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Rachel says “Men are hesitant shoppers,” and she wants Jackson & James to be a place where they can come and stock up on the essentials (including accessories!) without feeling intimidated, stressed or overwhelmed. (Photo courtesy Mike and Rachel Anderson)
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Men and women both can enjoy the home goods Jackson & James plans to carry. This cocktail set knows no gender. (Photo courtesy Mike and Rachel Anderson)
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Their future plans include participating in events and pop-ups with their neighbors; in fact, Jackson & James will be at the Christkindlmarkt at Blue Bee Cider on Dec. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. Once open, they’re also planning on hosting “give back” nights where a portion of their sales go to a chosen local charity. (Photo courtesy Mike and Rachel Anderson)
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With Mike’s background in finance and Rachel’s experience in marketing, the pair have a well-rounded skill set so that “there’s no overlap in responsibilities,” and a real sense of balance in the business. (Photo courtesy Mike and Rachel Anderson)
Commutes are the worst. Often long, stressful and boring, the drive to and from work is a necessarily awful part of the employed masses’ weekdays and can feel like a real waste of time. Unless, of course, you’re Rachel and Mike Anderson. The siblings, born 12 and a half years apart, used their ample car time over the past year to hatch the plan for Jackson & James, their soon-to-be-opened Scott’s Addition menswear shop at 1800 Highpoint Ave.
With Mike working in banking and finance in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Rachel in public relations at ACAC gym in Richmond, Rachel says the pair would call each other during their commutes to brainstorm ways they could work together. Mike had often bemoaned the lack of casual, well-made menswear options anywhere other than major cities, and the brother and sister soon decided their inaugural venture as business partners would be a menswear shop in Richmond.
Rachel points to Ledbury, Need Supply Co. and Alton Lane as incredible shops filling their own specific niches in the local retail environment, though she and Mike feel there is still a space for a menswear store that stocks “transitional pieces,” that can be worn casually or dressed up.
Some of the brands they’ll carry include denim designers Raleigh Denim and Tellason as well as heritage brands like Kato and Kiriko. They’ll also sell skincare products, belts, bags, wallets and home goods.
“Buy better, less often.” It’s the Jackson & James motto and also one that seems to be sweeping the sartorial zeitgeist. Heritage brands, or companies that have a distinct American history, have slowly been stealing the spotlight from fast-fashion retailers over the past few years, and the Andersons plan to capitalize on this positive trend toward well-made investment pieces.
In fact, Rachel says that their brand curation is as much about the folks behind the fashion as it is about the actual pieces. She says, “We want to like the people behind the brands, too,” so that they can cultivate genuine connections between their customers and their offerings. She’s excited to get to know her customer, and to be able to “call them when we get something in we know they’ll love.”
Rachel says she and Mike are both enthusiastic about positioning Jackson & James as a center for community involvement and hope to bring a new, retail-focused energy to the boozy neighborhood. “Scott’s Addition was always at the top of our list,” Rachel explains of their location scouting process. “We wanted Jackson & James to be a destination, a place you can come and have a drink, watch the game and find something to wear.”
While the space is still under construction, Rachel says she and Mike have a distinct vision for the shop that includes loads of natural light, vintage touches and an overall clean aesthetic since “the clothes are the star” of the shop. Jackson & James is set to open in early 2017.
