While this isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned clothing that was vintage, or vintage inspired, Papa Soul is the first business I’ve interviewed in this category that caters to men.
By creating a balance of truly vintage pieces and the brands of today, they are able to offer men a sense of fashion that is unique and trendy. However, their prices also make them an attractive place to shop for those in need of original clothing at a budget-friendly price.
What was the inspiration for PapaSoul.com?
I wanted to use my creativity to add value to my daily life. Being an entrepreneur is a lot like being an artist, but instead of developing an image, you are refining the “image” of the business through media found in all industries.
How many products would you say are listed on your website at one time?
We have thousands of pieces of clothing, with our collection growing every day.
Papa Soul is an interesting name, how did you come up with it?
Papa Soul was originally lunched under the name Hue Apparel. We quickly learned that the word “Hue” was protected by a trademark held by Kayser-Roth. So with Kayser-Roth in agreement, we were allowed three months to develop, research, and trademark a new name. The name, “Papa Soul,” represents the core of our product. The word, “Papa,” stands for men, and “Soul,” expresses the spirit or history behind each piece of clothing.
How has your business changed since it launched in 2007?
The business has not changed so much; it is more of a refinement of the original idea. We are still heading toward the same goals that the business was founded on; we are just dealing with larger numbers and more responsibilities. Each day presents a new set of challenges. The day-to-day challenges have changed, but the core of the business has not.
What goals do you have for Papa Soul in 2008?
Papa Soul’s overall goal in 2009 is growth. We want to further expand our reach to our online consumer, and in order to do this we need to expand our clothing collection. The more apparel we have on the site, the stronger our web presence is, and the more likely our customer will find something that they would like to buy, which increases sales and company growth.
In the future, do you think you’ll expand into other areas of business or is this it?
The goal is first, to develop and refine the current systems of collecting clothing, uploading data, and marketing the apparel. It is our hope that after that process has been refined and operates smoothly other offers will come to us. Until then, we are continuing to innovate the men’s clothing industry by offering new and old products in the same location at a fraction of retail prices.
What separates you from the competition?
A. The Combination of Men’s Vintage Clothing & Brand Name Apparel
B. Low Prices
What lead you into becoming an entrepreneur?
I always wanted to control my time. From the days when you first start school to when you get your first job, a large portion of your life is controlled by someone else. Papa Soul was an opportunity for me to develop a revenue stream, and ultimately, buy back the time that my employers previously owned.
What has your business taught you?
Papa Soul has taught me the value time. If you think about the amount of time wasted in front of the TV, or surfing the web, you would realize how much of life has passed you by. Papa Soul was created because portions of my free time were used to visualize, develop, and refine an idea. Having a great idea is only the start; the hard part is bringing that idea to life through all of the limitations that technology, cost, and other business realities that shape the company’s direction. Papa Soul is proof that small pieces of time accumulated constructively can achieve a larger, seemingly unobtainable goal.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with others interested in starting their own online?
I like to read about other entrepreneurs. If Warren Buffet can start out with nickels and pinball machines and turn himself into the richest man in the world, then why can’t I try? If Richard Branson can turn a used record shop into a billion-dollar business, I figure if I have only a mere fraction of the success that these other entrepreneurs have, I’ll be in good shape. You never know what is going to happen, until you get started.