Meet John Petersen | Founder

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

Hi John, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Almost 20 years ago, I was in a near-fatal car accident that changed my life, and that was the ultimate catalyst for starting my business.

I am an Army veteran. When I got out of the military, I prided myself on working hard at every job I took. Then the car accident changed everything and left me with a tracheotomy.

I was awakened at Grady Hospital by a tear that fell on my face from my wife as she stood over me in the ICU. That was when I learned I’d been life-lifted from Gainesville to Atlanta because of my injuries. With no memory of the car accident, I initially thought I had gotten hurt at work. Still, I was eager to get out of the hospital and get back to it. After a bit more than a week, the day came when I was cleared to go home.

But it wasn’t over.

One night, after struggling to breathe comfortably for the whole day, I finally fell asleep. My wife tried to wake me up and realized I had stopped breathing. When I woke up again, I was back at Grady on life support. Then I was moved to Southern Regional Hospital where they would be better able to manage my condition. Shortly after arriving there, things went downhill and I had to be resuscitated. When I woke up again, I had a tube in my throat and realized I couldn’t speak.

My mind was racing. Though I knew by this point that I had gotten hurt in a car accident and not a work accident, I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind that it was now or never. This was the moment when I decided that I absolutely had to start my own business. I had spent my adult life working hard to help others build their businesses. I wanted to use my energy in my own business to create the life I desired for myself and my family.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Life did change because of my tracheotomy, but we eventually found some sense of normalcy and moved to Florida. Still, I never forgot that desire to start a business. I have loved fashion since I was a kid, so I started there. I would buy clothes on clearance and sell them out of my trunk, alongside a cooler full of drinks and snacks.

Eventually, that evolved into an online business that had to be rebranded twice because of trademark issues. But I kept going, because I knew that I had what it takes to make this dream in my heart come true.

1550 Brand is the result of that perseverance.

I started my business to have the life I’ve always desired while doing what I love. But I also want to empower people to express themselves in their own unique way and encourage them to keep going, no matter what obstacles they may face or mountains they may have to climb.

Even the brand name is symbolic of that message. I am originally from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Crown Mountain is the highest point on the island, at an elevation of 1550 feet.

I’ll never forget where I came from and how far I’ve had to climb to get here. 1550 Brand is a reminder to take your dreams all the way to the top.

Every item we design is created with that intention in mind. We make clothes for the dreamers AND for the doers who are making their dreams come true. It’s not just about clothes. It’s about the way they make you feel. It’s about how they let you present yourself to the world.

Because life is hard. So dress harder.

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 I were to showcase the city of Atlanta and the surrounding areas to a friend, the first place I would take them is to one of my favorite Jamaican restaurants, K&S Jerk Shop in Dacula. The Atlanta area is such a melting pot, and I have to show off my West Indian heritage. Then we’d head to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, where a lot of attractions are within walking distance. The Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and SkyView Atlanta are among my favorites.

For an experience that you can’t get anywhere else, we’re definitely hitting up The Bando for some of their dope wings. If they’d like to go shopping, we can go to Atlantic Station or the Underground for uniquely “Atlanta” experiences, or the Mall of Georgia in Buford. If they’re here for the nightlife, Suite Lounge is the destination of choice. And after the club, we’d have to go to Waffle House — any Waffle House — to cap off the experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my wife, Jennae Petersen, for believing in my dreams and sticking by my side even when things weren’t easy.

Website: https://1550brand.com

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Linkedin: @1550brand

Twitter: @1550brand

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Image Credits
Credit: 1550 Brand