No15. Carlos Price
No15. Carlos Price
ISSUE: No15
Carlos Price
Purpose-Led Hustler

We shine a light on some of Aotearoa's best and brightest.
They shine a light on their favourite 3 Wise Men Clothing.

Receive an email from 25-year-old Carlos Price and it will most likely say, “Sent on the go” at the bottom. No surprises really from a man whose business card (if he had one) would read: Rugby Player/Business Owner/Real Estate Agent/Podcaster/Oh yeah, and young father. What? How? Why! Let’s start at the beginning.

Growing up in Mount Maunganui, rugby was Carlos’ life, which saw him making New Zealand age group rep teams. Soon the Wellington NPC side and Hurricanes squad were also ticked off. Carlos’ lifelong All Blacks dream looked promising. Until, suddenly, it didn’t.

Carlos found himself incredibly homesick in Wellington. The downside of professional rugby was biting. A detour to Waikato, the arrival of a son, and a Covid-interrupted playing move to Sydney all added up to a change in priorities. “It really was a business, and I was losing my love for it.”

However, a move back home and back to grassroots club rugby with his mates reminded Carlos of what was important. It also crystalized plans to start his own business – a goal ever since a failed streetwear company attempt back in Wellington. “I knew nothing!”

“3 Wise Men dress shirts and chinos are my go-tos. The fabrics are amazing, and I hardly ever have to iron them!”

Writing down his ‘Why,’ he came up with ‘Inspired by purpose’ and was away. “I want to create a community through the brand – a platform to inspire young Māori and Polynesian kids especially,” he says. His latest idea is to use the brand to promote a Battle of the Local Rugby Clubs amateur boxing night to bring the local rugby community together.

After the business started to grow, Carlos recognized the need for third-party logistics like warehousing and fulfillment. The solution? Create his own company. Today, 3PLNZ looks after not just One Three Eight, but also helps other local businesses get to the next level. “My job is to find leads, but I've got Bella, one of my sisters, in as a co-owner. She now runs the business and is smashing it.”

This idea of sharing and helping others gave way to The Hustlers podcast. “It’s an amazing vehicle to share knowledge and learn from other interesting people at the same time,” he says. This included a real estate agent who inspired Carlos to give that job a crack himself! All of which means he needs gear that works for a multitude of occasions and situations. “3 Wise Men just works for the way I work. I’m totally religious on their dress shirts and their amazing fabrics that I hardly ever have to iron! I literally wear them every day, along with some chinos.”

So, with all this going on, surely you’ll be retiring soon mate? “No way! I love trying new things – probably because I’m not great at making my mind up! Honestly, happiness is my measure of success. Money enables you to do things, but my only goal is to create time to hang out with my son.” Can’t beat that for purpose.



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