grey is the new boutique.

SGV: First off, whats the difference between GREYONE in old town and G1/SA?

JERRY: G1/SA GREYONE is all under one roof
JERRY: but the difference on the name is for branding and tribute
JERRY: G1SA stands for Greyone Soul Assassins and the only way we were able to permanently brand the store so that our audience could see the merger was to include a store name change and include elements of the Soul Assassins

SGV: Soul Assasins, as far as I've known, has pretty much been DJ Muggs and his affiliates... what do they have to do with fashion... what's the connection?

JERRY: Personally I think music and fashion goes hand in hand
JERRY: you can't really have one and not use reference to the other

SGV: I guess what i'm asking is how hands on is Muggs in the store?

JERRY: Muggs is pretty hands on with the business. We supply him with constant updates, tackling branding issues and expanding our business so that we can incorporate music, fashion and lifestyle all under one roof

SGV: nice.
SGV: if you had 500 bucks to spend at G1/SA, what would you buy?

JERRY: well... I'm a sneaker head and huge on tees
JERRY: so i'll probably work on a pair of kicks and 3 tees
JERRY: the rest would go towards a hoodie
JERRY: would that cover $500?

SGV: close enough

JERRY: if there's leftover money - i would blow it on drinks the night of

SGV: ha
SGV: so there are alot of new boutique-ish stores popping up. what makes G1/SA different?

JERRY: yeah... people flock like sheep
JERRY: they see something proven - and they want to duplicate, perfect or find their reasoning to do it elsewhere
JERRY: I think the difference is just being ahead of time
JERRY: G1SA has been around for 5 years and counting
JERRY: we are not only retailers, but getting into whole-selling, marketing/branding, online experts and so forth

SGV: how would you describe the vibe of G1/SA? is it friendly? is it pretentious?

JERRY: i think it's real

SGV: some stores i've notices almost take pride on shitting on customers

JERRY: we understand customer service, but we don't kiss ass to close a sale
JERRY: we love our customers / clientele
JERRY: some stores have that leverage to shit on customers and the customers still buy - if that's what you call it. I hope we aren't under that category of "shitting on customers"

SGV: almost like that's part of the stores persona or reputation... nar'mean?

JERRY: i know what you mean... not my cup of tea. all i know is that if i walk into a store and they shit on me... i'll probably take a dump on their doorstep

SGV: if the goal of G1/SA is to stay ahead of trends, how are patrons responding? is it a constant struggle to educate consumers?

JERRY: retail in general is a constant struggle
JERRY: but we combat that with offering different products, and always keeping an open mind
JERRY: when we look at new brands or head down to trade shows...
JERRY: we keep budget in mind
JERRY: we also want to not buy into the HYPE of this business so we sit and drill our brands with questions and build a solid relationship
JERRY: we don't look at other shops and fish in brands from their brand list

SGV: isn't hype a retail store's best friend?

JERRY: well
JERRY: depends - if you are pushing garbage hype eventually people will catch on and know your MO
JERRY: i guess our thing has always been - do it if it makes sense
JERRY: if it makes sense to our consumers, and it makes sense to our business

SGV: if it don't make dollars, it don't make sense?

JERRY: don't bite on something that might not digest properly
JERRY: you can make a quick buck now... but be hurting later
JERRY: i rather be consistent

SGV: last question... what are some business models that you look up to... ones that you might try to emulate in your own businesses.

JERRY: that's a good question
JERRY: well - berkshire hathaway would be one
JERRY: apple, myspace, and anyone clocking in a billion dollars

SGV: ha
SGV: feeling the steve jobbs steez?

JERRY: hell yeah
JERRY: homie just sold 600,000 iphones in 1 day
JERRY: and apple still has hella street cred
JERRY: he's laughing his ass to the bank and prolly buying the bank afterwards
JERRY: apple gets it, they understanding branding
JERRY: they understand simplicity and not doing what others are and doing them

SGV: do you find yourself walking the fine line between credibility and volume sales?

JERRY: credibility is earned
JERRY: so if you earned your way to the top by selling mad product, then good for you
JERRY: but to me my credibility is relationship
JERRY: to have solid relationships with the people i do business with will define my credibility

SGV: that sounds difficult... how do you keep everyone happy? or do you even try?

JERRY: well - you can't please everyone
JERRY: and i'm sure i got plenty of haters in this world
JERRY: but I really don't care and just continue to do good business and move forward with my plan.

7.23.07 Jerry Meng is the proprietor of GREYONE and the recently rebranded G1SA store. Jerry's on my buddylist so we chopped it up about the new G1SA store. Here's what went down:
SGV: First off, whats the difference between GREYONE in old town and G1/SA? JERRY: G1/SA GREYONE is all under one roof JERRY: but the difference on the name is for branding and tribute JERRY: G1SA stands for Greyone Soul Assassins and the only way we were able to permanently brand the store so that our audience could see the merger was to include a store name change and include elements of the Soul Assassins SGV: Soul Assasins, as far as I've known, has pretty much been DJ Muggs and his affiliates... what do they have to do with fashion... what's the connection? JERRY: Personally I think music and fashion goes hand in hand JERRY: you can't really have one and not use reference to the other SGV: I guess what i'm asking is how hands on is Muggs in the store? JERRY: Muggs is pretty hands on with the business. We supply him with constant updates, tackling branding issues and expanding our business so that we can incorporate music, fashion and lifestyle all under one roof SGV: nice. SGV: if you had 500 bucks to spend at G1/SA, what would you buy? JERRY: well... I'm a sneaker head and huge on tees JERRY: so i'll probably work on a pair of kicks and 3 tees JERRY: the rest would go towards a hoodie JERRY: would that cover $500? SGV: close enough JERRY: if there's leftover money - i would blow it on drinks the night of SGV: ha SGV: so there are alot of new boutique-ish stores popping up. what makes G1/SA different? JERRY: yeah... people flock like sheep JERRY: they see something proven - and they want to duplicate, perfect or find their reasoning to do it elsewhere JERRY: I think the difference is just being ahead of time JERRY: G1SA has been around for 5 years and counting JERRY: we are not only retailers, but getting into whole-selling, marketing/branding, online experts and so forth SGV: how would you describe the vibe of G1/SA? is it friendly? is it pretentious? JERRY: i think it's real SGV: some stores i've notices almost take pride on shitting on customers JERRY: we understand customer service, but we don't kiss ass to close a sale JERRY: we love our customers / clientele JERRY: some stores have that leverage to shit on customers and the customers still buy - if that's what you call it. I hope we aren't under that category of "shitting on customers" SGV: almost like that's part of the stores persona or reputation... nar'mean? JERRY: i know what you mean... not my cup of tea. all i know is that if i walk into a store and they shit on me... i'll probably take a dump on their doorstep SGV: if the goal of G1/SA is to stay ahead of trends, how are patrons responding? is it a constant struggle to educate consumers? JERRY: retail in general is a constant struggle JERRY: but we combat that with offering different products, and always keeping an open mind JERRY: when we look at new brands or head down to trade shows... JERRY: we keep budget in mind JERRY: we also want to not buy into the HYPE of this business so we sit and drill our brands with questions and build a solid relationship JERRY: we don't look at other shops and fish in brands from their brand list SGV: isn't hype a retail store's best friend? JERRY: well JERRY: depends - if you are pushing garbage hype eventually people will catch on and know your MO JERRY: i guess our thing has always been - do it if it makes sense JERRY: if it makes sense to our consumers, and it makes sense to our business SGV: if it don't make dollars, it don't make sense? JERRY: don't bite on something that might not digest properly JERRY: you can make a quick buck now... but be hurting later JERRY: i rather be consistent SGV: last question... what are some business models that you look up to... ones that you might try to emulate in your own businesses. JERRY: that's a good question JERRY: well - berkshire hathaway would be one JERRY: apple, myspace, and anyone clocking in a billion dollars SGV: ha SGV: feeling the steve jobbs steez? JERRY: hell yeah JERRY: homie just sold 600,000 iphones in 1 day JERRY: and apple still has hella street cred JERRY: he's laughing his ass to the bank and prolly buying the bank afterwards JERRY: apple gets it, they understanding branding JERRY: they understand simplicity and not doing what others are and doing them SGV: do you find yourself walking the fine line between credibility and volume sales? JERRY: credibility is earned JERRY: so if you earned your way to the top by selling mad product, then good for you JERRY: but to me my credibility is relationship JERRY: to have solid relationships with the people i do business with will define my credibility SGV: that sounds difficult... how do you keep everyone happy? or do you even try? JERRY: well - you can't please everyone JERRY: and i'm sure i got plenty of haters in this world JERRY: but I really don't care and just continue to do good business and move forward with my plan.
learn about GREYONE (as if you didn't already know) www.greyone.com