Winner
Emerging
David Schottenstein has a well-known name in the world of business. His grandfather helped found the Schottenstein Stores and American Eagle. But over the past few years, the young entrepreneur has focused on making a name for himself.
While attending boarding school in Venice, Italy, Schottenstein developed a passion for Italian suits and custom clothing and decided to make that his business. At age 20, he bought factories in Hong Kong and founded Astor & Black Custom Clothiers, realizing his vision of producing high-quality, custom-made clothing.
In the ensuing four years, Schottenstein has developed a clientele that includes CEOs and professional athletes. The company has no brick-and-mortar presence; sales are dependent on 60 representatives who travel the world, assisting clients in finding the right fabric, patterns and fit for their custom-made creation. Clients’ orders are then shipped overseas for assembly, and the finished product is shipped directly to the customer.
Schottenstein has found three factors that have helped Astor & Black separate itself from the current economic trend, allowing his business to grow at a time when so many clothing companies are struggling to even tread water. First, consumers are more cost-conscious, and the price of Schottenstein’s suits has not risen since the business began operations. Second, many of Astor & Black’s clients enjoy having a representative come to their homes, instead of having to go out to shop. Third, Schottenstein has a reservoir of talented sales representatives who were seeking work in the current economy.
A heads-up approach to business has helped Schottenstein make his presence felt at a young age.
How to reach: Astor & Black Custom Clothiers, (614) 857-9000 or www.astorandblack.com
