Starting a new venture

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I am starting a company, G9 Girl, based on teen girl and young women's apparel and accessories using partner-created artwork (acrylic paintings) as the design motif. We are also incorporating a philanthropic education/mentoring component to get high school girls interested in the general field of business. A unique sales and distribution model, complemented by boutiques, completes the plan.

G9 is texting for "genius."

Questions:
Anyone here involved in apparel production in any capacity from materials to patternmaking to stitching to silk screening? This can range from tops and shorts/skirts/skorts to purses and backpacks.

Anyone involved in local/regional/national women's and/or business associations?

Any boutique owners?

Please write to shaun@g9girl.com if you would like to open a discussion.

Best

Shaun

[Tishabet]

Hi Shaun,
Good luck with this venture! My one business association link would be SCORE, they helped me a great deal with my last startup and were really invaluable.

[VaSteve]

Your box is full Shaun... here's my PM:

Shaun
I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to do, since you didn't provide us a whole business plan but I would see if you could check out local chapters of Alpha Kappa Psi in your area. This is the college business fraternity and you could probably get some free labor/market research/ideas on how to bring your plan of getting girls involved in business to fruition.

Check out www.akpsi.com for more info, feel free to contact the main office in Indianapolis. Some chapters are more active than others, but I imagine your local market there might have several chapters...

Good luck!
Steve

[widebody911]

Maybe I'm slow, but how does "G9" work out to "genius"?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by widebody911
Maybe I'm slow, but how does "G9" work out to "genius"?

Ours is not to understand the mind of teen girls, just enough of their language as needed.

Thanks for the info Steve, Alpha Kappa Psi looks like a great lead for us. And if I could figure out a way to get everyone on Pelican to sign an NDA, I'd be glad to share the business plan. We should have it all up and running in under 2 months and then it's just a matter of visiting g9girl.com to really see what we are up to.

S

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
Ours is not to understand the mind of teen girls, just enough of their language as needed.

Or more succinctly: just enough to separate them from daddy's discretionary income

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Or more succinctly: just enough to separate them from daddy's discretionary income

ummm, yah. it's amazing the buying power of these girls. that said, we do hope to give back. a portion of profit goes to the charity of their choice (girls want to make a difference) and we will be working with higher ed such as Simmons and Wellesley for course credit for girls working with us.

[pohsche]

Shaun,
I have been in the business for 20+ years. You are right on as far as who spends the money. Beware that all though they spend it, they are also the "pickiest" bunch of PITA's to deal with. If you catch it right and get some girls to wear, you have a strong shot at success. My advice to you would be to prepare for the next phase after your initial introduction. Just like a musician with a hit first album. The public wants to see if you have more "magic" the second time around. Good luck and don't quit. Perseverence is everything.

Alan Poh
'77 Carrera 3.0

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Alan, yes, I agree, they are a tough crowd, and so far all research points to success, but all that could change in an instant with such a fickle market.

Checked out your website, and your screen printer may be important for our second or third stage growth. As we will have something like 10 unique garments (and growing) each with 5 color options, each with 5 size options, and then an 1 or more of 12 paintings to screen on, and you can quickly see that we will be holding non-screened inventory, take orders, then screen weekly/bi-weekly to fulfill. Dong this in-house may be advantagious from both cost and timing perspectives.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Alan, yes, I agree, they are a tough crowd, and so far all research points to success, but all that could change in an instant with such a fickle market.

Checked out your website, and your screen printer may be important for our second or third stage growth. As we will have something like 10 unique garments (and growing) each with 5 color options, each with 5 size options, and then an 1 or more of 12 paintings to screen on, and you can quickly see that we will be holding non-screened inventory, take orders, then screen weekly/bi-weekly to fulfill. Doing this in-house may be advantagious from both cost and timing perspectives.

[pohsche]

Shaun,
Thanks for the look at the site. But what I think is more important than actual production is the design phase. Do you already have your second and third phase ready. This will be very important because if you do get your targets attention, you cannot lose momentum on your next phase. They are a fickle market. By the way, here is my favorite quote: " Happy are those who dream dreams, and are willing to pay the price to make them come true" I think that may fit for you.

Alan Poh
'77 Carrera 3.0

[LeeH]

Marketing is an interesting science - I love it (and hate it).

These people have truly got something going when it comes to studying and selling to girls (I'm stating a fact - not saying I approve):
http://www.girlgames.com/Templates/index.dwt

http://www.giaheadquarters.com/

Positive girl's charity:
http://www.girlsinc.org/ic/index.php

A book that comes out on Sept. 7th that you'll want:
Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture, Juliet B. Schor investigates the myriad ways--some of them disturbingly intimate--American children are being marketed to (there's an excerpt from this book in the current issue of Brainchild Magazine).