Bringing Together Content And Commerce In Men’s Fashion: JackThreads Founder Jason Ross (Part 1)

Jason Ross founded JackThreads in Columbus, Ohio. Ross graduated from Ohio State in 2003 with a BSBA in finance. The idea for the July 2008 launch of JackThreads.com came from Ross’s interest in street wear and men’s contemporary fashion, plus his appreciation of a good deal. Ross saw the company as a more discreet way for men to buy premium brands on sale, without sacrificing the top-tier images they worked to build. JackThreads was acquired by Thrillist.com in May 2010, but Ross continues to lead the company’s daily operations.

Sramana: Jason, let’s start by reviewing your background. Where do you come from?

Jason Ross: I am from Cleveland, Ohio. My father was in the military so we traveled a lot, but we settled in Ohio and I went to Ohio State. I got a degree in finance and have stayed in the area ever since. When I left school I wanted to be an entrepreneur. My first two years out of school I started a company where we sold consumer products into retail stores. We were targeting sports enthusiasts.

I was not as passionate about that company as I should have been. After two years I decided that I needed to take the experience from running that business and marry it with a great business plan that I was passionate about. That is when the idea for JackThreads came about.

Sramana: What were the circumstances that brought JackThreads into existence? What were you watching in the marketplace that led you to identify this opportunity?

Jason Ross: With JackThreads I thought of myself as the target customer. I could not find what I was looking for, so I decided to create it.

Sramana: What were you looking for?

Jason Ross: I have always been into better street wear and contemporary fashion brands for guys. At the same time I am a discount shopper. The customer who goes to the boutique or retail store and knows brands and their product lines but does not necessarily need to have it right away is the ideal type of customer. I realized there was not an outlet for that niche. I could not find the products I wanted at a discount anywhere.

I ran into a company in Europe, Vent Privé, that had an interesting business model. It is an online, private shopping club that features authentic brands in short 72-hour sales. A product goes up and is featured to a private audience. The sale lasts only 48 to 72 hours, so there is an incentive for consumers to buy now.

Sramana: When you were envisioning JackThreads, were you thinking about new products or off-season products? High-end brands have struggled with their e-commerce strategies, which makes room for entrepreneurs.

Jason Ross: I was thinking about off-season products from contemporary brands.

This segment is part 1 in the series : Bringing Together Content And Commerce In Men’s Fashion: JackThreads Founder Jason Ross
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