We recently connected with Latonya Benford and have shared our conversation below.

Latonya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Finding those key vendors can often be make or break for a brand. Can you talk to us about how you found your key vendors?

Finding a good manufacturer can be tricky at times. You don’t know if they are scammers or if their quality of products are good so on and so forth. The way I found my manufacturer was by asking around and also doing my research on them. I would normally check out the quality of someone else’s merchandise and go from there. If it great quality then I would reach out to the same manufacturer. The best way to strike a good deal and partnership with the manufacturer is by start out with samples. I would ask for mockups to see how what I envisioned would turn out. After that, I would put down a deposit and send the rest once the product is finalized. I have made the mistake of paying everything up front without actually seeing the product and it was not a good turn out. I would not recommend anyone to do that.

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?

Crystal Custom Wear (ccw) specializes in customization of apparel. We also have our own collection called Queen and King Sh#t that has been worn by influencers and some of the biggest celebrities. Being able to come up with new ideas and creating something new is what I believe sets me apart from other people. I’m always finding new ways to create new items, as well as, network with different businesses to make something new or collaborate with (locally and out of state.) As I continue to grow in this industry I’ve expanded beyond just clothing. I have invested in an arcade lounge in Maryland, became a board member of a nonprofit organization, and also put my clothing in Ayo Boutique.

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

I built my audience just by being myself. People love people who they can relate to. Being yourself it the ultimate key when trying to gain an audience. My advice would be to be yourself, and have fun with it.

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

I would have to say my customer service. I make sure I go above and beyond for my customers. When you have great customer service it will have people wanting to come back for more. People are not just buying your merch/products they are investing in you and your dreams. I also make sure I have the top quality of merchandise that they would love.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.crystalcustomwear.com
• Instagram: Ccw_2009
• Facebook: Ccw_2009
• Twitter: Ccw_2009

Image Credits
Ciaobellagency