Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Williams.
Brandon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It started in Providence, RI where I had always been an artsy type, musician, classically trained to be a trumpet player. I have always liked being different and what better way than choosing, designing and making my own clothes. Then I would never have the problem of spotting my outfit out and about on some loser that’s not as cool as me.
One day while in my favorite antique thrift shop, I saw a tiny tailor singer sewing machine. Excited, I purchased the machine for 25 bucks and quickly took it home to make clothes. One problem,this machine knew something that I did not, how to sew. Clueless of the knowledge about my new toy, I took it to RISD a design school and began to politely ask a teacher in the fashion department to help me load the bobbin. She told me no, sorry, you have to be a student here to get that information. I was angry. I sold the machine back to that school second-hand supply shop and took to YouTube for the easiest to use sewing machine that had tutorials.
A couple of days later, my jet black Heritage Singer came in the mail and I started making mistakes, first with wallets, then backpacks. I was already a trained entrepreneur from a kid, I hastily started producing these simple bags for purchase at both my jobs as a waiter and a sandwich maker for my co-workers as my first new customers. Then feeling stuck, I made my first jump and began working for myself full-time. I failed horribly, winter was coming and money was low. I was tired of working those two dead-end jobs and I knew that there was more to life. So crying in my kitchen because of fear of failure, I bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. I left all my stuff and equipment with providence and only took three bags, 600 bucks and the new knowledge of sewing with me to Hollywood.
I stayed in and outside of all the hostels in Hollywood getting kicked out almost all of them because of the time limit. I damn near filled out every job application there in that neighborhood and with luck, I landed my first job being paid under the table at this hole in the wall Caribbean restaurant being under-appreciated and overworked. And by grace, landed my hopefully last real job at a pizza place where I was able to save 10,000 Dollars as a bus boy to make my second jump. I just applied what I did in Providence, but this time I knew and had some type of idea of my new career as a fashion designer. I started producing fanny packs, that blast from the past bag growing popular again. And here we are to current time. I’m slowly earning my popular place in the LA area as the fanny pack guy and luckily with not even a year in the business , royalty, celebrates, and famous musician, poets, and actors are familiar with the brand, my brand is called Rockitbag.com.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, I don’t know what easy means. It’s been scary as hell. Everyday I take a chance. Everyday my faith is tested. Everyday is grueling, restless, intense work with no safety net. The struggle so far is knowing the why, staying true and getting the hell out of my own controlling way. But ultimately I am thankful because I am a little bit braver and everyday is different full of learning and growth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Rockit Bag – what should we know?
I specialize in luggage. Uniqueness is my thing. I offer people what I wanted most of all, to be different and special. Every bag is different and funky! I try not to make the same bag more than once. I use up-cycled materials to help out with the waste problem of the world. My business is based in community. I try my best to over-deliver and also try at the little things like learning the names of the people that support me and I also work at building relationship as the business grows.
Contact Info:
- Website: Rockitbag.com
- Instagram: The88Libraryisopen
- Facebook: Brandon M. Williams
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