Bringing out the fun, feminine side of entrepreneurship with tidbits of useful information and inspiration.
Loading tweets...
Loading Flickr...
We had our fourth Meetup last weekend. Women are coming from all over the Bay Area to connect and work on their businesses together. I’m consistently inspired by everyone’s determination, passion and willingness to lift each other up. Thank you for all your support of one another.
Interested in attending one of our Meetups? Click here!
“There are two kinds of people: those who are paralyzed by fear, and those who are afraid but go ahead anyway. Life isn’t about limitation, it’s about options.”
“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.”
Pink Purse’s first working session was today. It was awesome! We all made some real progress on our businesses/dreams. If you’re local (San Francisco Bay Area) and are interested in joining us sign up here.
I was recently audited by the IRS. I ended up hiring a lawyer to meet with the IRS agent on my behalf. (After tons of research I found out this is the best strategy, even if you have nothing to hide.) Long story short—the lawyer I hired sucked. I wanted to fire him, so I looked at the engagement letter, aka contract, I signed with him. I had already paid him, so I was hoping I could get some of my money back. However, there was nothing in the contract about termination of services! I was screwed! There was no way out. So I wrote him a nice, yet firm, email about how I was feeling and alluded that I would like my money back if the lack of service continued. I at least got a phone call out of him. But, that was it…nothing else changed. The audit ended a couple weeks later so I decided to take it as a good lesson learned. So use this lesson and don’t make the same mistake I did. Make sure there’s some sort of “I want out” clause in any contract you sign. If there isn’t one, negotiate one and get it put in writing.
What is one of the best – and most legitimate – ways to market your business? Get it in the press. Positive publicity is a fantastic way to get visibility, gain credibility, and legitimize your business.
“What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.”
Your projected opening inventory will be directly tied to the size of the retail space you’re planning on occupying. Even if you don’t know that, make the assumption. If you assume a 1200 s.f. space and say 900 of that will be where your merchandise will be sold…plan the space out. Draw it out on a blank piece of paper. Racks, shelves—whatever you’re using for display, etc.
Then talk to your suppliers (if you’re working with any yet) to see how much inventory should be ordered to initially stock your store. Based on the square footage experienced wholesalers/suppliers will be able to tell you how much beginning inventory you’ll need. If they are more local artist-types, you’ll need to rely on your own judgement. Visit other stores about the same size, sneak pictures and take a mental inventory of how much they’ve got.
Go back to your drawing and count how much stuff it’ll take to fill those shelves and racks. Multiply your count of each item by it’s cost. Add it all up—whala, there’s you’re opening inventory.
High-res
Photos from “Your Business Plan is Like a Bra”, a set on Flickr.
Plays:
20 plays
Every time I hear this it lifts my spirit and makes me think of all the possibilities life has to offer.
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
A good friend of mine asked me the other day how I manage all the stuff I do, especially with three little ones. I’m glad I appear to have my stuff together. I’ve tried so many methods on getting my butt in gear I feel like I’m a poster child for the self-help / time management industry. I told my friend, quite frankly, my personal productivity process is ever-evolving. I don’t have a method to the madness. Life is just plain hectic trying to run two businesses, consult part-time, write a book and raise three kids.
I have, however, started doing one thing that has helped me be productive. It’s not bullet proof, but compared to all the other methods I’ve subjected myself and my family to, it works the best (so far).
