Today we’d like to introduce you to Ro Bailey.
Hi Ro, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was the eldest of 4 children and the only daughter. (Insert eldest daughter psychoanalysis, lol) An active tomboy who played basketball and ran track, I had a very busy teenage life. One of the ways I found peace and comfort was through music and retro tv shows. Frequently I found myself searching for connection, something that made me feel safe and understood, something that made me feel unique and special but at the same time made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I wanted to find something that was familiar but could also connect me with new people with similar interests. On the way back from a basketball game I was on the bus listening to music in my headphones. A classmate asked me what I was listening to. I was hesitant at first, I was afraid of being made fun of for my music taste since it was not like the other kids. It was Oasis Wonderwall and I was a 16 year old black girl in the 90s. I couldn’t say that to my classmate, what if they made fun of me? I can already hear the bullying “huh? Oasis? Black people don’t listen to rock music, you’re weird.” I finally got tired of hiding my music taste and couldn’t come up with a lie quick enough so I just said in a hesitant voice “Oasis.” My classmate paused, looked at me and instantly lit up. “Really?! I love Oasis! Have you heard Champagne supernova?” There I was having a 30 minute conversation with a classmate I would have otherwise not spoken to, all because we both liked the same music and it made me feel so happy and connected that I wanted that feeling all the time. Even before that connection, I would hear old songs on the radio, songs that came out years before I was born and I would somehow know all the words. I found comfort and peace in old music and tv shows and never understood why. Older people would look at me strange and ask how I knew certain songs or even old tv shows and I would laugh it off and say “Oh I must just have an old soul” or “My mom or grandma probably played it when I was little.” But the actual truth was, I had no idea how I knew Billie Holiday songs or why Good Times seemed “familiar.” Soon I started incorporating my strange love for retro music and tv shows into my wardrobe. A fun graphic tee I found at a thrift store, a retro band tee at the mall, I found myself seeking out connection through clothing. Each time I wore a graphic tee, a stranger would smile and compliment my shirt or tell me a story about a happy memory associated with my shirt. All ages, ethnicities and genders felt a connection and were on the same just by seeing a retro image. That’s what made me excited and eager to start my own brand.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely not all sunshine and rainbows, there has been some struggles along the way. One of those struggles is coming to terms with the fact that not everyone will be eager to support you. Sure, your friends and family will tell you they’re proud of you for starting your own business. They will like your business posts, make supportive comments or even share your posts. But the truth is, your success will irritate some of your friends and family. Whether it’s jealousy, resentment or simply the inability to be happy for another person, be prepared to see people slowly fall off.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My brand RetRO (pronounced retro) is new, vintage and repurposed clothing with a retro vibe. We specialize in nostalgic graphic tees and we are known for providing affordable, unique and comfortable clothing for nostalgia lovers. The thing I’m most proud of is our follow through. Oftentimes ideas stay just that, an idea. From idea to fruition is a path that is difficult but purposeful. I’m thankful that an idea and a passion combined into a business I can be proud of. What sets RetRO apart from others is our variety. Graphic tees exist in almost every store, shop or boutique. The common denominator though, is that most of these stores have the same retro icons; Tupac, Selena, Biggie and Friends. There’s so many other retro icons that could be on graphic tees; Living Single, George Clinton, Mr. T, Bootsy Collins, that’s what I want to see more of and that’s what sets RetRO apart from the rest.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t particularly like attributing anything to luck, good or bad because it means that it can’t be predicted or controlled. Good luck can make you feel like you’ve done something right, like maybe your hard work paid off and you want to keep that momentum going but you can’t because luck is not predictable. Bad luck can make you feel like you’re doing something wrong and can cause you to quit because you doubt yourself. Other than frustration and uncertainty, luck has not played a supporting role in my life or my business. I prefer tangible things like consistency, discipline and pace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.retrobyrobailey.com
- Instagram: @retrobyrobailey
- Facebook: Ro Bailey
- LinkedIn: Rochelle Bailey
