Meet James Gerrald Jr. | Sneaker Boutique Owner and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Gerrald Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, how do you think about risk?
I believe risk is what is required to get ahead the furthest in life. There is nothing wrong with steady, consistent, and playing it safe. But those who take the biggest risks are typically rewarded the greatest. With that said, I have used risk in order to make decisions on what is worth pursuing in life and in my career. The key to risk though is to learn as much information as you can to make the most informed decisions. I like to think of this as leveraging risk. Many can associate risk with a gamble, but if you do the research, study experiences and previous failures, and learn as much as you can prior to taking the risk, it skews the odds in your favor to reduce the chance of failure; hence leveraging risk. With this practice, I have been able to advance in my career in Engineering as well as start a sneaker business because I took the risks I thought were necessary to do so.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is called The ReUp LLC, which our dba is ReupCollection. We are a premier sneaker boutique in the D.C. area that specializes in authentic and hard to find sneakers, clothing and accessories. We have been in business since 2011, operating as a website until 2022; which is when we started our brick and mortar at 1983 Daniel Stuart Square in Woodbridge, VA. What sets us apart from others is the knowledge and passion that we have of the sneaker culture. We aren’t a group of individuals that jumped into the sneaker game to make a quick dollar. The individuals associated with this business are true sneaker enthusiats with a real love for the culture that dates back to our elementary school days. What makes me most proud of this business is the fact that everything came together when I least expected it. I knew that one day I would have a store but just did not know when. I saved my money and remained ambitious and here we are! The process for getting a store was a difficult one. You can plan as much as you want, but something will always go wrong or there will be something that arises that you did not think about. With that said, you have to be dynamic and willing to pivot when necessary to deal with the challenges that arise. The lesson I learned along the way is timing is everything. You have to strike while the iron is hot so if an opportunity arises, don’t just answer, but but bust through the door! What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that we are not just a business, we are a family and we treat anyone we encounter the same way. We provide mentorship and opportunities to the youth through volunteering, donating and hosting back to school initiatives, and partnering with businesses in the area for similar situations. We do not want to just be a business, we want to be a pinnacle of the community and invest as much as possible because it was the community that invested in us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If someone came to visit me, I would give them a tour of the entire DMV. The DMV consist of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. We would start with the hookah lounges of Arlington, VA. as well as the various food spots at the Crystal City Shops. Then we would do D.C. for Ben’s Chili Bowl and Park on 14th for food and happy hour. Then do Air Lounge and 12 Stories Lounge for nightlife. From here, we would do the National Harbor in Maryland for food at Public House and hang out at the lounges and bars in the MGM Casino.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my family (Blanchie, James, Brittany, Jocelyn), my friends, mentors, and supporters who have helped me get to the point I am currently at in my life. If it wasn’t for them I would not be here. They always say its not what you know, but who you know, and this group of individuals have successfully guided me and provided opportunities that I would not have seen without them.

Website: www.reupcollection.com

Instagram: Reupcollection

Twitter: Reupcollection

Facebook: Reupcollection

Youtube: Coming soon: Therep.collection