When 12-year-old Harrison Kincade of Richmond, TX decided he wanted to quit the school baseball team, his dad, Lamar, was surprised. Harrison was attending 7th grade at Dean Leaman Junior High at the time.
Harrison had seemed to really enjoy playing baseball almost year-round. He had started playing when he was just old enough to play Tee-ball, which is for kids ages 4 - 6.
However, one day, Harrison told his dad that he didn't want to just play baseball, he wanted to own a team!
"I was a little bit shocked that he didn't want to play anymore. But I didn't want to be that dad that makes his son do something. So, I was like, 'Hey, what do you want to do? We've got to do something.' So, he said, 'Well, why can't I own my own team?' So that's when the business part came in. And I said, 'I can teach you how to run a small business. But I can't buy you a baseball team,'" Lamar said, laughing.
Lamar wanted Harrison to know that no matter what his dreams became, Lamar would always be there to support him. He had learned a lot from his own life experiences.
"I'll never forget I was unemployed, and Harrison, the kids, didn't know I was unemployed because I work from home anyway," Lamar said. "And a good friend of mine called me and said, 'Hey, I've got two Texans tickets I want to give you and your son.' We go to Texans games all the time and I said, 'Yeah, perfect. Let's go to the game.'"
Lamar remembers being at that game vividly. He didn't have much money; just enough to buy Harrison a bag of popcorn. "I'll never forget the feeling I had of being unemployed, not having any extra money to give my son," Lamar said.
Usually, the family would be at the concession stands right after they arrived and at halftime.
"That whole game I was thinking, 'What can I do to teach [Harrison] how to be self-sufficient and own his own company and not have to depend on a corporation laying you off when you can own your own thing?'" Lamar said.
So, in October 2019, Harrison, with help from Lamar, started a clothing brand called Shabach Apparel.
The word "Shabach" is a Hebrew word that means "to praise God in a loud voice." Harrison said that the name fit because when you find your passion and are giving it your all, it is like shouting praise to the Lord.
Lamar and Harrison didn't expect to sell much but were surprised when the label took off.
Now, they're trying to find a warehouse and their clothing line is being sold at Oh So Stylz in Alabama, Rumourz Boutique in Oklahoma, Outfitters in California, Harlem Vibes in New York, Culture Vibes in Virginia and will soon be sold in Pressed, which is a boutique in Atlanta owned by Rasheeda Frost of TV's "Love and Hip-Hop." Pressed already has a boutique open in the exclusive Galleria Mall in Houston.
The Christian-based company sells trendy, modern clothes. "I call it clothing for the modern believer," Lamar said. "We've got some really dope sweatsuits, hoodies, T-shirts, hats. We've got a lot of stuff in store. We've got some stuff coming up as well."
Shabach's colorful range of clothing features positive messages and phrases including "Blessed" and "Grateful" and it has already gained a following.
But life goes on. Lamar still works 9am to 5pm as an Information Technology Manager and Harrison attends school. After classes and homework, Harrison focuses on Shabach, doing everything from packaging and shipping to design, financial matters and marketing.
"I have certain responsibilities that need to be taken care of for both. So it's kind of like, trying to maintain that balance," Harrison said.
Having your dad as your business partner does come with some down sides, especially when you're a 12-year-old young man.
"Sometimes [Harrison] comes to me and says, 'Hey, Dad, we've got these orders to get out,' and then other times, he's on his video game, and I say, 'Dude, we've got 100 orders.' And I'm like, 'Let's get this stuff out,' and he's like, 'Well, I'm playing with my friends,'" Lamar said laughingly.
You can't the teenager out of the boy, but the boy can sure shoot for the stars!