We recently connected with Jay Hicks and have shared our conversation below.
Jay, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The idea originated when I was in high school. And the idea was small at first but it came into fruition during the start of Covid/lockdown, and the beginning of the protests- lead by the BLM movement. As a young African American male, I wanted and felt so lead to truly make a difference. And that is when the idea of ShapeYourWorld began. It would be a fashion brand that focuses on positive messaging, with the believe that “You have the power to shape the world around you”. What this means is that each individual has the ability to make a difference in everyday life- starting with yourself. If you are able to make a difference in your own life first, that positive energy can be transferred to people on your community and eventually the world.
Jay, 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 as a kid I always found myself to be very observant and on the outside looking in. This perspective on life allowed me to be more observant of the world around me and my community. As I grew up began to become more confident and outgoing and what helped me start my brand.
Before starting my brand ShapeYourWorld I didn’t have to much experience with the fashion industry aside from finding cool clothes. But I’ve always found myself to be creative. So while I’m college at the time and the things I learned from being there- seeing different cultures, different people, and different experiences, this allowed me to broaden my view of the world really. And eventually came to the realization, that at the core we are all the same.
I believe what sets my brand apart from others is the type of messaging and marketing I use. In every piece of clothing I try to create a positive message somewhere, while providing a trendy and comfortable style.
How did you build your audience on social media?
As social media has began to takeover, I as many other business owners figured it would be best to launch on social media. When first posting I created a layout where on every caption I would insert some type of positive message and this ended up resonating very well with people. This then lead to social campaigns I started such as “Monday Mantras” which was a tribute to start off every week on a positive note.
For people beginning to market on social media, I recommend be as creative as possible! In this age creativity pays! People want to see something different and engaging when they scrolling. If your marketing pops, your business will surely pop too!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
There was a time I had to take a pause on building the brand, which was one of the hardest decisions I had to make in a while. The business was growing, people were engaging but life after college proved to be difficult, Sinai came to the decision to take a step back and obtain more capital for the business.
It was the reaction after I came back that allowed me to know that people truly care about the brand. The first drop after my hiatus ended up being my most successful yet, with everything being made completely in house. This reaction truly gave me the confidence and motivation to continue this movement.
Contact Info:
- Website: ShapeYourWorldd.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: @shapeyourworldd
- Facebook: @shapeyourworldd
Image Credits
@flicksbyhicks on Instagram