Community Highlights: Meet Ashley Wade of FIlthyGearHeads

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Wade.

Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
FilthyGearHeads started when I finally realized I didn’t want to work for other people forever. I was working the parts counter for a dealership and doing graphic design for a friend’s company. I’ve always doodled since I was a kid. Graphic design comes easy. One day, she texted me, “how about you start your own?” I thought about it and could not find a good reason not to. I had been in the car community for a while, so I had friends who helped me with the promotion. I got in touch with vendors, built my website, and started promoting as much as possible. I researched and learned about the Instagram algorithm and used it to my advantage as much as possible. This all started in 2018. As of today, Filthygearheads is doing alright, and I just recently launched a second brand named Static and Staggered.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been far from smooth. When I first started FGH, I was the family’s sole breadwinner. Funding for the side hustle had to be budgeted into my regular bills, and it took a lot longer than it should have to break even. COVID happened, the budget got even more strict, and FGH had to be put on hold. I got to a point where I could start giving money to the business again, and then there was some petty drama around who owned the company, and I had to clear the air publicly. The road is smoothing out now, the product isn’t on back order, and I have carved out more time in my schedule to put effort into the two businesses.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
FilthyGearHeads started as a merchandise brand, and it still is. We started with t-shirts, worsened weather, and moved into hoodies stickers are a staple of any automotive-oriented brand; we’ve always had those designs created with the average car enthusiast in mind. For example, our original logo was the spark plug in the rose. The goal is to make unique designs that resonate with the car community. The thing I’m most proud of is also what sets us apart, and it’s the determination to make sure it’s a brand that’s unique and inclusive of all cars, bikes, and trucks. More often than not, some brands are geared toward only one genre, and that’s not what I wanted. FGH isn’t just Japanese cars or European cars; it’s a brand for anything with an engine and wheels.

What matters most to you?
As stupid as it might sound, my time matters most to me. Time is valuable, and we only have so much of it to do what we want. Giving my time to something that causes stress or doesn’t give me a fair return isn’t how I want to spend my life anymore. I would rather spend my time creating memories with my daughter or friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: filthygearheads.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/filthygearheads
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/filthygeardheads/
• Twitter: twitter.com/filthygearheads