A Day with Donny Harper, Founder of Good Co Apparel at Ebony J Media

Ebony J Wynn
2 hours ago
3 min read

We spent the day chatting with Donny Harper, the founder of Good Co Apparel, on the Ebony J Media platform—and it was full of branding wisdom and candid discussions on personal authenticity, business strategy, and how to build trust.

by Shy Halbert on 7/24/25

]KEY TAKEAWAYS

Donny made a strong point about aligning your brand with your business values. He stressed that what you post on your social media is part of your business reputation. If your personal behavior or online presence doesn’t match your business values, you risk losing trust—not just from customers, but also from potential investors.

His advice? Every post, every caption, every photo should reflect what your brand stands for, or else you’re just chipping away at credibility with the people who matter.

He explained that “our new resume is our social media.” That means every post, comment, interaction—they all reflect your character. You might think your brand is separate from your personal account—but to people, it’s the same thing. And once you break trust, it’s hard to rebuild.

When it comes to selling products, Donny says customer service is everything. It’s not always the product—it’s the experience. People invest in brands not just because they like the item, but because they like you—your energy, your values, your consistency. If you treat someone right, they’ll return not just because of the product—but because they know you’re a good person. In media culture, showing the “real you” is trendy—but Donny warned: being real isn’t always right. Sometimes transparency can hurt your brand. He cautioned against sharing things that go against your values—even if it feels honest—because in the long run, that kind of “real” can cost you trust and opportunity.

He taught us to focus on retention—not just repeat customers, but customers who remember how they felt during the interaction. Details fade, but feelings stick. Are your customers feeling genuinely valued, understood, and appreciated? Because that feeling is what keeps them coming back.

Donny challenged us to get creative with promotion. You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows you exist, you can’t sell. He encouraged thinking beyond typical ads—ideas like product placement and guerrilla marketing—and sticking to a schedule. He calls it feeding your business three times a day—meaning daily marketing and posting so people don’t forget you.

He pointed out something brilliant: the people who love your brand won’t get tired of seeing you—if you show up right. They remember the impact you make, not how often you post. So: post consistently, but post with intention. Show up for them in a way that feels supportive, not repetitive.

He drove this home: entrepreneurship isn’t about the product—it’s about how you promote the product. The best gear or item can sit on a shelf unless keyword outreach, storytelling, and consistent messaging bring attention to it.

Finally, Donny shared an inspiring reminder: businesses like Louis Vuitton closed three times before they made it. It’s a reminder that setbacks are part of the journey—and that success is often preceded by persistence.

What We Learned from Donny Harper

Insight	Why It Matters
Align personal & business branding	Builds lasting trust with customers & investors
Social media = resume	Digital presence shapes reputation
Customer service sells	People support people
Real isn’t always right	Oversharing can damage your brand
Retention > transactions	Emotional impact lasts longer than words
Creative marketing matters	Visibility fuels sales
Feed your business daily	Consistent work creates recognition
Promote > product	Messaging drives customer action
Don’t quit early	Resilience builds eventual breakthrough

Spending the day with Donny Harper reminded me that branding is both internal and external. It’s who you are, what you believe, how you show up—and how your audience feels because of it. Consistency, intention, and integrity are not just marketing buzzwords—they’re the foundation of building a brand people want to stay in good company with.

Join the Movement

This session reminded us why Ebony J Media exists — to mentor the next generation of media leaders through hands-on experience and access to voices that keep it real.

If you want your student to benefit from this level of mentorship, enroll them in our training camps or join our membership program. At Ebony J Media, we go beyond teaching media skills — we nurture confidence, spark creativity, and foster a supportive community.