The Weekly - July 30, 2020 - 8

The Pulse
# W E A R E C O M M U N I T Y

To watch
the full interview
with Jahmicah
Dawes, click on
this photo.

Built to Last

As the owner of Slim Pickins Outfitters, Jahmicah Dawes wants to continue to forge a
strong connection with the community and serve as an example of how Black-owned
businesses can change and challenge the outdoor industry. By Bevin Wallace
send a picture of Bill Murray?
I'm having a tough day." So
much of this was not about
business; it was just about
connection.

ter with a focus on apparel and
footwear, Slim Pickins is also a
ministry whose programs include an Outfit the Saints initiative, providing outdoor gear for
Christian missionaries' trips.

We [Black people] didn't start
racism, so we can't be the ones

that end it. If it's going to end,
we're going to be a part of it,
but we can't end it alone. If we
could, we would have done it a
long time ago.

Never underestimate just communicating with your customer
base. This is a time I think ev-

We want to be a space that
could be an incubator for other

erybody threw pride aside and
was like, "Hey, we need help,"
but also, "How can we help?"

people who want to have a
Black-owned business in the
outdoor industry.

We have our basset hound, Bill
Murray, who's also our shop
mascot. We had people just

This is not my business; this is
my livelihood. When you come

reach out like, "Hey, can you

into our shop and you see our
dog or my kids running around,

8 THE WEEKLY / OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER 2020

yes, it's because I want them
around, but also babysitters
aren't cheap and I want my kids
to see this. And I hope to pass
this down to them because
that is something that, for me,
is valuable. And hopefully we
can own the building and pass
down that kind of wealth, in
a sense, not monetary means
but means of ownership. Again,
to go from a history of being
owned as property to then
owning property.
I want to be an example that

shows the outdoor community and the Black community that this is possible,
and to say, "Come out here.
There's support here. There
are people who want to learn,
who want to try to mourn
with us, and also heal with

us." Because it's the outdoors.
If nothing else, it is healing. It
is literally natural healing."
But I want to challenge the
outdoor industry ... you say you

want to support us, what do
your hires look like at all levels?
What does your board look
like? Are you willing to put your
money where your mouth is?
Are you willing to help Blackowned business?
We've definitely felt an affirmation that we're here for something more, here for something

bigger. And stuff right now,
it's getting bigger than us.
I want to sign off as we usually
do, encouraging people to act

justly, look fondly, serve humbly, and adventure out.

CO U R T E SY O U T D O O R R E TA I L E R

Name: Jahmicah Dawes
Company: Slim Pickins Outfitters
Title: Owner
Founded: 2017
Location: Stephenville, Texas
Downlow: A community outfit-
http:// https://youtu.be/a0Sp5rAvc94 https://slimpickinsoutfitters.com/
The Weekly - July 30, 2020

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