@THEVENTUREROOM MEET THE UK FOUNDER WHO WENT FROM SLEEPING ON HIS

@theventureroom

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Promoted product

Corteiz

RULESTHEWORLD.

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Why it worked

The post likely resonated due to its compelling rags-to-riches narrative, the aspirational story of building a successful brand from scratch with unconventional methods, and the intriguing "underdog" angle of a brand collaborating with a giant like Nike after a legal battle.

Summary

This post tells the story of Clint Ogbenna, the founder of the streetwear brand Corteiz. It details his journey from sleeping on his sister's couch to building a £43m/yr business by employing unconventional marketing strategies like private Instagram accounts and secret pop-ups. The post highlights Corteiz's eventual collaboration with Nike after a lawsuit, emphasizing the power of community and culture over traditional marketing.

Structure

1Introduction of Clint Ogbenna and Corteiz's success
2Clint's humble beginnings and the start of Corteiz
3Corteiz's unique marketing strategy

Original caption

Corteiz became a £43M powerhouse by doing the exact opposite of what normal clothing brands do. Clint forced people to hunt for his stuff by locking his website, keeping the Instagram private, and dropping random street coordinates for secret pop-ups. His community grew so tight that even after Nike sued him, they ended up collaborating with him a few years later. The biggest takeaway here is that culture and community win over standard corporate marketing every single time. #corteiz #streetwear #fashionmarketing #successmindset #entrepreneurmindset

More from @theventureroom

Product placement

Corteiz ACTS - it is a streetwear fashion brand that Clint Ogbenna built. It sells clothes. Removing it would change what happens in the video. The Venture Room APPEARS - it is the creator's handle/name. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Nike ACTS - it is a sportswear brand that sued Corteiz and then collaborated with them. Removing it would change what happens in the video.

On-screen text

@THEVENTUREROOM MEET THE UK FOUNDER WHO WENT FROM SLEEPING ON HIS SISTERS COUCH TO BUILDING A £43M/YR BUSINESS THE BREAKDOWN @THEVENTUREROOM At 20 Clint Ogbenna's family were evicted and he began sleeping on his sister's sofa. Although this was a difficult period, Clint used it to startbuilding Corteiz, a streetwear fashion movement. BEGINNINGS @THEVENTUREROOM He started selling clothes with just £500, no marketing degree, no team, no big investor story. Just a young kid from London with a dream and a passion to build a brand that changed culture. BRAND DNA @THEVENTUREROOM Corteiz went a completely different way to traditional brands. • The instagram was private • The website was password-protected • The drops were limited If you wanted the clothes, you had to be inside the world. DIFFERENTIATOR @THEVENTUREROOM They made buying feel earned and exciting. Clint set up random pop-ups on the streets, dropped coordinates to find clothes, sold 99p cargo trousers, pop-ups in New York subways. Every pop-up was selling well over 6-figures. NIKE MOMENT @THEVENTUREROOM In 2021, Nike filed a lawsuit against the brand. Then in 2023, Nike confirmed a Cortiez collaboration and now they have 4 main drops with the company that wanted them gone. An iconic moment for an iconic brand. THE LESSON @THEVENTUREROOM The business now does over £43m/yr and the crazy thing is Clint has 100% ownership of it. Clint and Corteiz became a movement because they created a world people wanted to be a part of, not just a product. Most brands chase customers. Corteiz made people chase the brand. THANKS FOR READING