Hey guys and gals, So browsing around on the net looking for basically a dummies guide for starting my own business. I got the clothing part down...but the business side is not as easy as I had imagined.
Well I know we all know of the SBA and SCORE, but have any of you seen this site...
This site takes you step by step in starting your own business. So for any of you beginners out there like me who want to start your own business. This is a great source.
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Thomas Beer- Fractured Clothing & Design -It's a fractured world, dress accordingly. Fractured Apparel
I have been following it for about a week now and it has made the turning my idea into reality so much easier. I have not had so much help with this subject in the past besides talking to score counselors who are criticizing of my business. I dont care if they think it could work or not...I just want help getting the basics done. This site seems to do just that.
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Thomas Beer- Fractured Clothing & Design -It's a fractured world, dress accordingly. Fractured Apparel
I disagree with you on this matter, because one should always strive for their dreams and passions, even though there could be obstacles and failures ahead. No one can really say if it would work or not only time will tell. This is the best part knowing whether you'd make it or break it, like the saying "with risk, comes reward" and vice versa. You just gotta hang in there, "When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think" -bob parsons.
Ignoring the advice of experts (i.e. SCORE consultants) isn't the noble quality of a dreamer, it's arrogance. They don't shoot down dreams for entertainment, if your business model failed to convince them it's because it needs more work. Being ambitious is no excuse to be foolhardy.
See they liked my overall business model, but they did not agree with the clothing Brand idea..They said that only selling your own merchandise will never work...I gave them examples of many clothing brands that run out of their own stores and sell to retail outlets as well. They didnt seem to take me serious, but thats what you get where I live...no one here has the sort of experience that I need.
I respect their opinion but take it on an outside opinion only...They thought my execution plan was good but the idea of a clothing line was bad. Thats great but look at the guy who created fed ex...his teacher told him that his business plan would never work...lol...we all know that it did.
I dont mind criticism, but when it comes from someone who is supposed to simply give me guidance on how to run the business side, it is hard to take serious. He basically said that I cant compete with the bigger clothing lines out there...we all know that is a lie since all the "big" clothing lines out there where once small.
I still get help from the score counselors but I only get behind the scenes advice on running a business.
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Thomas Beer- Fractured Clothing & Design -It's a fractured world, dress accordingly. Fractured Apparel
I dont mind criticism, but when it comes from someone who is supposed to simply give me guidance on how to run the business side, it is hard to take serious. He basically said that I cant compete with the bigger clothing lines out there...we all know that is a lie since all the "big" clothing lines out there where once small.
Why is it hard to take serious? They are there to add reality to the dream.
And that is tough to take. I just had my business plan shredded by a SBDC advisor. It was tough for me because of personal pride, but after a couple of days I was able to see the criticism as very constructive.
Look at it from their side. I found various numbers with an internet search, but most small businesses fail within the first couple of years. They are trying to be hard on you to better your chances of being one of the few that succeeds long term.
There will always be examples of people that beat the odds, but you can't ignore the vast, vast majority that didn't. With that said, I will be starting my t-shirt business no matter what, even if I have to start out extremely small with one design on one color of t-shirt and crawl my way up. So please understand that I am not dismissing your passion and dream, but it isn't to your advantage to be dismissive of professional criticism that you don't agree with.
My problem is I have coutless people telling me I will never succeed and that this is a mistake. So when I hear someone who is supposed to help me tell me that it wont work and that it cant be done. I am sorry, but no one tells me what I can and cannot do besides me. As even my friends and family push me to be an employee the rest of my life I push back, becasue I have larger goals in mind. I was fired from a job because I started school to get a business degree so I could be closer to my goal. I was working nights and it didnt infringe on school...until one day a manager asked me why I wanted to go to school? he said that no matter what I do I will always just be an employee to someone else...I replied that I am sorry that his dreams where to be a manager at a corp. resturaunt chain, but my dreams and goals obviously exceed his. I dont want to work everyday just to make someone esle money, he does. Once we had this little conversation, he scheduled me to work when I had school...I told him to change it or I wouldnt show up...He then asked me if I remembered a question he had asked 6 months prior...I did. The question was, if he was to fire me at that time would I have cried or been upset. when he first asked me I said I would be upset yes...he then asked me the same question again...this time I told him no, he would only make me feel better about myself and that I was in fact correct for doing what I was doing...and prove that my goal out reach his.
The next day he fired me for not showing up for a shift that was during school hours...Havent been happier since.
Just goes to show you when some people set their minds on something no amount of talk can make them back down. The only way to stop me is to kill me.
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Thomas Beer- Fractured Clothing & Design -It's a fractured world, dress accordingly. Fractured Apparel
I understand your frustration. Please understand that I'm not trying to dismiss or disregard your passion and desire. Neither am I trying to discourage you from starting your company.
It is exactly when you are very passionate about something that it is easier to not listen to advise that seems to go against your passion. I'm just trying to add in some perspective of where the SCORE advisers are coming from.
I'm sorry for the position you found yourself in. Poor managers don't understand the business's benefit of helping its employees succeed, even it if means they will go on elsewhere. You were treated unfairly, but I am glad that you came out of it with a fortified spirit!
And thank you for the link. I've only browsed it a little bit, but I will definitely be going back to it. It looks very useful.
I understand your frustration. Please understand that I'm not trying to dismiss or disregard your passion and desire. Neither am I trying to discourage you from starting your company.
It is exactly when you are very passionate about something that it is easier to not listen to advise that seems to go against your passion. I'm just trying to add in some perspective of where the SCORE advisers are coming from.
No harm done, I know all of us on here come from various backgrounds and fields of expertise, My biggest issue is to get people to take me seriously. I email Printing companies and textile companies all the time requesting info but never get it.
Why would anyone in todays economy ignore anyone regardless of size of business or the freshness of it. My money is just as green as the next guys.
One thing that I could use is a step by step guide in dealing with people on sites like Alibaba.com - The world's largest online B2B marketplace.
My biggest issue is with the financial part of the business plan...there is no bigger pain in the rear as that section...numbers arent my strong point...lol
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Thomas Beer- Fractured Clothing & Design -It's a fractured world, dress accordingly. Fractured Apparel
No harm done, I know all of us on here come from various backgrounds and fields of expertise, My biggest issue is to get people to take me seriously. I email Printing companies and textile companies all the time requesting info but never get it.
Why would anyone in todays economy ignore anyone regardless of size of business or the freshness of it. My money is just as green as the next guys.
One thing that I could use is a step by step guide in dealing with people on sites like Alibaba.com - The world's largest online B2B marketplace.
My biggest issue is with the financial part of the business plan...there is no bigger pain in the rear as that section...numbers arent my strong point...lol
Ha Ha!! Don't we all have this issue? After a couple months of emailing a Heat Press Vinyl Company from Alibaba in China....
I get a message from the supplier stating how big is my company, how many employees do i have, and how much vinyl would i like to purchase and what kind.
So i send them the information (this was last year) and still waiting.
Well Its good to know that I am not alone in this problem. I would rather deal with a local American cut and sew place but even most of the local shops dont speak english that well. I just want a company to make some stuff for me...I have shirts...Now I just want jeans, cargo shorts, beach shorts, hats, and some wallets...Why is it so hard to get this done. Do I lie and tell them that I make more than I do, that I have been around longer than I have...I dont want to but if its the only way...then hey...why not?
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Thomas Beer- Fractured Clothing & Design -It's a fractured world, dress accordingly. Fractured Apparel
Starting your own business just got easier 
