From working as a waiter, gasman and cleaner to founding one of the largest companies.
Do Won Chang He emigrated to the United States in 1981 with his wife, Jin Sook, in search of better opportunities. Just turned 30 years old and less than $1,000 between themthe couple began their journey facing numerous challenges.
Upon arriving in California, Chang had to work several jobs to survive. He was a barista, gas station employee and janitortasks that he performed for long days. However, while fulfilling these duties, he closely observed the lifestyle and businesses in the region, especially the clothing stores. This experience made him realize the potential of the fashion industry.
Do Won Chang’s story is an inspiration for entrepreneurs around the world. With perseverance, humility and a clear vision, built a fashion empire from nothing.
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How Do Won Chang managed to found “Forever 21”
After a long time observing the business, together with his wife they decided to put together 11 thousand dollars to open his first clothing store in 1984. They called it Fashion 21, located in Highland Park, Los Angeles. This store was the precursor to what would later become Forever 21.
Fashion 21’s transition to Forever 21 marked the beginning of explosive expansion. The store started generating $700,000 in its first yeara success that allowed new branches to be opened. In the years that followed, Forever 21 established itself as a global brand with a presence in more than 50 countries and more than 800 stores at its peak.
Chang’s business model was based on rapid inventory turnover and competitive pricing, known as “fast fashion.” This allowed the brand always stay relevant and attract a young audience and diverse.
What is your work philosophy
From the beginning, Chang adopted a work philosophy based on disciplineeffort and faith. As devout Christians, Do Won and Jin Sook consider their success a divine blessing. One fact about them is that on all Forever 21 bags, the Bible verse “John 3:16” appears as a way to share their faith.
Chang also focused on offering accessible and updated fashionwith the philosophy of democratizing catwalk trends to make them accessible to the general public. This approach, combined with their dedication and constant innovation, was key to the company’s rapid growth.
Source: Ambito
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
