Your Network is your Net Worth: 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

In my effort to network, I have met some really cool people building their businesses. I am inspired by not only their hustle, but by the quality of their products. As the holiday season approaches, please support local small business owners. When you do, you are funding dreams. Choosing from my picks below can help you be the fairy godparents of a member of your community.

Got a little person in you life who loves to read? Check out the new book by Jeffery Cheatham II “ Why Is Jane Mad?”. I bought it for my three year old nephew and he loves it.

Any older readers in your life? Royal Family Publication has some great fiction stories to choose from, while Zackery Max Driver's Autobiography "344317" is a non fiction selection.

Asha Means Life  designs African inspired throw pillows. I also love the candles from Stay Lit. They are upcycled wine glasses!

 For my fashion inspired picks I recommend the lipsticks of Shie by Shakira and A.O. Hammer's handbags.

                

 Are you ready for the holiday? Who in your life would like these products?

Showtime at Washington Hall

Yesterday I went to a pitch competition for Seattle Start up week. Billed as a blend of  amateur night at the Apollo and Shark Tank, Showtime at Washington Hall featured a happy hour, live dj, podcasters Hella Black Hella Seattle as hosts and 5 black entrepreneurs from all over the world. At a pitch competition entrepreneurs get the opportunity to describe their business and investors provide cash prizes to the best business.  It’s a great way to fund your venture and create buzz about your  upcoming projects. In addition to being a cool scene, I was inspired and learned a lot.  I am not creating some  future “unicorn”  status app, but one thing I think fashion companies lack is business knowledge. In a room with investors  you need to be able to show that you know what is going on with your business. Here are some questions I wrote down that I am going to add into my business plan:

Who is your Target Market? How big is that market?

How did you determine your pricing?

What is your exit strategy?

What is your proof of concept?

How will you reach your target market?

Where will your company be in a year?

How are you going to use the money you are asking for?

How will you build your team?

Seeing  people that look like you, making moves is always inspiring. I also got the opportunity to learn something as well. Not bad for a Wednesday night. I will attend other events for Seattle Start Up Week to connect with business people of color. What are you learning that will help you move forward with your dreams?

How to Shop for Fabric in New York

Sourcing in New York; nothing sounds more elite. “Oh sorry. I‘m gonna be  in New York that weekend. Going on a hunt for some polyester softshell.” That statement right there will make anyone's eyes pop out of their head. So yeah, enjoy the ego boost, but afterward you are going to have to get to work. It’s fun,  but you will enjoy it more if you are prepared. Here are a couple of tips to make  that process easier.

Know the difference between jobbers and wholesalers

Kathleen Fasanela of Fashion-Incubator ( one of my faves. BUY THE BOOK) defines Jobbers as  “fabric suppliers who sell mill ends, odd lots and seconds”.  Great for smaller manufacturers, but not in cases where one needs to reorder. They do not guarantee quantities for reorder or that the coloring of the fabric will be the same in the future. What you order to sample your collection may not be there when it's time to produce your orders. Personally, I need to build relationships with wholesale dealers and fabric reps that offer low minimums. A jobber won't allow me to stay lean and competitive. You will find a lot of jobbers in the garment district, but if they meet your needs, shop on.

Dress Comfortably

Initially I wanted to dress up to “ look like a designer,” but all that is garbage. I was in New York in August. I was sweaty, my makeup was running and my blown out afro was the victim of massive shrinkage. It was all for naught. Be comfortable. You don’t have to be flashy. You are a designer shopping for product; you deserve to be there.  Worry more about the flights of stairs you are going to climb in the garment district and the New York weather. Heels in January and suits in July are probably a bad move.

Don’t be scared to make friends

 New York has reputation for rude residents. I have found that New Yorkers are direct, but not mean.  So be polite and ask questions. You  will get tips on  where to go to get what you need. I met a number of good people who pointed  me to stores that I would never have known about. .

Bring twice as many business cards as you thought you would need

I ran out of cards. Don’t run out of cards. Give your cards  out liberally and make sure they are accurate. This is an awesome opportunity to network. You will be meeting potential suppliers and customers. Make sure to leave them with a tangible memor  of your conversation.

Know what you need

Do a little fabric research before your trip. By knowing what you need you can communicate with ease and avoid  wasting time somewhere you don’t need to be.  I learned  that many of the dealers I interacted with were not familiar with the outerwear fabric I am using.  It helped that I could describe it as synthetic performance fabric used for outerwear. It would have helped even more to have a swatch as well.  To get familiar with fabrics, read a few books. I have the Fabric Glossary (third edition) by  Mary Humphries. When you stop by Mood ( because you will got to mood) they have as well a great book as well.

Dealing With The Tenants

There are two people that live in my head. One is a lazy procrastinatin' son of a bitch. She is always trying to do things tomorrow: work out tomorrow, clean up tomorrow. She is subleasing a room in the penthouse apartment in my brain from another chick. This girl is type A. She need everything done yesterday. There is never enough time for her and nothing is ever good enough. Obviously she owns the penthouse and while she doesn't need a roommate, she rents out the room to the other chick because she is a penny pinching miser.

These two people in my head are why life is hard for me. Building this business I am always balancing between doing it tomorrow or beating myself  up for not doing it yesterday. To combat these negative thoughts I goal myself to do one thing a day. For me, the hardest part is getting started. I love this so much that once I get started I can work all day. That's how I know I am on the right path. I believe that if I learn consistency, I will achieve success.