021 – Jack Roche of Old North Unpacks the “Audacity” of Selling $300 Jeans in Asheville
Jack Roche shares insight on the process of opening, growing, and maintaining a retail store. Together we unpack the psychology of clothing, work, and the pursuit of happiness.
September 13, 2019
“I’m a Ferrari-in-a-bathroom-doing-donuts-kind-of-person,”
– Jack Roche
And that he is. Jack is truly a Renaissance man, constantly involved in multiple projects and businesses, always in pursuit of learning the next thing.
This conversation was a thrill-ride. Jack, as the owner and founder of Old North, has built a business that is both fulfilling and allows him to constantly pursue new curiosities — like sailing from the Caribbean to Maine or living in the jungles of the Amazon.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Old North’s origin story as a retail store in Asheville (it opened at the worst possible time)
The importance of pivoting early and often when you’re a new business
The logic of understanding and diversifying your risk as an entrepreneur
Why positive reinforcement is so important in entrepreneurship How critically important resilience is — especially in a seasonal business
Jack’s thoughts on working in the clothing industry, why he loves it and why he hates it
Lessons on buying products for a retail shop (larry vs nick), including the differences between creating your own private label vs. carrying other brands
Jack’s shares some thoughts on his marketing and brand strategy We talk about men’s fashion, women’s fashion and what it means to communicate with your clothes
What to do if you don’t know where to begin with improving your personal style
Jack shares his perspective on the community in Asheville and his favorite restaurants/bars in town
Show Notes
Old North is a boutique clothing store specializing in exceptional quality from American, Japanese, and European manufacturers. Think: timeless tees, casual cargoes, and durable denim made for the effortless stylists. You can connect with them on their website and on Instagram
Books and concepts mentioned during this episode: During the episode, we talked about a couple of concepts from noteworthy books. One was the idea of building a muse business as referenced in the 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. The other was accessing a state of “flow” as discussed in depth in the book Flow: The Psychology of the Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
Jack’s Favorite Restaurants & Bars in Asheville:
Bull & Beggar – “Consistently the best restaurant experience I’ve ever had in my life.”
Crucible – “I don’t drink beer — it smells like farts, so this is my favorite bar.”
Making It in Asheville is a podcast where we go behind the scenes with artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs in Asheville. We learn about what they’re making and how they’re making it in Asheville.
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