Meet Ian Jackson | CEO/Co-Founder of ORDINARY ODDS

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ian Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ian, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
While attending Morehouse College, I was immersed in a culture of highly creative students who I believed needed support, opportunity, and vision. Students were often suggested to put their artistic gifts to the side in pursuit of more “realistic” career paths such as banking, law, and medicine. I soon learned this struggle was much bigger than my local exposure at the time. Seeing the lack of network and resources, ORDINARY ODDS (OO) committed to leading a new creative arts push while bringing others along with us as well.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Of course! Before the inception of this business, I had a brief stint out of Morehouse. Me not returning to class following winter break left my classmates and peers confused as I was currently residing as class president. While back home in Nashville, I discovered my purpose following a conversation with my mother and began working relentless 80 hour weeks for months while rebuilding my mental and forming the ORDINARY ODDS business model. I later returned to school ready to lead in a new lane. Through several mediums offered in ORDINARY ODDS (OO), we’ve successfully bridged gaps between artists, communities, and new advocates who want to push this cause forward as well. OO provides premier clothing, music services, and events through a collaborative, homegrown culture of creativity. We offer high quality apparel and sneakers designed for every day use of entrepreneurs and creatives. We also have curated several captivating events hosted in cities from Los Angeles to Atlanta that have brought like-minded individuals together while creating progressive moments for each attendee and the local communities they take place in as well. All product development processes, campaigns, and events provide paid opportunities to other “odds” looking to help advance the ultimate goal of making “odds” ordinary hence our name “ORDINARY ODDS.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting Atlanta for a week, I’d make sure they experience the best the city has to offer. Throughout the week, we’d explore the city with scenic trips to the Atlanta Beltline for a bike ride or to Stone Mountain Park for hiking and enjoying the beautiful views.

For food, we’d visit Mukja Korean Fried Chicken to savor their unique dishes, as well as Ponce City Market and Chattahoochee Food Works to explore various food stalls and unique shops. Cultural immersion would include visits to the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

One of the highlights would be attending a ‘Social Club’ event to network and engage with Atlanta’s emerging innovators, professionals, and humanitarians. These events are perfect for celebrating amazing work and meeting like-minded individuals beyond the nightclub scene.

On Sunday, we’d attend a service at 2819 Church to reflect and recharge. Can’t forget that!

This itinerary blends a bit of everything to highlight my favorite aspects of what Atlanta has to offer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely, I’d love to give a shoutout to the incredible team that has been with me every step of the way. Their dedication, creativity, and hard work have been instrumental in achieving our goals and driving the business forward. Without their unwavering support and relentless effort, none of our success would be possible.

I also want to express my gratitude to God, whose guidance and blessings have provided me with the strength and perseverance needed to overcome challenges and pursue this journey. The combination of divine support and a phenomenal team has truly been the cornerstone of our achievements.

Website: http://ordinaryodds.com/

Instagram: @itsianj @ordinaryodds

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ORDINARYODDS1