Beloved Production & Design

Before I had all these great programs, and... the internet to inspire me, I would sit down with my sketch pad and draw out t-shirt ideas. I would make CD covers for my mixed cd collections (I did have tapes as well but cd covers were bigger). I love to design! Add helping other people with their ideas. Icing on the proverbial cake!

I can't wait to see where this might go!

I get so caught up with what is happening to others around me. Mostly being jealous of friends who are doing better then me. I shut down... but then I realize that first I should be happy for them! And second this is not a competition. The only one I should be one-upping is myself! I cant do the work I need to do if I'm busy looking around at everybody else. And I will definitely become discouraged and stop everything if I am constantly comparing myself to somebody else.

(Picture flowers and birds chirping a happy song like a Disney movie)

"I can just start a business! Everybody wants this! I wont have to "REALLY" work again. I will be my own boss... and so on, and so on, etc., etc., etc."

The reality hits hard even though you did the forecasting and you studied your market, your the only one that wants this... until you do the work to prove to your market that they want it!

You "WILL" have to work! Sometimes past the time that everybody else has long since gone to sleep. And if you don't no one else will.

The question now is "HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?"

Take away the money (although it is needed) but just for a sec. take it away, and take away the possible prestige. Now, really ask yourself "Why am I doing this?" If the answer is anything but because this is what I want... STOP! Money will come and go, same with prestige. People will let you down sometimes. This has to be for you or you will never take it seriously enough to get a shot at making it!

Now I am getting off my soapbox and going back to work if you check the time stamp of this post I hope you get it.

I have been grooming my items and trying to find just the right cost to profit on each. I think I can do this!

The hardest part of all of this is coming up with graphic content! I have hit a couple of artistic blocks over the past couple of weeks but it's made me realize that when this happens I need to step back, take a breath and let things go. Maybe go and play with my children for a bit then get back to it with fresh eyes.

I know that this is down to the wire but I am very proud of this video!

Still trying to get the word out there about my business and try and make a few more contacts for logo and other design work.

My web shop is coming along I want to make sure that my product is good quality at a reasonable price point. Have to make sure people will be satisfied.

I am still working on advertising as it is difficult to break into certain niche markets. You must word things just right or you lose them. What is the right hook?

Trying to advertise online is like putting your needle in a stack of needles unless you are paying the big bucks to google to keep you front and center as well as constantly posting on your social media you fade out of peoples view. I guess that’s why there are full time jobs just for marketing and social media handlers. I am doing my best to keep focused and trying to make sure that I am selling my business to anyone who listens and even to some who don’t. I have picked up a design contract with an arts studio to design their logo and they will eventually be buying apparel and accessories from my site so that’s a plus.

I mean I already new that you don’t ever sleep when you are running your own business especially on start up but it’s the juggling of hats that I was unready for. You are EVERYTHING!

In all of this I have learned that I need to set schedules. If I forget to do one thing everything becomes backed up and I am playing catch up from there on in. I also need to pace myself I don’t want to burn out…then nothing gets done.

 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 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.

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.

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