*A low-key hustle that started by the “Water Boys” by selling unlabeled water in Atlanta streets has grown into a brand that now sells merchandise such as hats, t-shirts, hoodies, joggers, and branded water bottles.
“Water Boys” is a well-known group of water sellers in Atlanta. They have been in the business for years; one of them, Amir, has sold water for nine years. Now they have a dignified name, a brand: “Water Boyz N The Hood.”
Amir says he began selling water when he was 7 or 8 years old. After he explained his plans to sell water to his three friends, Serge, Mackay, and Mekhi, they, too, began to sell water after school. On his first day of selling water, Serge made some good money and decided he would always be selling water. Mekhi says something similar, reports IceCreamConvos.
Did you know that film-maker Greg Williams was once a water boy? Over the past years, he has been documenting footage of the Water Boys.
The filmmaker says the water boys are just finding a way to survive since many of them are from struggling families.
Says Williams: “Selling water is an Atlanta thing. It’s a hustle. Even when I first came down in 2012, it was a thing, like, ‘Hey, you ain’t got any money. Go sell some water.’ I used to do it in front of the club. Like, it was an Atlanta thing.”
He adds: “Some of these boys know the situations they are in, they know where they come up from and they go for what they know, it’s survival mode. So in that survival mode, I feel like selling water is a that, like, as it relates to the exchange and commerce, it’s a perfect profit margin flip. Like, it makes sense on the business end. But if you starving at home or you really like taking care of your family, you’re gonna… that’s an easy way to do something that you don’t get in trouble for. It’s way bigger than just bottles. A water boy’s story is bigger than just a bottle because it’s just what it is it’s a life resource. Water is a life resource. Everybody needs water to live.”
Serge says he could make a $200 – $300 profit from a $4 – $5 case of water. On his part, Amir says he maintained selling at the same corner every day until sales started getting low there. He then relocated to Midtown and Buckhead where he began to realize huge profits.
The three water boys have said they feel proud they are able to provide for their families through this business. They gradually upgraded their hustle into a brand: “Water Boyz N The Hood.”
According to Mekhi, the brand represents “young entrepreneurs who are selling water and started their own brand or who translated from selling water into a brand that can provide for them.”
The trio has been supported by world-famous ATL rappers T.I. and Quavo.
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