Brian Acquafresca, co-owner and president of Exeter-based Del Rio Marketing since 2001, has deep roots in California’s San Joaquin Valley. He co-owns and leads several San Joaquin Valley businesses including Sequoia Apparel, Inc., Del Rio Marketing, Inc. and Broadscope Events, LLC, all based in Exeter, California. Sequoia Apparel is a printing and
embroidery business serving Del Rio Marketing, and other large apparel manufacturers, as well as the local community. Del Rio Marketing is a licensed merchandise distributor for the Lowrider, DyseOne, SRVNTZ and Felix the Cat brands, as well as an organizer and promoter the Lowrider Tour, one of the premier automotive tours in the USA.
While attending Exeter High School, Mr. Acquafresca excelled as a wrestling team member and was team captain for an undefeated team. Individually, he was a CIF state champion who was undefeated in his senior year, he caught the attention of multiple NCAA wrestling powers but choose to attend California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). He wrestled for Cal Poly, a leading Division 1 wrestling school, for several years before retiring from competition due to injuries.
After graduating from Cal Poly with a BS in Agriculture Business Management, Mr. Acquafresca embarked on a successful management career with Sierra Pacific Apparel in Visalia, California. His accomplishments with this private label jean manufacturer included opening a new factory in Mexicali, Mexico, and managing another in Porterville, California.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I wake up at 4:30 am, have coffee with my wife, and workout at the local gym. I come home to shower and arrive at work by 8:00 am to start my day. I read emails, take phone calls, hold meetings, and plan for a variety of business activities, including product development, event production, sales and marketing, finance, and personnel.
How do you bring ideas to life?
As these ideas show promise, or if I simply believe in them, we focus more time, energy, and money on those ideas. Sometimes it works…sometimes it does not, but this practice has kept our company vibrant and profitable through good times and bad.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I love the trend of living a simpler life.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Persistence…never giving up or giving in.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be open to the ideas, ambitions, and the opinions of others. Help them achieve their goals. Create a valuable team of people that care.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that bad times are always just around the corner, and you should live a frugal life even if you have the money and resources not to. Save for a rainy day.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Live life with balance and without stress…equal parts work, play, family, and friends. Make sure work, and even friendships, never become more important than your wife and children.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I think long and hard, then come in early and get to work. Write down the items you are worried about and address them. Do not put off things that need to get done.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
We stress organic growth…let your good work and good deeds speak for themselves. Keep your head down and deliver quality products and events, on time, at a fair price price.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Due to a lack of due diligence, I trusted people whom I should not have trusted and let others down by taking them into a legal battle that was of my own creation. It took years of hard work to recover, and I will never allow myself to be taken advantage of like that again. Do your diligence.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Gearheadevents.com is an events management platform that we use to manage all our automotive events. It is where we sell booth spaces, vendor spaces, tickets, and other items to customers. We manage all our events using this software. It has been invaluable, as it creates immediate cash flow. It comes at no expense, with fees paid by the consumer.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
My friend recommended a book called Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, MD. I was griping to him about our situation in the post-NAFTA apparel manufacturing climate. The book saved our family business, and it is the reason my brother and I closed our factory to become a marketing company. It forced us to think about our resources and the alternatives to the dire financial situation we faced as a US manufacturer in a dying market.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
My favorite television series of all time is Breaking Bad. The writing was incredible and seeing the evolution of a decent person to a criminal was intense and believable.
Key learnings
- Being frugal means making thoughtful and efficient use of resources—money, time, or energy. It’s not about being cheap, but about maximizing value and minimizing waste.
- Persistence, flexibility, collaboration, and due diligence are keys to professional success.
- Commitment to quality, fairness, timeliness, and doing good work foster business growth and success.
- Strive for a good work-life balance and prioritize family above all else.