Meet the maker: Need Supply Co.
With Need Supply Co., Chris Bossola has created both supply and demand.
When Chris Bossola first opened Need Supply Co., he sold vintage Levi’s jeans, mostly to local college girls who liked the low-rise, broken-in denim. However, this wasn’t his original career intention: after working in finance (and hating it), he and his wife traveled cross country to San Diego, where they discovered this vintage Levi’s craze. When they got back to Richmond, Bossola opened a tiny 250 sq. ft. store that sold these rare jeans. Within a year or so, the supply dried up and Bossola expanded into his current model of selling branded merchandise.
The store’s “Meet the Maker” events have become highly anticipated. “We started this series two years ago and have had nine installments since. It’s kind of like a trunk show, but more interactive. It’s a way to educate our customers and for our vendors to share their brand story and sell product. Our last one was with Shea and Raan Parton from Apolis. We had a great turnout because Apolis has a big fan base. People drove from North Carolina and Washington D.C. to meet them.”
E-commerce, which launched at the end of 2008, is a major part of Need Supply Co.’s business (half of total volume). “They complement each other,” Bossola asserts. “And [in today’s market], you have to have both. Everything in the store is sold online and vice versa. It might not all be on the floor, but it’s all available to people who come in. However, my dad always tells me to ‘watch my overhead.’ And that’s the trick to longevity. You have to keep things fresh, but you have to watch your overhead.” Might he give the same advice to his two sons one day? He laughs and says they’re too young to even think about entering the business (9 and 11 years old), so for now they’re happy riding bikes and going to the beach on weekends.
When asked what’s after the heritage trend, he predicts the market will get a little less serious. “We’re already seeing that with the introduction of prints. I also think streetwear will have more of an influence on contemporary.” Whatever might be next, we know Bossola will have the supply his customers need.
Need Supply Co. at a Glance
- Established by Chris Bossola in 1996
- Location: Richmond, Va.
- Size: 2,500 sq. ft.
- Ratio: 50/50 men’s/women’s
- Top Vendors: Alden, Filson, Gitman Vintage, Norse Projects, Soulland
- assortment: 100% branded
- Average retail price points: wovens $78 to $250, non-denim from just under $100 to $250, denim from just under $100 to $350