About
FEATURED IN
For other things we’ve done, some further reading.
WHAT WE DO
3tailer is the parent company of a variety of eCommerce websites seen here. We identify opportunities in niche markets then build websites to fill customers’ needs. We create the brands, do the marketing, and then provide the customer service all while forming strategic partnerships with various suppliers. Charlotte, NC is our home sweet home.
HOW WE STARTED
3tailer was founded in late 2005 by two friends and recent Appalachian State University (Michigan who?) graduates, Jon West and Chad Ledford. Chad founded a successful sock website in early 2005 which was sold under the 3tailer brand in 2007. Jon won “Most Likely to Succeed Online” in ASU’s 2005 Entrepreneurship contest for his idea to reach the growing baby boomer market (EmbarrassingHealthProducts.com). The two decided to merge the ideas under one company while on an entrepreneurship trip in Germany.
We’ve been featured in various publications including the Charlotte Observer, Practical eCommerce, Appalachian Today–and yes, BODY magazine. We love just generally talking about ourselves so please feel free to contact us for press opportunities.
WHO WE ARE
In college we turned a $500 investment each into this multi-million dollar company…
Jon West - CEO 
(@thejonwest)
Age: 25.0 (& single ladies!)
Height: 6′4″
Weight: 205
Eye Color: Hazel
Interests: Space Olympics and ketchup.
In 2005, while enrolled at Appalachian State University, Jon co-founded 3tailer. Jon graduated from ASU in May of 2006 with a degree in Information Systems and he currently serves as CEO of 3tailer. He began creating websites all the way back in Middle School on his — get this — WebTV. He’s been hooked on the Internet pipe ever since. To get a better idea of Jon’s professional background, peruse his CharlotteBook and LinkedIn profile above and feel free to add him.
Chad Ledford - Chief Executive Officer (@chadledford)
Age: 24.8 (& married, sorry ladies)
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 190
Eye Color: Blue
Interests: Zombo.com
Chad Ledford established his passion for eCommerce in early 2005 while exploring the online sock market in his dorm room at Appalachian State University where he earned his degree in Business Management. It was also during this time that Chad met his wife Samantha while in training to be a Resident Assistant. Before this time, Chad spent his summers selling socks door-to-door across NC, SC, and TN under his grandfather’s company. This experience lead him to explore the unique idea of selling socks online, thus spawning the first of many websites to come. Chad later partnered with Jon to successfully identify more niche opportunities online under the 3tailer brand where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer.
Moses - President of Technology
Age: 1.8 (13 in human years)
Height: 2′1″
Weight: 60
Eye Color: Brown
Interests: Peanut butter and chasing leaves.
The true brains behind the operation, Moses (aka Moe) graduated from MIT in 1983 with a double-major in Computer Science and Cute. Since graduation he has gone on to invent the Internet (sorry Al) and create the first search algorithm. He is currently in the process of finding the end of the Internet to beat the last guy who is apparently not easy.
Feel free to contact us.
TIDBITS
- “3tailer” stands for “the retailer.” Say it out loud, you’ll get it eventually. There originally were 3 focuses (eTail, eConsulting, eMarketing) of the company and online a “3″ is often substituted for an E. So the name ‘works’ on *cough* 3 levels. Which really makes it 4 levels, I guess.
- Chad and Jon both transferred to the same high school in 10th grade coincidentally but didn’t really hang out until they became roommates in college.
- It’s always a lovely day for a Guinness.
- Our goal with all of this is to hug Oprah.
- Both of us have sold socks door to door out of a sketchy white van to make some extra cash. Thus why socks was the first thing we tried to sell online.
- Our first conference table was actually a Ping Pong table. During interviews we’d make people sit all the way at the other end and peer over the net. They were nervous.
- Moses is Chad’s dog.
- We’re 80’s babies.
- Dual monitors are standard here.
- We’re suckers for exposed duct work and brick walls.
- Yes, we realize that CEO and Chief Executive Officer are the same thing (scroll up if you missed this one).
- For a period of time we operated on West Coast hours.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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