We had the good fortune of connecting with Thaddeus Franklin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thaddeus, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
92Retro was a thought I had about 2 years ago. I was born in the 90s and I have always had a love for 90s fashions. The colors, patterns, and swag that went along with that decade will always be unmatched. I know I wanted to start a multi-purpose brand, I just needed a push in the right direction. Truthfully, I just got to the point where I was tired of clocking in and out of work. I no longer wanted to have to work for someone other than myself. 2020 was a year that we will never forget! Although we are still dealing with similarities in 2021, I vowed that I would work on myself and finally make my dream of building up 92Retro a reality!

What should our readers know about your business?
92Retro is an Urban Boutique that sells all things the 90s or 90s inspired. We have aspirations to one day be a Black-Owned Gucci or Louis Vuitton. As I stated earlier, COVID 19 gave me the boost to get up and go for it! We are currently in the startup phase and trying to get our feet off the ground. So far, this process has been extensive but worth it. I have held on to this name for 2 years, and even after all of this time, it was still available. I took that as a clear-cut sign that this was destined for me. During this process of getting 92Retro established, I’ve learned just how much paperwork goes into setting up a business and making sure that it is all done correctly is a must. I am also learning that your product can be great but if the overall packaging is lackluster, then you are pigeon holding the potential of your product. Market, Market, Market is the biggest thing I am learning so far. You cannot expect to inspire and generate income if no one knows who you are or what you are selling. I want the world to know that 92Retro is a brand that will never go out of style such as the amazing era that is the 90s. I am on a journey right now where I am building up my life/self-worth in every possible aspect imaginable. Mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially I am under construction. I am surrounding myself with people who inspire me to do/be better. I want to, in return, offer that same sense of inspiration through my brand. I want people to see how hard I am working to make a name for myself and to do something huge for the black community!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were to come and visit Dallas for a week a few places, we would visit would be my favorite burger place Jake’s in Uptown! They have some of the best burgers in the city. We would venture off that one of Dallas’s hidden gems Parliament! Parliament is such a vibey place with, probably, the best happy hour in the city. Hopefully, there would be a Mavs game or concert happening so that we can go to the American Airlines Center! GO MAVS!!! For the nightlife, we would go to Deep Ellum and go Bar Hopping. There are so many amazing bars in Deep Ellum that we would have a complete blast. To wrap the entire trip up, I would ensure to cap this trip off with a Cowboys Game! HOW ABOUT THEM COWBOYS!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If COVID-19 could be a person, I would give it all the praise for encouraging me to risk it all! I know that may sound weird to most people, but I promise I will make it all make sense! I ended up contracting COVID-19 in January. It didn’t have me done for too long, just took me a while to test negative again. My job was making it extremely difficult to get back to work, therefore I was missing out on money. Instead of worrying about whether or not COVID would potentially take my life, I was more concerned about starting a business to where I could become my own boss and never work for anyone else ever again!

Website: www.92retro.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/92retro

Image Credits
Bleu Dandridge

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