Show Notes
Background and Business Journey
- Young Maven:
- Founded by Rob and Bob, the oldest manufacturers of hemp clothing in the US
- Partially owned by an investment group in Birmingham
- Evolution of Young Maven:
- Duquette’s vision for hyper-focusing and working with small businesses
- Conflict with selling during the pandemic and desire for more original products
- Experience with Levi’s and decision to discontinue carrying their products
Club Duquette Origins and Philosophy
- Initial phases:
- Pre-launch community building through blog and newsletter
- Emphasis on trust and connection with the audience before selling
- Business challenges:
- Pricing, margins and retail vs. online sales
- The decision to close the brick-and-mortar store due to personal and professional reasons
- Rebranding and evolving Club Duquette:
- Transition to online store, focus on unique products and community engagement
- Introduction of new product categories and consulting services
Community and Customer Engagement
- Importance of building community:
- Use of playlists and newsletters to foster connection
- Preference for experiential retail spaces and personalized customer engagement
- Business ethos:
- Genuine passion for the products and authentic customer interaction
- Creating a fulfilling and engaging community space
Leadership and Employee Relations
- Philosophy on leadership and management
- Emphasis on slow productivity, intentional work and elevating employees
- Challenges and importance of empowering employees and maintaining positive relationships
- Example of current and past employees and their contributions
Reflections and Future Plans
- Personal and professional growth:
- Learning from challenges and evolving accordingly
- Emphasis on adaptability and acceptance of change
- Future plans for Club Duquette: Continued focus on hyper-focusing the brand, working with small businesses and creating a community-driven experience
Find full show notes, including links mentioned in the episode, at carrierollwagen.com.
Carrie Rollwagen