Marine Veteran Mike Tucker Brings Military Humor and Camaraderie to Cannoneer Apparel
“I’m trying to bring out the military humor and camaraderie from the Marine Corps that was always with me,” Tucker said. “I miss it, so I’m trying to bring it out to the civilian world.”
A pumpkin shaped like a grenade might seem like an unlikely starting point for a veteran-owned business. For Marine Corps veteran Mike Tucker, it makes perfect sense.
Tucker recently launched Cannoneer Apparel, an online clothing brand that combines military-inspired humor with something he has missed since leaving the Marine Corps: camaraderie.
“I’m trying to bring out the military humor and camaraderie from the Marine Corps that was always with me,” Tucker said. “I miss it, so I’m trying to bring it out to the civilian world.”
Even the company’s name goes back to Tucker’s military service. He served in the Marine Corps from December 2010 to October 2012 as an artillery cannoneer crewman. His time in the Marines was cut short after he suffered a serious back injury while responding to a dangerous situation involving an artillery round.
Today, that experience is inspiring what Tucker describes as “office-appropriate clothing that’s military inspired,” designed primarily for veterans, active-duty service members and military families.
Cannoneer Apparel is starting with T-shirts and a little personality. Tucker and his wife developed Halloween-inspired designs, including her favorite, the pumpkin grenade, with plans to continue introducing seasonal themes.
Tucker creates the designs and operates the business online, using an on-demand production and fulfillment model that allows him to sell directly to customers without maintaining his own inventory.
And while Cannoneer Apparel may start with a T-shirt, Tucker’s vision is much bigger.
He hopes entrepreneurship can eventually become a vehicle for helping veterans and their families connect with workforce opportunities, resources and one another. His long-term vision includes creating a community-centered space where veterans can find assistance and rebuild some of the bonds that can be difficult to replace after leaving military service.
“I want to bring the brotherhood and sisterhood back together and get back to the bonds that we all shared,” Tucker said. “Rather than pointing out each other’s flaws, we stand together.”
As Tucker begins building Cannoneer Apparel, Veteran Business Project is working alongside him on some of the fundamentals of growing a new brand and expanding the network around his business.
For Tucker, however, the goal goes beyond building a successful apparel company.
“I’m not looking to get rich,” he said. “I’m looking to build a community and help veterans.”
Explore Cannoneer Apparel at CannoneerApparel.com.
His Advice
His advice to fellow veterans stepping into entrepreneurship cuts to the heart of what he’s learned:
“Veterans already know how to lead. A lot of them just don’t realize that’s what they’ve been doing all along.”
