Once again, we are highlighting someone hailing from the great city of Detroit, MI. Andrei Nichols comes from the Westside of Detroit which in itself explains why his hustle is always on 100. Andrei also known as Dre or Mr. Duffy is the CEO/Founder of The Duffy Enterprise which is a Branding Consultant firm. Acting as CEO, Dre provides companies and individuals with top of the line branding tips and results. Dre has always had a nitch when it came to entrepreneurship, his knowledge of the business world and want for more has only grown. Dre had this to say about his improvements…
“As I grew older, I used my ability to network and grow relationships which turned into
career opportunities and community engagement
Branding at its Finest
Dre launched his first brand (DuffySzn) back in 2017.
“This brand was created to establish value within the culture through business,
creativity, and education. I filter my ideas through this brand in order to collaborate with
community leaders, market creatives, and establish a platform for professionals to
network through a unique platform”
said Dre when asked about how the brand has benefited him and his business today.
Dre continues to make sure that he looks after his community while also trying to elevate it. In 2016, Dre founded the Suits for Successes which specializes in mentoring young men in grades 9-12 in the city of Detroit. The Suits for Success provides an enhanced learning environment for students specific in 4 areas: Academic Excellence, Professional Development, Financial Education and Social Engagement. We have to say that these areas should be focal points in any young man’s life so we applaud Dre for starting the “give back” process so young. Dre also takes it upon himself to always be the guy to give out encouraging words, which is how he also created “Good Morning Hustlers.” This first started as a morning inspirational text service but has now led into a collaborative platform for influencers and ones that are seeking to overall improve themselves.
“It’s a City Thing My Baby”
As previously mentioned, Dre is from Detroit and has a deep love for the city and how it’s changed and molded him into the hustler he is today. Dre had this to say about Detroit…
“Detroit, Michigan is the greatest city known to man. We are the cultural hub for the
best of Black culture. Our authentic ability to create and impact within all avenues has
givenus a national stamp of influence. The amount of talent within every sector is growing
and we possess the ability to be one of the most innovative cities within the country. I
am from W.McNichols, so I have watched the development of neighborhoods, parks,
and creative spaces come to life every day. Detroit is truly on the incline in terms of
development, and I know the future will be even brighter than before. There has been
an increase in collaboration which has made it easier for brands to reach larger
audiences and appeal to consumers from various backgrounds.”
Dre’s love for the city is shown in everything he does…while his company has clients in other states such as California and Maryland, Dre still has many clients from his hometown that he continues to work with.
Deep in his Duffy
Dre has accomplished some great things for him and his company, but one of his major accomplishments definitely has to be being a Black business owner which in today’s society is huge. Another accomplishment was Dre being able to host the 2019 Forbes 30 under 30, 30 days of service. While conducting that event, Dre was able to do one of the things he loves to do best which was connect with not only country leaders but also high school kids. Again Dre is always giving back, not only with knowledge but with hope for young kids growing up in inner cities.
Dre has made many leaps and bounds with many things under his brand; Dre embodies so many great qualities that create a good business man. His drive for not only success but also to educate is astonishing and remarkable. We asked Dre if he could leave some words for any young entrepreneur reading this article, he had this to say…
“This life is not meant for everyone. Going into business for yourself is creating a whole new life for yourself, and everything that you do will require endless work, research, and patience. Despite the hard work that comes with growing your business you will spend time winning, learning more about yourself, meeting great people, and manifesting the future that is meant for you. Regardless of what you do or what field you’re in, you must continue to be better each and every day. The seasons my change, but each day is DuffySzn!”
We hope Dre continues to uplift and help others with business and wish him all the luck!!
Twitter: @__Dre4
Instagram:@adnii98
