Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hassan Wilcox. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hassan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
I want to build a legacy where people will remember me and my brand as something that brought joy, freedom, and encouragement. After I’m gone, people will miss my smile, my warmth, and they will also say he was the definition of trying something instead of assuming it wouldn’t work.
Hassan, 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?
I’m a 38 year old founder and CEO of M. Othello. I went to business school for fashion and was inspired to create a unisex brand that intersects diversity with classic statement handbags.
We are different because we are challenging the social norms of pre-selected labels for tbe types of products that belong to women or men, instead we give our customers the choice to connect with our products based on their own taste in style.
I’ve learned that launching a brand is tough because it often feels like you have limited resources, more questions than answers, and the rate of momentum is slower than you’d prefer. With that being said, the joy of connecting with people and seeing them connect with our products makes the struggle rewarding.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
My products are made in Italy. Initially, I was going to make my products in NYC, but I wanted to explore what manufacturering had to offer in international markets before I made my final decision. I did an extensive online search and I found my manufacturer in Italy. A few lessons I learned along the way are as follows:
1. When it comes to sourcing materials and manufacturers, give yourself a deadline on how much time you want to spend.
2. Take your time to really think through what you really want and then it will be easier to narrow down your most important requirements in a manufacturing partner
3. Sampling is costly, so be clear and as detailed as possible at what you want and who you want to get samples from.
4. Document everything and have an organized records keeping procress (This also helpful around tax time and when you need to place new orders)
5. Bargain, Bargain, Bargain on all costs, even when you think you got a good deal. get a better one
6. Be transparent with your concerns, needs, and clearly communicate what is going well and what are the areas of improvement.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Communication has been an interesting journey, I’ve received feedback that it’s an area of improvement. I’m open to all feedback, but I’ve found that it’s important in how we show up as business leaders and how we interact with our customers. I’ve unlearned that it’s an area of weakness by 1) just getting out there and communicating 2) keeping in mind that weaknesses can be developed and that I actually have some real strengths in this area which have been beneficial in moving my company forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mothelloshop.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassanwilcox
Image Credits
This is a photo that I took