This spring, international design houses incited headlines for flipping their ateliers into manufacturing hubs for medica...
Problem
Menswear lacks quality
It is hard to find brands that make clothes with consistent quality year after year that do not shrink, fade, stain or quickly lose shape.
Solution
BAOBAB: A consumer-centric digitally native company
BAOBAB provides unparalleled quality apparel at affordable prices for the modern professional with a priority on providing our customers with the best possible shopping experience.
Product Quality
Our mission is to create undeniably better products with superior quality, design, functionality and value. BAOBAB has a product development process that involves surveying our customers to identify the problems they have with a specific product, and designing a solution that is tested among our core demographic.
Product
The polo shirt reimagined
BAOBAB is a DTC luxury apparel company developing staples for everyman’s wardrobe that are undeniably better.
The Perfect Polo was our initial product, which combines versatility and durability with sustainability. These shirts can be worn 10-12 times before washing and our proprietary BAOTECH nanotech fabrication process ensures that our shirt is resistant to stains, odors, wrinkles, fading, collar curling and fabric shrinking.
Traction
We have sold out 3 times since 2019
Due in large part to word of mouth, BAOBAB has increased sales by 800% in 2 years with a single product. We have sold out 3 times since 2019. In 3 short years we have expanded our customer base to 3,124 and counting in 22 countries with our largest markets in the US, Canada, and Australia.
Our customers love for this product can be shown in the numbers. We've earned a 35% customer repurchase rate with 87% of those customers buying multiple shirts. Add to that 150+ 5 star reviews.
BAOBAB has been featured in some top publications including Men’s Journal as “Best New Polo Shirt of the Season”. We also received an Innovation Award for the No Curl Stay Flat Collar™.
Customers
For the discerning man who appreciates quality
Our customer is the modern professional man. He is willing to pay for the best, but demands a product of value, quality and durability. The busy lifestyle he leads leaves little time for ironing or laundry. He wants to choose an outfit from his closet and be ready to go. Style is important to him, but he knows that clothing should be more than just fashion, it should be functional and comfortable as well.
He is more than just our customer, he is our partner. We ask and listen to his pain points and desires. Our response is to design a product that solves those problems. It is this relationship with our customer that has lead to our success.
Business model
Digitally native consumer-centric brand
E-commerce is on the rise, but there are still problems with the current shopping experience. Revenue reducing infrastructure problems and poor customer experiences due to outsourced teams prioritizing major corporations are at the top of that list. BAOBAB is developing a new e-commerce model that will disrupt the industry: a digitally native consumer centric brand with a sustainable 360 ecosystem.
Vertical Integration
BAOBAB is a direct to consumer company. In order to maximize long term revenue and ensure a positive customer experience, we are keeping distribution, marketing and customer support in-house.
Market
Menswear will exceed $33B by 2022
The menswear industry is growing 3.02% YoY and is expected to exceed $33B by 2022. The polo shirt is one of the most popular mens’ clothing items. We expect to reach male shoppers as well as their female partners, looking to buy a sustainable, lasting product.
Competition
The alternative to traditional luxury menswear
BAOBAB offers a smart alternative to the standard luxury menswear. Our products are not only more cost-effective and durable, they are also produced sustainably. Unlike our competitors, we do not arbitrarily mark up our prices based on brand, but rather provide high-quality clothing that fits their everyday needs.
An alternative to traditional e-commerce
BAOBAB is disrupting the e-commerce experience, acknowledging the issues with traditional retail and driving change to improve the online shopping experience. BAOBAB is able to maximize revenue and ensure a positive customer experience by owning the distribution, while bringing marketing and customer support in-house.
Vision and strategy
Driving sustainable change
We are challenging incumbent menswear companies by providing an undeniably better alternative to one of the most popular men's fashion items. As we continue to grow our business, we look to expand our product line, develop additional retail partnerships in key markets and internally maintain our production and distribution channels. We also aim to grow our BAOTECH process to launch sustainable women's, children's, home and face and body products.
The future of retail starts with "multi-use distribution hubs."
Gone are the days when you open a store and expect customers to walk in and make purchases as the main source of revenue. By 2024, we plan to own our distribution network and utilize the space for product development, delivery, and photography. We anticipate utilizing a traditional retail space where customers can come in and try on, feel and test our products.
Founders
Founded by
BAOBAB Clothing was founded by long-time friends Marcellus Alexander III and Brandon Davenport. The two were frustrated and annoyed with high-priced clothes that didn’t last after a few wears and washes.
Marcellus and Brandon are proud graduates of Hampton University and Morgan State University respectively. At the forefront of BAOBAB’s mission is to create a more equitable business landscape for all.