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

DeJongh, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was born and raised in the US Virgin Islands and as such it gives me a unique perspective on fashion as well as it relates to culture because everything in the Caribbean is deeply rooted in African as well as Native American culture.

From an early age I was able to witness the colors as well as fabrics that people wore everyday or the costumes that people would wear during the various carnivals.

I was taught by my parents and family that we have one opportunity to make a good impression, and that begins by looking and feeling good about yourself.

I found that expressing myself through the clothes that I wear and, especially, the sneakers that I’d wear, I was able to stand out and be different from my peers.

Because I wore a uniform to school and had to wear black or brown shoes, I would wear my sneakers and carry a bag with my school shoes and change right before the bell would ring.

Fast forward to discovering all black Reebok Workout sneakers, which were a game changer for me, because I was able to wear them without my teachers or the principal noticing that I was wearing sneakers.

I used to think that I wanted to own a sporting goods store, but that idea changed when I realized that I was more passionate about the storytelling aspects of sneakers, working with the designers to tell the story about the sneakers, the colors, materials and the problems that they solved.

DeJongh, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce your business to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

OSDLive (Obsessive Sneaker Disorder) is a marketing company that specializes in serving clients in the athletic footwear field. We understand the unique challenges that come with designing, promoting, and selling sneakers and accessories and we’ve developed a range of services to help our clients succeed.

We offer a variety of services that are tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients. From product launch campaigns to influencer marketing to social media management, we have the expertise to help you achieve your goals. Our team of experienced professionals has a deep understanding of the sneaker market and is dedicated to helping our clients stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Our approach is data-driven and results-oriented. We use the latest technology and industry best practices to track and analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive activity. This allows us to identify opportunities and craft strategies that are specifically designed to drive sales and increase brand awareness.

At OSD, we understand the importance of building a strong and loyal customer base. Our goal is to help our clients establish long-term relationships with their customers by creating engaging and relevant content that resonates with their target audience.

Whether you’re a sneaker brand, a retailer, or a designer, we have the skills and experience to help you succeed. We’re passionate about sneakers and committed to helping our clients achieve their goals. If you’re ready to take your sneaker business to the next level, contact OSD today.

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

As human beings we’re storytellers and having grown up in the US Virgin Islands, I’d listen to the radio a lot. Maybe it was the local news or national news, I paid attention to the reporter and how she or he spoke and painted a mental picture for listeners.

Because I listened to the radio a lot, I was also influenced by the music that I’d hear and thus began my love for all types of music.

The love of music- Soca, Calypso, Reggae, and Rap- allowed me to travel to parts of the world that I hadn’t visited yet but knew that when I had the opportunity to travel, that I had a good list of places to choose from.

I created the first sneaker lifestyle video show in 2005, with then Sole Collector Magazine and a sneaker podcast in 2007, because of my love of storytelling and audio.

As with anything, I did my research and figured out how to use the internet, along with message boards to interact with people to build relationships and a community.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a creative person is being able to take an idea and turn it into something real.

The ideation process is a lot of fun and I get some of my best ideas while doing something that has nothing to do with the project itself. It may be washing dishes or ironing; I’ve found that many of my best brainstorming sessions come to me when I’m doing something that I can do autonomously.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jemi.so/deewells
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deewellsosd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deewellsosd
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deewellsosd/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/deewellsosd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OSDLive
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=ney0H8Hhbg4p-x6j5XAcYA

Image Credits
Robin Lubbock (WBUR-Boston, MA) took the headshot photo of me wearing the grey sweater.