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- Dec 14, 2014
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If I may rant for a moment....
OK, it seems straight forward enough. I have an idea for a brand. Not just a product, a line of products within a brand that focusses on an under served market. These people are buying stuff that is branded and marketed toward a related market, but no one has put out a line directly to serve their needs. I am driving to be that guy. The entrepreneur who serves their niche. Sounds simple enough?
The first big slow down was the lawyer, followed by the state. I decided not to do the DIY approach to creating an entity. Seemed like a bad place to save a couple hundred bucks. I hire a lawyer who came recommended by local business people. He does good and diligent work, but he's kind of slow. Fair enough, but it left me chomping at the bit while the research got done and the papers got generated. Then the state took the time it takes for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn and grant me the damn LLC. Finally, after I don't even remember how long, I had a legal entity and a tax number. Hazzah for capitalism!
All seemed good to go. I open an account and fund it with a couple thousand dollars that I have squirreled away for seed money. I register domain names. I'm ready to build a web site, get product manufactured and packaged, get some stuff delivered to Amazon so they can spread the goodness. But........ before I can build a site and before I can create packaging I need some images. The labeling is going to be critical to this product. "Images" doesn't convey the marketing significance here. I need iconography. I need the concept art to convey the image I have researched deeply. I need the customer to feel what I'm offering when he sees the label. The imagery is as critical as it is simple, and I don't want to start with whatever a designer that I have never met comes up with based on a phone call and some emails. I want to convey an image, and it has to have impact or I may as well be selling lollipops. I am working with an artist (local tattooist) to create the images that I will take to the graphic design people (who are ready to go at the manufacturer). I'm having trouble getting my artist friend and myself in the same place at the same time.
THIS IS KILLING ME!
I just want to get a page of artwork created. I need it for the labels. I need it for the web pages. I need it, and I don't have it.
I'm months into this, and the project just keeps dragging itself back against my pushing it forward.
I'm hoping to see the artist tonight. I know he's busy, and I know he is thinking about what he will put on paper to convey the emotional content I have discussed with him. In my heart, I know this takes time and is worth doing right. I know this tattoo artist can deliver the feeling in ink that my intended customers will respond to. Still, I sit in front of the computer this AM with nothing I can really do to move this enterprise forward; so I came here to rant and rave about it.
Maybe I'll offer him more money......
Rant off.
OK, it seems straight forward enough. I have an idea for a brand. Not just a product, a line of products within a brand that focusses on an under served market. These people are buying stuff that is branded and marketed toward a related market, but no one has put out a line directly to serve their needs. I am driving to be that guy. The entrepreneur who serves their niche. Sounds simple enough?
The first big slow down was the lawyer, followed by the state. I decided not to do the DIY approach to creating an entity. Seemed like a bad place to save a couple hundred bucks. I hire a lawyer who came recommended by local business people. He does good and diligent work, but he's kind of slow. Fair enough, but it left me chomping at the bit while the research got done and the papers got generated. Then the state took the time it takes for the wheels of bureaucracy to turn and grant me the damn LLC. Finally, after I don't even remember how long, I had a legal entity and a tax number. Hazzah for capitalism!
All seemed good to go. I open an account and fund it with a couple thousand dollars that I have squirreled away for seed money. I register domain names. I'm ready to build a web site, get product manufactured and packaged, get some stuff delivered to Amazon so they can spread the goodness. But........ before I can build a site and before I can create packaging I need some images. The labeling is going to be critical to this product. "Images" doesn't convey the marketing significance here. I need iconography. I need the concept art to convey the image I have researched deeply. I need the customer to feel what I'm offering when he sees the label. The imagery is as critical as it is simple, and I don't want to start with whatever a designer that I have never met comes up with based on a phone call and some emails. I want to convey an image, and it has to have impact or I may as well be selling lollipops. I am working with an artist (local tattooist) to create the images that I will take to the graphic design people (who are ready to go at the manufacturer). I'm having trouble getting my artist friend and myself in the same place at the same time.
THIS IS KILLING ME!
I just want to get a page of artwork created. I need it for the labels. I need it for the web pages. I need it, and I don't have it.
I'm months into this, and the project just keeps dragging itself back against my pushing it forward.
I'm hoping to see the artist tonight. I know he's busy, and I know he is thinking about what he will put on paper to convey the emotional content I have discussed with him. In my heart, I know this takes time and is worth doing right. I know this tattoo artist can deliver the feeling in ink that my intended customers will respond to. Still, I sit in front of the computer this AM with nothing I can really do to move this enterprise forward; so I came here to rant and rave about it.
Maybe I'll offer him more money......
Rant off.
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