Today we’d like to introduce you to DeAndre Wigfall.
DeAndre, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I use to be a basketball player growing up as a child and all through my school years, and after I didn’t receive a basketball scholarship like I had planned, I ended up attending the University of Texas San Antonio for my Freshman year of college. Going into college, I wasn’t truly excited about attending because I wasn’t going to play ball and school was never a passion for me although I excelled in High school. While attending UTSA my freshman year, I would sit in class and really think to my self, “Why Am I Here?”. I knew school wasn’t for me because I always knew that I was a radical thinker and innovator and that I wanted to have a bigger impact on life. Fashion was always a passion of mines, it came natural to me growing up. To wear nice clothes was always my thing. I always loved putting outfits together and shopping. While in college, I found myself truly loving fashion, shopping more, and looking at fashion blogs. One day while sitting in my dorm room I thought to myself, “I think I’m going to create my own streetwear brand when I get back home this summer”, and that’s exactly what I did. After failing both semesters of School, I knew I wasn’t going back, I didn’t have the passion and I knew I always wanted to be my own boss and work for myself. As the Summer went by I created multiple T-shirt designs and would get models to model them for me and post on social media until I built up a big enough buzz that got me invited to my first Houston Fashion Show. The fashion show turned out to be a huge success as to where I got invited to multiple fashion shows all over Houston, Dallas, and later New York Fashion Week. Throughout my journey of Building my fashion brand, I went to HCC and enrolled in the Fashion Program while I worked every type of job that you could think of. I did Valet at BMW, served at the Pappadeaux and worked many other jobs that I was miserable working at. Though being miserable working at those jobs, I always had a plan and knew that those jobs were temporary while I was building my brand and business. While working, I knew that I needed to be In high end retail working to learn more about the fashion industry and work around what I knew and loved. Nordstom was always a Job I wanted but never had enough retail experience to work there and would never get hired although I applied multiple times. I never got discouraged, I got an opportunity to work at Zara were my plan was to work there for a year gain more retail experience, then leave to work at Nordstom. Every day I went to work. I woke up miserable, I hated going to work there, I knew that my time was worth more and that I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. Nipsey Hussle’s words and music kept me going and helped me truly believe that success is a journey not a destination and that doing what you really don’t want to do was apart of the process of becoming successful. While working at Zara I finally got the call from Nordstom that they wanted me to come work and I was beyond excited, I knew that Nordstrom would be a good fit for me especially with loving high end fashion and knowing that I would have the opportunity to work with clients. While working in Nordstom one day during the Holiday season, a guy walked in and started to shop and approached me to check out at the register. I simply asked the man, “If you don’t mind me asking, what do you do for a living?’ The man then responded, ” I do Real Estate, I’m a Builder and a broker.” Soon after he told me what he did for a living, we exchanged Instagram accounts and went about our day. Fast forward two months later, I was let go from Nordstrom Due to the fact that I was hired on as a seasonal worker but was told that I could potentially be hired on as full time if I did well, in which I did but still was let go. When I first got let go It didn’t make any sense, I felt I was doing so well, but I then sat and truly thought about it and it seemed as if I was let go for a reason and bigger purpose. Seemed as if God was speaking to me and telling me he had something bigger in store for me. While sitting at home looking for other high end jobs to work at, I came across the guys Instagram that I met in Nordstrom. This guys name turned out to be Cory Smith. I recalled him telling me that he knew friends that owned boutique stores, so I figured id ask him about it to see if I could potentially work at one of the boutiques, I first Dm’d Mr. Cory Smith on Instagram and told him that I no longer worked at Nordstrom and that id love to work with one of his friends that owned a boutique if possible. I would Dm’d Mr. Smith at least once a day for two weeks asking him for updates with his friends boutique and he would always tell me that he would left me know if he spoke with them and if anything changed. After about the third week of consistently asking him, He finally told me that none of his friends were hiring at the time and that if anything changes he would let me know. Once I was told that there weren’t any opportunities at the time I then proceeded to telling Mr. Smith that it didn’t have to be fashion related and that I could help with whatever he needed for his business. Mr. Smith told me that he would let me know so I then proceeded to contacting him every single day until he finally responded on a Sunday night February 4th, the day the Eagles won the Superbowl. He told me that he needed help doing some Labor on his Remodel homes and I gladly told him that I would be there 7 am sharp. At that point, I didn’t care what I had to do as long as it was legal and it would lead me towards success. Monday morning came and I worked that entire day up until about 4 pm where Mr. Smith came to me and told me that he heard that I had been working very well and told me the only reason he responded to me and gave me a shot was because I was so persistent and that I reminded him of himself. Mr. Smith then Proceeded to ask me about my self and asked me did I have a Real Estate License and I told him no I didn’t. Soon after Mr. Smith proceeded to tell me that he would pay for me to go to Real Estate school and when I’m done, I could come be an Agent for him and the rest was history! I felt that it was all gods plan and that it didn’t happen by accident that it was meant to happen that way, which is why I got let go from Nordstrom. I wasn’t there to work for a long time, I was there to meet Mr. Smith and change my life. Fast forward three months from first meeting Mr. Smith, after failing my Real Estate exam three times, I finally passed and was officially a licensed Realtor! Mr. Smith then linked me with some of his investor friends, where I then earned my way to working with a group of Investors at a successful Real Estate firm. Now I Stand 22 years old, just closed my first Real estate deal with a house sold for a little under $200,000 in 5 days! Also helping to purchase multiple investment homes with my Real Estate Firm. My life got easier once I found my purpose in life which was to touch people, build a legacy, and to inspire others to follow their heart on what they believed in. To also realize that life is a journey not a destination, and to have strong faith through all of the ups and the downs. I plan on building Real Estate generational wealth, pushing my culture and generation forward, and helping other reach their highest level of success mentally.
Has it been a smooth road?
The Road has been very bumpy, almost like Tight-roping at a height, you fall you knowing it’s a wrap. I realize that its all about perspective and changing the way you look at problems. You can let it get to you and get you down, or you can use it as fuel to keep pushing and go harder. I look at problems in life as road bumps and not road blocks, I realize that its apart of the journey of success, Joy wouldn’t feel so good if It weren’t for pain.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into your story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m a Licensed Realtor and Real estate investor. I have my own podcast show The : DeAndre Wigfall Private label show available on Apple podcast, Spotify and all platforms. I specialize in Real Estate, and being an Entrepreneur would inspire others. I’m most proud of the way I’ve built a brand around my name with contributes to my business. What sets me apart from others is that I lead by example, I always put out quality content that inspires others, and that I actually have a brand identity and I make people buy into me as a brand and a person rather than focusing on just selling a product and houses.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see my the Real Estate industry in Houston Changing dramatically, the fact that our neighborhoods are already being gentrified and becoming so populated.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.har.com/deandre-wigfall/agent_DeandreW
- Phone: 832-352-7739
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deandrewigfall/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deandre.wigfall
- Other: https://anchor.fm/deandrewigfall
Image Credit:
@http.fitted (instagram account-Brauc Lute)… @Brlynbey (Instagram account-Braelyn)
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