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Jael Thorpe

Founder at Gameday Social ® Apparel Co

Jael Thorpe, Founder and CEO of Gameday Social Apparel Co.

Jael Thorpe is the founder and CEO of Gameday Social Apparel Co., a rapidly growing apparel company focused on collegiate sports attire.123 Thorpe, a longtime entrepreneur, started the company after previously owning boutique fashion stores in Brookings and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.14

Gameday Social specializes in elevated, licensed apparel and headwear primarily for female sports fans.15 The company has secured licensing agreements with about 25 universities, competing with major brands like Nike and Fanatics.1 Thorpe's strategy is to fill a niche market for fashionable gameday attire that major competitors are missing.1

Founded in 2019, Gameday Social is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.13 The company has grown from one employee in 2021 to a team of 10 as of 2023.1 Thorpe is proud to lead a small, woman-owned business that is nimble and responsive to fashion trends.13

Prior to Gameday Social, Thorpe was an entrepreneur starting in 2006 with a photography business and then a boutique in 2010.1 She also served on the Brookings City Council and as deputy mayor.1 Thorpe's LinkedIn profile shows her experience as the founder and CEO of Gameday Social Apparel Co. in Sioux Falls.2

Highlights

Mar 8 · linkedin

I met Bill Dillard III, a third generation leader of Dillards, this week when their executive team visited the grand opening in Sioux Falls.

To my amazement, Bill stood at the store entrance personally greeting the hundreds of shoppers who entered the dazzling new space, and as kinks inevitably popped up, he was boots on the ground, working alongside the store associates to address them. A culture of service starts at the very top of the organization, and it was such a clear example.

Some things Bill shared at the CEO Summit earlier in the day that stuck out to me:

  • Bill’s father; Dillards CEO, at age 79, still visits each of their 279 stores every. single. year.

  • While most retailers are cutting service; Dillards is doubling down. They spend less on marketing and more on staffing their sales floor than anyone else, and it shows in customer satisfaction.

  • “We manage our inventory well so we can pivot. We don’t try to predict; we just try to be nimble.”

  • “You can never have the mindset of ‘we’ve arrived.’”

Thank you Bill and team for sharing your story so humbly and authentically, and for your investment in Sioux Falls! 🙌🏻

Related Questions

What inspired Jael Thorpe to transition from retail to apparel?
How did Jael Thorpe's experience as a boutique owner influence Gameday Social?
What are some of the major licensing agreements Gameday Social has secured?
How does Gameday Social differentiate itself from larger brands like Nike and Hanes?
What challenges has Jael Thorpe faced in scaling Gameday Social?
Jael Thorpe
Jael Thorpe, photo 1
Jael Thorpe, photo 2
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Location

Brookings, South Dakota, United States