BU x Freshmen Q & A
Q & A number 4 is between Be Unequaled and the Washington DC based web store Freshmen! Keep an eye on the Q & A section for more exclusive content! If you'd like to suggest a feature, please let us know and we'll do what we can!
BU: Who or what are you?
Freshmen: We are a reseller store that carries exclusive clothing like A Bathing Ape, Billionaire Boys Club, Ice Cream, Original Fake, Supreme and make it available to anyone in the world.
BU: Who or what does Freshmen represent?
F: We represent all of Virginia and its unique style. Virginia is the birth place of such influential people like Pharrell Williams, The Clipse, Fam-lay, Chad Hugo, and Timbaland among others, people who contribute so much to hip-hop and street wear. Our store represents the style and swagger of street wear today which Virginia has contributed heavily to.
BU: What was the main idea behind Freshmen?
F: We saw the high demand exclusive street wear and because of our location, we have the ability to hook other people up.
BU: When and where did it all begin?
F: It began in Virginia in early 2007. We had pipe dreams of opening up our own brick and mortar store, which was completely unrealistic. But then we began to research opening up an online store and soon after decided try an e-store.
BU: How many people are involved with or behind Freshmen?
F: Two people.
BU: How would you rate your immediate success and what do you think the future holds?
F: We consider it a successful entrepreneurial pursuit since everything we bought in our initial investment sold. As for the future, we have invested in web site design with Virginia based Illusive Media, the same web designers who created Star Trak's website and provide media services for many members of the Star Trak family. We are also focusing on advertising and getting our name out there.
BU: How have you found running a store in the early stages? Will it get any easier?
F: It was really hard just to get respect (especially pre-Illusive Media), which is understandable, but so frustrating at the same time. People question if you sell real clothes, and the only way to do so is by either respect, which we didn't have, or by letting your merchandise speak for itself. It does get easier though, you just need those initial customers. After that, your name gets out respect follows. It's a cycle.
BU: Who is your target audience?
F: Everyone on Be Unequaled!
BU: Do Freshmen have a favourite brand?
F: Yup.
BU: If so, which one?!
F: A Bathing Ape.
BU: What word or phrase sums Freshmen up best?
F: “Fresher Than Freshmen”- Benefit
BU: and finally... what makes Freshmen stand out from the crowd?
F: Freshmen's connections with Illusive Media creates opportunities that no other store has. Since Illusive's clientèle includes members of Star Trak, we have been negotiating deals with Star Trak artists to sell some of the boxes of A Bathing Ape, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream that they receive straight from Pharrell and Nigo. These deals have immense potential to vastly increase our merchandise size and exclusivity.
Also, we take requests for items, for example, if one of our customers has a BBC shirt they are dying to have, we will do what we can to get that shirt in their size as soon as possible.
Thanks to the guys at Freshmen for their help with the Q & A, and a thanks to forum member Sarom for sounding out the idea.
Find out more about Freshmen on our store page.
