Meet Jenny Ukaj

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenny Ukaj. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenny below.

Jenny, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
This is a great question to start. This is something I had to learn to do from the very beginning. Regardless of who is in the room, who is there supporting you, or who is watching you, you need to consistently put out work in order to succeed. In 2019, I first started my store, Red Rose Hype Shop, and I made a commitment not only to the store but to myself for success. No matter who showed up, I always did. There were countless of days where I would open the store, and I would sit there alone for 6 hours waiting and hoping for MAYBE at least one person to come in. Regardless of who showed up I knew I had to show up. If I gave up and didn’t show up, my success for the store wouldn’t be where it is today. Even now, in order to be a successful entrepreneur and stay successful you have to keep putting in work behind closed doors. That means even when you don’t want to or feel like it because you are your own boss, you don’t have anyone above you telling you what to do. You have to have that accountability on yourself.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, my name is Jenny Ukaj, and I am the owner of Red Rose Hype Shop, in Nashville, TN! I have always had a strong passion for entrepreneurship as my parents both moved to America from Bosnia as refugees from the genocide war in 1996. They worked so hard and had over 2-3 jobs in one day, but eventually came to the point where the started their own business. I grew up around entrepreneurship my entire life, seeing it form right in front of me. They were my biggest inspiration to my passion for starting a business.

Red Rose Hype Shop is the premiere destination where streetwear and high-end fashion meet. We are a buy, sell, trade store that brings a sense of home in the Nashville sneaker community. We carry over 500+ sneakers in store all from the most rare and exclusive like Travis Scott Jordan 1s to the most general pairs we all love like the Panda Dunks. We also carry one of the largest streetwear/designer clothing selection of the south with over 1000+ of rare new and gently used pieces.

One major thing that makes Red Rose Hype Shop special is that it brings together community. Individuals that are like-minded, but can be so different from one another. So many different kinds of people love sneakers! It brings creatives together, and maybe even inspires those that aren’t that creative to step out of their comfort zone a little bit.

Another huge thing makes Red Rose special, is the customer service. As many know, most sneakers in this day and age are purchased online through major resell sites. One of the things we have to offer is our out of this world customer service. We allow customers to try on their favorite sneakers to make sure they fit and leave the same day with a smile on their face! It’s one of my biggest priorities is to make the customer happy first.

Overall, Red Rose Hype Shop is one of the largest streetwear/sneaker store in Nashville, and we continue to expand and grow every day. This January will mark 5 years, and we are definitely planning some surprises for our customers.

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?
The three qualities that were the most impactful in my journey is consistency, passion, and positivity.

There were many moments I felt like I was not good enough and that I wanted to give up. Although I felt like this, I remained consistent. The passion and love I had got sneakers and streetwear helped me remain consistent through it all because I genuinely loved what I did. I loved making customers feel happy and confident with their new pair of shoes.

Passion sometimes isn’t enough for positivity, and there was a time when I was very discouraged. I became drained at the lack of support and started to radiate negativity. I had a self revelation at a networking event in New York, and I came back with a new load of motivation and positivity. This positivity shined throughout me and the store. It made a huge difference not only for me personally and mentally, but for my business.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
One of the number one challenges that I face every day is being a female in this male-dominated industry. Over the years, I have been discriminated for being a female amongst a group of very strong men, and although that it has gotten better throughout the times, I still face challenges every day.

One of the biggest ways I have overcome this challenge is first of all, believing in myself, and being a strong personality that showcases my strength and knowledge.

Secondly, I hired a team of mainly men, and this has definitely released significant amount of tension for me, and creates a better atmosphere for everyone including customers.

I have a huge passion for making women feel more included in the sneaker industry. I also have a few other females on the staff which helps me stay in touch with my femininity. Educating others that girls can be sneakerheads too and owners of sneaker shops!

Having other men in the store has helped significantly though because others feel less inclined to bully me solely on the fact of being a female when there are other guys around there to protect me and have my back. My team always sticks up for me in any sort of altercation.

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