Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories running in February on emerging Black leaders in the Greenville community.
Charles Davis Jr. wears his passion on his sleeve.
Davis owns and operates upscale men’s boutique A Polished Man in downtown Greenville, is principal of Brushy Creek Elementary School in Taylors, and is on the board of the South Carolina Children’s Theatre.
Balancing that many professional roles in life would be a challenge to most people. Yet, to sit and talk to Davis, he handles the balancing act with grace.
As a kid growing up in Clio, a small town in the Pee Dee region, Davis was shy. Fashion was a way to break through his timidness, and he recognized that he felt better when he was well-dressed.
“I felt different whenever I looked my best,” Davis said. “And so for me, it was much bigger than just looking good. It was about the confidence that I felt to be able to show up and be the best version of myself.”
Davis credited his time at Morris College in Sumter with helping him grow out of his shell and into the man he always felt he was. He majored in elementary education, inspired by the art of teaching.
Davis has been in education for 24 years. First as a teacher, then as a guidance counselor, assistant principal and, eventually, principal. He has held that role for 11 years.
He added entrepreneur to his list of accomplishments when he and his wife, Tiffane, opened A Polished Man in 2021. The couple designed the store’s aesthetic to be like an art gallery- neat and pleasant to peruse- in the hopes that it would create an easy, rewarding shopping experience for patrons.
And it shows. It’s a space that encourages clients to find just the right look to ensure they feel confident when they leave.
Davis also created the Confidence Box Initiative in partnership with local schools. The initiative donates accessories from his store to young men to help bolster their self-esteem. Each box also includes a set of seven cards denoting encouraging affirmations.
For Davis, it was a way to give back and help boys grow into the men they will become through fashion, as it did for him years ago.
Meet Charles Davis Jr.
Age: 45
Position: Owner of A Polished Man, principal of Brushy Creek Elementary School
Other organizations: South Carolina Children’s Theatre, First Tee — Upstate South Carolina, The Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Previous positions: Teacher, school counselor, high school counselor, assistant principal
Question and answer with Charles Davis Jr.
Q: What are some common threads you found between running A Polished Man and being an educator and administrator?
A: As a school principal, it’s important for me to be organized because I am leading a school of about 800 students and 100 staff members. And so I realize — which is a strength for me — I’m very organized. I certainly believe that my organization skills carries over even in being an entrepreneur and running A Polished Man.
Q: What is the legacy you’d like to leave for the next generation?
A: I want to make sure that I’m impacting the lives of people within the realm that I have been assigned to influence. I want students to walk away from my school … impacted by my influence … through my leadership and through making sure that the environment is conducive for them to grow and develop. From a business perspective, I also want to have impacted them. It’s all about impacting, in whatever capacity.
Q: What do you hope a client feels when they leave the store?
A: It’s important for us for all of our clients to feel welcome. We’re very passionate about making sure that we greet all of our clients and customers when they come in. We take the opportunity to listen to what they’re looking for [so that] we provide excellent customer service before they even look at any of the products that we have to offer.
