We were lucky to catch up with Janell Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Janell , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I’ve been surrounded by resilient women my entire life. I’ve seen resilience all around me growing up. In a city like Chester, we have no choice but to be resilient. I watched my grandmother and mother make a way when times got rough, and they still made sure I had a good life. I get my resilience from them. I get it from my community. I get it from my tribe of friends and connections who continue to push through when all of the odds are against me. It motivates me to see so many of my peers make something our of nothing.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As a Retail Merchandising Specialist and Consultant, I consult small/local retail businesses on their merchandising processes. This includes merchandise planning and management, visual merchandising, and store layout and design. I also recently became an adjunct professor of Visual Merchandising at Harcum College. I also help retail/fashion businesses with their foundations, whether they are just starting our or established, by identifying their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. I provide resources to them and solutions to obstacles they’re facing while navigating the industry. J. Nicole Retail Co. also offers services such as visual merchandising for brick and mortar stores, online stores, vending, fashion shows, and pop-up shops.
What is most exciting about what I do is that I’m helping mostly Black Owned Businesses and giving them the tools to not only start a retail or fashion business, but to sustain, maintain, and be successful in it. I also get to use what I learned from education and experience to educate those who didn’t go to college for it. I enjoy seeing my clients grow and build something they’re passionate about.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I think the main three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful were being an ambitious person, attention to detail, and knowing the fashion and retail business. It’s not just knowing about designers, but the actual business side, like retail math, forecasting, and market analysis. You also need to be creative. You have to have the ability to see something no one else can see and tell a story with clothing, accessories, products, mannequins, and props. You have to make people want to buy it just from looking at it.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one obstacle I’m facing is getting smaller retail/fashion businesses to understand that they cannot do it all and that it is okay to ask for help. The retail and fashion industries are complex and ever changing industries. It’s good to have someone with insight on the industry trends and forecast to help guide them through such tumultuous industries. it’s so easy to be here today and gone tomorrow as a fashion designer or retailer, especially in the current climate. It’s good to invest in the tools and resources to endure you are going in the direction of success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jnicoleretail.com
- Instagram: @j.NicoleRetail.Co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janellnjohnson/
Image Credits
Nyesha Bullock
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