What is your background in fashion? Did you go to school? What did you study?
I studied Fashion Merchandising in Philadelphia and in London for a semester, which is where I learned the most. I grew up a Southern boy, and took baby steps up to New York. I have been here a little over three years. Worked retail for years, then wholesale sales, now wholesale and buying for the new store A.OK.

What drives you to work in this industry and how do you stay on top, in an industry that is shrinking?
I think for me it's all about the company I work for. No day is the same at OAK which is great for a guy like me. I thrive on change, definitely not a cubical kind of guy.

What is your role at OAK, and how did you end up there?
I'm currently the "Brand Manager" for our newest store, A.OK. I buy product, manage the A.OK stores, merchandise the spaces, style the shoots, etc. I also run our wholesale showroom. In our showroom I represent 10 designers including the OAK label, selling collections to clothing stores across the globe. I began in the showroom back in January.

What is A.OK?
easy. accessible. inclusive. unisex. vintage. youth. A.OK is located in the basement of our Bond St. OAK location and in the back of our Williamsburg location. It also has its own section on our website. It is a highly curated selection of clothing and accessories from known and unknown brands at a more accessible price point in keeping with OAK's styling.

What is your favorite line to wear right now?
I don't know if I'm really loyal to any one brand? I'm a "mash up" kind of guy anyway. I just got these amazing Chronicles of Never leather shorts that I LOVE!

What are appropriate albums to listen to while trying to sell people clothing? What keeps the energy up, or at least, you amused?
Hahah!! That's a fun question. Music is so important. It depends on the shop, whether A.OK or OAK or showroom. A.OK is a bit younger, more punk and aggressive. I've been playing a lot of old 90's riot girl lately, that first Ministry album and the new Fischerspooner.

How do you see the "health" of the industry as a whole, right now? Is there hope?
Yea of course! Everything's temporary. If you get the right product in your store, people will buy no matter the economic climate, they just have to want it bad enough.

If you were to run a line, what changes would you make to keep it relevant, yet lucrative?
I think the most important thing is point of view or the story and quality. For me as a salesman the most disheartening thing when selling, is not having a story. There are so many lines out there today that staying unique and original is a real challenge. This would be my goal.