We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Al-Rahim Burke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Al-Rahim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My first clothing brand Pro Sé Apparel was established in May of 2021. I started out with hats, t-Shirts and hoodies. Over the next year I managed to find manufacturers in Pakistan to produce my designs. In early 2022 I asked my contact in Pakistan could he make me some boxing gloves to workout with. He advised he could and that was the beginning of Pro Sé Boxing & Athletics.
After I received my gloves, I decided to produce more and sell them. Like most people delving into a new field. I took “my lumps”. I had to learn about the different material used to make boxing gloves. I also had to learn about glove weights and padding. During the learning process business was picking up. Eventually, my gloves became sought after by novice boxers, amateurs and professional boxers.
Ever since I started with clothing; I wanted to do something mobile. One day I was sitting on couch searching for box trucks and the idea hit me. I decided I was going to create a customized Pro Sé Boxing Gym on wheels. I researched the internet to see if there was something like this already in existence and I couldnt find one. That made more eager to do it. I found a used box truck that was out of my price range and bought it. I designed the punching bags with my team in Pakistan and within two months of my epiphany The Pro Sé Mobile Boxing Unit transitioned from an idea to a reality.
The Pro Sé Mobile Boxing Unit is an excellent way to promote my brand and the boxing items I produce, however the main purpose of the truck is to use a boxing as a tool to promote fitness and wellness to people of all ages in the community.
Since the truck has been in existence I have had people on the truck as young as four and as old as seventy-four. Its gratifying to have created something that other people can benefit from. Everyone who visits the truck is amazed.
In the ten months since I began servicing the community with the truck, I have not made any money from the truck. Instead of charging people I figured I could reach out to local government agencies and get some funding so I keep it free for the people. I have not been successful with that up to this point.
Even though I get dissappointed with the lack of support, I remain excited about how what I created is helping people become healthier: physically and mentally. Per my reasearch my truck is the only one of its kind in the world and I feel like something good is going to happen as a result of my hard work and creativity. I trademarked the truck and Im currently working on a patent. A Pro Sé Mobile Boxing Unit may wind up in a city near you in the future.

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.

I grew up in Newark, NJ. I have worked in the telecommunications industry for over twenty five years. As tragic as COVID was, the isolation afforded me the time to really think. In the Spring of 2021 I decided to pursue my business ideas. The first thing I did was write a short E-Book titled “Player’s Remorse”. I released in May of 2021. The book made it to number one on Amazon’s Short Read List. The success of the book gave me the motivation to start my clothing brands: Pro Sé Apparel & Jen.Nes.Sei.Qua. I later started a manufacturing company Add Your Tags Manufacturing. A non profit organizaton called Innovative Impact and lastly Pro Sé Boxing & Athletics, which is home of the Pro Sé Mobile Boxing Unit.
Im most proud of the fact that I finally made my ideas become reality. I have had the financial success yet, but Im proud of the fact that I have relationships with my clients and supporters. Id be remissed if i didnt mentioned my boxing truck. When people see it and experience it, they say things like “this is genius”; “ I never seen anything like this” etc etc. Im super proud over what I have created. I want people to know that Pro Sé is slowly becoming an international brand. I have working relationships with boxing promoters in Costa Rica and Domincan Republic who use my gloves. My gloves have also made it to Saudi Arabia with Former Heavyweight Champ Deontay Wilder.
I also want to people who have supported me and my visions to know that i am genuinely grateful and Im going continually make efforts to get better. When I Win We Win…

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my aggression coupled with my accessibility and quality products have helped get Pro Sé To where it is today. I have found myself in dressing rooms and hotels suites etc that I dont have credentials for lol…
I also believe in giving out “samples” because im confident in merch

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

Most of my clients have my direct number. My clients are loyal because they get great products and I allow clients to be apart of the creative process and I dont overcharge them. Usually people get more than what they pay for with me

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @proseboxing @prosemobiletruck

Image Credits

Al-Rahim Burke
Pro Sé Apparel
Pro Sé Boxing & Athletics
C.E.O.