Joshua Fagan and David Archer are the co-founders of Montreal’s premier destination for contemporary womenswear, JoshuaDAVID, a boutique was founded five years ago with the mission to offer impeccable service from a friendly, knowledgeable team of personal shoppers…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
We are a very personal shopping experience! Our main task in a nutshell is to source the most enticing styles for our customers every season and work with our clients in building their perfect wardrobe.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
We wanted to escape the rat race of our corporate experiences. We’re both Holt Renfrew expats – Joshua worked as a sales manager in the Montreal store while David worked in the buying office in Toronto. We met in 2008 at a colleague’s going away party and by the fall of 2009 we had set up shop and embarked on our new venture in Westmount. We are inspired by the way we touch our clients’ lives. Whether you’re coming to us for a fresh Friday night look, a dress for your engagement party, your first power suit or even a little retail therapy, our business is about so much more than the garment – it’s about all the individual stories.
Plain and simple, it’s our clients who inspire us.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part is working with our clients. The most challenging part is getting all of the other tasks done. We’re the owners, the managers, the salesman, the IT department, the janitor, the accountant, the list goes on…
Where do you see yourself in five years?
We see ourselves with a second location while expanding our brand reach with future collaborations and a growing ecommerce division.
What does success look like to you?
A positive footprint on our communities, our clients and our team.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Our most memorable milestone is definitely going to be our five-year anniversary. We’re hosting a big party on Wednesday, September 10th and unveiling a limited-edition JoshuaDAVID x Travis Taddeo collaboration to commemorate the occasion. Certainly an event not to be missed.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Do more with less. Embrace change. Be humble, passionate and determined. Remember that it won’t always be easy, but the best things in life never are.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
We’ve supported in various ways over a dozen charities since opening. Everyone from the Farha Foundation, to Federation CJA, to the McGill Head and Neck, to the Jewish General Hospital, and many more. We love getting involved and giving back to our local community and especially charities that our clients hold near and dear.
What to you is notable?
Building something from the ground up, nurturing it, and watching it grow. In our case, it’s JoshuaDAVID.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone. Always.
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