We recently connected with Jazmyn Averette and have shared our conversation below.

Jazmyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I do not wish that I had started my business sooner or later actually. I started my business in December of 2020, which was the same month and year that my mom passed away. Although her passing was the most traumatic experience of my life, it created a drive and passion for my ability to stay motivated to express myself through fashion while relaying positive, inspirational and creative messages through high quality garments. During my mother’s passing, I was at work and in the middle of typing a final research paper for one of my college courses. One thing that my mother always expressed to me was that she wanted to watch me walk across the stage and obtain my degree. Although she passed away while I was in my last semester of college and didn’t get a chance to watch me achieve that goal, I was able to push through and obtain my Bachelor’s degree in May of 2021. Overall, starting my brand later or sooner wouldn’t have made as much of an impact as it does now.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Jazmyn Averette aka Jiggy; owner and creator of Just Keep Advancing a unisex streetwear clothing brand based in Baltimore, Maryland. I created the brand name from my initials of my name which are JKA. After losing my mother in December of 2020, I brainstormed brand names that were geared towards strength, perseverance, and motivation. As an end result I created Just Keep Advancing. The brand slogan is “ No matter what happens, Just Keep Advancing!” I created that slogan because sometimes as individuals when life gets hard we may get the urge or tendency to give up; therefore, the slogan was created to motivate people to keep going no matter what life may throw at us.

I sell a wide range of products such as t-shirts, socks, hats, sunglasses, crossbody bags, hoodies, jackets, sweatshirts, shorts, watches, and sweatpants. While marketing the wide range of products daily , I strive for outstanding customer service. I enjoy meeting new potential customers and informing them about myself , my brand, and my mission. What sets my brand apart from others, is that I didn’t just create a brand , logo, website and products with the anticipation to make profits. I created my clothing brand out of passion and with the intent to inspire others through fashion to never give up no matter what!

As I approach my 5th year in the fashion industry, I am most proud of the connections that I have made and people who were inspired by me and my brand. Furthermore, I have styled a handful of artists in my brand’s apparel. My brand has made an appearance in over 15 states and 3 countries with the intention to expand!

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

My favorite marketing and sales strategy would be attending pop up shops and face to face transactions. Not only does in person marketing and sales help others know about me and my brand but, it helps build a rapport that keeps customers engaged and increases return rate. As an introvert, when starting my brand I used to be terrified of speaking to strangers and getting myself out there as a brand owner. In addition , posting on social media every day helps to drive sales. Not receiving likes or comments on posts means nothing. There’s always someone watching. In fact, I utilize ads on social media to gain sales. In April of 2023, I received my first international order. As of today, I have no regrets and continue to use the same marketing and sales strategies while exploring new ideas as I grow.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My ability to receive a Bachelor’s degree, maintain a successful business, steady career, balance and navigate life in my 20’s while losing my mother illustrates my resilience. I mourn the death of my mom daily but, I keep pushing. I am an example of the slogan that I created. “No matter what happens, Just Keep Advancing!” -Jiggy The Designer

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justkeepadvancing.com
• Instagram: @justkeepadvancing