Interested in starting a shoe company with a unique idea

[nelsen3000]

I have an idea for a very cool shoe company, kinda like ice creams only a little more skater and a little more unique honestly no one is making anything similar, how do I go about starting it, I am going to be forming an LLC shortly but honestly from there Im not sure where to go?

[nelsen3000]

any ideas? Any help would be appreciated

[SerialEntrepreneurs.]

Do you have a business plan? A mentor? What are your experiences to date with starting and/or running a business? Do you know how much capital you need to get started? In this economy, where do you plan on getting funds?

[biz123]

The best thing you can do for your venture is one thing:

Get started!

Also, the above post about having a mentor and experience is a bit too much in my opinion. You will gain experience through time. If you wait to have a mentor and experience you'll never get started in the first place.

I'm all for big thinking but I suggest you start with something small at first. Bill Gates most likely didn't start with a goal of starting a computer company. Start small and see how it goes from there.


Remember, the easy part is making logos, doing the paperwork, the hard part is convincing investors, making a prototype, conducting market research, etc.

Also, remember that it's not the idea. If you're motivated enough you can turn any crappy idea into a fortune. If I remember correctly, someone made a million selling pet rocks.

[DebtFreeMe]

The really hard part, and the only part that actually counts is making sales. Having a great logo is wonderful, but I would rather have 100 customers lined up ready to buy my product, than have the best logo anyone has never seen :-).

Just my thought.

[Uta]

Know clearly about your shoe customers. what customers do you want? Old, young, middle-age, women, men...Then plan what kind of shoes you will sell.

[terryxu]

1.what is your target? old, yound,women,men. and the price?
2.place. how to distrubite your goods to consumer
3.how to make your idea to product. find a local factort or oversea?
4.how and where promote your goods

[mthomas]

Are the sneakers similar to or targeted to the same customers who would purchase from Pac Sun or Billabong? I would do some research into their operations, marketing, style/design, etc. Think about your closest competitors who market to the same target market you are marketing to. Its also possible that these chains wouldn't be your direct competitors and you could in fact, partner up with them.

All in all I would try to get some general info about that industry and demographic targeted if you don't have enough experience in that specific business. Good luck!

Consider the best ways to manufacture, market and distribute (retail, e-tail, etc) the products. Part of this is based on your own tastes, the other is based on what some of the established businesses in the industry are doing.

[nelsen3000]

It is a line of sneakers that are targeted to the pac sun demographic. They have no direct competition as far as the shoes are concerned. I really am not sure how you go about getting a manufacturing company to create your shoe? That is one of the main obstacles and also what is the margin that say the company DC would make selling sneakers at PAC SUN. It will be located out of LA so there is a good and hungry market for my product and I really just need to get in touch with a manufacturer that will help me design, create, and mass produce the sneaker. Then I need to figure out how to get companies to carry them, who do I speak with and do I sell the concept and go for making a killing on the profit.

the price point is about 100-125 is what I want the final price to be and I plan on releasing about 2 designs with 3 different color variations on each.

please advise

[terryxu]

Dear All,
happy near year!!!

yes, the manufacturer is obstacles. but you can find one in B2B site

[Jeffwebs]

I think you should talk to your potential customer first before putting any money in. Ask around if they'll be interested in that type of style.

[fthom]

here's my small guide:
•Firstly, have the shoes made...and properly - ready to sell!
•Secondly, market the shoes as much as you humanly can...if people don't know about it they won't buy it. Make posters, leaflets, brochures and anything that might help you get the message out.
• One way of creating an impact is to have a launch date - so on all the promotional material (leaflets etc.) you have a launch date when the shoes will be available to buy.

By the way....are you starting a shop, or online store?

• Once they are on sale, if everything is going well, approach stores where you think the shoes would fit...and try to sell to them!

Then....continue promoting and selling!

PM if you need any more advice! Best of luck...

[Tenacity]

Good luck! i hope it works out.

[koz4change]

Ask the consumer first before jumping into this head-on. If there is no need/want for a product it will be a bust no matter how unique your product is. Make a few demo products and show people before manufacturing in bulk.