Tiedemann Hones Niche Exporting Clothes Around the Globe, But Phoenix Businessman Knows That is Just the Start

Tony Tiedemann was a bartender while attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Today, he's the founder and president of Phoenix, Arizona-based Tiedemann Globe, one of the leading exporters of recycled clothes in the U.S.

The journey from "A" to "B" has been an interesting story.

Born and raised in Omaha, Tiedemann knows he can always go back to mixing drinks and serving shots of Tequila.

But the self-made man has got more important plans.

Tiedemann’s story is part fate, part timing, but it’s also about resilience, hard work and a concerted effort to get to know himself. It's about Tiedemann learning–and teaching his team members–how to continually improve.

His first real job was in the used clothing/textile industry. In January 1993, a year after graduating from Creighton, a friend told him about a unique opportunity.

Tiedemann had considered a career in restaurant management, but he wanted ownership.

His goal was to be an entrepreneur.

A friend from college, John Pivovar, played baseball at Creighton on a College World Series team. Pivovar was injured in the baseball tournament, and realized his chances of making it as professional were over.

Hired by a prominent business person in Omaha, Pivovar started working with a textile company in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He liked the company, the direction, freedom and the pay and told Tiedemann about it.

Eventually, Tiedemann interviewed for a similar job and was hired. “I knew it was a nice (career) path,” Tiedemann said. “I always wanted to run my own business.”

With an annual salary of $18,000, the job didn't exactly match Tiedemann's qualifications or education, but the path toward business ownership appealed to him.

“All my friends from college who graduated in accounting were making twice as much money at the time,” Tiedemann said, “but I didn’t care. My path was ownership. The owners made it clear we would learn, accomplish goals and start that path.”

LEARNING THE TEXTILE BUSINESS

Initially, Tiedemann was responsible for 26 cutters in the wiping rag division.  The sales department and five ancillary staffers also reported to him. Young and aggressive, he traveled throughout Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and other parts of the United States to grow the business.

Soon promoted to buyer of mixed rags, Tiedemann found himself on the phone constantly, buying and selling for the vintage department and servicing customers. After 19 months on the job, the owner told Tiedemann he had bought another company in Brownsville, the southernmost city in Texas on the Mexican border.

It was 1994 and time to move.

Tiedemann, then only 25, and Brad Reilly, a fellow employee, had a two-year goal to make the owner $70,000 a month in net profit.

Tiedemann and Reilly accomplished the goal in only seven months.

The company set them up in a condo near the beach on South Padre Island, budgeted for company cars and paid them annual salaries of $40,000 with virtually no expenses.

But when it came time for Tiedemann and Reilly to become owners in the company, the principals asked them to invest their own money. They decided the timing wasn't right and found a different path.

Instead, Tiedemann, Reilly and another colleague from Omaha elected to start their own clothing export business, investing $26,000 apiece. Brownsville-based World Clothing Corporation, which still operates today, was launched.

“The first month we were making money,” Tiedemann said.

But a few years later, in 1997, Tiedemann wanted to be more aggressive and expand, so he sold a third of the World Clothing Corporation for much less than what it was worth.

Empowered by unwavering self confidence, Tiedemann's goal was to start his own company.

And why not?

By the time Tiedemann left World Clothing Corporation in 1997, it was on track to generate $6 million in revenue.

THE GRAND CANYON STATE

In 1998, Tiedemann moved to Arizona and started Phoenix-based All Your Business Solutions Clothing and Exports (ABS), Inc.

“Within a week we found a warehouse in Phoenix and (our family) leased a house in Chandler,” he said.

The first year was a struggle. ABS, Inc. lost $250,000.

In fact, Tiedemann's first four years were a challenge financially. Tiedemann tapped his 401(k) and savings accounts to keep the company afloat.

"I learned to do whatever it takes during the month to make our payments," he said. "I learned to make the decisions throughout the month to succeed.”

With ABS, Inc., Tiedemann’s goal was simple: diversify in something other than used clothing so he could pay his bills, pay his employees and maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

Now 40, he continues to subscribe to that business strategy today. He still exports used clothing and other items all over the world to hundreds of countries. The Phoenix-based warehouse produces 120,000 pounds of clothing a day. In 2006, he opened Tiedemann's Family Thrift, a used clothing and goods store in Tempe, and Loved Ones Lost, a 501 (c)(3), Arizona non-profit organization, which was created to provide donations to select Veterans' organizations.

He also operates Tiedemann Industrial Supply (TIS), which sells wiping rags to companies all over the U.S. and internationally, and oversees a fully-staffed operation in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2008 Tiedemann Globe was named the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2008 Small Business Exporter of the Year for Arizona.

Today, revenues are healthy.

He employs about 200 people in Phoenix and Nairobi, a far cry from 1998 when it was just him and a few staffers.

TRAVELING THE ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY

Tiedemann Globe has proven to be a "green" company. And he knows small businesses in America need to track its use of energy and resources as closely as it does its hiring and cash flow if it wants to keep pace with social concern about climate change and other sustainability issues.

Besides recycling and exporting used clothes overseas, the company owns propane-powered forklifts and trucks, and two natural gas vehicles; it recycles cardboard, metal and aluminum. "We also use high voltage, three-phase electricity wherever we can," he said.

Tiedemann's company car is a natural gas vehicle (Honda Civic), which he drives to work everyday from his home in Chandler.

Business travels over the last 17 years have taken Tiedemann to 125 cities in 21 countries.

It's taught him a lot about how to run the business.

“When I traveled to many of those places I asked the people what clothing they liked best,” he said. “Invariably, the names like (New York City-based) Romerovski and Domsey (two of the oldest and largest graders of second-hand clothing and wiping materials in the U.S.) came up. I wanted our brand to have the same impact globally.”

Today, Tiedemann enjoys the luxury of having a team of minds to help him run his business entities.

He treats them well. Tiedemann offers his senior employees full health benefits, including medical and dental and a 401(k); he encourages and pays for bi-weekly workouts at a local health club for senior managers; lunch is catered for front office employees Monday through Thursday.

A chiropractor comes in once a month to see employees at the company's expense. A water filtration system ensures staffers drink pure water.

SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS

Tiedemann has elected to thank U.S. military veterans in a unique way. As Chairman of the Board of Loved One’s Lost, he gives more than $30,000 per year to organizations that support veterans, including Arizona Veterans Donation Fund, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Mesa-based Salute A Soldier, Omaha-based Wounded Warriors Family Support, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, the Arizona chapter of the Veterans Administration Voluntary Service (VAVS), the Arizona National Guard Emergency Relief Fund and Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.

RUNNING SCARED

Over the last five years he's continued to focus on self improvement--and maximizing the production of his employees.

“Our people have made us stronger,” he said. “And tougher, much more resilient and competitive.”

Tiedemann says he’s become very skilled at setting and achieving his own goals and teaching his people to do the same, things he learned from personal enhancement coaches like Dr. Steven R. Covey, Zig Ziglar, Tom Hopkins and life strategist Anthony Robbins.

“I didn’t have any real business mentors,” he said, “but I studied (and attended workshops) with those guys. I learned how to treat people and deal with them. I learned how to ask myself the right questions and be myself. I learned to use my mind and continuously improve.”

Tiedemann admits he runs scared.  "People, like everything, are in flux, moving up or down," he said. “I need more and more people around me that want to improve everyday,” he said.

Tiedemann says he has succeeded in business because he has been able to find the right answers for himself, and use his talents and abilities.

What motivates him now is that he has the ability to help change the world in a positive way.

Population growth and a rising standard of living across the world will bring opportunities -- but also risks of higher energy costs, scarcer water and other possible consequences of climate change.

That’s part of the reason why, in 2009, Tiedemann embarked on his latest project, the Clean Energy Foundation(CEF), a non-profit organization based in Phoenix.  Its purpose is to develop renewable, clean energy solutions and products to help satisfy the human needs of water, sanitation, energy, education, and food.

He's already implementing it in Africa where he has the infrastructure, contacts and relationships in place.

HISTORY OF TIEDEMANN GLOBE

(major milestones, important news, hires and events)

1998

Tony Tiedemann opens Phoenix-based All Your Business Solutions Clothing and Exports, Inc. (ABS), with the goal of exporting used, No.1 and vintage clothing around the world. Erika Flores, current Director, Phoenix Production, joins staff. Tiedemann sorts 9,000 pounds of used clothing per day

1999

Tiedemann hires Brian Rodocker, current Vice President of Sales and Purchasing.

2003

Amy Tiedemann, Tony's sister, and current Vice President, Sales and Development, joins staff.

2004

Tiedemann Globe moves to new warehouse on 1411 South 47th Ave. in Phoenix. Aaron Ames, current Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, hired to increase warehouse production and efficiency, supervise safety rules, regulations and train employees.

2005

Tim Tiedemann, Tony's brother, joins staff. He is now Vice President, Infrastructure, Security, & Information Technology.

2006

Tiedemann's Family Thrift & Vintage opens in Tempe. Tony Tiedemann opens Loved Ones Lost, a 501 (c)(3), Arizona non-profit organization, which was created to provide donations to select Veterans' organizations. Currently, Loved Ones Lost donates more than $30,000 annually.

2007

William Mburu, current Director, Africa, joins Tiedemann Globe. Mburu is in charge of operations in Nairobi, Kenya. Jessica Rodriguez, current Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, joins Tiedemann Globe to manage accounting staff and financial operations. Tiedemann purchases Arizona Cotton Products, Inc.

2008

Tiedemann Globe named the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2008 Small Business Exporter of the Year for Arizona. Tony Tiedemann becomes one of only two certified Phoenix-based instructors in Silva Ultramind ESP System. Named Life Member: Jewish War Veterans of The United States of America (2008). The prestigious honor recognizes consistent support of the oldest Veteran's Service Organization.

2009

Tiedemann starts Phoenix-based, non-profit Clean Energy Foundation (CEF); Bryan McGinnis, Director of Operations, Clean Energy Foundation (CEF), hired and placed in charge of technology development in developing countries. Molly Hellman, Director Vintage & Creative Designer, hired.

2010

Tony Tiedemann, who has been to 125 cities in 21 countries for work-related business, employs nearly 200 people internationally. Tiedemann Globe sorts about 120,000 pounds of clothing each day.