The District Chronicles

Issue date: 4/12/09 Section: Business

Media Credit: Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles

Aaron Johnson's grandfather raised him to always have a "hustle" and never depend on someone else for money. And it's something the Bronx, N.Y., native never forgot. Johnson, the president of Unitees, a custom embroidery silk-screen print company, began a T-shirt printing business in 1984 called Innovative Qualities with five Howard University classmates.

After graduating in 1987, Johnson looked at law school, but Innovative Qualities was doing so well he continued in the retail business. He opened his first business site in 1987, and during that summer, he dropped the name Innovative Qualities and called it the Nile Valley Enterprise, a company that printed apparel for other companies as well as his own. In 1991, he started Unitees, a custom screen service that specializes in T-shirts and sweats.

But the road to entrepreneurship was not without its speed bumps. Johnson's business trials and tribulations included six attempts in the retail business. Johnson attributes failed partnerships and his inexperience in running his own business as reasons for his earlier failures.

In 1996, the business moved to their current site on Rhode Island Ave., where they have remained for the last 12 years. "We can print 95 shirts per hour on site," he said. "We are one of the most fully equipped print shops inside of Washington."

Johnson credits success to his two business partners, Darrell Johnson and Grady Grant Jr., and his mentor, Jonah Millard. "On many levels, Jonah deserves a lot of credit. He is like a father figure to me. He invented and built machines to meet the needs of my printing company," Johnson said.

Johnson has developed strong community ties in the city. During the summer, he joined the youth program SINGA, which means "The Tread of Life." He participates as an adviser to the program, and trains area youth to use the equipment. "We felt that it is important to give back to the community, thereby leaving it a better place then we inherited," Johnson said.

Johnson loves being an entrepreneur, but admits it is a costly business. "Sacrifice has sustained Unitees. I had to work long hours and miss a lot of my children's activities to maintain my business," he said. "But I am my own boss and that gives me more personal freedom," said Johnson.

He also said that being in charge brings even more responsibility. "When you work a job you usually have one boss. When you are an entrepreneur, every customer is your boss," he said.

Johnson advice to younger entrepreneurs is to always look at the big picture. "Live your dreams and set obtainable goals," he said. "Once you have reached attainable goals, then celebrate. I think that is a problem in the Black community - we don't celebrate our victories. Life is a victory everyday."

Address: 608 Rhode Island Avenue NE Washington DC
Phone: (202) 529-5494

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