Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy Robbins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amy , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
When I was 5 years old I asked my dad what I needed to do in college to run my own business. I didn’t exactly know what that would look like but I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Even at a young age I knew I wanted to solve problems and help people but it wasn’t until 2015 that this would become a reality. Prior to 2015 I worked in a number of various industries, had started a couple of businesses and was currently working in the entertainment industry as a TV Host, writer, producer and model. At the time I was hosting a specific show that was focused on helping women learn how to feel safe with various self defense tools. I was given the opportunity to train with some of the greatest instructors on various platforms including learning how to safely and effectively use firearms. I noticed a shift in my confidence knowing I could take care of myself and wanted to help other women understand that this was available to them as well with the right training. However, I wasn’t practicing carrying self defense tools on a daily basis at this point and it was about to come back and bite me.
On a warm summer day in 2015, I laced up my shoes to go out for a run just like I did every day as I was training for the Dallas White Rock Marathon. This was supposed to be run like any other run, except this day was the day I got followed and aggressively harassed by a van full of men while I was on a deserted back road in my small hometown. Like I mentioned, I didn’t carry a self defense tool with me at this point because I never had the need too. I had never felt unsafe before, but this day changed that.
I quickly realized that not having a tool left me helpless and defenseless as I would not have been able to out run or out fight 7 men if this harassing escalated to something more threatening. I am so thankful, that my story ended there ,they drove away and I got a second chance to go home and do something with my story, but many women don’t. As I ran home I knew I never wanted to feel that way again and wanted to help the other 90% of women that said they had felt like their safety had been threatened while running or walking alone. This is where I came up with the idea to start Alexo Athletica, the first activewear brand on the market designed to help women carry all of their essentials, including self defense tools of choice on body in a comfortable, stylish way.
To me, this was the chance to start a movement to empower women to feel confident in knowing they could take care of themselves. I knew this was my purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Alexo Athletica is dedicated to our mission of empowering men and women to live self reliant lives. We have the largest selection of carrywear ,which is functional clothing comprised of multiple pockets and storages spaces to be able to carry any and all essentials and be handsfree. We are excited to announce the expansion of our line to include a versatile line of women’s workwear that takes you to the Board Room and Beyond. Staying true to Alexo’s core mission, this line will include apparel that is relevant to achieve all your goals in your active life by providing the comfort, fit and function our clients have come to expect. Giving back to my community has also always been a passion of mine and we have partnered with organizations such as FaceForward International to give portions of our sales to help victims of human trafficking and other violent crimes, receive full medical treatment and help. I also serve on multiple non- profit boards and host a weekly podcast called “Not Your Average Gun Girls” where we bring on men and women to share compelling stories of survival, preparedness and we also give safety tips and tricks for women of all ages to feel more empowered to live a self reliant life. You can check us out on YouTube and Apple Podcasts at “Not Your Average Gun Girls.”
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Hard work/ tenacity 2. Willingness to learn and try new things
3. Facing fear head on and looking at my non- successes as a teachable moments instead of failure
My biggest advice is to set habits early on, no matter how small they may be, because you will learn to rely on those habits to get you through the tough times. For me, I made it a habit to always run up this big hill at the end of my daily runs as a reminder to finish strong and never give up no matter how tired I am. This outlook on life and small habit spilled over into my every day work ethic when building a brand.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Collaboration is the pathway to heightened success and we are always looking for partners with an ” all ships rise” mentality. We are constantly on the lookout for ways to incorporate ways to give back to the community and want partners that value that as well. We are currently looking for artists and other emerging brands in a variety of spaces to explore how we can work together. If that is you, please feel free to reach out!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alexoathletica.com
- Instagram: alexoathletica
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-robbins-2745a7123/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotYourAverageGunGirls/about
- Other: Podcast link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-your-average-gun-girls/id1343032901
