1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversations. I am your host, ras 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Sean McDonald. I recognized that we all have different definitions 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: of success. For some exercisable paycheck, mine is helping people 4 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: wake up and inspiring them to accomplish their goals and 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 1: live their very best life. These are my passions, and 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: that's what I'm going to do for you. I want 7 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: you to stop tripping over small challenges and prepare to 8 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,080 Speaker 1: rise above the bigger obstacles that life will present to you. 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: My next guest, Randy Williams, is the president of Tally 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: and Twine, a company that designs and manufactures luxury watches 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: and necessaries. Since starting the company of fourteen granted this 12 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: game national media attention with Features and Men's Health, Black Enterprise, 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: Huffing and Post Essence, Levity, New York, New York Magazine, 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: and Cosmopolitan. The company names comes from an intersection that 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: was formerly the center of a notorious, crime ready neighborhood 16 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: in Virginia and reacent. In recent years, the neighborhood has 17 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: been completely revitalized and those same families now have the 18 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: opportunity to own place where the dark past now has 19 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: a bright future. Tally and Twine represents the future. It's 20 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: not about how you start, it's about how you finish. 21 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: Please welcome to money Making Conversations. The Owner, Founder, CEO, 22 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: all the titles to go with the leader of the pack, 23 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: my man, Randy Williams, thank you so much for having 24 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: me great intro. Submit that you got Stephen A. Smith 25 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: doing your intro. That's legendary. Man. I love that. Hey man. 26 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: The first of all, I love when people recognize his voice. 27 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: That's my man, man, and he lays it as only 28 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: Stephen A. Smith concern I'm not broke, that's true. Well, 29 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: this is this is what this show is about, talking 30 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: to people who are trying to gain their footh haul 31 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: and in the financial community, especially people of color, they 32 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: have kind of like been left out over the years. 33 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: We haven't been giving a blueprint or had the necessary 34 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: means to figure out figured it out. You know, they 35 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: tell us to go to school, we get an education, 36 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,200 Speaker 1: but that that'sn't a blueprint for success. That's until had 37 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: to become an entrepreneur. Tell us how I got started 38 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: for you, Randy, A lot of trial and error, and 39 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: you know, like you said, there isn't a blueprint. But 40 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: if you want to become an entrepreneur, you gotta go 41 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: out and try a few different things and kind of 42 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: learned along the way. So you know, fail fail that 43 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: business a lot, and all you need to be right 44 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: is one time, right now, be right now. You're an HBCU. Okay, 45 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 1: WHU for your education? Yeah, well it's not a deep 46 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: answer for me. They're the ones who accepted me. You know, 47 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: it was close to home. It was affordable. You know, 48 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: as a as a young man being raised by my grandmother, 49 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: can't have a whole lot of money saved up for 50 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: me to attend college. So I was less enough to 51 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: have a decent g p A. And you get into 52 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: Albany State University, man, so I had to. Um. I 53 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: was thankful for that opportunity. It gave me a great 54 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: cultural experience. You know. Um, I actually didn't recognize the 55 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: value of hbc US until I attended one man. But 56 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: it was a great experience. When you said, the value 57 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: what does that mean when used the value of an 58 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: HBCU until you attended it. So basically, like I said, 59 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: they let you in. You were thankful you can continue education, 60 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: but usually understand the other things that it brought to 61 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: the table that now you see as a benefit. Yeah, 62 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: it was a huge cultural experience. You know, it's a 63 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: celebration of blackness, and it's an environment where instructors and 64 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: professors make you feel seen, and that's something that's missing 65 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: in corporate America. It's they're kind of like UM an incubator, 66 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: Like they have business incubators for businesses that kind of 67 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: give you a great push to start. That's what it 68 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: does for Black American man HBCU as an incubator to 69 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: prepare you for the corporate environment that you're gonna face 70 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: after graduation. And now that's called life after college, which 71 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: we were talking about now now and one of your 72 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: questions that said you had previous businesses that have failed. 73 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: Can you talk about those before we got into the 74 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: success story of Alley and Twine. Yeah. Sure. Um. The 75 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: biggest filuer I had, I guess in terms of money 76 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: was up you know, trying to get into real estate 77 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: right at two thousand seven and two thousand eight, Um, 78 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: right where you are in Atlanta and losing my shirt. 79 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: You know. So that was one of the biggest lessons, 80 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: is you know, hopping into stuff without taking the time 81 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: to properly educate yourself. On how to do it. So 82 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: basically you saw an opportunity, didn't do your research, like 83 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: you said, and that that that famous year two thousand 84 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: and eight, and when everything went from success to horror, 85 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: I mean from a nightmare was find Nobody could explain 86 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: it because they they had already the system had already 87 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: had kind of like pushed this limit on loans, pushed 88 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 1: this limit on corporations and needed bailout. And the stock 89 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: market was the bubble burst, and you part of that. 90 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: I was part of America, was part of that. Nobody 91 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: was left, you know, you were by Oprah. However, valued 92 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: just dropped and all these major players in the tech 93 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: game started suffering, and all that those those levels of 94 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: income that they thought we're gonna be there forever went 95 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: away went away. Tally Entwine, Now, I'm gonna tell you this, 96 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: We're I'm not trying to be negative or anything. And 97 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: I just I wasn't wearing watches at all. I had 98 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: in my mind. Um, I just didn't where I watched. 99 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,119 Speaker 1: I stopped waring to watch probably about in the eighties six, 100 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: I stopped wearing to watch and uh and then um, 101 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: because somebodw I can always find the time, you know 102 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,679 Speaker 1: you're having phones you have I'm very good at knowing 103 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: my time where I'm at, and so that's where I 104 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: would perceived watches to be time. Now. I look at 105 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: watches now as accessories, as as part of the as 106 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: part of your style, part of my culture now. And 107 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: so a friend of mine, uh she executive producer a 108 00:05:53,480 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 1: family few as a birthday president president she Christmas, and 109 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: he brought me a watch, and I let it sat 110 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: there that I was determined just to hold true to rushan, 111 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna wear watching I bought all these years 112 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: watched I watching that, and I and I and I 113 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: realized that sometimes you have you have to change goals 114 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: to be successful, you have to change your the way 115 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: you do business. And putting on that watch really changed 116 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: the way I I did business and how I approached 117 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: myself became more flexible. And so I I used that 118 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: as a as a lead into the conversation that sometimes 119 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: people who might say, what does the watch bringing to 120 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: the where I did? The where I watched, Where a 121 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: watch changed the way I approach life, Randy, And and 122 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: if it allowed me to be flexible, it allowed me 123 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: to be fashionable because I got like three different ones, 124 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: you know, and I've just found about your brand. So 125 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: I'm about to perch me a couple of your brains. 126 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,559 Speaker 1: That's how I've gotten that. You know what I'm saying. 127 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: And uh, and so so let's talk about you heard 128 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: my story and how the impact of who the watch 129 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: can have. It made me. I felt it made me 130 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 1: made my because I wear suits all the times. Tailor 131 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: made suits, so it made my my my my clothing balanced. 132 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: I felt because I didn't have anything, because if you 133 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: don't have anything on your wrist, it's just naked there. 134 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: It's just it's just just skin. Now I have this watch, 135 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: and I can't tell you. Sometimes your people see me 136 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: as I like your watch, and I don't even know 137 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: because I because I'm a guy who pointed out them 138 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: very active with my hands. And then on my other 139 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: I'm a cancer survivor. So I have this little chain 140 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: on my right hand, on my right hand where it 141 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: reminds me and asked me about it. I always tell 142 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: them about surviving. And so I have a watch that 143 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: is on my left which talks about my culture, my balance, 144 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: and my watch on my right I got a risk 145 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: chain that talks about survival. And so when I when 146 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: I when I when the opportunity came about to interview you, 147 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: I just really wanted to know what was the driving 148 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: legacy of watches for you and the impact it can 149 00:07:55,640 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: have them a person like me. Yeah, most of our 150 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: customers have that same story as you have. Somebody got 151 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: it for him gift as a gift and they weren't 152 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: really into him, but once they started wearing, it's kind 153 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: of one of those things where you feel like, man, 154 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: I don't want to go out without one now. And 155 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: my personal story is during our senior trip in high school, 156 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: went on the cruise, went to the Bahamas. I went 157 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: in to one of these little local shops and they 158 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: had uh A fifty dollar guests watching there and I 159 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: had never won a watch before, but buying that, I 160 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: spent my last little money that I had. I bought 161 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: that watch and to bring it back home. That was 162 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 1: the first time I felt like a grown man, you know. 163 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: I felt like I have become a man, and now 164 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: I can go on to college and face the world. 165 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: And that kind of was coinciding with me going to college. 166 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: At the same time I got my first watch, and 167 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: so that it became important to me for that reason, 168 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: you know. So again, just like you, I was a 169 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: business major and we wore a lot of suits, and 170 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: I felt like that watch really in hand and sad 171 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: and gave me that professional police that I was looking for. 172 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 1: And um, how did you get in the watch business? 173 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: You know? Like I said, you know, people, could you 174 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: know that doesn't the first African American? Okay, and you 175 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: you're getting into the watch business and talk about that 176 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: step because of course, you know, it's just natural conversation 177 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: to you. We're don't money making conversations. So I'm trying 178 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: to walk people through the steps of how you can 179 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 1: get to your dream. And it's not normal because you 180 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: just can't go to the next door and just talk 181 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: to somebody. I want to start. I want to get 182 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: in to watch it. They look at you like, okay, 183 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: now you talk about the Bahama trip. Okay, that's a 184 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: long way from what We're a long ways from Bahama 185 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: because of the fact that you know Tally and Twine. 186 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: We talked about how that is from from a street 187 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: name in the neighborhood. Like my business is thirty fifteen media, 188 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 1: thirty and fifteen media. The number three fifteen is from 189 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: the home that I was born in that was in 190 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: the hood and uh and it was six bed room, 191 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: it was what it was there with six six sisters 192 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: and two brothers, my both my parents who lived in 193 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: a two bedroom shotgun house. So when I read that 194 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: talent and trying, it's a lot of thing that you're 195 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: doing in your life that's very relatable to what I 196 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: do and what I what I stand for. And that's 197 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: why I feel that I always want to keep you 198 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: in my life because I feel that we have a 199 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 1: certain kinship. But again, you young man, wanted to do 200 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:24,199 Speaker 1: go into the watch business? How just want to get 201 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 1: into the watch business? Yeah? Through um so, through a 202 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: lot of trial and error and other businesses, you realize 203 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: that in order for a business to be successful, you 204 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: have to fulfill a need, fulfill a gap. So there's 205 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: something missing or there's a market that's not being served 206 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: that could benefit from what you have to offer. And so, 207 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 1: as a consumer of watches, and I think a lot 208 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 1: of our people should really take note of that is 209 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: a lot of things that you consume um represent an 210 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: opportunity for you. And so I was collecting a lot 211 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 1: of watches, but I figured out something most of the 212 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: brands that were affordable meeting under a thousand dollars, they 213 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: were just mimicking the more expensive brand. So it was 214 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: a lot of repetition in the market, and I wanted 215 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: to wear something different, you know. I said, if I 216 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: had to watch, I would change this, I would change that, 217 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: my band would look like this. And after while, I 218 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: realized that that represented a huge opportunity for me to 219 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: get into business and designed my own watch. Now how 220 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: I was gonna do that, I had no idea, and 221 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: so that's when I went to YouTube and Google University 222 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: and kind of figured out the steps to step by step. 223 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: I started with a sketch and then I eventually contacted 224 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: the manufacturer. UH. They helped me bring that to life, 225 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: order some samples, and once I got the samples the 226 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: way that I wanted them, you know, over the course 227 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: of about a year year and a half, that's when 228 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: I decided to launch, and we launched via the crowdfunding 229 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: site kickstarter to raise money for our first shipment. So 230 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: you went out there. I've heard people say kick started, 231 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: what what engaged people wanna tribute to your brain? What 232 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: did you do? What was it? What was your platform? 233 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: What was your what made them want to go, wow, 234 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: I want to I want to contribute to this. And 235 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: how does kicks Started work when someone contributes to it? 236 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: Do they are they part owners? They have a little 237 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: percentage of your brand? How does that work? M hm um? Well, 238 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,079 Speaker 1: my platform was just what I told you, So here's 239 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: something new for the market. Here's something that is not 240 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: going to be a replica of all the other watches 241 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: that are out. So that was my main platform. And 242 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: then also I started with the interchangeable band, So I 243 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: have these canvas bands that we can change. You can 244 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: give your watch a completely different looks. So those are 245 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 1: my two platforms. And then the way kick Started works 246 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:47,439 Speaker 1: is it's basically a pre order system. So in order 247 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: to get your products early, people will pay um ahead 248 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: of time and they'll get a discount off of the 249 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: retail price. Right. So let's say my goal was the 250 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: raised five thousand and so I knew I needed I 251 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: think maybe a hundred a hundred and fifty backers to 252 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: pre order the watch, who believe in what we were doing, 253 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: who believed that we would be able to get the 254 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,319 Speaker 1: main manufacturing process done to go ahead and pre order 255 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: and an exchange they were able to get a steep 256 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: discount off of the initial watch. But no, they are 257 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: not part owners, so they just they basically we just 258 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: ordering their product at a discount. Yes, sir, there are 259 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: some crowdfunding platforms that work like that where you do 260 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: get ownership. But I didn't do that. Absolutely, you didn't 261 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 1: be thankful for it, aren't you? You know, because we 262 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: all have dreams. And the thing about when the dream 263 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: that comes successful and then people look around going tapping 264 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: you on the show talking about what my chick it's 265 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: about a hundred and fifty of them? Ready? That that 266 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: gets pretty ugly real fast man, Well, hut where my 267 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: check at? You know? Look, man, look let me give 268 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: you back in two Okay, you can go about your 269 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: business all right. Sorry, no, no, no, that's not what 270 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: my contracts say. My contracts say I owned some of 271 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 1: this and I want my share. Man. You're here for 272 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: screaming up and down. Now when I'm looking at these bands, man, 273 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: you know because on your site, right and the different 274 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: look it's what you know, the large face is they're 275 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: very clean. Your you're watches, uh don't have numbers on them? 276 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: Was what that was? That the look that you were seeking. Yeah, 277 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: that's the look that I was seeking, because again I 278 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: wanted to do something that wasn't traditional. And you said 279 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: it earlier. We don't really use our watches for telling 280 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: time now, it's more of a fashion accessor, and so 281 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: I wanted to give it a unique look. So we 282 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: only have the number seven on all of our watching 283 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: And why is that? Well, the number seven represents completion. 284 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: So I told myself when I started Italian Twine, I 285 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: was gonna finish what I started. You know, you know 286 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: a lot of times with entrepreneurs, we started stuff and 287 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: be sitting around the house and thinking of he be 288 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: thinking of stuff, though I love you boy. Number seven 289 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: you know, you know, seven days in the week. You 290 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, You got to complete your problems, 291 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: that's right. And then there's also something very recognizable. Man. 292 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: I imagine people being out in the store looking over 293 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: at somebody's wrists and seeing that seven and saying, hey, 294 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: is that Italians one? So you know it's entrepreneurs. They 295 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:27,520 Speaker 1: go why just or creature conversation, you know, or as 296 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: a conversation piece, exactly what type of watches? Because that 297 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: in the end, man, that's really all you're trying to create, 298 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: like I said, you know, people trying to create ice breakers. 299 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: And first of all, it's a beautiful watch. And then 300 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: that number seven on it. You know if somebody wise 301 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: it's just or seven, then you explain it. Then you 302 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: get to a conversation with somebody and now all of 303 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: a sudden there's a great ice breaker. But the but 304 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: the look in the fashion is really so this is 305 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: really I think a very timely watch. So we went 306 00:15:55,760 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: the official launch date for this watching Randy we un 307 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: in November two thousand four, November, right before Christmas. Smart 308 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: move right, Okay, so everything's online, correct, Yes, sir, We 309 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: sell direct the consumer. Um, we don't do any retail 310 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: right now. Okay, So COVID hit, the pandemic hits, the 311 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: country shuts down. What does that do for your brain? 312 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: We saw increase in sales, you know, because people were 313 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: at home. Um. And unfortunately, the social unrest also added 314 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: a boost to our business, you know, as people begin 315 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: to seek out black owned businesses, you know. So you know, 316 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: it kind of validated my thinking from the beginning was 317 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: that you know, eventually traditional retails gonna continue to continue 318 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: to slow down and people gonna want to owner their 319 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: products online. They're not gonna want to put up with 320 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: the higher prices at retail. They're not gonna put up 321 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: with the bad customer service they get at retail. UM 322 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: And so I kind of pushed off my chip to 323 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: the table to be saying that we're gonna do direct 324 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: consumer and sell online only. We actually turn out some 325 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: some major contracts from some traditional retailers to keep our 326 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: brand intact. When you say that, what do you mean 327 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 1: you to keep your brand intact? What does that mean? Yeah, 328 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: meming UM, Let's say we we got a um A 329 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: purchase order from from North from rely and we chose 330 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: not to do it. Because when you shop at North 331 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: from your North froom's customer, they control the social they 332 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: control the customer service, They can talk to you how 333 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: they want to, they can ship in whatever time frame 334 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 1: they want to, and ultimately you become their customer. As 335 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: a directed consumer business, you maintain the connection with all 336 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: of your customers. So I can say, hey, Mr Williams, 337 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: thank you for your purchase last month. You want to 338 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: know if you'll be interested in one of our leather 339 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: bands to accompany the watch that you purchase, or I 340 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 1: can send you a card on your birthday, or I 341 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: can send you a free gift in the mail prior 342 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,719 Speaker 1: to the holiday. And ultimately, the value in today's market 343 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: is having that customer base. There's no need to give 344 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 1: it away to somebody just because you know their name 345 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: and they've been around for a while, because you're ultimately 346 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 1: providing the value. Wow, I'm talking to Randy Williams. He's 347 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 1: the president of Italian Twine, accompanying designs and manufacturer luxury 348 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: watches and accessories. He's started November fourteen. And you're really 349 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: good at getting um media to look at your brand. 350 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 1: How you're accomplishing that task, because that's the number one 351 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: talk that people talk, right Man, I can I can 352 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: I get promotion I can get from I can get 353 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: all the cole written on my product first of all 354 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: around to have a good looking product. But you're you 355 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: when I look when I when I'm doing this interview, 356 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: you have a very interesting personality. What interesting meaning? It 357 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: is good because you have a plan, you have a conversation, 358 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: you know, you're you're you have all the right things 359 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: to say about who you are and why you're doing this. 360 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: You know, like that number seven is really slick, you know, 361 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: interchangeable watches. You know. I know when I was Markeny 362 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: Steve Harvey's first book, they always put out a little 363 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: phrases out of the book so you can when you 364 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: go to an interview. These are buzzwords and people jump 365 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 1: on them. So what is your degree in, Randy Mark? 366 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: My degree of that marketing? So all this, this is 367 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: all part of the big plan. Really, you know what 368 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: I'm saying, part of the big plan because everything you 369 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 1: do and it's like not I won't say marketing one 370 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: on one, but guess what, you have all the right 371 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: little layers and buzzes and statements to be able to say, 372 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: I'm an interesting guy. You can put me on TV, 373 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 1: I can talk if you write about me. Guess where 374 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: I got stuff to put in print? And it all 375 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 1: comes back to a product that looks outstanding. Man, Thank 376 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,360 Speaker 1: you man. I'll tell you what it's like this, Um, 377 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 1: I think I like it to I attributed to self awareness. 378 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: So it's just like when you go from being a 379 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: young man to an older man, you understand who you 380 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: are more and you understand why you're doing what you're doing. 381 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: You're not just doing something to make money or He's 382 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: not just doing something for attention. And I wanted Italians 383 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: wanting to be a brand like that that understood it, 384 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: so that had these principles and these values that were 385 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: built into the brand, and we weren't kind of following 386 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 1: the trends and following what was popular. And so that's 387 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: how I think about it. And to answer your question 388 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: about how we got the media, I have no idea. 389 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: We have never had a pr agency. We don't reach 390 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: out to media outlets. Somehow we get UH coverage and 391 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: I just consider it a blessing. I just say that 392 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: that's God's grace. And I really don't have a strategy 393 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: for that one. But I go to the website, I 394 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 1: see everybody. You know what I'm saying. I see I 395 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,399 Speaker 1: see the strategy. You know, from the marketing standpoint, I 396 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: see Men's Help, Black Enterprise. He posts Blavity Bashable, they 397 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 1: not New York cost Bollom ebony. That right there, let 398 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,719 Speaker 1: everybody know we're brand is being recognized by all the 399 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: top media outlets. That means that you are you're very 400 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: much aware of who you are and the story you 401 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: trying to tell. Now you have a men's line and 402 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: you have a women's line. Okay, I'm assuming you started 403 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: with the men's line first, correct, Yes, sir, when did 404 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: you get smart? And I gotta bring it on the 405 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: women because they're the one they're they're the ones who 406 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: really they're the ones who buy two or three things. 407 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: You know, they got a dress for this, they got 408 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: a dressed for that. You know when when when did 409 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: that pop up? Realize that the women? I'm assuming that 410 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: the women are the biggest buyers. Correct, it's about okay, yeah, 411 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 1: which I which I like because that means that you 412 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: have a pretty much established, especially on the men's side, 413 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:39,439 Speaker 1: a certain dollar value customer. Yeah, yeah, I would say so. 414 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: I think two years in I started, I couldn't resist 415 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: it anymore because I wanted tally trying to be men's brand, 416 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: because that's who I knew how to market too. I 417 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 1: was so afraid of trying to market the women. I 418 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: didn't want to mess up in the way that I 419 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: was communicating with them. But after a while, man, after 420 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: get email and email and all and call, it was 421 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,360 Speaker 1: women buying gifts for men as much as there were 422 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: men shopping on our site, and so it just represented 423 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 1: a no brainer. I mean, the people act for and 424 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: they wanted a watch that match their husbands. They wanted 425 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: to gift set. And so I just kind of took 426 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: that feedback and you know, I had to slap myself 427 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: against the head and like, what are you doing? You know, 428 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 1: why aren't you selling women's watching or so we rolled 429 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: that out and you know, it instantly wasn't hit. And 430 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: what I love about having female customers is when they 431 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 1: love a product, they are going to talk about it, 432 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 1: They're going to discuss it, they're going to share it, 433 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: and that's really one of the things that has allowed 434 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: us to grow. Well. You know, the thing that I 435 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 1: really like about what I'm seeing here in on your 436 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 1: line is that, man, these watches look sexy man, you 437 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 1: know because you know, I I here's a guy, like 438 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: I said, what inten I put a watch back on 439 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: my body, okay, And so I'm watching these watches. Man. 440 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: You who's ever taking these photos? Man? They really know 441 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: how to make these watches look. Man, I want that 442 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: to watch with my risk. Man. I mean these are 443 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: I mean, these are some attractive looking photos that look 444 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: So are you involved in the selection, you know, like 445 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 1: when I look for let's go back when you have 446 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 1: had this Playball magazine. You know, he went through all 447 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: the pictures. He's made all final selection on the photos 448 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: that went on into the magazine. How involved in you? 449 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: Because I'm just telling you, man, this is the these 450 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: these photos with the watch, it almost like, man, I 451 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: can put that watch on my all right there with 452 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: that shirt. I put that watch with my blue suit. 453 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: This is what you're selling. You're selling is not I 454 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: don't need to see the full body. I just need 455 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: to see high looks on my wrist. And that's what 456 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: you're doing. Somewhere along the line, Randy, you've tapped into 457 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 1: something man. And uh and I'm just trying to m 458 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,439 Speaker 1: and this. I know it's I know over time I 459 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: figured out. But his interview. You're special, dude. You're special 460 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: and understanding what excites people, what what you're making a 461 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: watch value to me. You're making me want to buy 462 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: your watch when I go to this website. You're making 463 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 1: me want to like, not just one watch, I want 464 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: to try a couple of them, you know, two or three, 465 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: because you know black goes are black or gray, brown 466 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: goes to blue. You know browns can go with great. 467 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 1: So you can't just put a watch on with everything 468 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 1: I've learned that you know, you like when you have 469 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 1: a value customer. Like I said, you go in my house, 470 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: I got like four or five watches because I got 471 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: my silver, my platinum, because different suits I put on, 472 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: I have to look a certain way. Now. My two 473 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,719 Speaker 1: favorite colors are my black and my brown wrist bands. 474 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: But one of the big sellers for your watches that 475 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: you can interchange bands, correct, yes, sir, yes, sir. So 476 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: let's go back to the selection of these photos and start. 477 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: I forgot about that. No, I didn't forget about that. 478 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: How did these pictures get on your website? Because they 479 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: are they're like making me want to like pull out 480 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: my American Express to start dying. And right now, I mean, 481 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: you're making me sick right now, Randy, I'm telling you, man, brother, 482 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: I got I will be buying a couple of these watches. Brother. Well, 483 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 1: it's it's an important part of the process. So, like 484 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 1: you know, you like custom suits, and you go in 485 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 1: and you get greeted by someone, They measure you, they 486 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 1: ask me questions, they find out about just a really 487 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 1: personal experience. And so as an online business, we don't 488 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: have that person to person touch point. So we have 489 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 1: to try to make the website as attractive as possible 490 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: so that people can understand the real value of the 491 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 1: watch that they're going to be getting. So we try 492 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: to photograph it from all angles. We try to photograph 493 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 1: have photographs of people wearing it in their element so 494 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: that we can really tell that story without having that 495 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 1: one on one contact. So that's one of the hurdles 496 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,160 Speaker 1: that we have to get over. So that means our 497 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: website has got to be ten times better and more 498 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: attractive than it would be if you had that in 499 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 1: story experience. So yeah, I'm really involved there today with 500 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: the marketing and the photography and video selection, and I 501 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: really enjoyed that part of my business. The business is 502 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: actually my favorite part, absolutely absolutely. So what is the 503 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: warrantye I buy to watch? You? You know a couple 504 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: of watchers that I really like that so sold out 505 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: already on top of so what's just what? Just what 506 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: do you select to watch? What's the window and what's 507 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:09,400 Speaker 1: the warranty on your watches? We have a two year 508 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: warranty on our watches. The big thing happens, get it 509 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 1: get replaced, which is unprecedented in our Pride that's incredible. 510 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:25,680 Speaker 1: Two years, two year warranty. And also you can return 511 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: a product and definitely you know, if you got it 512 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 1: and you haven't used it, as long as something you 513 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: will always be able to refund you or exchange it 514 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: for you. So we have a very generous return policy 515 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: because we really believe in our product. Now this this 516 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: this black metal band, the one that sold out, you know, 517 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: of course it will be you know, you know I 518 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: would pick the one that's sold out, you know, crazy 519 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 1: like that that that charcoal band on it. That's cold 520 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: right there, man. I just love the women, the women lines, man, 521 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:58,440 Speaker 1: I love that. That that that pink band, that blue band. Man, 522 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 1: you know you you're just making to kill that pink 523 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,160 Speaker 1: watch right here. Man, the pink leather band. That's out standing. 524 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: It's a pre order shipping by octobers. That mean pre 525 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: order shipping by October. The roles go, what does that 526 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 1: mean when I see that? Well, um, we were expecting 527 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,959 Speaker 1: to be a hundred percent improvement over what we did 528 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: last year in terms of sale, but somewhere in the 529 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: first three months of the year, we that catapulted over 530 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 1: year and uh we sold out of everything man. So um, 531 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: we had to start making them available for pre order. UM, 532 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 1: so we'll be shipping those pre orders are actually within 533 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: the next couple of weeks UM, and then after that 534 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:44,719 Speaker 1: hopefully we can have them stopped and we'll be shipping 535 00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 1: directly from the site. We know on this shipping two 536 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: to three business days. But you know, the man has 537 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 1: been so strong this year that we've had to switch 538 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 1: over the pre orders. Well, Randy, all, I gotta say, Man, 539 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: all right, if you don't mind, I'm I'm gonna put 540 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 1: you in my news letter goes out the eight thousands fibers. 541 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: So kay, I'm gonna put you on my shopping on UH, 542 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 1: which is on my Money Making Conversation and also on 543 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 1: my m Money Making Conversation as well as on my 544 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: um my HBCU Awards UH website that I just launched 545 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 1: this month. And my whole thing is that you have 546 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: a great business. I am a customer, and you my 547 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: name will pop up on your site as a as 548 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:27,959 Speaker 1: a buyer because of the fact that, UH, you're special man, 549 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: not just a just special from a standpoint of the product, 550 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: but if you have unique qualities and a unique understanding 551 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: of how you want to be viewed. It's not about 552 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: to check. It's about the brand. I always tell people, 553 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: always tell people this. You know, I don't really chase money. 554 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: I changed relationships and I changed and I control my brand. 555 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: And if you do all those things, then you will 556 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 1: make money and you'll be able to control your destiny 557 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: and your future. But if you start giving away your 558 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: brand for a check, then gets what you have to 559 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: cater to them. And you're absolutely right. It's like it's 560 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,080 Speaker 1: like I always always go back to what I should 561 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: do with uh with with krispy Kreme. Krispy Kreme, man, 562 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: when that little sign came on, you stopped. You had 563 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 1: the best hot downer in the world. Then they start 564 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: going in the grocery stores, they start going to stops 565 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: and you grab that don up Cole was hard. And 566 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 1: that's what you're saying about Northstrom. I don't want anybody 567 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: to market my brand along with a lot of other 568 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: watches and make it competitive and telling you this is 569 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: this and this does this come to me. I'm gonna 570 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: give you two years, I'm give you loyalty, I'm gonna respect, 571 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna tell you the truth about my product. 572 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: And that's what you're doing. On Italian twine. I respect 573 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: that and I love you for a brother. Thank you, 574 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: Thank you man, thank you for the kind words. I 575 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: appreciate you. No, no, we were looking at that kind words. 576 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: I gotta start marketing. I gotta jump up there. I 577 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,240 Speaker 1: want my little money making conversations go up there with 578 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: a huff post and uh ebony and you know I 579 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: gotta do that. I gotta, I gotta get up there, man, talent, 580 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 1: come on. But thank you for taking the time to 581 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: come on this show. And I appreciate at your man 582 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: and uh mad respect and I will always and like 583 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: I said, everything I do on money Making Conversations, there's 584 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: no check attached to It is about promoting positive individuals 585 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: who are trying to make a difference. Because you you 586 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: create taxes, you create employment, you can an opportunity to 587 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: make this country a lot better. That's what entrepreneurs do. 588 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: And I just want to recognize you for your efforts. Man, 589 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: Thank you, and I love what you're doing. Man, keep 590 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 1: up the work. I know it's hard working into your schedule, man, 591 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: but we really need to continue. So thanks. I appreciate 592 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 1: all right there. You want to hear more money making 593 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: Conversation interviews, please go to money Making Conversation dot com. 594 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: I'm ras Sean McDonald. I'm your host.