Golfing with Innovators: Jared Hall of 3AM Luxury: from Omaha to the runways of Paris

Prairie Founders Club is on a simple mission: travel across Middle America, find the innovators building the future, and share what it really takes to create opportunity. 

 
In this special “Golfing with Innovators” episode, we head to Country Drive Golf Course in Ashland, Nebraska, for nine holes of golf and a surprisingly practical business conversation with fashion designer and founder of 3AM Luxury, Jared Hall.

Jared’s story is exactly the kind of “not from a big-city bubble” founder journey we love to spotlight: starting in Omaha, launching in Kansas City, and then stepping onto bigger stages: Los Angeles, Monte Carlo, Dubai, and even Paris. 

Meet Jared: a brand built on belief + manifestation

Early in the episode, Jared explains that 3AM isn’t just a name... it’s a philosophy. He breaks down the meaning behind the brand mark: “3” representing the third eye (a free thinker/creator), “8” representing the angle you see reality, and the “M” formed by two pyramids... one for mental elevation and one for manifestation.

That matters, because it frames how Jared thinks about entrepreneurship: you’re not just making a product... you’re building meaning people can join.

Starting point: simple products, then the leap into leather

Like a lot of founders, Jared didn’t begin with the “final vision.” His first designed item was a t-shirt, built around the moment he locked in the logo and noticed people asking, “What is that?”

But once he moved into the luxury lane, the first leather pieces he calls out are a duffle bag and a backpack. 

That evolution is a great reminder: you don’t have to start with the most complex version of your business... start with something you can ship, learn, and improve.

The supply chain lesson: “Middle America” mindset, world-class execution

One of the most actionable moments is Jared talking about finding manufacturers. His reasoning is refreshingly grounded:

He’s from Omaha, “in the middle of the middle of America,” so he decided, why not try to do everything in America? 

From there, it wasn’t some glamorous shortcut, it was networking, getting pointed to a few manufacturers, and ultimately finding one in California.

And then he drops a real insider detail: don’t assume “leather is leather.” He talks about consulting different companies on materials, and how people get tricked by the phrase “genuine leather,” thinking it means “real leather,” when it’s not what they think. 

That’s founder education in plain English: your margins and your brand reputation live and die in your sourcing.

The “don’t quit too soon” path: how he funded the climb

Here’s the part most people need to hear (especially the “Escape Corporate America” crowd):

Jared shares that it took until around August/September of last year for him to make a living from apparel—and before that, he was in the car industry, which gave him financing and stability. 

He also says he didn’t take money out, he reinvested it, and as the money grew, he became more comfortable walking away from the automotive world.

That’s the “exit plan” in real life: not hype... stability first, then freedom.

The first real sales unlock: a simple wholesale deal

Another underrated founder moment: Jared describes his first fashion show in Kansas City, where a woman kept wanting the bags he posted. His move was straightforward: if you want that many, why not put them in your store? That became his first wholesale deal.

That’s a pattern worth stealing: when demand shows up, don’t just fulfill orders... convert it into distribution.

Playing the long game: brand awareness over “money first”

Later, Jared talks about bigger stages: international shows and the mindset shift that comes with them.

He shares that his first international show was in Dubai in 2023, and that he didn’t even know he’d be going. 

Then comes the most founder-relevant line in the whole episode: he admits he was looking at the money first—but you can’t do that. You have to think about brand awareness, getting your name out there, and what you’ll do once people know you. 

Because, as he puts it, the money’s going to come.... but if you want it right now, you’re not thinking longevity.

He also notes he didn’t go to school for fashion...  he went to school for business. 

 
That blend—creative product + business discipline... is exactly what turns a “side venture” into a real company.

The biggest struggle (and it’s not what people think)

When asked about his biggest struggles, Jared doesn’t say “haters” or “motivation.” He says finances, specifically understanding return on investment. You can pour money into something and not know where the return is going to come from.

That’s a huge tell: serious founders don’t just work harder—they learn to allocate capital and measure outcomes.

And when asked what advice he’d give someone thinking about starting a business while they still have a job, he says it plainly: don’t walk away too early... keep the cushion so you can still pay bill

5 takeaways to steal for your own exit plan

1. Build meaning, not just product. Your brand is a belief system people can join.

2. Start simple, then scale complexity. T-shirt → leather goods is a smart progression.

3. Network your way into supply chain clarity. Most “breakthroughs” start as introductions.

4. Track ROI like your freedom depends on it (because it does). Pouring money without expected return is the silent killer.

5. Keep the cushion until the numbers prove you’re ready. Reinvest, stabilize, then exit.

    

Want more episodes like this?

This is why we built Prairie Founders Club: practical founder education, real stories, and a community for people building their exit plan outside the big-city bubble.

If this episode hit home, the next step is simple: keep following the Featured Founders Reality Series—and if you’re building your own side venture, start surrounding yourself with people doing the same.