We recently connected with Jamil Pratt AKA JamJam and have shared our conversation below.

Jamil , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?

When I heard on the news that Covid was coming, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Being in Luxury Sales for over 16 years we never had to deal with anything like this. As the virus progressed we closed down our store for 2 months. The thought of staying home sound good but how will I provide for myself if I’m sitting home doing nothing lol. I Began to reach out to my clients to check on them making sure they are ok because my clients are Top Priority for me. After the 2 month period we get the ok to open which was scary, we was the first mall to open in the states. And driving up to work was like something in a movie, the mall was packed like it was Christmas lol as I walk in the mall it’s lines outside of all the stores, let’s just say Christmas came early in Atlanta that year lol. Majority of my clienlte are business owners they are more conservative so coming to the mall at that time was not an option. So I did a lot of Curbside Service and even home delivery. Yes I’m always willing to go the extra mile for my clients so hand delivery items to my clients home, providing First Class Customer Service Is My Goal. So to answer your question Covid was amazing for my business.

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 am Jamil Pratt I’m from Rocky Mount, North Carolina. 37 years old, I’m the only child I grew up with a great eye for fashion. My mother was my biggest inspiration, she was so fly she kept her hair n nails done weekly always smelled good…. She was someone I inspired to be. Growing up in my city we don not have a Neiman Marcus or Saks at the time Urban wear was big so my mother & grandmother kept me in the latest Tommy Hilfigure, Nautica, Fubu, Enyce, Akademiks, Iceberg, Coogie, LRG, and Rocawear just to name a few. Most of these designers were sold out of state so as a kid my parents sent me on shopping trips. So where I’m from people would charter a Charter Bus and we would go to different states to shop New York Philadelphia etc. I would invite my close friends and we would leave early in the am shop all day and come back late that night just in time for class lol. Where I’m from we took fashion very seriously and we did t have social media to go off on. We had BET what we saw on the music videos is what we wanted to wear to school and trust we did… I attended Rocky Mount Senior High where fashion was a Thing. We stayed in the best. I must say even tho we grew up in the country we was some fly kids lol. Attending class one thing but the most important part of school for me was looking my best lol
Having a fresh haircut and outfit was Top Priority. As a senior you are evaluated and the main award of Senior Superlatives was Best Dressed. This award was like winning the Golden Globes or Oscars lol. So you can understand why we would put on our best at school now. And of course I won Best Dressed it was my mission to take these shopping trips to wear something to school that the other kids couldn’t access. From that point on, I knew I was diffrent and needed to spread my wings to bigger and better things. After graduating high school I followed my aunts foot steps in attending North Carolina A&T University. This was on another level these people was getting up at 7am fresh to death.. I had to step my game all the way up. I was Introduced to Saks Fifth Ave walking around in the mall there, never heard of it because I’m from a small city, I saw this Dolce & Gabbana Polo it was $650 lol I was like Damn lol It was so beautiful the fabric and the colors, you can’t say No to Dolce lol Being a college student and being the only child has it’s perks. I can Always call home for more money so you know I bought the polo ☺️ I always get my way so that moment after buying my first designer garment was life changing. While at NC A&T I was a Fashion Major, while attending I was sewing clothes but I was not being fully fulfilled. I wanted To know more about the House of Gucci, Versace, Galliano and others. Again I’m in a space where I needed to spread my wings even more. My junior year of college i asked My mother could I transfer to FIT in New York she said Hell no lol. So I begun to look for closer fashion school in the south and I found one in Atlanta Georgia. AIU in Buckhead so I applied that fall, I got accepted and was to begin in the spring of 2006. But had to break the news to my mother she was not having it, being her only child she didn’t want me to go too far but after crying she saw my side of things and she gave me her blessing. We packed up the Uhaul and my mommie drove me and my things to my new home Atalanta Georgia. This is where I belong Big City and lots of Fashion. AIU opened my eyes to a whole new world learned so much about the fashion game and how to maneuver in the game. The skilled professors gave me all the tools I needed to spread my wings even more in this big city. Upon graduating AIU I got the opportunity to be a Personal Assistant at Rocawear this changed my life in so many ways. The wholesale game is another beast in its own entity. I learned So much and made so many connects. With only being in Atlanta for almost a year, I think I’m doing pretty good for a boy from the country lol . In addition to being a full time student and working at Rocawear I started modeling at nightclubs in Atlanta. It was a good way to get in the club free and I had to put my foot in every pot I could to get my face known in this city. This one particular show they was giving away $500 for the best walk, so I ripped the runway and of course I won and lots of important people was at this show. Connections were made and people saw my face which is what I needed for my next step to break big in the game here in ATL. Fast forward I’m graduating college and I get a position to work for Neiman Marcus, this was huge for me. With all the connections I have and people I know from the nightlife this will be a piece of cake. And piece of cake it was from going out every night hanging with the who’s who the same people I met at night would come in to shop with me the very next day. The drive in me would never allow me to sit in one place and wait on walk in traffic, I went out in the city to get my clientele. Fast forward to the recession it was bad, we started selling Ralph Lauren flip Flops that was my que to change companies. I transitioned go Saks Fifth Ave, funny how I’ve come full circle with Saks where it all started. Learned so much at this company as well but at the time the economy was still a little funny and I wanted to be in a more intimate setting. So I transitioned in becoming the Assistant Manager of Gisuppe Zanotti, one of the most exciting jobs so far. This was the most relax job I’ve ever had I could play any kind of music I wanted we could offer the clients champagne very laid back environment. But I needed more.. I was out shopping for dress shoes for a client and I grabbed them a pair from Salvatore Ferragamo. While at the register the stock manager at the time asked me was I interested in a job, I entertained the ideal and the manager reached out to me the very next day, small world because he knows me from working in Neiman Marcus we instantly clicked. So in August 2018 I begin the new Chapter in my life working for Salvatore Ferragamo. Having to over from the bottom I had to be smart I had a 1 year game plan that my first year I would work really hard and I’ll be the first Million Dollar Book for this store. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you and say it was easy, it was very difficult. I was a new salesman with no clients at this store, but that did t stop me from reaching my goals
I give All my clients the best customer service known to man and when the other sales associates clients saw how i move Mountains for my clients they wanted me to assist them.. fast forward I surpassed my goal selling way over 1 Million in my first year and becoming the top salesman of the East Coast. So for anyone starting a new career path in Luxury Retail don’t let anyone dim your light, you have to set your goals and have tunnel vision and stay on the road to success. It’s a long and hard road but trust me when you come out on the other end, all the hard work is so worth it. In a nutshell Luxury Retail can be very rewarding after being in the game for over 16 years I’ve made a name for myself, I would tell people that burning bridges in this game is not a great ideal because we all work together and the retail circle is Very Small. Hardwork and determination will get you to the next level of this game. Happy Selling🥂

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

Being active in the Atlanta Social Circles and being a regular on the club scene really helped out my reputation. I still To this day thank my client turnt friend Shun Melson she help put me on the map from Styling all the Atlanta Housewives, Monica, Gucci Mane, Fantasia etc. she also took me along the ride with her I’m forever grateful for her for putting me out there.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective and efficient strategy for growing my clientele is being unique and going above and beyond. I use My social media platform to showcase my lifestyle and the products that I sell. I’m giving an experience Fine Dining, Travel, Luxury it’s the lifestyle we all work towards. We shop to look good, to look good to Travel , you need clothes and shoes to do these things. Social Media and Fashion goes hand and hand.

Contact Info:

• Website: Ferragamo.com
• Instagram: Ferragamojamatl
• Facebook: Jamil Pratt
• Linkedin: Jamil Pratt