This week, GTS breaks new ground with it's first three-way pow wow featuring one of the premier members of Threadless' production team, Mike Halgas and the enigmatic, Gary The Producer. Highlights of of this installment include why St. Barts is so awesome, warehouse management tactics and updates on fleece zip-ups. On with the show...

GTS: Alright, alright, alright welcome back to another installment of Gettin' The Skinny - Intriguing Interviews with Threadless staff. Today's guest is Mike Halgas. What's shakin' Mike?

Mike: Not much. Just hanging at skinnyCorp with my man Gary.

GTS: Gary The Producer?

Mike: The one and only.

GTS: Oh snap, what's up Gary?

Gary The Producer: Well, let's see... Just got back from a wonderful vacation from St. Bart's.

GTS: St. Barts, eh? I hear that's your spot. Why St. Barts?

Gary The Producer: Well, the people there are great. You know, I got a call from the star of our show, Charlie, saying that he'd maxed out my credit card, and I must have blacked out with rage, because next thing I know I waking up in the hospital. The people there really took care of me.

GTS: So Mike - please tell the good folks at home what do @ Threadless.

Mike: I work with the production team to make sure we have product to print our designs on.

GTS: In one of the previous GTS interviews, it was revealed that Threadless would be rocking some zip-up fleeces...any word on that?

Mike: Yeah, there may be a few coming up...

GTS: Gary, you seem like the kind of guy who would enjoy a fleece zip-up. Twist some arms for us bloggers, would ya?

Gary The Producer: Listen, I've been in the business of twisting arms since I was a kid. I once got a steelworker to say his mother mowed the lawn at a pool party in St. Bart's back in '82. It wasn't pretty. So I'll see what I can do for you.

GTS: God bless you Gary.

GTS: Mike - I've rarely read/seen any complaints about shipping times. How do you guys and gals manage it all?

Mike: I actually used to work as the Warehouse Manager. We did a lot of things that sped up our order fulfillment time. We tweaked our pick and pack method and started to utilize self managed work teams. Everyday we researched ways in which we could get the product to the consumer as fast as possible. After awhile, we even added a quality assurance manager who randomly samples our orders. The information he collects allows us to tweak our system even further to ensure as few errors as possible.

GTS: That sounds pretty intense. How nutty did the warehouse during the holidays?

Mike: We take on temporary employees and add a night shift. It gets pretty intense.

GTS: Any productivity tips for us slackers?

Mike: Red Bull

GTS: Haha dually noted. This question is for you and Gary - what are some of your recent favorite tees?

Gary The Producer: Well my all time favorite is Piece of Meat. But recently I've really enjoyed the work of Select line.

GTS: How about you Mike?

IMike: think that the folks out there have been really putting up some great stuff. Identity Crisis by Hector Mansilla is one that I really like, but all of the subs I've seen as of late have really been top notch.

GTS: Word! Identity Crisis is great and I'm it's the first of many prints for Hector. I'm going to open the floor to some questions from my fellow bloggers - ready?

Mike: As ready as I'll ever be.

GTS: littlem asked: have you ever accidentally used your roomy's toothbrush?

Mike: HAHAHA!!! If my roommate had a toothbrush, I'd be sure to stay far away! No but seriously, he doesn't use one...

GTS: You live with Charles Festa, right?

Mike: yep.

GTS: perhaps he keeps his toothbrush in that beard of his?

Mike: perhaps

GTS: jess4002 asked: Halloween is coming up! If you had a lot of money to spend on just one dream Halloween costume, what would it be and why?

IMike: would go as sober Cubs fan, because I haven't seen one in our neighborhood in about a month.

GTS: Good one. What about you Gary? What'll be your Halloween costume?

Gary The Producer: Cocktail waitress.

GTS: Wow. Moving on...ivejustquitsmoking asked: how many reprint hits before a product gets eventually reprinted?

Mike: I'm not really sure if there is a set number. I think that the top ones are considered each week.

GTS: chipmnk asked: What's your favorite song to listen to on a long drive?

Mike: Dark Star by the Grateful Dead

GTS: Maltzmania has one for Gary: how you prepare for a typical Tee V episode?

Gary The Producer: Review my notes, prepare the set, and take my blood pressure medication.

GTS: I'd recommend you start hiding your credit cards...

Gary The Producer: That's what my fourth wife told me...

GTS: ZING! Alright guys - it's time to play Pick One. You know how this works?

Mike: No. How?

GTS: I give you two choices on a random subject and you pick one.

Mike: Cool.

GTS: And if both of you want to chime in - feel free.

GTS: #1 - Decisions, decisions: coin flip or paper, rock, scissors?

Mike: Paper, Rock, Scissors.

GTS: #2 - Better Brass: Trombone or tuba?

Gary The Producer: Nothing better than the sweet sounds of the Tuba.

GTS: #3 - Sweet Condiment: Jam or Jelly?

Mike: Jam

GTS: #4 - Party Foul: Arriving too early or leaving too late?

Mike: Too early

GTS: #5 - Catch Phrase: "Hey hey hey!" or "DY-NO-MITE!"

Mike: Jimmy Walker's Dy-No-Mite is the best catch phrase that there has ever been.

GTS: #6 - Football Flick: Rudy or The Last Boyscout?

Mike: Rudy

GTS: #7 - P.B. Predicament: Jif or Skippy?

Mike: Jif

GTS: #8 - For Your Viewing Pleasure: Wide screen or Full screen?

Mike: Wide Screen

GTS: #9 - Monkey Business: Orangutans or Chimpanzees?

Gary The Producer: The Chimp is the jungle's most majestic animal.

GTS: #10 - The Ultimate Battle: Brains or brawn?

Mike: Brains

GTS: Well gentlemen, this installment of GTS is just about over. Just two more quick things - first, which Threadless would you like to me to interview next and second, any parting words for the folks @ home?

Mike: I think that getting a feel of the tech department, one of skinnyCorp's most important would be beneficial. Therefore, I think you should speak with Harper or Ivan. And um, stay in school and don't do drugs also, buy more tee shirts.

GTS: word on both counts! mike and gary, thanks again - it was great talking with you!

Gary The Producer: Nice talking to you.