Leigh 87 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I have some exciting news. With my savings from my job, I'm starting my own clothing label that I will sell out of various markets. My parents have a jewelery business that they operate out of markets to I'm familiar with this method of selling. I'm proud of myself that I'm not blowing my savings on overseas travel. I graduate college in 3 years and I'll be a podiatrist. In the mean while it will be great to have a job I love and invest in a passion of mine ( beautiful dresses is the feature in addition to customer designed necklaces ) I hope I can make this clothing label profitable so I can have a decent job NOW or soon- rather than having to wait until I graduate in order to make my life " happen" in terms of career and a job. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
WonderWoman911 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Congrats to you and I wish you much success with your clothing label. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Rejected Rosebud Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Congratulations! But maybe it would be smart to wait until you are into your schooling first? Starting an intensive program like poditary at the same time as launching a clothing line sounds like a mouthful. Also overseas travel is not a waste of money IMO. 6 Link to post Share on other sites
pie2 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Leigh, can you foresee any drawbacks to this idea? What might some of the challenges of doing two MAJOR undertakings at the same time be? Personally, if I looked up my medical specialist and saw s/he did anything but study their medicine specialty with their whole heart (at least during the schooling years), I would have second thoughts about that doctor's qualifications. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Congrats, Leigh! How do you plan to have the clothes and necklaces manufactured, stored, and shipped? 5 Link to post Share on other sites
UpwardForward Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Leigh, How does a clothing label happen? Do you design the dresses, and have them made. Or do you purchase what you like and have your label put on them? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Million.to.1 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I'm glad I blew all of my money on overseas travel during my twenties. It was so worth it. 6 Link to post Share on other sites
LivingWaterPlease Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 The daughter of a friend of mine has come out with her own clothing line in the past year. She does all (sews the clothing, markets it, etc.) of the work (so far) from the ground up and has done this while attending a challenging college. She is, however, an introvert (doesn't date or socialize outside of her family), tenacious, disciplined and hard working. She was featured on a local tv show recently with her clothing line. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Rejected Rosebud Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Leigh I think we are all interested in hearing your plans for launching this endeavor. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi guys, With the nature of a medical degree I am doing this precisely because it is, a, a passion of mine, and b: it will be low stress because I have a lot of help from my parents. My parents own a jewellery business. I will have necklaces designed from their source. I will also get my pretty dresses and bags from the same shopping district. I am very familiar with it; I grew up there for years. I just want to design necklaces like my parents to with a professional doing the putting together part and YOU picking the design - and also buy cheap dresses that are different to what you can buy here but that I KNOW a lot of women would just love (I get comments on a daily basis....). 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 The idea is supposed to be a low key and low stress way to make a few extra dollars during Uni. On weekends I will basically sell cheap things I buy that are to my tastes, sell them at an appropriate mark up price, make my market stall look pretty and have a fairly laid back job. I have worked at markets selling various products before because I really enjoy driving to new places and the out door setting as opposed to working in say, a retail outlet:sick: SO yeah. I will just buy things that I love and that I have a strong hunch others will love too, and then sell it for a decent mark up price at markets on weekends during college. It will be a brand though with a name and a website. It will come down to my taste. I know a 13 year old girl who makes 1000 per week because she gets jewellery designed and people like her tastes; she has orders from all over the world. I am an avid shopper of all things fashion so I have a fair idea of what is out there already and how I can focus on my tastes and what I feel will be a bit "different" and yet still very popular. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Thanks for your support guys. My label is going to be called " pretty things". Because that sums up my tastes. But I don/t go over the top with bows and ruffles and lace; I use ONE or the other and still enjoy being a minimalist. I get comments on a daily basis about my dresses and the way I dress; I get comments from elderly ladies, right through to men and women of all ages. I just really love fashion and wearing clothes. If I can earn a bit of extra pocket money doing something I genuinely enjoy, that is so much better than working a stupid type of job like retail or hospitality which I hate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 My set up at he market will be: - a couple of fold up tables and a clothing rack - parents have the dummies to display necklaces on so I don't have to buy new ones - tables covered with a very pale pink velvet that costs next to nothing at the sewing store... - My home personal decorations like vintage ornaments and crystals, just a few, no overbearing colours just black white etc... - I will also get a large sign made with "pretty things" etched in. In either black and white pretty or vintage looking writing, or pale blue and pink (combined) for the logo. All the display stuff will be very pale and neutered colours... very pale pinks, blues, blacks and whites.... I will send a photo of it all in a month or two when it is underway. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Leigh, I get that the necklaces will be from your parents' supplier, but I'm still confused about how the dresses work. You are going to buy them and then re-sell them in your market stall? It's not a bad idea, but they will still have their brands yes? I don't think you can just cut off their labels and put your own on it? Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 Leigh, I get that the necklaces will be from your parents' supplier, but I'm still confused about how the dresses work. You are going to buy them and then re-sell them in your market stall? It's not a bad idea, but they will still have their brands yes? I don't think you can just cut off their labels and put your own on it? I am going to a factory outlet with no name brand dresses basically. It is the type of outlet people buy fashion for next to nothing and re sell them at markets or shops. I shop around a lot and generally know the things that are already in plentiful supply versus things that are different to what is already around. As I said, I am passionate about this venture. I am not expecting it to be a mega success immediately; I will be thrilled with making 50% more than what I started with: I sell the items for twice the price I bought them. I will spend about 1000 AUD and make about 1000 extra from doing so in other words. I am saving up for it. Link to post Share on other sites
pie2 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 The idea is supposed to be a low key and low stress way to make a few extra dollars during Uni. Your idea does sound more low-key than what I was imagining, thank goodness. Maybe there was some confusion about different terms in Australia and in the US? To me, starting a clothing label sounded more like designing clothes to sell. But what you're describing sounds more like a swap meet stand. Not sure, but best of luck! Hopefully you can study while monitoring the table . 5 Link to post Share on other sites
Els Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I am going to a factory outlet with no name brand dresses basically. It is the type of outlet people buy fashion for next to nothing and re sell them at markets or shops. I shop around a lot and generally know the things that are already in plentiful supply versus things that are different to what is already around. As I said, I am passionate about this venture. I am not expecting it to be a mega success immediately; I will be thrilled with making 50% more than what I started with: I sell the items for twice the price I bought them. I will spend about 1000 AUD and make about 1000 extra from doing so in other words. I am saving up for it. Ah, okay. That definitely sounds doable with a full-time degree - I was thinking something else entirely when you mentioned starting your own label. You could also look into weekly arts & crafts markets and such, maybe you could set up your stall there too for a minimal fee. All the best! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
nomadic_butterfly Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Congrats Leigh!!! So glad it is all coming together for you!!! All the best!! I have some exciting news. With my savings from my job, I'm starting my own clothing label that I will sell out of various markets. My parents have a jewelery business that they operate out of markets to I'm familiar with this method of selling. I'm proud of myself that I'm not blowing my savings on overseas travel. I graduate college in 3 years and I'll be a podiatrist. In the mean while it will be great to have a job I love and invest in a passion of mine ( beautiful dresses is the feature in addition to customer designed necklaces ) I hope I can make this clothing label profitable so I can have a decent job NOW or soon- rather than having to wait until I graduate in order to make my life " happen" in terms of career and a job. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 A big thank you for all your support. It is hard to avoid short term travel indulgences - but ultimately, I will feel better investing my savings into starting something that will make me feel good about myself and aid in building my self esteem. Having my own business in doing something I am passionate about will give me more purpose in life than studying alone (which is okay in and of itself! To get through a podiatry degree is still an accomplishment!). This will just give me a little more self worth - starting my own business and earning a few extra pennies - And it will also amount to overseas travel once I start earning a profit which is not hard at markets. You pay a site fee, get some cheap fold out tables and a fold out chair, and during the HUGE markets - the site fee is more, however; you can earn 2000 per market. It isn't a huuuuuge income earner but it sure beats working in many of the other college style part time jobs that are available to me:sick: I am looking really forward to it. I will get to Hong Kong when I can. My little cousin is a genius (literally and figuratively) and he can do web designs easily - I will commission him to create the webpage. I love markets - so much fun driving and taking in the scenery and working out doors.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Sugarkane Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Will be glad to know how it goes:D Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 Some bad news, It is gunna take me half a year in order to save several thousand, which is required to start up the company. So I will be saving for this passion of mine, it is very realistic, I know exactly what to do to get involved in various markets, it is all planned out and easy to instigate. In the meanwhile I am still a sales rep at markets travelling around twice a week! I look so forward to being able to start a passion rather than just work for someone else. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Leigh 87 Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 And I have a veeeryy strong feeling that my dresses and necklaces will be a big hit I honestly think my taste has nailed it, I really do! I have always been artistic and great with combining colours in a pleasant manner. I am so excited it feels good to be planning and then setting about saving towards a long term venture that could help me for years to come. Link to post Share on other sites
SolG Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Hi Leigh Just wondering if you've thought about maybe launching small scale online while you save the capital for a physical presence? Using something like Etsy which already has an established clientele, you could have a virtual stall that operates on a pull system thereby minimising the requirement for stock on hand. Essentially you offer a small selection of clothing that you produce on demand in response to an order. You get the order and payment, then you produce the garment and ship it to the client. Of course this requires you to be able to easily produce/reproduce what you are selling on demand. And it would take a little longer than simply grabbing and posting stock on hand. But as long as lead times are clearly communicated upfront on your virtual stall, and you achieve them, this is fine. This kind of strategy combined with a clever Facebook and Instagram presence does work. As long as your product is desirable of course! Could be a low-key strategy just to cut your teeth and get a good feel for business. And also help you raise that capital you need for your longer term goals in this space. Just a thought... Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites
Rejected Rosebud Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Some bad news, It is gunna take me half a year in order to save several thousand, which is required to start up the company. So I will be saving for this passion of mine, it is very realistic, I know exactly what to do to get involved in various markets, it is all planned out and easy to instigate. In the meanwhile I am still a sales rep at markets travelling around twice a week! I look so forward to being able to start a passion rather than just work for someone else. It's okay, it will work out! Anyway don't you start your podiarty school in a few weeks? Probably good to get a feel for that before taking on too much else … will you still keep your part time job while in school? Are you excited? Link to post Share on other sites
MuddyFootprints Posted January 11, 2015 Share Posted January 11, 2015 With everything you have on your plate, I'm glad to read that you have decided to put this venture on the back burner. Immerse yourself in your studies and focus on that! Link to post Share on other sites
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