Meet John Gauld V of Hype City

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Gauld V.

Hi John, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In & out the court system my entire life I was bound to be a statistic. Growing up I was raised by my great grandmother in place of my mom and she’s the most hardest working person I’ve ever met ; and she’ll try to do something until the day she dies. My dad was also in my life and was my inspiration to be a entrepreneur starting up businesses and with his work ethic ;but his father (John Gauld iii) the man I’m named after was the one who gave me my hustle and salesman mindset/skill.
Growing up he took me to Nate’s swap n shop off 63rd st and he sold everything , LITERALY EVRYTHING. It started real young around 10-12 years old .But thats only one of the multiple places he took me to buy, sell , and trade . Wich is what I’ve done ever since . From auction houses , garage sales , goodwills and thrift stores , swap n shops , trade nights , pre organized deals … I learned it all from my grandpa , and even my dad when I was with him . It’s just in our blood .
But that’s where I would start my fashion and just pop culture journey!
I’d buy used shoes no matter the condition and I’d take them to swap n shop and have them all gone , post on Facebook, Snapchat, anywhere I could . And I’d meet people from all over to do shoe deals , clothing deals, accessories , you name it .
I’d be at swap n shop and buy shoes there take them back to my grandpas van or car clean them and sell them in the same day…
Eventually I did it myself , walking through school buying peoples shoes , taking duffles a day to school and emptying them and filling my pockets , sometimes filling them back up and getting more inventory .
Now I know almost everyone city wide , a lot of people nationwide and worldwide and have done over 10,000 deals ! Sold more items than I can remember . And I won’t stop now .

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been easy? No, and it still isn’t . No smooth road where I came from , and no smooth road where I’m going . That’s just how it is . Everything I endure is to ensure the rest can have a smooth road .
I’ve had financial issues, lack of knowledge , bad investments , equipment failure , and on top of that all the things that come with your personal life , and having to maintain a job/career or even multiple while trying to start up a business , having losses in my family .. friends dying and so much more ….

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Here at Hype City we provide a wide variety of nostalgia & style . From Clothing , Video Games & Collectible’s, Shoes & Accessories , and anything worth something to someone .. we buy sell trade EVERYTHING. We’ve had 2 custom drops that sold out , we’re working on a website and events . I say we but it’s really always been a one man team, I just hope to have a crew one day!

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was a skater ! I traveled the country from 9-13 skating competitions and some of the best spots . I was blessed to know a bunch of rad people and meet so many amazing skateboards , such as rob dyrdek , tony hawk, prod, nyjah, Chris Cole , Jamie Thomas , Sean Malto and so much more I couldn’t even type them all. But just a nervous, shy, goofy ,skater kid .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Hypecitykc.com
• Instagram: @hypecitykc
• Other: https://Depop.com/2hype4u