Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Sharp.
Hi Aaron, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Los Angeles and raised in Inglewood, California. My mother raised me to embrace who I am and always be of service to others when and where I can. I attended Loyola High school, where the philosophy of “being a man for others” was ingrained in me, and I have since lived by that. In 2019, I looked around and realized that while the black community accounted for a large part of the dollars spent on footwear, there was very little black ownership in that space. I wanted to change that. Black ownership helps to ensure that some of those dollars are circulated in the community. I took the negative stereotypes of black-owned businesses to heart and created Mandeaux with the idea of proving those stereotypes wrong. I set out to create a luxury brand with excellent customer service, a superior product that people are proud to wear, and a goal to have a positive social impact in our community. The type of positive representation that Mandeaux provides for the next generation of black business owners is critical to our community’s success.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not for me. I’m sure somewhere in the world, people have had it easy. I’m certainly not one of them. It’s a little-known fact that Mandeaux was called Blended Éclat (French for a showy display of brilliance) when we started. I was making our shoes out of Italy and spent significant time and money on branding. It was a waste because I wasn’t knowledgeable about trademark registration. When I applied for registration, I was hit with a thousand reasons why the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) would never approve my trademark. It became clear that I needed to rebrand. I spent thousands of dollars building the first brand, from a website to social media, to logos, to stationary, and everything in-between.
If you learn nothing else from this interview, remember that if you have a fantastic idea that you envision reaching people nationwide, registering your intellectual property is huge. Protect and defend your creation. About 18 months after being denied that first trademark registration, I was holding my first USPTO trademark registration for Mandeaux. I used the identical swords and olive branches from my first brand and replaced the previous name with the M and the new name. I could have quit after the first rejection, but I used that as an opportunity to grow. I studied more and understood how to get approval.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mandeaux?
We originally started as an online luxury boutique that only offered high-end men’s footwear. We quickly expanded into offering women’s footwear after a clear outcry from the women that loved and supported the brand. While we have a gorgeous line of classic silhouettes, we allow clients to customize their shoes to fit their unique style.
There are so many hidden gyms about Mandeaux. Did you know when you refer someone to Mandeaux and they buy a pair of shoes, you earn a $20 credit for your own Mandeaux shoe purchase? Did you know we offer an exclusive discount to recent high school and college graduates? We also have a rewards program where you can earn points for following our social media, writing reviews, sharing our page with others, and making purchases. Those points can be redeemed for discounts.
Most importantly, since Day 1, we’ve been committed to donating a portion of shoe sales to charity. Our current charity partner is Better Basics, Inc., out of Birmingham, Alabama. Every donation to Better Basics helps them achieve their goal of eradicating illiteracy in children. We don’t just make unique products for people to enjoy, but we also give back to those in need. Did you know you could change who receives the donation from your purchase by clicking the update button on the product page? This makes it easy to partner with groups or organizations that want to do a fundraiser.
We also offer exclusive discounts for our clients on some of our Partner websites. Lace Lab, Vivian Lou, and KLĒN are some of our partners who offer exclusive discounts to our clients. At Mandeaux, we have an overarching goal of providing real value and memorable experiences for our clients. The first time you receive a pair of Mandeaux shoes is something not soon forgotten. From the luxury packaging to the look and feel of the product, it’s very apparent we’re not just a basic shoe line trying to fit in.
We’ve become so much more than just a shoe brand. After two years of research, bootstrapping, and brainstorming, we’re entering two new industries in the next few months. We emphasize the importance of owning your style and valuing your time. We believe your time should be yours to give to whoever or whatever is worthy. Take control of your time with the Mandeaux Auteaux (aw-toh) automatic luxury timepiece. It’s a brilliantly crafted Swiss-made mechanical watch that rounds out your elegant and refined look. It’s versatile enough to wear at work, on a date, or at a banquet. The Auteaux starts shipping in December 2022, and unlike similar timepieces from much larger brands, Montblanc and Movado, our price point is only $1,500 and includes a 3-year warranty on the movement.
We’re equally excited about the announcement of the Mandeaux Independent Affiliate Program. This program goes hand in hand with the Mandeaux Auteaux. We’re seeking individuals with sales experience to apply for the program, where they’ll earn a commission for each watch sold. There are no maximums on how many watches can be sold to earn a commission, and super exciting bonuses are available after your 10th and 25th watch sales. Applications are being accepted at Mandeaux.com
Lastly, we’re not getting any sleep due to the anticipation of our brand-new niche fragrance, Insatiable. Yes, you read that right. We expect to release Insatiable in late spring/early summer 2023. Scent completes a look, and if you’re a fan of a high-quality fragrance but you’re tired of smelling like the rest of the venue you’re in, this is for you. With tiny batches produced and a higher cost of entry, our niche fragrance is poised to be an exclusive favorite. We announced Insatiable in early October 2022 and have already received pre-orders before its completion.
We are just entering Year 4, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s on the horizon. We hope you are too!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
So far, the most important lesson I’ve learned is just how critical a solid team is. Since I learned what the word ‘leverage’ meant as a teenager, I fell in love with it. My dad always said T.E.A.M. – together, everyone achieves more. That stuck with me. During the first three years of building Mandeaux, making money was not my primary goal. Instead, I focused on teaching people and making it easier for them to acquire sought-after luxury items. I kept the profit margins lower than usual and spent a lot of time explaining the benefits of luxury footwear. I couldn’t do this alone. I needed experts to help tell that story, and for that, I turned to my team at Hyyer Creative. They helped me develop the unique content seen by over 1 million people worldwide since we started working together in 2020.
We’re in an era where content is king. People will scroll right past your page, post, or story if you don’t have quality content. It all comes down to how you’re marketing your product or service. You can’t expect to stand out by doing the same things your competition does. Do you, be you. And keep a solid team around you.
Pricing:
- Specialty Coffee starts at $25 (free shipping)
- Luxury Footwear starts at $265
- Insatiable – niche fragrance starts at $199
- Auteaux – luxury timepiece is $1,500
- Use ZIP at checkout to split cost into 4 no-interest payments
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mandeaux.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mandeauxshoes
- Facebook: facebook.com/mandeauxshoes
- Other: linkpop.com/mandeaux
Image Credits
Hyyer Creative Malachi Fuller Kora The Artist Beast Williams Juliah Barnett Laureano Ramos Charles Tice
