Hi, It’s Good To See You!
“Good To See You!” your friend calls out on campus as they pass by. But what does that phrase mean to you?
For Margo David and Ethan Krone, it’s not only the name of their business but a once-throwaway phrase they now take to heart.
“I don’t think it’s said enough. Now since working [at Good To See You] it’s become part of my daily vocabulary anytime I see anyone,” explained David.
Started by Elon alumni Steve Hawthorne, Sean Hess, and Andrew Veilleux, Good to See You is a lifestyle brand founded on the premise that a post-pandemic lifestyle needed a new slogan. At its core, the brand designs items that show how much you care using more than just the expression on your face. You can’t miss the mantra, displayed on their hats, face masks, and sweatshirts.
Their interests piqued their sophomore year by seeing GTSY at Marketplace Under the Oaks and on social media, and both David and Krone reached out to the brand to inquire about involvement. David is now the marketing manager, coordinating the brand’s social media and focusing on analytics. Krone continues the brand’s connection with the university, handling all the merchandise shipments and marketing the products to students and at Marketplace Under the Oaks.
The brand’s message is infused into the company culture. Good To See You is more like a family business, with David explaining how the founders feel more like older brothers than bosses. Even with the team spread throughout the country and David and Krone studying abroad, everyone makes the effort to stay connected through group chats and regular Zoom calls.
“They’re very lighthearted and they don’t make work so serious all the time. They let me spit out my ideas, not just for social media, but for like the merch itself and design ideas,” said David.
The bond feels special for Krone, who met the founders through their fraternity. Taking over on-campus responsibilities after they graduated feels less like a burden and more like a fun opportunity to work with his friends.
Now Krone regularly enlists the talents of their other brothers for promotional videos and photoshoots. For the fall drop, Krone crowdsourced models from around campus to get even more of the Elon community involved.
“We were at the fountain at Alamance and I was just going up to random people being like, ‘yo, you wanna wear the sweatshirt for a picture? Maybe you’ll get posted on Instagram,’” he said. People love getting involved, he said, and he enjoys seeing people meet other people from different parts of campus because of the brand.
The team’s dedication to their motto and to each other is working. When David and Krone started their jobs last year, the brand had around 700 to 800 Instagram followers. Now, they have over 2k. The merchandise is sold online to over 40 states and is sold in local boutiques in New York and New Jersey. As the clientele list grows, both are sure that in the next five years the brand will be international.
If they had to pick one piece of merchandise to recommend to friends, David suggests the vibes hoodie from their newest collection. Krone’s favorite, the wave hat, is no longer available on the website, but there are two similar options here and here. Follow Good To See You @goodtoseeyoumerch on Instagram and find even more merchandise on their website www.goodtoseeyoumerch.com.