Evan Johnson: Creative Powerhouse. in Arroyo Grande, California

As a Co-Founder of Tapacho Mfg., I’ve combined my passion for design, craftsmanship, and brand-building to create a custom cut-and-sew headwear manufacturing company that bridges creativity and quality. At Tapacho, I oversee the development of tailored headwear solutions, ensuring that every piece aligns with the unique vision of the brands we partner with. With over 20 years of experience in creative direction, branding, and product development, I bring a hands-on approach to every aspect of the business—from concept ideation and design strategy to production logistics and client relations. My goal is to help brands seamlessly translate their identity into exceptional, fully customizable hats that stand out in retail, events, and beyond. Tapacho Mfg. is more than a business—it’s a platform where craftsmanship and innovation come together to deliver products that leave a lasting impression.

As the sole Marketing Director at Vanspeed & Vanspeed|Pro, I led all marketing, creative, and event initiatives, setting strategic direction and producing all content. Without a team, I developed marketing strategies, enhanced brand visibility, and directly managed creative outputs, including photography, design, and digital content. I personally crafted and maintained brand partnerships with notable entities like Anheuser-Busch, Garmin, and influencers Chris Burkard and Jeremy Roloff, leveraging my network to foster collaborations that significantly amplified our reach and reinforced our market position. I introduced the Vans + Coffee meetup, a monthly event that became a cornerstone of our community engagement, showcasing the lifestyle our brand promotes and strengthening customer loyalty. These gatherings, alongside strategic field marketing efforts, enhanced our community's connection to the brand, providing tangible experiences that resonated with our audience. My comprehensive role spanned from conceptualizing marketing campaigns to hands-on content creation and event execution, ensuring a cohesive brand narrative. This integrated approach led to substantial growth in brand awareness, community engagement, and market penetration. My efforts not only elevated Vanspeed's presence in a competitive landscape but also set new standards for creative and strategic excellence in automotive lifestyle marketing.

As the Creative Director and Apparel Designer at Seager Co., I led the creation of the brand's first cut and sew apparel program, transforming it from focusing on printables to becoming a renowned lifestyle apparel brand. My role involved leveraging my extensive industry network to source, design, and manage manufacturing processes, establishing a solid foundation for the brand's product line that resonated with our target demographic and embodied our brand's ethos. Beyond design, my contributions were crucial in the conceptualization and execution of creative campaigns that significantly boosted the brand's profile and market appeal. Utilizing my skills in photography and design, I created compelling marketing materials that secured key partnerships, notably the enduring Seager X Coors collaboration, which exemplifies the brand's expanded reach and appeal. A pivotal achievement was utilizing my network to introduce Seager Co. as a vendor on Huckberry.com, a partnership that has become a significant revenue stream and continues to contribute to the brand's success. This strategic move not only expanded our market presence but also affirmed the brand's position within the lifestyle apparel sector. My hands-on approach in apparel design and marketing played an instrumental role in redefining Seager Co.'s identity, driving growth through innovative designs, and forging strategic partnerships. My efforts have left a lasting imprint on the brand, marking a key chapter in its evolution into a distinguished name in lifestyle apparel.