With Style, Grace & Expertise

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Remy Johnson and Vanessa Lee, co-Founders of rāv collective, located in Oakland, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

rāv collective offers a space for small businesses to connect with industry experts in order to create and execute strategies in the areas of Merchandising, Creative, Wholesale, and Business Optimization. With rāv collective, small businesses benefit from thoughtful, needle-moving business moves grounded in data and backed by years of experience. Only 20% of minority-owned small businesses survive their first 18 months, compared to the U.S. average of 75%. Debt, capital, and resources are at the top of the list of challenges minority-owned businesses disproportionately face. rāv collective is on a mission to help close this gap by providing all businesses, but especially minority-owned businesses, the strategic support to help level the playing field and set them up for success.

Tell us about yourself

We have a combined 33 years of experience in the retail industry, and we’re ready to share our wealth of knowledge with small-mid-size businesses. Having worked in nearly all retail business segments, ranging from early-stage startups to global multi-billion dollar brands. We’ve amassed a substantial amount of experience across merchandising, product development, and creative production, which has resulted in millions in incremental revenue. As Black women, we are fervent supporters of women-led businesses and entrepreneurs of color. We believe in not only creating “a seat at the table” but building a table where everyone can show up authentically. Inclusivity and upliftment are at the core of our ethos. We believe our collective magic is where our authenticity and experience converge.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our reputation is not only built on our strategic acumen but how people feel when they leave our presence. We are not transactional - even though that is the very core of our industry. We prioritize relationships and true partnerships. Vanessa and I have always treated our internal and external partners with grace, compassion, and understanding. We seek out partners that want to ride the waves together, where we celebrate the highs and find collaborative solutions for the lows. Starting any new business is one of the scariest, most vulnerable things one can do. We are so fortunate and grateful that the seeds we planted with previous relationships throughout our entire career tenure are coming to harvest for us now. With some of our relationships, yes, we've had major financial successes, but those people are still around because of how we approached them as humans and not just dollar signs.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Trusting your intuition and experience, as well as not falling victim to imposter syndrome. Operating in ambiguity comes with launching a business, and if you're not careful, self-doubt can creep in. We've learned to trust in our knowledge, use each other and our networks as sounding boards, and believe in ourselves. It may sound easy, but at times it can be a hard practice.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you.
Commit to learning and constant curiosity.
Stay nimble, fail fast, and pivot.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.ravcollective.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravcollective/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rav-collective/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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