We recently connected with Joseph Deal and have shared our conversation below.

Joseph, appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

From my mother, I learned determination and to never give up on myself and my dreams. To this day she still is my biggest cheerleader. She is always telling me you can do this, stay focused, make this call, do this interview, and build working relationships with people and communities. My foundation meaning my family is my drive daily. I watched them work and not live on assistance in the community and in a nation that already counts single inner-city mothers and families out as a loss to society. My mom would work long hours and still come home and be a mother to us. We grow up in the worse city in America and basically never knew it until we were older. We were sheltered and loved in ways I can never explain. My grandparents, aunts, uncle and extended always made sure we were good. My dad did what he could but in California all my life. We visited at times but all my lessons, love struggles and confidence comes from my mother and her family.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well, I fell into the love of this by chance, I went to a high school where we had to find internships yearly in order to do an end-of-the-year presentation. In my junior year, I landed an internship with a printing company and that’s where my love of fashion design began, I started a tee shirt brand called Jiffy Bread Boyz with a friend but that was short-lived. I went on finished high school and went on to college and that is where I started Hustle By Nature out of my dorm, I feel a little like Kanye West at times because after my sophomore year I was done. I knew I needed to invest in myself and my vision. Now i cant lie i worked odd jobs and sold every out the trunk for about a year. After that year I got a Kiosk in the mall for about a month and 1/2 then I got a store. Just when I signed the lease the pandemic began. The hardest and proudest 2 years of my life was owning that store. I didn’t get PPP loans or bank loans it was all me and the support of my hood. Hustle By Nature hustling is my nature and it has always been a legal hustle for me. I want to reach the world but touch the hood first. I’ve been able to do community events, be on television specials, do interviews, magazine spreads, concerts, and a little of everything just by having a dream that started with an internship. I want to put Camden NJ on the map not for the crime but for all the creativity that lives and grows here. My generation is different we want to expand into markets and get our brands and names out there for the world to see. My hustle is for everyone not just myself it is for every little girl and boy who wants to be more creative, artistic, and poetic in this world. Tell them to come see HBN Joe in Camden NJ I want everyone’s dreams to come true. I put the world on everything becasue we are foing global for the world to see and know us here in Camden.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I remember being broke multiple times over the last few years and everyone thinking he got it because he owns a store but the reality is I wasn’t making money and bills were piling up. The hardest decision I had to make was giving up my store when the lease was up and deciding whether to give up my dream and go back to 9-5. Now here I am doing a magazine article thinking some decisions are the best ones. I have a better space free of charge. I am venturing into digital media, expanding my brand, and exploring even better business possibilities that can really put Hustle By Nature on the map for the world to see. So yeah I am the true definition of the word I always recover.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I basically use social media and word of mouth to keep my clientele updated on clothing drops and events. It keeps the overhead low. I also stay connected to people every day. I will tell any small business owner to use the free platforms until you have the capital to do better. Honestly, you don’t need much more than that. People have become famous on social media alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: hustlebynature.net
• Instagram: @hustlensocial @hbnwear
• Facebook: Hustle By Nature
• Youtube: Hustle N Social
• Other: tiktok @hustlensocial