Meet Rudy Allen | CEO of ClubKaru and Entrepreneur

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

Hi Rudy, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Trusting myself [my ideas] has been a hard but fruitful process when it comes to the success of ClubKaru. Don’t get me wrong, you must have a team [but] you have to stay aligned with your star player, self. No one can dictate my speed. I trust myself and do what I want! Like beauty, success is in the eyes of the beholder!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I would say, I started this journey a while ago from wearing one purple shoe and one orange shoe in 6th grade to popping the lens from my glasses and only wearing the frames a few years later. I have always been “a little off” friends would say. As humble as I can say this, there has always been an opportunity in time for me to feel it and own it. I am not concerned mostly by what someone else likes, I’ve always worn what I wanted and could. There was a transition for me going into adulthood when I realized that I can take my doodles and make it real. For years I drew Karu with many designs, I have hundreds of them. I would study prominent brands and their stories. Almost to a fault, I would start comparing my brand to them. I would say this delayed my stride, my confidence wavered. I had to learn to trust myself and learn me. Once I truly begun that journey, I was finally ready to produce. I put my brand out with 2 t shirts, a headband and a pair of shorts. The response was [what I would call] weird, everyone said they loved it but only a few purchased. I took that to heart. I couldn’t understand it all at first. I am a “do-it-yourself” type of person, so I do everything! I took it personally, then I learned that this is not personal its business. Once I understood that my business is personal to me, and its just business to everyone else. The business started to fuel me. I recently had an Official Launch party in April [which was amazing]. I have had many obstacles in life and have done so many things [but] that was the most stressful and rewarded experience ever! I learned so much about myself reaching that goal. I pushed myself to do things I didn’t know I could. If I can be honest, there was a moment where I thought maybe I am losing my mind. I couldn’t escape my dreams. I would spend most of my day organizing for the brand and the event that I would go to sleep and dream about it. My dreams would reveal what I should do next or things I should do that I never thought about. I would wake up and have to do them. I put everything on the line for that day. I had my own models, that has always been a fantasy that I would daydream about. I would envision what it would be like having a fashion show and then all of the behind the scenes things I would have to do to make it happen. And I actually did it! I had my own fashion show and a store set up. This was no average pop up. With the fashion show, artist performances and legit store set up with racks, this was an experience! I practically sold out that night. The support was overwhelming and greatly appreciated. I believe that night, I showed my heart. I trusted myself and I was vulnerable. Now that the smoke has cleared from the launch party, I can reflect on the moment and it motivates me. I have something to say and growing in my trust and vulnerability with myself makes it easier to say it. I have many phases to my brand. The launch barely scratched the surface. In the end, CLUBKARU will be a household name and an experience of love.

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?
I am a lover of food and creative things. We would have to go to Slutty Vegan on the first day. Everyone has to experience Slutty Vegan, even if you are not a vegan the food is GREAT! From there I would connect with one of the greatest videographers in the city ,The Wizard. Finally, we would most definitely experience some of the downtown night life.

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 give a few special shout outs:]

First to my wife, SPOILED. Often we do not realize how “chasing our dreams” affects our family. I just want you to know Bunny: I see you, thank you and I love you FOREVER AND ALWAYS!

To the SLGs, for we have a bond that no one could ever break, understand or duplicate. SLG4LIFE

And lastly to my family and friends who support in their own ways. Thank you for everything!

Website: www.clubkaru.com

Instagram: @itsclubkaru

Facebook: itsclubkaru

Youtube: Club Karu

Image Credits
jashlynnphotography, Moe.Regime, funnyfergi