Management needed.

**KurtyKat** · 08-16-2010 04:29 PM

Hey there,

I'm extremely new to business and I really want to start one but I'm completely stuck. I know the basic details and everything, but what I want to do has nothing really to do with the actual business structure. I want a fashion design business and I'm a very creative person, but not a business savvy person. I could be the creative director or head designer or something but I don't know nearly enough about business to even come up with much of a business plan, let alone manage the business. Any advice?...I'd REALLY appreciate it. And if I posted this in the wrong forum then can you tell me where this should be? Thanks.

**goldie** · 08-19-2010 12:25 PM

Quite often, people who describe themselves as "creative" don't really want to involve themselves in business and would rather someone else do it (they don't understand that business can be quite creative - developing and implementing a strategy is a very creative process; coming up with products and pushing them through the innovation process involves creativity). If this is you, then your best approach would be to admit it and find someone who is better prepared to take up the business side. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this approach - you are analysing your own core competencies and realising that outsourcing a gap is required.

Else, the best way to do it is simply to develop your fashion items and go about the process of trying to sell them. Get a market stall, goto shops and ask buyers, phone up the big houses etc. It's a learning process.

I would get a mentor - someone who is already successful in your domain and someone who you respect. Someone older and out of your social circle.

The best business education is an MBA - but that is probably beyond you at the moment. But buy some MBA books and start reading. You will then apply these principles to your product/selling/marketing etc.

There is more, but just get a product and start walking the road - and you will discover.

**KurtyKat** · 08-19-2010 11:23 PM

You're exactly right, I'm not good at the business side of a company, I would be best suited as the creative director. That's why I've been looking for people who are good at the business side. I'm going to continue taking business classes since I'm a high school student and see where that leads me.

Thanks for the advice though, I appreciate it.

**Emma24** · 09-07-2010 01:40 AM

HELLO,

Information sharing isn't going to cut it. That's the word from an NSA official speaking out the future of IT security. Tony Sager is the chief of vulnerability analysis and operations at the National Security Agency. He says IT security officials are already overloaded with information, and that it's information management that will really protect our systems. Information management means getting the right information into the hands of those who need it.

THANKS

**Austy** · 12-15-2010 01:56 AM

Fashion Design is a fairly easy topic for the business side unless it gets huge. You can easily do this yourself when you're ready to start up.

Main points:

1. Have a clear fashion niche

2. Pick a stylish brand name

3. Test the consumer by selling your brand on Ebay and learn how much you can charge and what will be bought

4. Get your own online store

5. Contract with the manufacturer that drop-ships and is most flexible with the size of unit orders

6. Network as much as you can for free and spend every dime you can on internet advertising ($500 a month minimum)

If all this goes well and you're starting to turn a profit the next step is to get investors so that you can really expand through a huge promotional campaign and hire somebody to do the job you hate: management.

**phanio** · 12-15-2010 07:56 AM

There are free resources that you can tap into to help you research and develop your business plan as well as help you with local rules and laws. Find a local SCORE or SBDC in your area. They are sponsored by the SBA and are free to use.

**RogelynVKW** · 02-25-2011 08:05 PM

All you have to do is read a lot about the business you have in mind. It would be hard if you don't know anything about business and start a business. Some, well I am not saying this to scare you but some people do take advantage of the owner's weakness. If you don't know about what you're doing, you'll probably end up spending a lot of money with it. So first read bunch of power books, I'll give you some good books that I have read

Rework
48 Laws of Power
88 Strategies of War
Who sold my cheese?
Understanding yourself

This book will surely help you to start with your business idea. After reading this books, you then start to do some research about how to start a business. Starting a business is not easy, it needs all your dedication, perseverance, hard work and most of your time. But once the business is standing with its self then you can start living your life without thinking too much. Hope this helps.

Good luck!

**tjmollahan** · 05-12-2011 11:04 AM

I would start at your point of sale. what is your point of sale? do you have one? The goal of business is to make money, if you do not have a point of sale I don't know that starting a business would be the best direction for you. I don't want to discourage you but I do want to challenge your desire for a business. Business is a game in it self, if you don't enjoy the game you may be getting in over your head.

**KurtyKat** · 05-12-2011 06:49 PM

Thanks for all the advice everyone! Sorry I've been away for so long.

I'm not sure what a point of sale is? Do you by chance mean my margins?

**tjmollahan** · 05-12-2011 08:14 PM

The point of sale is the instant a sale is made. When someone gives you money what are you giving in return? If you can't answer this, or if your answer is too general I would argue that you don't have a focus, and without a focus it will be tough to compete.

What is one thing (product or service) that you can bring to the table that has a decisive competative advantage.

**KurtyKat** · 05-12-2011 08:27 PM

Oh, never learned that in marketing class.. ha.

I want to sell two types of clothing, a moderately priced line and a higher end line, for both men and women. My advantage is mostly that I don't limit myself like a lot of designers (especially in Canada) do. I believe limiting your creativity is the same as limiting your success so why do it at all.

**KurtyKat** · 05-12-2011 08:29 PM

If you know who Betsey Johnson, Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert are, I can design in a range from simple and elegant to those three styles put together. Lots of my friends like what I draw and also like the few pieces I've made.

**tjmollahan** · 05-12-2011 09:08 PM

If your strength is design it may be in your best interest to design for an established organization for a while to learn the ropes of the industry. I know for me my formal education was a great help but operating in the real world has shown me more about business than I could have learned in the class room. Good luck to you.

**KurtyKat** · 05-12-2011 09:37 PM

That's my current plan actually. I can't afford a big shot school but I can hopefully go to Ryerson in Toronto.

Thanks! I'll need all the luck I can get, ha.

**Emma Ames** · 07-05-2011 02:48 PM

Since you already have your designs and samples, you could take advantage of Social Media. It's very powerful, as you might already know, to have your stuff showcased in the likes of Youtube and Facebook; it could give you a bit of a test-run. Start small and learn the business from scratch, is what I firmly believe.

There's a lot of people that turn to on-line shopping these days too. It's quite cheaper and much efficient compared to going to the mall to shop so that's something that you might want to look into. You just have to be diligent in keeping it up with your business aspirations and focus on the right stuff.

Good luck!
Emma Ames