We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brittney Perry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brittney below.

Alright, Brittney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Women never had as many options for sneakers as men did at sneakers stores. This resorted to me wearing mostly men’s sneakers from childhood into adulthood. Having feelings of being excluded from certain sneakers, I made PerryCo a unisex company to strive towards equality for all. I believe this company is important not only because it’s unisex, but because in an industry that is mostly male dominated, I’m paving a way for women, especially women of color. I think it’s important that the company is seen, to motivate and inspire others that you do not have to work for a large company. You can create your own vision.

Brittney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up, I was a tomboy. I played basketball and had an older brother that collected sneakers. Playing sports and seeing my brother purchase Jordan’s started a passion for sneakers at a young age. Growing up in Indianapolis, we did not have any sneaker boutiques to purchase shoes. If we wanted sneakers, we would travel to the closest mall and stop in Finishline or Footlocker. I loved going to these stores, however when shopping for women’s sneakers, we had very little options to choose from. Women never had as many options for sneakers as men did at sneakers stores. This resorted to me wearing mostly men’s sneakers from childhood into adulthood. I’ve always had a passion for footwear, but didn’t study fashion in school. I graduated with a business marketing degree. After college, I got a corporate job working in a conservative industry. I could not wear my typical attire that made me comfortable. Working in a corporate environment gave me the idea to create a versatile sneaker that I could not only wear to work, but could wear for any occasion. Having no fashion background and having no knowledge on how to create a sneaker didn’t stop me from jumping head first. I used Instagram to reach out to different people in the footwear industry for help, but with no luck. After about a year or so of searching for some assistance, I found someone to tell me the basics on what I needed to do to have a shoe produced for consumers. Developing shoes is very expensive, so I would take money I had left over from my job to fund my passion. In 2018 I launched PerryCo Shoes. Whether you’re in a suit or out with friends, we aspire to provide pieces you can wear on a daily basis. Currently, we offer sneakers, but are entering into apparel and accessories. Every piece we provide is unisex.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Several factors contributed to building my reputation within footwear. I have always prioritized the quality and designs of my products, making sure that every pair of shoes is made with the highest standards of craftsmanship and materials. I also believe having a professional website and social media presence with great content helps with giving your brand credibility. Lastly, partnering with boutiques and retailers such as Macy’s solidified us as a legitimate brand.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I think it’s very important to always showcase your products in the best way possible, meaning having high quality photography and videography present on your social media and website. This will initially draw in your audience. A real turning point for me was when I actually shared myself and my story on my page. People want to know why brands were started, who’s behind the brands, and how can they relate. Having a great brand story can really differentiate you from others and help with community building.   

Contact Info:

• Website: www.perrycoshoes.com
• Instagram: @perrycoshoes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-perryco/
• Youtube: youtube.com/@perrycoshoes

Image Credits
Garrett Rountree, Gian Frias, Andrew Percival, Felton Kizer, Bisrat Fremichael