The Story and The Vision
It all started with a raw passion for anything that goes fast and a camera.
17 years ago I started using my Dads spare DSLR camera with one goal, to get better photos than him. We've always been a little competitive. From the get go my pictures were shocking, but the love for it was obvious. I spent the next several years learning how to get better, and building what was a pretty decent portfolio. I wanted to take it further, bought my own gear, but without the know how and the obvious realisation that sometimes it's who you know not what you know I was at a loss. I'd built a small following online, got a few online awards, and tried to get involved with the media teams to be met by the same response. "Get published, then we'll consider you." so I'd contact the local papers to be told, "We only publish photos from the official media teams". So what now? I kept going, but slowly realising that photography is something you have to not only have skill, but also luck to make career out of, especially motorsport. Then disaster struck, a hard drive failure cost me everything I'd worked at. All my mistakes, all my success, my best photos all down the drain overnight. From there the camera gathered dust, I lost my drive and motivation to keep going, until about 4 years ago.
I've been slowly rebuilding that portfolio, but to be honest just as a hobby. With no plans whatsoever to make anything happen. I work a full time job as a coach driver, and rarely get time to go to any events. At the start of this year it started to bother me. I thought a solid career would make me happy, and it does, but somethings missing. So I turned to what most people in my position do when they want to free up more time and still pay the bills, e-commerce. That's where the idea for Flat Out Threads started.
Honestly guys, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing, but I have a vision and that's about it for now. I want to be able to go to more events, I want to do something I can be proud of, maybe even prove something to myself. I'm a photographer that loves motorsport, and understands how difficult it is for anybody trying to make a career out of it. So Flat Out Threads isn't just another online store to make a profit, I want to build a community where everyone can benefit.
Where does it go from here?
Members Section
The first phase of the vision will be about creating the community. A full members section, this will be where the next two phases will be able to come alive. For now, it will be about building our community.
Sim Racing Leagues
Once the foundations of Flat Out Threads is steady, I plan ton set-up Sim Racing Leagues where anybody can get involved in some fun community driven racing, with Prizes available to win. At first those prizes will be prints. Posted out ton registered players
Media Programme
I want to to give our customers with similar ambitions and dreams a chance to be seen. Weekly and monthly upload competitions with the goal of giving you a platform to show off your content to people that matter. The domino effect is real, as Flat Out Threads grows, you grow with us. The more people we draw in, the more chance you have to be seen. This is what true community is about, building together, working together, winning together.