Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Catapia.
CJ, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my career in fashion at Rhude, a Los Angeles based designer brand. I interned there for about two years while I was in college at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I started there back when we were still shipping to Barney’s New York from Rhuigi’s garage. I had met him when I was in 6th or 7th grade when I sang in the Filipino church choir at my private school back in the San Fernando Valley. Ten years later, I applied for an internship and gained hands-on experience with a clothing brand, as well as a new network of multi-talented people in the fashion sphere. The perfect mix to put me on a platform that gave me enough to venture off to my next career move: a job. After interning for Rhude’s PR agency at that time, I was later offered a position. I worked in the VIP department and later learned to love fashion public relations. I was fascinated with having the ability to pitch brands that I believed in to potentially sign with us and put them on a platform to excel. When COVID-19 hit, our showroom was shut down until further notice and I was working from home for about a month. Soon after, I was unfortunately put on furlough, however, I couldn’t wait idly for work and still support myself with the basic necessities like food and rent.
As thousands lost their jobs and had to close down workplaces during this pandemic, there weren’t any openings for my field of work. I knew that relying on others for job security at a time like this was very hard to feel confident in. I decided to get a job with someone that would never fire me – myself. I filed for an LLC in hopes of starting my own business in the fashion industry. I always had a love for clothing and wanted to start my own brand, however, the factories for manufacturing and production were also affected by the pandemic. With very seldom resources, I had to rely on what I had but make something out of it. I relied solely on my skill-set to make something out of my LLC. I started building my business plan for my fashion PR agency and soon put it in motion. Without hired employees or office space, I was able to successfully sign three clients in one month. I relied on my personal network of friends and peers as relationships are stronger than anything else in this industry. I am hoping to create employment for my friends that work as freelance creatives of their craft, as well as continue to discover up and coming brands that have the potential to reach great heights with my brand comprehension and expertise. I want to stay true to the initial drive I had for starting this and that’s opening up pathways of success for others while simultaneously doing it for myself. Everybody eats!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been the right amount of rocky to challenge me but keep me afloat. Especially during a time like this with the pandemic and the fight for Black Lives Matter, it’s hard to stay focused when negativity is surrounding you. The fact that racism is still a controversial topic is disheartening. In terms of my work life, resources for open manufacturing and production of clothing has been scarce, ability to complete day-to-day tasks like walking into a store to purchase supplies or schedule in-person meetings isn’t as easily done, collaborative projects with many hands-on-deck like photoshoots/video shoots are now questionable, it’s just a laundry list of road bumps that are actually teaching me to adapt. With technology and an endless world of information on the internet, hardships can be altered both in your workspace and outside of it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about CJC PR – what should we know?
CJC PR is a fashion public relations agency based in Los Angeles. We are a company rooted in resilience– birthed from turmoil brought upon us by a global pandemic. Due to the climate of today’s culture, many industries unable to adapt have shut down. CJC PR draws on the most effective and innovative marketing tool kit of our time to ensure your company’s standards are met. I am most proud of having the ability to create jobs for others during a time like this. I admire freelancers and those who feel like they can venture off on their own to make something of themself and enjoy it. I looked forward to the day where I didn’t have to work for anyone else other than myself and love to be in a position where I can assist others to do the same. I am very pleased with the progress and rapid-paced growth thus far, especially considering the current circumstances.
I think what sets me apart from others is my age. I’m 23 years old and not many PR agency founders or CEOs are that age. Some may see that as a setback for my company. I’d like to think of it as my strongest asset. At my previous job, I didn’t get a lot of freedom to implement my own strategies or ideas. I followed protocol and directions accordingly. In an ever-changing industry, you cannot rely on using the same old PR tactics and procedures that are now outdated. Everything in PR is good timing so you must be fully conscious and aware of the current culture in fashion, music, art, and even cannabis as many of these go hand in hand nowadays. I pride myself on the upkeep of today’s cultures, not only because of my company but because I am a consumer myself. Having this consumer standpoint in all the relevant industries, while owning a company of this nature and having youthful tactics and strategies in place has made all the difference for me.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I think my entire circle of friends and network of peers deserve credit. I am a firm believer in surrounding myself with like-minded people and even a reflection of me. I can confidently say that everyone I’ve been graced to meet since I started my first internship until this very day has put me in the position that I am in now. There is a certain drive creative possess that cannot be matched and that’s something I pride myself in, as well as see in those around me. I can specifically say the Rhude team has been my first foundation of a family within this industry that I’ve been fortunate enough to learn a lot from. With an array of talented individuals as team members, I’ve never taken for granted the different skill-sets everyone brought to the table. I tried to learn as much as possible from design to production to marketing and everything in between. My boyfriend has been the biggest supporter of my new business venture. He was actually the one that gave me the idea to start my own company and file an LLC. My family, interns, and clients are remarkable in that they all believe in me and what we are doing at CJC PR. That faith alone is enough to make me feel like we’re really on to something great and it’s only the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Website: cjcpr.net
- Phone: 8188770398
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @c.j.c.pr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/c.j.c.pr/
- Other: @chrisjasminec (IG)
Image Credit:
Cassandra Catapia
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