Meet Raza Ry | Creative Producer, Agency Owner, Photographer

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

Hi Raza, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Ever since I was a kid, my parents instilled a mindset of working for myself. Mainly because they saw the power in it and felt they weren’t given that same advice. They come from the old school south where it was taught to work for the best t company and work hard to get a pension. They were wise enough to see that this way wouldn’t work for my generation. Unfortunately they didn’t have the first-hand knowledge of how to actually start and grow a business so that is a puzzle I’ve been learning to piece together on my own with their support.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since starting my entrepreneurial journey at 17 in 2009, I have learned to wear about every possible hat in the production and digital marketing space. Being a broke high school student when I started Unique and Uncontemporary as a clothing line, my partner and I were forced to learn how to do everything. Design and print the clothes, take photos, build the website, and market the brand. Through this necessity, a passion for photography was found. Going into college, the clothing line took a back seat to my learning photo, video, and brand production working in the nightlife scenes, models, local businesses, music artists, and more! I was able to explore and hone my expertise with the camera and how to work with all sorts of creatives and business owners.

After graduating, I came back home with a fire to push my clothing line with the newfound expertise I had gained during school. Ironically, my best-performing collection a year later showed me it was time to move on from fashion. We did so well designing and marketing the collection (which sold out), we had more people asking who did the marketing work than the clothes themselves. It made me re-evaluate that fashion wasn’t my true passion. I had a simple thought sitting with my business partners in 2016. “Why don’t we offer the services we do for ourselves to other people?”

Without knowing creative agencies and moguls like Gary Vee were in existence at the time, I had no idea the world I was naturally jumping into. I’m truly glad I did and never looked back. Since shifting focus that day we have helped build a number of lasting brands in a number of different industries including music, hair care, restaurants, marijuana dispensaries, and more!

In the last 5 years, I have focused more on becoming a creative manager overseeing the branding and production projects our clients need to grow their brands. I have successfully built a team of local and international creatives and marketers that have brought in their expertise that delivers a high standard of quality that retains clients for years.

Simply put, no one does it like UxU does it. No one listens like is. No one cares more about the client’s success than us. No one’s clients trust them more than ours. No one is a more capable one-stop shop. We continually push the standard of the industry to better serve our clients and give the top creatives a place to grow their skillsets.

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.
Gotta hit OpenGem, a traveling open mic event that started in DC!

OPEN GEM WAS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE
OF PROVIDING CREATIVES A SAFE SPACE
TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES WHILE MASTERING
THEIR CRAFT AND GROWING THEIR FAN BASE.
THIS TOUR REPRESENTS THE NEXT EVOLUTION
IN THAT ENDEAVOR. TOUCHING 5 MAJOR CITIES.
CREATIVES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW THEIR CAREERS IN FRONT
OF A CROWD OF MUSIC DISCOVERERS AND
EARLY ADOPTERS WHILE BUILDING
COMRADERY WITH FELLOW ARTIST
ALONG THE WAY.
IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO AN OPEN GEM EVENT
IT’S TIME TO FIX THAT.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents for pushing and helping me get my LLC and helped us out financially until I was able to find our footing. My wife for helping me gain a higher level of self-confidence and maintain balance in all aspects of life. My business partner Jason for helping me bring all of my ideas to the next level and operate at a higher level than I ever felt was possible. And my team for their continued support and hard work. You all continually raise the bar and keep me on my toes. I greatly appreciate all of you!

Website: http://UxU.Agency/ and https://www.razary.com

Instagram: @RazaRy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razary/

Twitter: @razary

Facebook: @RazaRY