The Life is good® story

LIG Story- In 1989, Bert and John Jacobs designed their first tee shirt. They knew nothing about the business.
For five years, the brothers hawked tee shirts in the streets of Boston and traveled the East Coast, selling door-to-door in college dormitories.
They collected some good stories, but were not very prosperous. They lived on peanut butter and jelly, slept in their van, and showered when they could.
Chicks were not impressed.
 
Original Jake drawing, July 1994
By the Fall of 1994, heading home from a long, less-than-fruitful roadtrip, Bert and John were desperately searching for answers to keep the dream alive. Little did they know, the only answer they needed was back in Boston, hanging up on their apartment wall.
Jake's contagious grin, simple as it was, seemed to express everything the Jacobs brothers believed in. 

First day ever selling Life is good, Cambridge Street Fair, September 1994
One fateful September day, they printed up 48 Jake shirts for a local street fair in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They laid the shirts out on their rickety card table. By noontime, all 48 of those tees were gone. A star was born.
Soon Jake was introduced to local retailers, and his simple message of optimism was embraced like nothing the brothers had ever seen. As demand for product soared, Jake's team grew, and the Little Brand That Could began to spread across America.
Today, the New England based brand stays close to its roots, with an emphasis on humor and humility. Through Life is good Festivals, positive products, and a steady dose of ping pong, Jake's crew does its best to keep the good vibes flowing.

Genuine Neighborhood Shoppes are independently owned retail stores solely dedicated to the Life is good® brand.
Each GNS carries an extensive assortment of both in-line and exclusive Life is good merchandise, including our signature Life is good® AT HOME collection of home furnishings.
GNS owners are committed to not only providing you with a complete Life is good shopping experience, but also to spreading optimism every day and helping kids in need.
We hope you’ll visit a GNS near you and support an important local member of Jake’s growing family.
If you have questions about opening your own Genuine Neighborhood Shoppe, please click here.