From Fresh Prince to a Profitable Furniture Store - Heres How You Can Do it Too - Kenya Abdul Hadi

About this episode

Kenya Abdul Hadi shares his journey from fashion to furniture entrepreneurship, discussing strategies for success and the importance of relationships.

From Howard University to Hollywood TV screens to owning a mid-century modern furniture store in Philadelphia — this episode is a masterclass in reinvention and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Haqq sits down with longtime friend and Howard classmate Kenya Abdul Hadi, co - owner of The Modern Republic, a premier mid-century modern furniture store in Philly. Before furniture, Kenya built two successful clothing brands, selling T-shirts that landed in Nordstrom, appeared on iconic shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and were worn by cultural heavyweights including Tupac, Fat Joe, DMX and LeBron James. Kenya breaks down: * How he got his clothing line into major retail stores like Nordstrom * The real strategies behind building and growing a loyal customer base * Why furniture is one of the most lucrative retail businesses * How anyone can start a furniture business today * Knowing when to pivot and evolve as an entrepreneur The conversation also dives into their shared roots at Howard University, the power of relationships, and the mindset required to build brands that last across industries. Whether you’re into fashion, furniture, retail, or entrepreneurship, this episode is…

People in this episode

Host: A.Haqq Islam

Guest: Kenya Abdul Hadi

Topics covered

• entrepreneurship
• furniture business
• reinvention
• retail
• fashion
• Howard University

Keywords

• entrepreneurship
• mid-century modern
• furniture business
• Howard University
• retail
• customer base
• pivoting
• clothing brands
• Nordstrom

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Howard University, The Modern Republic, Nordstrom

Books & works: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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