darrellbelovedpd

[darrellbelovedpd]

So, as I investigate financing for future endeavors, I am hit by one thing… I have pretty bad credit! I am working to rectify this, but it will take a little time. At this moment it takes a key financing source off the table (The Business Loan).

 I also looked into Crowdfunding: which is possible but if you factor in the time it takes to set it up, grooming it to reach the right people on all social media sites, spending time continually keeping it updated and relevant on all social media sites, it would need to have a really quick and big return to make it worth using this source.

Now I am left with a couple of other options.

My own Personal Investments: this is a must for any new business. It’s expected.

Love Money: which is one that is available to me and can really help especially in the very beginning, as it is usually interest free and the repayment is either not expected or doesn’t have a set time.

I would like to add Financial Angels/Angel Investors: These investors may not look at me either strictly because of my poor credit but are what I would focus on in my future venture. I would love to have not only the financing but the mentorship, and the possible contacts and resources that they usually bring to the table with them.

I’m working on building better credit and a more refined business plan to show viability and financial strength, so that I look better in the eyes of all Financial Sources which in turn will up my ability to be financed in the future.

[darrellbelovedpd]

Beloved Production and Design will be using already available product and print services through Printify and using Shopify as it’s selling platform. The advantages of this are that I have no real overhead except subscriptions to the two websites; they do all the shipping anywhere in the world and this allows me to focus on the design for the client.

I do not believe that there are any licenses or permits that I will require as the two services I will be using have that side of the business taken care of.

To help launch my business I will be advertising on free social media sites as well as word of mouth with family and friends. If this had been during the school year (we only have one week left for this year) I would have asked if the local schools would be able to put up posters around their facilities as well as talk to them about buying their apparel from me.

To start selling right away I will need to make sure that I have my selling platform on Shopify set up with all products I choose to sell displayed, as well as my profile and a small portfolio of my designs to showcase my abilities to the customers. I will also have to make sure that I have all details with Printify set up so that as soon as the orders come in, they can be quickly sent out for shipping without any delays.

Over all a few things to set up and finalize. Hopefully with in the next week launch and start selling!

[darrellbelovedpd]

Marketing Personas: Influencer Ian

[darrellbelovedpd]

[darrellbelovedpd]

With in my local area, I was able to find three companies that would be my competition.

The first is T-Shirt Explosion. They have 3 brick and mortar stores to serve community one here in Belleville. They do have a big online presence. Their website is nicely laid out and I felt I could find everything with just a click of the mouse. Their social media sites (Facebook and Instagram) are busy with posts and followers and seem to be directed at their deals and playful pics of the staff. Their marketing is not very strong as the only reason I found them was because I googled graphic clothes near me. Their store is in the local mall and they probably rely more on foot traffic. Their google reviews were few but pretty much all 5 stars. Their prices on the website seem a little high I will chock it up to good quality as that is what a couple of reviews have said. A couple of big strengths that I found were the fun and whimsical designs that the store offers in their graphic library as well as their ability to print small orders right on the spot in store. This allows you to order and pick up within hours. A big weakness or difference from my model is that they are a print shop and do not work with you to help you design your graphic so you still must find a designer to do this for you.

The second is TnT Print. They also have one brick and mortar store here in Belleville and it has been around for 10 years which means they have a strong community bond. Which is exactly what I found in their google reviews. A lot of community groups thanking them for their help with jerseys, T-shirts for team sports and fundraiser. Their website is ok; I was able to find most of the info I was looking for without to much trouble. Their prices were fair it looks like they have some really good quality apparel. Their Instagram was busy a lot of followers their main posts were shorts of them working. Their last post on Facebook was 2020.  A major strength is in their firm footing in the community which affords them the ability to advertise through word of mouth. This could also be a weakness though because the only way I new of them was once again googling graphic clothes near me. Another strength is they do their own in-house design service; the problem is that they kind of hide it on their website and you wouldn’t know it unless you were really looking for it.

The third Usimi Apparel: I think this is a newer store as it doesn’t have a lot of reviews but the ones it does have are very good 5 star reviews. The website is well put together and you can find everything pretty fast. I am not sure if this business is even still running. Their Facebook posts end in January and the only Instagram posts are the generic pictures that they used to show that you can put a logo on a shirt. They don’t seem to have any marketing as I had to scroll quite a ways down after googling graphic clothes near me. Their pricing is pretty good would like to be able to check the quality. Overall their strength is their website because any online presence other then that is nil. The weakness I found was that trying to find out any more info regarding this business was hard and I would have rather just gone to the next business. The other weakness is that you still need to find a designer to create your graphic as the sites graphic library is pretty small and very basic.  

[darrellbelovedpd]

My Mind Map for Popeye's Supplements.

[darrellbelovedpd]

Strengths and Weaknesses

When I was young my parents bought a family plan to the Symphony. For a year, one Sunday a month we were introduced to the wonderful world of Theatre and music culminating in a final full production of “Jake and His Cat” an interactive musical. I was hooked!

Through my life, I strived to work in the arts with a focus on Theatre production.

A big weakness I had was that coming out of High School I didn’t believe I needed a post secondary education. I railed against it. I thought I could just work my way up the ranks and to a point it worked but then I hit a ceiling. Still unwilling to concede I moved to a different career away from the Theatre lights which also proved to be a dead end without further schooling.

I am now 47 years old and am putting down my sword and accepting that if I am to go any further in what I wish to do I must pick up my books and become a student again. I continue to remind myself that this is a strength not a weakness!

Even though I didn’t go back to school right away I have learned a few things in my 47 years of life. I am great with computers and technology; I am outgoing and sociable (I can still be a little awkward sometimes) and I love to learn about new things!

I have learned that life is too short, take chances!

[darrellbelovedpd]

Hi Everybody!

I finally made it to Tmblr. I still have a lot of things to get set up but make yourself at home.

I promise there will be more to come.