P&M Apparel: Leading with Legacy
Empathy. Integrity. Perseverance.
Legacy.
All of these words elicit feelings of strength — if you asked any number of people on the street whether they were good qualities, the vast majority would say yes. Most people might even venture to say that they want to be described in such a way.
When it comes to P&M Apparel, co-owners and siblings Megan Griffith and Ryan Toney use these words to describe their business. As an apparel-decorating shop based in Iowa, P&M has a long legacy of being woman-owned, family-owned, and operated with the utmost integrity when it comes to dealing with both employees and customers.
“We run our business with empathy; we run our business with integrity, and that's all built off of the generations that came before us,” says Megan. They point to the “P&M,” which stands for Phyllis and Melvin, Megan and Ryan’s grandparents.
“Literally, their name is on the building,” says Ryan. “So it's like everything that we do that goes out the door is a direct reflection on the company that they built, that mom built, that we're running.”
To build a business worthy of such deep, impactful descriptions, they go back to Phyllis and Melvin’s roots and how that has inspired them to carry on the legacy. And when you sit down to have a conversation with them, it’s apparent how their family history, their ethos, and frankly, their playful eccentricity has built a story worth being a part of.
A Business Rooted in Perseverance
Originally billed “P&M Monogramming,” Phyllis and Melvin Richardson started the business 39 years ago in their basement with a two-head embroidery machine just trying to make $300 a week. Now expanded into so many other facets of apparel decorating, Ryan explains that today’s shop still carries the weight of that legacy.
The history might be the main character in starting the legacy, but another part of what makes P&M special is its perseverance. “Anytime we were in a tough jam, that's where we saw the most growth,” Megan says of what defines the business. “It was, hey, our screen printer didn't show up for work. That's where we learned how to grow. Or, hey, we just lost this giant client. That's where we grow. Or we're running out of space. What do we do? That's where we see the most growth.”
Ryan explains those moments of perseverance weren’t new to the siblings when they took over ownership. It also goes back to when their mother took it over. “She really dialed in that quality that goes out is just as important as getting something out the door,” he says. “Everything that leaves our shop reflects the reputation [our family] built and the standards our family carried forward.”
That emphasis on quality also heavily influences how they treat each other, their employees, and their customers. The duo has worked hard to ensure that the P&M company culture is one of empathy and integrity. Or as Ryan says simply, “Treat people like humans.” They celebrate their employees’ wins as if they are their own.
Of equal importance, they feel the losses.
Allowing their employees to feel seen, to feel understood, has created a sense of ownership of work within the facility walls. “You can let your weird out — you can let your freak flag fly,” laughs Megan. Despite the laughter in that statement, the simple truth is theirs is a culture of absolute inclusivity.
Even when it comes to the plate of pickles Ryan had delivered during the interview. “Growing up, everybody was always like, Ryan, you're so weird … I guess being able to be myself here is huge,” he says. “We are ourselves, and we give our team permission to be themselves too. That authenticity creates energy in the shop. As leadership, when we demonstrate that it is okay to be different, curious, and a little unconventional, it gives others room to do the same.”
Passion for Education
Credit: Flyover Con
And the siblings aren’t done pushing the envelope of what’s possible. In 2024, they launched Flyover Con, and event dedicated to education. “The name is a nod to the Midwest being called the flyover states,” explains Ryan. “In our industry, we felt that Midwest shops and decorators were often overlooked in terms of recognition and access to education. Our goal was to create a high-value, hands-on, community-driven event that is accessible and personal.”
The success of the inaugural event led to year two, which at the time of writing is scheduled to take place April 17-18, 2026. As part of their educational push, P&M partnered with Rockhill Screen Printing in 2025 for its Print Homie Playbook event. The two businesses plan to continue supporting each other by having each event every other year.
Not only does Flyover Con serve to educate Midwest-area shops, but Megan and Ryn both find value in it, as well. “It was only six or seven years ago (if you know, you know!) that we weren't doing any of this stuff, and we just needed to catch up with the technology and catch up with the education ourselves,” Megan says.
The technology in this industry moves fast, so bringing quality education to everyone aligns perfectly with P&M’s legacy of perseverance. “If you are not actively learning, you fall behind,” Ryan believes. “We learned that ourselves when we realized we needed to catch back up with both technology and industry knowledge. Once we reengaged with education and events, it changed our perspective and our results.”
And the entire team at P&M, led by Megan and Ryan, will only continue to push into the future.
For example, Megan wants three yachts.
Ryan wants to blow up and act like he doesn’t know anybody.
All joking aside, Ryan wants to keep doing what makes them so successful now: providing a safe working space that builds on the family legacy while still making cool stuff. “I think that's an underrated part of this industry,” he says. “People get so caught up in the weeds of new machinery and best new techniques or whatever. But sometimes, we just get to make cool stuff.”
In the end, the pair is grateful to be part of community. And even better, they’ve now added their own piece to the business legacy: “At the end of the day, this business is about people,” says Ryan. “Our team, our customers, and our community are the reason we do what we do. If we can keep serving them well and keep raising the standard for ourselves, we consider that success.”
