Meet Marcus A White

We were lucky to catch up with Marcus A White recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Marcus A with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic comes from sports. As I child, I played many sports (high school, college, and semi-pro level) and it taught me to create goals, learn with intent, patience, the value of teamwork, how to get back up after failures, success doesn’t come overnight, resiliency, and others lesson too many to name. Sports also kept me from getting into trouble in the neighborhood. As an adult, these lessons and values have stuck with me and I use them every day.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Legacy is the catalyst behind the Larnell Alan™ brand. In the 1970s, my father, Don White, was the first African American to open clothing stores in Palm Springs and Cathedral City, CA called Don’s for Men. My style, my spirit, and my sense of adventure have all been influenced by the successes and setbacks of my father. He grew up teaching me the psychology of dressing and how one should dress for their physique. It is all about how you wear your clothes. I want to leave behind a legacy that imparts a sense of freedom; timelessness; a spirit of joie de vivre despite the circumstances; and a renewed essence of boldness. Larnell Alan™ is the physical embodiment of these attributes and a fashion house combining the legacy and tradition of father and son.

Because of the pandemic, we recognized the need to pivot and expanded into the government purchasing and procurement subindustry. This move has been tedious, but it was necessary. I have always been drawn to owning a company. In 2017, I left my corporate healthcare job and moved to Vietnam to follow my passion, fashion. Traveling and writing for an urban travel magazine was the catalyst behind the leap into entrepreneurship. I remember talking to my father about this decision and telling him I wanted to continue his legacy in fashion but desired to take a different approach than he had. He has proudly supported me in my endeavor and helped some when he can.

In January 2023 we launched our permanent antimicrobial linens and towels to the Medical/Life Science, Hospitality, and Fitness Industries. COVID has brought the view of bacterial and viral infections to the forefront of the world. Unfortunately, this disease isn’t going away in our lifetime. We have also seen an increase in antibacterial-resistant drugs that are costing hundreds of millions of dollars in treatments annually across the globe. world. We saw a need and have provided a solution.

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?
Most people in this world will never learn what is their true passion. I was fortunate to find mine and have enjoyed the ride (good and bad). It’s the reason why I get up in the morning; I have fun and am constantly learning from mistakes I make along the journey of entrepreneurship. One of the qualities that have helped me is patience. This is one of the tools I have taken with me from sports. Nothing happens overnight and there is always competition in the industry you chose to make your mark.

Another skill is recognizing you don’t know everything and to surround yourself with industry experts. Often times we can appear we know it all but the reality is that is impossible. Recognizing the need for help can catapult your business to the next level.

Lastly, creativity has been very helpful in this journey. I am a think-outside-the-box thinker and a problem solver. There is so much information out in the world and learning where to find the information you seek from different sources and putting it all together to create a solution to a problem will differentiate you from your competition.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking for folks or businesses to partner or collaborate with. Look, I was taught it takes a village to raise a child. The same goes for business. I cannot have a profitable business without the help of others. I am looking for help in sales, marketing, and industry experts in the Hospitality, Medical Device/Life Sciences, and Fitness Industries. I have great products to put out into the world to help prevent the spread of viruses and antibacterial-resistant drugs. Lastly, I am looking for funding to mass market our products.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oF1_eoWsl_Qmcm4QjIsYQu-qQcmAavYI/view?usp=share_link

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