West Broad Apparel Company

At the end of the day today we want you to look back at what happened and figure out how fast the day went by. Most days, for all of us, it feels like the day flies by like an engine through an intersection. The blink of an eye. The fact is, life is fast, and if we don't slow it down every now and then it just gets away from us.
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Along the way though, the rewards of this wonderful life find us. And that's what we want to talk about today, one of West Broad's biggest rewards. Our boy Charlie joined us a few years back in the shop. He was a champ at building our hats and to be honest, for a high schooler, he was smoking us on how many hats he could complete in an hour...and I promise he kept tabs.
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We always wondered how this kid was killing it and making more hats than anyone, yet every time we looked over at him he was spinning circles in an office chair and looked bored as hell. Fact of the matter is this....the man is just talented. Charlie has grown up right in front of us, right in front of our eyes, and it feels like it was in the blink of an eye.
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From pushing hats out of the West Broad shop and trying to help us get an Original Hose Hat on every firefighter in America, to managing our media and publishing some sick photos and videos about us and you, Charlie has developed and become an amazing talent. We are so proud of him. The fire service has helped build this guy even if he doesn't realize it. He's the great grandson, grandson, son, and nephew of firefighters.
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The fire service legacy is part of his legacy even though he's not on the job (yet). But he's landed on something he's so talented at and honestly, it's no wonder he got noticed and recruited away from us. It was in the blink of an eye, and now he's moving on....and that's okay. He's part of our family forever and we'll always appreciate the hard work, the laughs, the Charlieisms, and his genuine soul.
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We are forever grateful that we had Charlie on the team for what seemed like a moment in time and Charlie, we're always and forever in your corner. Fight hard, live well, and make sure you take the time to slow down and enjoy this life's great rewards. Always Forward, Charlie. We love you bruh.
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West Broad Apparel.

Mayor - "Chief, every time I pass by one of your firehouses during the day I see your men sitting on the front bumper of the trucks. I'm curious why they aren't at work?"
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Chief with Brass and not just on his collar - "Mayor, I don't expect you to understand because you're not a firefighter, and you're not one of my firefighters.
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The bottom line is this...those men are on the front bumper because they spend a third of their lives together.
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They help each other along the way and not just on the job. They see the best and the worst of our citizens, and they help them no matter what the cost. They trust each other with their lives.
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They need that front bumper time to laugh, to learn, to decompress, to get through the tough days of the best job in the world.
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It's their firehouse and their rigs, not yours, Mayor. And tonight when you're sleeping sound they'll be up and at it, keeping this city safe, keeping your city safe.
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I'll take it as a compliment that you noticed my men are a tight-knit group of professionals.
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Thank you for noticing, but please don't disturb them at the front bumper unless you need a good cup of coffee and some fellowship with the best humans on this planet."
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

It’s officially that time of year again.
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We don’t need the weather professionals to tell us it’s officially summer cause we’ve been sweating through our underwear in gear in 30 seconds or less for a few months already.
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Officially, welcome to summer time. Stay hydrated, enjoy your families, and let the good times roll. Keep Keeping It Real out there.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Sometimes just hanging out is what we need.
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No words. Just next to each other, in the firehouse. Be there.
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Understand the importance of being there. We're here for the fires, and we gotta be here for each other.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Our Brothers
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Charleston 9
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Louis Mulkey
Mike Benke
Melven Champaign
William Hutchinson
Rodney “Brad” Baity
James Drayton
Mark Kelsey
Michael French
Brandon Thompson

Endless Hose Hats spotted in Myrtle Beach!
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Seeing so much WB gear in one spot is such a blast...Can't wait for the next show!
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

We've been pulling up on working fires since fire was born. ⁠
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We may use different tools, better hose, faster engines, better protective gear, blah blah blah. But we are the same as our brothers before us. ⁠
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We just want to run fires. We want to run fires and get in there with it. Our gear and equipment are different, but our guts are the same.⁠
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We go together just as they went together. The most important tradition we can carry on is the tradition of us. The tradition of the firefighter. ⁠
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That crazy human that's willing to do crazy s**t with other crazy humans for others, without regard for consequence. ⁠
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We do that. We do that together. We are crazy. We are the fire service. ⁠
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Best Job in the World.⁠
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West Broad Apparel.⁠
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Keep Tradition Alive.

This morning, early….Fathers all across our beloved fire service left home, most likely before the kids were awake. They made their regular journey to the firehouse, hung their gear on the rig, and made a decision to give their kids one of the best examples of being a good human.
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Love…others
Be empathetic with…others
Be willing to help…others
Fulfill the promise to…others
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Big shout out today to the brothers from all generations and those still getting it done today. The time away from your family for the job is noticed, appreciated, and respected. Happy Father’s Day.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Team WB just wrapped up our second year at the SC Fire-Rescue conference!
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We’re truly thankful for all of your continued support and the hard earned money you spend with us to keep the dream alive!
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We can’t wait to see what’s to come! 🔥
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Day 3 photo dump 🫡
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SC Fire-Rescue conference 2024 is a wrap! What a great time it was!
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Can’t thank y’all enough for showing up for us this week! So grateful for the WB family! 🙌
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Day two at the SC Fire-Rescue conference 2024 is a wrap!
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Here’s a look into the team’s favorite moments from the day!
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Y’all blew it out of the water today! Massive shoutout for all the support! 🙌
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Photo Dump 🤙
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Day one of the SC Fire-Rescue conference 2024 is a wrap!
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Huge thanks to everyone who came out! We had a blast hanging with y’all!
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See y’all tomorrow for day two! 💪
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

About to get day one of the Fire-Rescue conference started!
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Y’all swing by the booth for tonight’s soft opening from 5:30-7:30.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

The WB Team Headed Out!
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See y’all in Myrtle Beach This Week! 🔥
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Come by the booth to grab one of these hats!

Always Coffee
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Everybody does it differently.
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One guy takes it black and wants to chew on it, one guy is 4 cream / 4 sugars, one guys is 4 ice cubes and cinnamon sugar, one guy is flavored creamer with a spoon full of coffee.
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It's not about the coffee ingredients.
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It's only about having a cup together. On the front bumper, at the kitchen table, around the coffee pot, back of the bay.
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Grab a cup, huddle up, and let the good times roll.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Cherish the Kitchen Table
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Figuring it out is what we do. We fix, we repair, we heal, we save, we comfort, we share, we do it all.
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The kitchen table is ours, it is for us.
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It's where we hotwash the last one over a cup, it's where our family dines together, it's where we admit we're human, it's where we listen to the stories (lessons), it's where we laugh and cry,
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it's where everything is okay. Feel like your firehouse needs a therapy dog?
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That's where the kitchen table comes in. Grab a cup or a plate, take a seat, be a part, listen, learn, cherish.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

A recent custom LOGO Hose Hat we made for Fireproof Wellness!
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If you're interested in having a Custom LOGO Hose Hat made reach out to JOE at [email protected]
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Earn Your Spot.
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When a rookie gets assigned, it's vital we take ownership in their path. Just because someone may have previous experience, or they've graduated academy, or have some reps behind them does not give us the right to welcome them to the house and say "Good Luck."
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If this is truly the Best Job in the World, and it is, we have to show them why.
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The "why" is the rewards we are blessed with every single day. Rewards born out of doing the work and doing it together. No matter our tenure on the job, we're earning our spot until we retire and even after.
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It's on us to teach them how to Earn Their Spot. It is not free, it is not easy. It is hard work, it is a true test of a man and not just for one day but all days, it is the best reward.
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Love the Job. Teach others why you love the Job. Let them know not only is it a privilege, but our responsibility to earn it everyday and continue to expect the same from each other.
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Best friggin Job in the world!
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Post up on the front bumper with a cup and watch the world unfold in front us.
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It’s where the stories are told and the good times are remembered.
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It’s where the rooks listen and learn. It’s where we listen and learn.
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Post up and plant it on the front bumper diamond plate.
Listen. Learn. Enjoy the ride.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.

Honor the Brotherhood.⁠
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We are part of something bigger than ourselves.⁠
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It requires love for one another, and empathy, and it requires grit in our gut and has for every firefighter before us.⁠
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Honor one another. Do the good work and do it together.⁠
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West Broad Apparel.⁠
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Keep Tradition Alive.⁠
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NOW OFFERING HOSE HATS WITH LOGO CUSTOMIZATION! 🔥⁠
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We couldn't be more excited to share our newest project with y'all! ⁠
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Hose Hats, customized with your logo!! ⁠
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If you're interested Reach out to Joe by phone or email! ⬇️ ⁠
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- +1 (864) 630-1950⁠
- [email protected]⁠
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It’s easy to get caught up in today’s events in the firehouse, good or bad.⁠
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It’s hard to know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been.⁠
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Learn the history of where you’re at and thank the old white headed senior that’s still gettin it done on the job.⁠
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Put the work in today and remember, the work we do is often our greatest reward.⁠
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Take someone along for the journey. We are better together, learning together, doing the work together.⁠
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West Broad Apparel.⁠
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Keep Tradition Alive.⁠
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Our values mean something to us. We’re not just putting words in a post or saying this is us.⁠
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We believe them because we believe in all the best truths and experiences our fire service offers.⁠
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We believe them because they’ve molded us as firefighters, given us space to grow and learn, and given us the opportunity to do the best job around some of the best humans on the planet.⁠
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Our Values ⬇️⁠
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- Honor the past - Improve the present - Pass it on. ⁠
- Honor the brotherhood.⁠
- Respect the front bumper. ⁠
- Always Coffee.⁠
- Cherish the kitchen table.⁠
- Earn your spot. ⁠
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West Broad Apparel - Keep Tradition Alive.⁠ ⁠
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Welcome back to the team Joe!!

We asked Joe to tell us about himself so everyone could get to know him! ⬇️

Best Job in the World!

A very small percentage of us get the opportunity to hang our gear on the rig and go to work. Not only was I blessed to be a part of the job for over 20 years, but I was equally blessed to meet Russell, West Broad Apparel’s founder and CEO early in the company’s journey. I partnered with him and it’s been an honor to be along for the ride. I took a break when I retired but I'm back in the game, mainly because I simply just miss being around firefighters and I love what we do. That being said, you may see more of my ugly face around because not only do Russell, me, and the team believe in what we’re doing, we believe in you and we feel like you deserve to see us grow and witness our journey as we support the fire service.

I’m trying to be the biggest part I can in raising my daughter Mack alongside my superhuman wife, and I’m excited about being the biggest part of our mission at West Broad Apparel. We are about firefighters, because we are firefighters. You deserve good products and we’re going to give them to you. It’s important to rep your rig, your crew, your house, your organization. We get it and we love it because we feel the same way. You do important things in the firehouse and in the street, and we’re here to get your back.

I’m excited to be in firehouses, talk about the job, see what you have going on, hear your stories, and help you however I can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and let’s talk. Whether you just want to talk about the job, you’re having a s**t day, or if you want to discuss what we offer at West Broad, please reach out.

We love our legacy product, our “Original Hose Hat,” and we offer other services that I can help you with. Screen printing services, bulk orders, and we have a great initiative starting soon that will allow us to host your department and station shirts on our site to save you the headaches of logistics. Reach out and let’s start the conversation.

- [email protected]
- 8646301950

Keep keepin it real out there and thanks for doing the good work.

Always Forward

Jcraw

Honor the Brotherhood.
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We are part of something bigger than ourselves.
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It requires love for one another, and empathy, and it requires grit in our gut and has for every firefighter before us.
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Honor one another. Do the good work and do it together.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.
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It’s easy to get caught up in today’s events in the firehouse, good or bad.
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It’s hard to know where we’re going if we don’t know where we’ve been.
:
Learn the history of where you’re at and thank the old white headed senior that’s still gettin it done on the job.
:
Put the work in today and remember, the work we do is often our greatest reward.
:
Take someone along for the journey. We are better together, learning together, doing the work together.
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West Broad Apparel.
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Keep Tradition Alive.
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