground up and have worked with high-profile athletes, especially NFL quarterbacks.

Before working with Flacco, the company partnered with former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who now plays for the Buccaneers. They also work with Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow. Other notable pro athletes include NBA guard Collin Sexton (a former Cavalier) and NHL defenseman Seth Jones (a former Blue Jacket).

How do they pull that off? Simply dial some numbers from mutual connections. That's how they were able to talk to Jenna Raglani, CEO/Owner of Vibrancy21 and Flacco’s marketing agent.

“We just started talking to her ... and gave her all the background on us and what we were all thinking for Joe and the potential collection, and she was just super nice and she was really open to the idea,” Napier said. “When she ran it by Joe, she gave the thumbs up and we were off the races. It was a sprint to get done, obviously, we have a short window and hopefully, the Browns can make a nice, long playoff run and we get some selling runway.”

A display of Joe Flacco apparel being solid by Where I'm From, an Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.
A display of Joe Flacco apparel being solid by Where I'm From, an Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.

During the meeting with Flacco's representatives, the Where I'm From team used the home-field advantage approach. It is rooted in Northeast Ohio where it operates seven regional stores, including ones at the Belden Village Mall in Jackson Township and Summit Mall in Fairlawn. They also mentioned the pro athletes they worked with in the past and the success they brought because of it, along with the company's extensive email lists and social media following. They followed up by stressing the quality and comfortable nature of their casual wear. All their apparel is American-based, with an in-house graphic design team.

"I was able to sell them with the local ties to Ohio, which is a genuine thing and kind of a really important thing to Ohio sports fans,” Napier said. “So that always resonates with them when it’s an Ohio athlete.

"It’s been an easy process, especially with Joe Flacco’s people. His people are fantastic to work with from start to finish.”

A youngster models a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand Where I'm From, which was co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.
A youngster models a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand Where I'm From, which was co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.

Where I'm From launched its Flacco apparel on Dec. 29, just 15 days after Flacco signed a one-year contract with the Browns. Flacco merchandise went on sale immediately on the company website and is in its the retail stores across Northeast Ohio.

Raglani was thrilled with the idea of partnering with a local brand.

"Since his arrival, Joe has truly cherished his time in Cleveland, thanks to the warm welcome and embrace from the community," she wrote in a email. "Discovering that the Where I’m From co-owners are die-hard Browns fans and longtime season ticket holders made it an easy decision for Joe to get on board for a partnership.

"Once we started working with Where I’m From, they brought over a dozen incredible designs to the table and with their successful partnerships with Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield, we had full confidence in their ability to execute, making it an exciting opportunity to capture a magical piece of Browns' history."

Where I'm From is an Ohio-based clothing brand run by co-founders and Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind. Over the last 10 years, they have built their business from the ground up. It started as a local small-business venture and became nationwide.
Where I'm From is an Ohio-based clothing brand run by co-founders and Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind. Over the last 10 years, they have built their business from the ground up. It started as a local small-business venture and became nationwide.

How two Canton natives started Where I’m From apparel

Napier and VanderLind have been in business for 10 years. At first, it was a side hustle while the two were working full-time jobs. Napier is a Central Catholic graduate, and VanderLind went to Jackson.

They promoted their clothing through their website. As it grew locally, they began to expand to shopping malls. They went to Summit Mall for their initial physical location, with a kiosk in 2015 as a starting point.

“We were just going to local markets, selling our websites and things like that,” Napier said. “We weren’t sure what to expect. We always seem to set things up in a way that we can expand and make it a full-time gig for us.”

As the business kept growing, so has its expansion to the point that Where I'm From became statewide with 70 total stores. The one in the Belden Village Mall has been their most successful store, according to Napier, and has been around for the last eight years.

A Where I'm From model wears a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.
A Where I'm From model wears a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.

Napier and VanderLind began doing retail partnerships with other companies such as Dick's Sporting Goods, DSW and Rally House. As a result, Where I'm From is part of 600 different stores around the country.

Stay ready during Browns playoff run

Like Flacco and the rest of the Browns, VanderLind and Napier are week-to-week with their operation. As longtime Browns fans, they hope Cleveland makes a deep run into the playoffs, which could be beneficial with their Flacco clothing.

“The team is extremely positive, and if Joe Flacco can keep playing like he’s playing in the last five games, there’s no reason that we can’t make a run and compete for the whole thing,” Napier said.

A Where I'm From model wears a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.
A Where I'm From model wears a Joe Flacco shirt being sold by the Ohio-based clothing brand co-founded by Canton natives Ryan Napier and Andrew VanderLind.

Business-wise, it’s a bit more strategic and keeping their expectations to a bare minimum, including on Saturday when the Browns play the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m.

That means restocking and staying connected with their retail partners. Their experience with making Burrow’s apparel during the Bengals' Super Bowl run two years ago will come into play if the Browns make it to the Super Bowl. With high hopes, Napier and VanderLind are living in the moment as they continue to elevate their brand.

“So (we're) really tapping into this cool moment in Browns and Northeast Ohio sports history,” Napier said. “Hopefully, the ride continues beyond this weekend and we will be prepared to be there with awesome apparel to help celebrate this moment as long as it lasts.”

More: Dustin Hopkins unlikely to kick for Cleveland Browns in AFC Wild Card game at Texans

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Browns QB Joe Flacco agrees to partnership with Where I'm From

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