Certified CEO Clothing founder Bobby Bands talks building the brand, inspiring next generation
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – When it comes to living, breathing, and being the brand, Bobby Bands understands the assignment completely.
The founder and CEO of Certified CEO Clothing – which has a significant meaning – sits down and chats with WJBF about the beginning stages of his fashion and apparel brand and how he’s using his platform to inspire the community and the next generation.
Thank you for joining us for Celebrating Black Excellence. Now, let’s get started. Can you give us a brief summary of who Bobby Bands is?
I claim Augusta as home. I’ve been here for maybe over 25 years or so. I was born and raised in a small town in Emanuel County-Burke County, you know that area back there. I made my way from Savannah to Atlanta and full circle back to Augusta. I have been here for quite a while. Augusta is home.
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What made you want to circle back home to Augusta?
Well, you know, life kind of happens sometimes. So, when I found out that my first daughter was on the way, I was going to school at Southern Tech. I wanted to be closer to her as far as raising her and being a part of her life. So, I came back home, and I’ve been home ever since.
What inspired you to get into fashion and apparel?
So I would say growing up, I’ve always been into fashion. Fashion has always been a big thing with me, but it was always a void to me, like an issue. So you would go in these department stores, in the mall, you know, things of that sort, and as far as all the owners and the founders of all these companies, they don’t look like you and me. A lot of times, many times, they’re not even from here. So, a lot of them are foreign brands. The money, the income that they get, is pretty much circulated in their community. So, I always thought that was an issue too. So, I wanted to have a brand that we could be proud of, and something that whenever it grows, we can kind of circulate and put back into our community. I’m real big on community service, outreach, and things of that sort, so I just wanted to fill that void because the fashion industry needs designers that look like you and me.
Now, the name of your company is Certified CEO Clothing. First of all, there’s a meaning behind CEO. Can you give us the meaning of CEO?
CEO is actually trademarked. It stands for Consistency, Effort, and Opportunity. So basically, anybody that works a 9 to 5 job up to if you are an owner or CEO of your own company or your own brand, you can be a Certified CEO. You know, as long as you apply those principles, that’s what makes you a Certified CEO.
What inspired you to call your company Certified CEO Clothing?
Well, I can’t take credit for all of it. You know, I always wanted to do this. I just didn’t know which direction or what I was gonna actually name it. It actually came to me because I always knew I had to play on CEO. I always wanted to do something around that term. I’ll be honest with you. I woke up in the middle of the night after thinking about it for weeks and weeks and months, and it just came to me: Consistency, Effort, Opportunity – CEO. I reached on my nightstand. This was before notes and everything. (Laughs) So, I wrote it down, and the next day, I started a search. I was like, “Man, this seems too common. Somebody should have already got this.” So, I did a search, and it was available. So, I was like, “Man, this must be made for me.” So I went, followed the steps, trademarked it, and the rest is history.
What is your ultimate goal? What is your ultimate dream with Certified CEO?
Well, I love to collaborate with schools and educational systems. So, whether it be universities, colleges, and things of that sort, I love to partner with them and inspire the young generation to aspire and do great things. So, that’s always a big, big focus. Brick-and-mortar is cool. If the right thing comes about, I’m willing to sign a deal or whatever that case may be, or even do a partnership with some of the larger brands like Nike or some something like that. So, I’m pretty much open, but I just don’t have anything just set in stone. I don’t want to say I go wherever the wind blows me, but just whatever makes sense for the brand.
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Now, you just recently did a collaboration: Bring On Spring with Brotha Trav and Sista La Wright with Uprise Entertainment. How important is it to you as far as collaboration, especially here in the city?
I’m huge on collaboration. If anybody has seen any of the video shows or promos that I’ve done, I always aim to incorporate somebody else along with me. So, whether if it’s J’adore Accessories or Beverly’s Body Butter, I like to put their products along with my products to kind of show off everyone. Light Of Grace Candles – I may do a photo shoot and have a burning candle on the side, but it’s just not for show. It has a purpose. So, I’m trying to elevate someone else’s brand and trying to push them to greatness as well. So, collaboration is important with any brand no matter the field or the industry. Whatever you do, collaboration is major. With the Bring On Spring, it’s one of those ones that just makes sense. Uprise Entertainment and CEO Clothing have been partnering. I was a vendor for over a year with them at different pop up events. Brotha Trav just reached out to me and said, “I think it’s time for us to do something different because this just feels right.” I was like, “Okay.” Well, I was wanted to do an event anyway, so the timing was perfect, and we linked up and put together a successful event.
I want to say again publicly thank you, Brotha Trav, and Sista La for honoring me and all the other people that are doing things in the community. We definitely appreciate that.
Most definitely. We felt that was important because we have award shows here in the city, which are definitely phenomenal. They’re great, but some categories don’t really reach certain people who were doing great things. So we wanted to pick those people out, and there are a lot more people who are doing great things, but we just want to highlight a few and give them their roses.
We definitely appreciate that. If someone wants to purchase something from you, or they want to learn more about you, how can they get that information?
So if you want to learn more about me, I’m on our social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram – Certified CEO Clothing. You can also reach out or look for Bobby Bands on Facebook. So, you can actually reach out to me on a personal level. I’m easy to attain. So, I’m easy to access. The website is www.certifiedceoclothing.com, so they have to reach out, get your apparel, and get you a couple of bags.
What words of advice can you give someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
So, I would just say, it’s the “C” in CEO; you have to be consistent. Consistency is key. It’s important. You hear it so many times, but if you quit, or if you don’t believe in the brand, who else will? So, you have to live your brand every day as I do. Every chance I get, I represent the brand. It’s not a day goes by that I don’t have something on from the brand, even if it’s as simple as a wristband. Be able to talk about your brand at any moment. So, you have to know your brand. You have to study your audience. Study others around you who are doing similar things, not necessarily saying copy, but study. So, those would be my keys, I would say.
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