Brandon Ginsberg is the CEO of ApparelMagic, the industry’s top apparel management software favored by multinational fashion brands and niche labels alike. Under Ginsberg’s leadership, ApparelMagic provides powerful end-to-end business solutions to apparel companies worldwide.
Though Brandon Ginsberg is recognized today as a leading expert at the intersection of fashion and technology, his background is not your typical executive success story. It begins in high school when he started working for ApparelMagic at just fifteen years old.
As a young teenager, Ginsberg offered tech support to ApparelMagic’s founder. Ginsberg’s enthusiasm and tech-savvy did not go unnoticed. When Ginsberg turned seventeen, Murphy tapped him to help revamp their legacy apparel software, an easy decision given Ginsberg’s coding proficiency and knack for providing sound strategic counsel at a young age.
With Murphy’s knowledge of the industry and their client’s needs and Ginsberg’s familiarity with modern technology, they worked together to build a more advanced software that would provide unparalleled support to the fashion industry.
Brandon Ginsberg eventually left high school to pursue a full-time software developer position at ApparelMagic. Just one year later, he was made a partner of the business. For nearly a decade, Ginsberg has dedicated his energy, ambition, and passion into making ApparelMagic what it is today: the fashion industry’s first choice for apparel software.
In 2019, Brandon Ginsberg took over as CEO of ApparelMagic. He now oversees all aspects of the business, including the strategic direction of the company, software development, sales, partner relations, and their marketing efforts.
ApparelMagic’s cloud-based solutions have become their flagship product. What started as a small vision soon became a global sensation. Their software powers ERP, PLM, and CRM for some of the biggest brands in fashion across the globe, and connects with dozens of top apps and service providers including Shopify, Amazon, and Xero. ApparelMagic’s software enables retailers and brands to maximize their revenue, cut costs, enhance the customer experience, and consolidate their data all into one platform.
ApparelMagic’s software is built for the apparel industry by experts who understand the nuances of retail, as well as what consumers want out of their shopping experience. It’s a complete business management software that’s been designed to solve the barriers that have always kept retailers and wholesalers from being wholly productive and efficient. Under Ginsberg’s leadership, their apparel software offers affordability, accessibility, and customization that’s unlike any other technology in the fashion sector.
Brandon Ginsberg has been featured in Forbes and is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) and the Palm Beach Tech Association, a non-profit dedicated to cultivating and promoting a community of technology, innovation, and creativity in South Florida.
Outside of his professional ventures, Ginsberg is an advocate for healthy living. He is an avid gym-goer and fitness enthusiast who is also passionate about clean eating. His primary form of exercise is weight lifting, but he also competes in ballroom dancing. His areas of focus include Salsa dancing, the cha-cha, swing dancing, and Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot.
Brandon Ginsberg currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida with his Pomsky, Jeter.
Where did the idea for ApparelMagic come from?
My partner, John Murphy, actually had the idea while he was living in LA over 35 years ago. He began developing individual solutions for each apparel company he came across, soon realizing the industry had some fairly specific needs in the software they use. ApparelMagic was built from the ground up with those needs in mind, and serves the fashion industry in ways the generic solutions never could.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My day usually starts the night before. I like to spend a few minutes before bed organizing a list of the most important things I should prepare to spend time on the following day. This helps me remain hyper-focused, and also helps create some cushion in my schedule for the inevitable “unknowns” that could await me the next day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I’m a very visual person. I usually like to draw new user interfaces or create lists to organize a project on my iPad before jumping in the deep-end. This allows me to tinker with our team on an idea at a very high level before the roots have even been planted.
What’s one trend that excites you?
OpenAI’s GPT-3 model really excites me in the world of artificial intelligence. The tech can be leveraged in almost any field imaginable. The platform was recently used to generate a full webpage (code, layout, and all) by interpreting normal english descriptions. Other examples have been shown where the platform has had in-depth conversations with the AI about creation and God.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Limit context switching. I think we’ve all experienced that super empowering, zen-like state of mind in which we blaze through tasks and knock out everything we have on our plate. The best way to reach that state of mind is to limit context switching. I like to lock-in, turn down notifications, turn on noise cancellation on my AirPods, and relentlessly focus on executing. If I’m distracted by too many notifications or if I don’t plan my day properly, I’ll end up spending more time switching between tasks than actually getting things done.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Say yes to as many opportunities as possible! Try things outside of your comfort zone, it’s the best way to grow and discover things that you are passionate about.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I truly believe that my generation will live beyond 120, maybe even 150. Advancements in medicine and genetics continue to amaze me and I’d put my money on life expectancy skyrocketing with advancements in personalized medicine and better treatments for anti-aging.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Read or listen to a book! I spend most of my time commuting listening to audiobooks. I like to get a good mix between technology, psychology, business, and even astrology. Anything to continue learning and hearing from experts.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I can’t praise our team enough for creating an incredible culture at ApparelMagic. It’s cliche, but we live by the words “work hard, play hard”. We all really enjoy what we do and enjoy working together. I think that’s enabled us all to perform at a very high level and significantly grow the business.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Personally, I’ve struggled with stress throughout the years and I failed to recognize the signs my body gave that I was not completely healthy from a mental perspective. It takes time and lots of patience, but learning to balance my desire to keep working until the early hours of the morning with taking time off, getting necessary sleep, etc. has really had a tremendous impact on my life and has helped me perform at an even higher level.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Provide a skill on a freelancer service such as WorkGenius, Upwork, or Fiverr. There’s a ton of opportunities to build businesses on either of these services by leveraging a skill and making additional income.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Global Entry costs $100 and lasts 5 years. This gives you TSA Pre-Check and expedited entry at customs. Well worth it if you travel.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
The Mac/iPhone/iPad app called “Things” keeps me extremely focused. It is extremely minimalist in its approach and design. I use it to plan my day and hone in on the most important tasks at hand without all the unneeded bells and whistles of other to-do apps.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins changed my entire perspective on life. His approach to accomplishing goals, modeling greatness, and maintaining a positive mentality are the perfect foundation for any entrepreneur.
What is your favorite quote?
“This too shall pass.”
Key Learnings:
- Focus on just the most important tasks at hand
- Listen to your brain and your body
- Foster a positive and fun culture for your team
- Don’t stop learning – read and listen to experts
- If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing. Get uncomfortable.
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.