Anyone Ever Start a Small Business...

[Redfox]

Kids these days. No idea how to dress themselves.

Just.. Why? Who thinks that this even looks remotely good or attractive? I'd be just overwhelmingly proud to bring an individual dressed like this to meet the family.

[imsotyerred]

Just.. Why? Who thinks that this even looks remotely good or attractive? I'd be just overwhelmingly proud to bring an individual dressed like this to meet the family.

[mrsleeve]

I shop at Target for clothes to avoid gangsters and cool kids.

I have stopped doing even that, I shop at the local Farm and ranch supply, Western stores and on line. You see the coo kids wound not be caught dead in a place that implies work must be done upon leaving, or has cowboy boots on the shelves, let alone gangsters ;)

[kinvodA]

Do yourself a favor and start reading about business development and listen to some podcasts. Seth Godin's blog and podcast ("Startup school) are really good and will help you get off on the right foot. There are so many things to consider, it's a lot more than just designs and pricing.

[knuklehead92]

sell clothing for women..... trust me, my friend did it and makes 6 digits in his 3rd year, its a two man shop and growing rapidly. never fall in love with your own clothing! it will not get you far! adjust to the customer hence women. if they think its cute, "I gota have it" and swipe mommy and daddys card. my friend sold male clothing for a while and didnt make it far. he adjusted and makes bank

[e30lov]

I would never pay $20 for a t shirt let alone $40.

[george graves]

Seth Godin's blog and podcast ("Startup school) are really good

Thanks for the tip - I'll give it a listen! http://mixergy.com/ is one I sometimes listen to - but it's really more for dot coms - but the guy that does the interviews is pretty awesome. His deal is that he gets people to talk about their failures - and what they learned.

[kinvodA]

That start up school is live lectures from a seminar he did this summer. I've listened to all the ones currently available.

[Pl3wA]

do you need to open a business to start selling things? why not start with selling shit on ebay. then if people like them... yea swag... count swagula. swagzilla, im out of here

[bernzpeed]

MY first advise, is go to Barnes and Nobles and get a book about how to be an Entrepreneur or how to start a clothing store. Then Learn about Accounting and Marketing. Oh and don't forget about legal regulations too. Business registration and license, sales taxes, etc.

[archie]

woman clothing is what you want to sell. girls will buy anything at any price.

This.

[glnr13]

Yea, that's the quick and dirty explanation. But you'll go broke following that without considering all your real "costs" - you have to include your pay, medical/dental, equipment upgrades, expendable, rent, shipping, website, returns, blah blah blah.

For example, the cost for the parts of things I make don't really factor into the price - unless there are several expensive items.

I remember reading once that the most expensive part of a new car was the health insurance for the workers who built the thing(or something like that)

you're right, i should have elaborated. my description there was only in defining the costs of making the goods. the hidden costs are all over the board and there are plenty of them.

OP needs a business plan and factor +30% on top of whats needed monetarily IMO for a clothing line, that'll last 1 year at best.

[george graves]

MY first advise, is go to Barnes and Nobles and get a book about how to be an Entrepreneur or how to start a clothing store. Then Learn about Accounting and Marketing. Oh and don't forget about legal regulations too. Business registration and license, sales taxes, etc.

So it took you 4 sentences to recommend he buys a book. Good job. You are a wealth of knowledge.

.....IMO for a clothing line, that'll last 1 year at best.

harsh but not far from reality...

[bernzpeed]

Still an ass I see. You will never change.

[pureaudio]

If you have no prior knowledge of this going in then I would suggest not even trying. Its like being hired for a position at a company, with out the credentials why should you get the job? Just because anyone can get a business license for anything doesn't mean they should. Sorry to be harsh but running a business is hard enough, you are only going to waste time and money. I would also hardly call screen printing American Apparel t-shirts a "clothing brand".