Goliath brand featured on boutique wall
Photos by Troy Paraiso
In Part 1 (post below this one) of my interview, Rosemary described her earliest memories of Streetwear, why her boutique Goliath was established in East Harlem, the development of her private label (brand), and more. In Part 2 we'll get more in to her professional background, her personal taste, and what teamwork means to business.
BrandTROY: Rose, I'm sure people have an idea of who you are, but some may not know your stride. Education wise, where did you go to college or trade school at? And how did it help you with your progression?
Rosemary: I am a graduate of L.I.U. (Long Island University). I have a B.S. In Finance. I worked in the corporate and nonprofit industries for over ten years. This experience has given me a great knowledge and understanding of how a business works and how to work with your staff. This is very crucial to working as a team.
There is no value big enough to place on the importance of having experience and a basic knowledge of the craft you may want to enter. If you intend to work in retail, then you should attain as much experience and exposure as you can. My years in retail in my early adult years before I got into the corporate business, was so instrumental in what I do today. It taught me how to interact and how to address the needs of different individuals. It teaches you that the consumer is always the focus and everything you do will be reflected in how their first experience in your store will be perceived.
BrandTROY: Great response! As for personal taste, what's some of your favorite brands on the market?
Rosemary: Some of my top picks but not by any means the only brands I like.
- Marshall Artists
- 10 Deep
- Goliath
- JC Rags
- American Rag
BrandTROY: With the fluctuating economy, what advice would you give to young men & women aspiring to open up a business?
Rosemary: Make sure you make a business plan for yourself and know how you plan to implement it. Figure out what you think financially you will need and then if it isn’t enough how will you supplement it. Starting a business is like planting a flower and helping it to grow. That means knowing what you need, when you’ll need it and what to do to get yourself aware of what you should be planning for the future. If you can manage to have these items covered then you have a chance of being successful. Remember success doesn’t just mean financially, but a lot more.
BrandTROY: You have a few guys that work with you who have been at Goliath for years, like Dee and Japa. Tell me how important Teamwork is in making the dream work?
Rosemary: Everyone knows, or at least should know, that you cannot do it alone. You need qualified and educated staff to help out and to be dedicated to helping you reach your goal. One of the hardest tasks of any business is finding good staff. Once you find them they are priceless. You need them to carry on the look and vibe of the store when you are not around, this way the customer always receives the same level of quality service every time they walk through your door.
BrandTROY: Thank you for your time and energy, it's appreciated. As the Summer comes to an end, what can the World expect from Goliath this Winter?
Rosemary: We are dedicated to continually bringing you the newest and the latest Streetwear.
Japa and Dee of Goliath
*Thank you to Rosemary, and her guys Japa and Dee at Goliath for helping bring this Q&A to life, it's been one of my best.
Goliath
175 East 105th Street
New York, NY
(212) 360-7683
www.goliathny.com
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