Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree Swinney.
Hi Desiree, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I initially started THE RP.CO when I was pregnant with my daughter. I’ve always had a passion for fashion and everyone always told me how they love my style. At the time I found out I was pregnant; not too long after COVID-19 hit. Then, immediately after that we had a shutdown issued for the city of Atlanta. I immediately started to think about ways I could create income from the comfort of my home especially with me being a soon-to-be new mom. So, I began doing some research, planning and then executing those next steps. I worked on a few designs and sent them to my friends and family for feedback. I hit the ground running and started placing sample orders. My first time wearing my own apparel out I received so many heads turns, love, and feedback on where I got my hoodie. At that moment I knew I had something special!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When it comes to challenge I’ve overcome it’s something I know oh so well. I grew up in what I didn’t realize at the time was poverty. Nights where we had to sleep with the oven open to keep the house warm or boil water on the stove to have a hot bath. I come from a background where EVERYTHING was earned nothing was given. So, for me and my brand, THERP.CO, it means much more than what most people could honestly fathom. Truthfully, the road to where my brand is now was not smooth at all. In November of 2021 I was a part of this group on Facebook, this group contained well over 35,000 members. One evening I posted myself out from date night with my apparel on. To my surprise, I woke up to a plethora of messages asking where I got the hoodie from. In that moment I said to myself “This is it! This is my big break!”. I let everyone know that I was the designer and it was in fact my apparel line, I commented a link to my website on the post and continued on with my day. To my astonishment only a few hours later I saw that the admin of the group removed my link, prevented future comments, etc. My heart immediately sunk! All I kept thinking to myself is WHY? Why would she do that? What was her reason for removing the links? What really was her reason for any of it to be honest? Who would’ve thought the same day that brought me so much joy also brought me much defeat. In that moment I decided to take action! I got proof, removed myself from the group, regathered myself and went back to the drawing board for a complete rebrand!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
THE RP.CO is a brand that represents anyone who is living within their true purpose! ‘T’ is for Time, ‘R’ is for Reveal, ‘P’ is for purpose. You put the saying together and it states that Time Reveals Purpose! What really made me think of the name was the fact that sometimes being a young adult, especially if you’re a parent, like myself, you think that you should have everything all figured out. That in fact is not the case at all. Anything great in life takes time and patience before it will ever equate to being this amazing concept. The RP.Co is most known for our best-seller “God Made This Millionaire” apparel, which currently comes in black exclusively for hoodies and crewnecks; with a wide range of sizes for any and everyone. I think what sets us apart is the simplicity of the design but also the impactful meaning behind the brand as well. I am most proud of my resilience with my business because I understand that the road to entrepreneurship is not easy but I know it’s for me! I’m willing to put in the work and time to see my business successful. We currently offer hoodies, crewnecks, slides, digital products, and so much more!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
What I have learned from the Covid-19 crisis is that you should never put all your eggs in one basket. Always make sure you have a side hustle or something else that can earn you income outside of your main income source. Additionally, don’t be afraid to use resources that are available to you especially as a new small business owner. Lastly, never give up on a dream that God gave you a vision for! Work hard to see everything pan out, it’ll all be worth it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therp.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therp.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therp.co/
Image Credits
Photographer: Dantavious Hill (IG: _thrudanslens_)
