Today we’d like to introduce you to Remy Johnson and Vanessa Lee.
Hi Remy and Vanessa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We’re Remy Johnson and Vanessa Lee, former coworkers turned friends and now business partners. We are rāv collective .
We have a combined 33 years of experience in the retail industry and we’re ready to share our wealth of knowledge with small-mid size businesses. Having worked in nearly all retail business segments, ranging from early-stage startups to global multi-billion dollar brands. We’ve amassed a substantial amount of experience across merchandising, product development, creative production, and wholesale strategies – which has resulted in millions in incremental revenue.
As Black women, we are fervent supporters of women-led businesses and entrepreneurs of color. We believe in not only creating “a seat at the table” but building a table where everyone can show up authentically. Inclusivity and upliftment is at the core of our ethos. We believe our collective magic is where our authenticity and experience converge.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing worth having is easy. Hard work makes our successes that much more rewarding. Starting any business is one of the scariest and most vulnerable challenges one can take on. Operating in ambiguity can be challenging at times, but we lean on our knowledge and expertise in those moments.
We’ve been impressed with rāv collective, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Only 20% of minority-owned small businesses survive their first 18 months, compared to the U.S. average of 75%. Debt, capital, and resources are at the top of the list of challenges minority-owned businesses disproportionately face.
rāv collective is on a mission to help close this gap by providing all businesses, but especially minority-owned businesses, the strategic support to help level the playing field and set them up for success. We offer a space for small businesses to connect with industry experts in order to create and execute strategies in the areas of: Merchandising, Creative, Wholesale, and Business Optimization.
We foster an oasis where we can all show up as ourselves, stand in our truths, and dare to push the limits together.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Our reputation is not only built on our strategic acumen and business results but how people feel when they leave our presence. We are not transactional – even though that is the very core of our industry. We prioritize relationships and true partnerships. Vanessa and I have always treated our internal and external partners with grace, compassion, and understanding. We seek out partners that want to ride the waves together. Where we celebrate the highs and find collaborative solutions for the lows.
We are so fortunate and grateful that the seeds we planted with previous relationships throughout our entire career tenure are coming to harvest for us now. With some of our relationships, yes, we’ve had major financial successes, but those people are still around because of how we approached them as humans and not just dollar signs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ravcollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravcollective/
Image Credits
Grace Kim, Andrew Waits
