GO Getter: Jodi Oehlke

She's sells Sakrid stuff in south Springfield.

If you’re the thrift-store-loving, buy-your-shirts-for-$1.12 kind of person, then Sakrid T-shirts might seem a little silly to you. If you’re the type of shopper who knows what to buy just before it starts flying off retailers’ shelves, then Sakrid just might be up your alley. Jodi Oehlke is the brain behind Sakrid, and she’s making a spot for herself in trendy boutiques—and not just in Springfield.

Put a price on it

Before it was a hot brand, Sakrid was a batch of 20 T-shirts destined to become Christmas presents for Oehlke’s friends and family. But the trademark wing-and-cross clothing line has grown much faster than many people, even Oehlke, thought possible. Her nine-month-old operation is still run out of a bedroom at her house, but Sakrid is gaining plenty of momentum, and lots of people are paying the subjectively premium price. “With women, the first compliment she receives removes all pain of having spent that much money,” Oehlke says. “[These shirts] get a response.” Orders are going off in $900 batches, she’s extended her product to include children’s wear and accessories and has more ideas in the pipeline. She’s in talks with Nordstrom to get her men’s line in the store. Because of an exclusivity deal, Sakrid’s $58 to $78 T-shirts are only locally sold at Panache (1308 E. Republic Rd., 417-887-5448), and more than 100 of them have been purchased from the store.

In August, Jodi (her day job is as a DJ for the 99 Hit FM morning show) ventured to the Dallas market to present her line to buyers. By the final day, reps from major companies such as Billabong were sporting her T-shirts. The clothing line is ending up in some high-end stores. In addition to stores in Texas, her product is also sold in Oregon, Ohio, Oklahoma, Louisiana and California.

Free Advertising

Jodi gained a lot of connections during a stint living in Los Angeles, and when Britney and K-Fed called it quits in November, Oehlke was on the phone that week with Spears’ publicist, finding out where to send her “Back on the Market” screen-printed Ts. She also took a T-shirt to President Bush when he came to Springfield just before the midterm election. It read, “My Wife is Hot.” “It was perfect because he talked about how it was Laura’s birthday, and she was embarrassed to be turning 60,” Oehlke says. “His assistant said he’d love it and came back and asked for a bunch of my cards and contact information, so we’ll see.” Maybe she’ll cook up something sassy for the ’08 Republican National Convention. “Baby got Brownback” T-shirts perhaps?
Then, the Brangelina crew bought a batch of clothes and accessories when they came to Springfield to visit Brad’s family this winter. Rumor has it, a wee one wore a shirt on the plane ride home.

Local, local, local

Starting a clothing line has not been Oehlke’s life-long dream, but she’s pleased with the favor Sakrid has found. Oehlke didn’t take out any loans, and says she isn’t going to dive in so deep that she goes into debt over this project. She trusts if she bites off what she can chew, it will pay for itself. As Sakrid finds its way into national markets, it is still a locally rooted company. Oehlke uses local screen printers, she had a member of a Springfield band design her website, sakridclothing.com, and keeps her inventory here in town. She has been considering moving into a larger space. For at least a little while, though, she’ll keep setting trends from her spare bedroom.