Inside James Whitner's Purpose-First Retail Playbook
The Business of Fashion Podcast

Inside James Whitner's Purpose-First Retail Playbook

B2Upper-intermediateAugust 28, 202640 min
  • Interview
  • Business & money

Earlier this month, A Ma Maniére — one part of James Whitner's The Whitaker Group — was named one of BoF's Best Fashion Stores in the World, our definitive global list of retailers with the most distinctive edits and experiences. Whitner has spent twenty years building an independent retail business that operates more than 20 stores across 16 US cities — many of them in Black neighbourhoods that mainstream retail had overlooked — based on the feeling he got hanging out in barbershops and sneaker spots growing up in Pittsburgh. “The best things happen in the barbershop — the most interest...

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20 stores across 16 US cities, many of them in black neighborhoods that mainstream retail

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growing up in Pittsburgh.

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0:00

Hi, this is Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion, or welcome to the BOF podcast. It's Friday, August 28. Earlier this month, Amma Manier, one part of James Whitner's The Whitaker Group, was named one of BOF's best fashion stores in the world.

0:21

Our definitive global list of retailers with the most distinctive edits and experiences. James has spent 20 years building an independent retail business that now operates more than 20 stores across 16 US cities, many of them in black neighborhoods that mainstream retail

0:41

had overlooked, based on the feeling he got hanging out in barber shops and sneaker spots growing up in Pittsburgh. The best things happen in a barber shop, most interesting conversations on the block or in the barbershop, right?

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