#073: Rhone - Co-Founder And CEO Nate Checketts

Athleisure is one the fastest growing and most competitive retail segments. The days of suits and tight jeans have passed. Fran Racioppi heads to New York City to sit down with Nate Checketts, Co-Founder and CEO of Rhone.

Built on the mantra "we aren't just selling a product, we are selling a lifestyle," Fran and Nate discuss the three pillars of Rhone, building brand loyalty, the importance of intentionality, goals, standards and holding ourselves accountable to metrics. 

Nate and Rhone are also unrelenting supporters of men's mental health and reducing the stigmas around a man's ability to be open, vulnerable and in need. Fran and Nate dig deep on the importance of being there for each other and accepting that it's ok to not be ok. Plus, Fran sticks around for Rhone’s first Mind and Muscle Event.

Learn more about Nate and Rhone at Rhone.com, @rhone and @natechecketts. 

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Check out the full video version on YouTube.

Highlights: 

-Fran & Nate sit down in Rhone’s flagship store on 5th Avenue in the Flatiron district of New York City. 

-Nate shares how competition drives us away from each other. (7:52)

-Intention, comfort and quality form the foundation of Rhone’s products and the culture in the company; Nate is the biggest critic and hardest on the products. (10:5)

-Nate’s time at the NFL taught him valuable lessons on branding. (15:57)

-Fran and Nate discuss the importance of quality, planned longevity of clothing, and why we always pick the same things out of our closets. (32:53)

-Fran asks Nate to provide his assessment on the Athleisure industry. (41:05) 

-Nate credits his parents for instilling in him leadership lessons, hard work and an adherence to standards. (45:10)  

-Nate shares his methods to make mental health a toolkit to be used in difficult times. (56:20)

Quotes: 

-“I don’t think my mom believed we had a real business until we opened a store on 5th Avenue.” (3:41)

-”Don’t get caught up in the past. Don’t get caught up in the future. But just keep kind of progressing.” (5:56)

-“There was a lot of thought and intention behind everything that we do.” (11:40)

-”We want to make things in a way that’s perfect for our customer.” (32:19)

-“If I give you one of our shorts it’s gonna be the first thing out of your closet every single time.” (34:00)

-”The lessons they taught me…I could not function as a leader without the principles that they instilled upon me.” (47:07)

-“If you are struggling…the best thing you can do is talk about it with someone.” (52:48)  

-”Mental health should be viewed as developing a toolbelt when things get hard.” (56:20)

-”Goal setting is the easy part…what’s really really hard is monitoring that.” (1:01:42)

Nate’s three daily foundations to success:

-Start the day with spirituality and gratitude

-Move the body

-Journal for mental health and reflection

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness, and Analytix Solutions