We were lucky to catch up with Amir Usher recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amir , appreciate you joining us today. Finding those key vendors can often be make or break for a brand. Can you talk to us about how you found your key vendors?
Finding a consistent and thorough manufacturer is one of the toughest pieces to the puzzle thus far with the Brand. Its really about finding someone/ a company that are most compatible with your needs (volume, timeframe, etc). We took the journey of going through a handful of vendors and honestly not having the best experience, which sparked us to purchase the necessary equipment it takes to run day to day. Over the years we’ve been able to acquire a few pieces of machinery and accessories to ensure we can fill orders at any time. For larger orders we typically outsource through a trusted company, but the journey in finding them took years on hand. The quality, turn around time, consistency, and being able to handle the volume needed all plays a role in making that decision. We appreciated the fact that they were US based so if there were hiccups or delays we could actually go to the facility and see about it as well as not having the extended shipping delay with coming from overseas. The biggest lesson in this was to understand that its a journey and you may not have all the answers right away. Give yourself grace and patience in that. Things take time.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
The name of our brand is Amir James Clothiers and we are currently based in Atlanta, GA. We are an urban contemporary menswear line that focuses on quality and comfort in essential products. We started with tee shirts/hoodies and morphed into cut and sew jackets/hats/etc thus far. The goal is to take create essential items that not only make our lives easier on a daily basis, but also apparel that provides a sense of authenticity in the process. The mantra for our brand that we strive for everyday is to simply BYRSLF (Be Yourself). It’s something so simple that we hear our whole lives and never fully grasp. It’s a journey in itself and we want to be the spark or fuel for You to initiate or continue.
The brand was first launched at Tuskegee University while in grad school. We felt like there was a shortage in representation and likeness in the industry and wanted to be a voice for others. We all have that voice, we just chose to speak through apparel. Since 2012, we have emerged into a brand with many successes including features on some popular names/television shows/movies etc. What I’m most proud of though in retrospect is the journey that it has taken to get here. Sometimes when you’re beginning something you miss the fact that you’re actually learning in real time. The ups and downs in that experience is what gives you the jewels to be able to push forward in tough situations and for a second be able to appreciate the high moments. The key is stay focused though because it’s all a roller coaster. I have been able to achieve and extend a legacy that my parents started when they were younger having their own separate brands into something on a national level. The funny thing I grew up soaking up the knowledge as I watched my parents grow their brands respectively before I even understood what they were doing. So when it was my turn, I was able to reflect and reference certain situations and even ask for advice in maneuvering in my journey.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to learn in business is that no-one owes you support and this is your journey not theirs. Sometimes when you’re a startup we have this misconception that everyone is going to be there to provide everything you need to ensure your goals are reached. In my experience, that’s the furthest from the truth. Entrepreneurship is a very self motivated field in any business and I had to learn in real time that whatever you need in order to be successful, is your responsibility. Noone owes you anything. Most times people help you when they notice you making progress on your own. And in my experience most of the your help will be from people you never met. Motivate yourself and understand that if you want it there’s no an excuse in the world that can keep you from it.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Over time of course the products improved with quality and design but more importantly, customer service. Customer service is vital in any business and learning how to deal with different personalities in doing business has taken us a long way. Most of us have been to Chic Fit A and the food is good but the service is better and leaves a certain impression on you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AmirJames.com
- Instagram: @amirjames
- Twitter: @amirjamescg