We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Travis Mamon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Travis below.
Travis , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea of 7XCHANGE during a late-night study session during finals week in the BEC at Louisiana State University. My friends and I were taking a break from studying, eating snacks, and discussing what we wanted to do post-graduation. I told my friends I wanted to return home and start a clothing and sneaker boutique. Everyone was shocked because our major, International Trade & Finance, was a very hard but prestigious one to receive. I knew my passion was fashion, so I wanted to do something I would enjoy for the rest of my life. At the time, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into or what it would take. The only thing that fueled the idea was my love for the streetwear culture and faith. With faith alone, I knew this could work. Over the years and being in business for some time, my purpose has been very clear. I wanted to create a retail space that sold an experience! A space where fashion, music, and art could coexist, something that was already deeply rooted in Atlanta’s culture. My vision for 7XCHANGE was to align itself with the rich history embedded in the streetwear and lifestyle culture while bringing that culture to an untapped market in my hometown of McDonough, Georgia. Being able to do something like this that has never been done before in the community I grew up in has been a worthwhile endeavor and truly a blessing. Every day I wake up with the same excitement I had when I first opened up in 2017.
Travis , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Travis Mamon, and I am the owner of 7XCHANGE Boutique. 7XCHANGE is a multi-brand premium lifestyle boutique that offers apparel, limited-edition footwear, and accessories, home to some of the most exclusive brands and releases. I got into my industry of the love of streetwear and fashion. From my first pair of Jordans, which my mother bought me, to the clothing line I owned in high school and college, streetwear has always been a part of me! One of the problems I solve in my business is being the ONLY premium lifestyle boutique within thirty miles of metro Atlanta which makes us a one-stop shop for residents south of Atlanta and surrounding areas. Last year in quarter four, we introduced the 7XCHANGE app to the Apple and Google Play Stores. We wanted to bring our customers a seamless way to shop the latest fashion, footwear, and lifestyle brands and to connect our retail space with the world on their phone’s home screen. We are currently the ONLY boutique in Georgia that has an app, and we take pride in saying that. I would also like to announce that we have acquired Adidas and Reebok accounts, and we are very excited to be adding them to the list of brands we are carrying.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
In 2016 after graduating from LSU with an International Trade & Finance degree. I vividly remember my parents later that summer asking, now that I had my degree, what’s next? It was then that I first shared my dream of opening a clothing and sneaker boutique instead of pursuing a career as a financial analyst for Coca-Cola. My mom said, “boy, you don’t know anything about running a store!” Let’s skip over what my dad said! But with research and time, I finally convinced them to help me lease a space for a store. My mother gave me $10,000 to start. She wanted to see if I was serious or what I would do with that. With that money, I went to work, and things started coming together. After my father saw how serious I was, he began to invest. After seeing my first few customers purchase from me, my dad was sold and opened up his checkbook! My parents believed in my vision and helped me start my business. Today, my father is no longer with us, but my mother has taken over the role of doing the books for the company full-time now that she has retired from teaching.
How did you build your audience on social media?
In 2019, I was fortunate to meet someone that propelled my business to a level I didn’t think was possible. Through a mutual friend and family member, I met Angie Cummings, who was Yung Joc’s right-hand person and assistant. Angie called me randomly one day and asked if I was at the boutique, and I responded yes. She said, “I am on the way with Yung Joc!” That is all I needed to hear! Yung Joc allowed us to record him shopping at the store, and we posted the video on Instagram. THE VIDEO WENT VIRAL. The rest was history after that. From there, Joc and I formed a relationship. Whenever he needed clothes, no matter where or what time, I pulled up on him and brought the clothes. Later that summer, I was introduced to BT, a radio host and social media influencer. BT and I formed a perfect partnership and friendship, and he has turned into a loyal customer and friend. All this was possible because of Angie. Any advice I would give someone starting is that someone can link you with someone that can change your life forever. You have to be patient and have faith as long as you stay true to your vision and never give up. God will take care of the rest. I am very grateful for Angie and all she has done for 7XCHANGE and me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.7xchange.com
- Instagram: @7xchange
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7XCHANGE/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-mamon-83026813b/
- Twitter: @7xchange
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/7xchange-mcdonough
- Other: Business Profile links: https://linkpop.com/7xchange?fbclid=PAAaYUUQ8JD9zo8Kt8Q8jRhlniymsdKQZNMThN5L0KW1iWx0gZ-jCkjY_WjG4