Our first talk and my new RISD tote
Thank you to everyone who’s been so amazingly supportive. We could not be where we are today if it were not for all of you! The fabric testing results are looking good, so we’ll be pitching to buyers in early February for a Fall 2010 launch in stores. Wish us luck!
Last Thursday we shared our story and some tips as part of the Business Plan Writing workshop alongside Sixcia Devine (RI business plan competition judge, regional director of the RI small business development center, and accomplished female entrepreneur extraordinaire) in the BUILD workshop series at RISD. For those of you who are interested, these were our four major points:
1. Talk to everyone – Do your homework. It’s all about market research and getting concrete numbers.
2. Investors have bad imaginations – Ask them to imagine how your product will work/look? Not gonna happen. Make a prototype!
3. It’s all about the people – Simply put, this company would not be in existence without all the people who have helped us along the way.
4. Be positive – If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will.
What do you say entrepreneurs? Are these pretty essential? Feel like we missed something super important? Don’t by shy, write a comment!
To thank us, RISD gave us each a box of sinful, sinful chocolate and a black RISD tote! We’ve both been proudly sporting our snazzy new bags around town as if we need another matching item to look like we deliberately coordinate our outfits (It really is always a coincidence that we match). After showing off my new acquisition to a RISD graphic designer last night, she told me that Brown students sport new and clean looking RISD totes while actual RISD students carry battered and “improved upon” RISD totes. When I get a chance, I’m going to line my new, clean, unmodified tote with lace trim. How about that for an upgrade?