Here is some info to help some of you along that contact me everyday saying, I need to talk to you I want to start my own line. We will do this in several parts so stay tuned into our blog and become a follower so you don't miss any of this vital information. This is all information from our perspective and what we have encountered here at Funkey Flash Back. I hope this information will help you along your path. Much success! Leave comments if this was helpful to you or ask a question that we can include in the next segment.

1. Be passionate- Without passion in an industry you have a harder time making it, unless you have some serious connections to pull you through. In any area of life passion for what you are doing comes through and shines so brightly and others can see the love, time and dedication that you have for your project. Don't just do this for the money. If all you see are dollars signs and nothing else, go another direction, this game is not for you.

2. Do you have a story or great concept behind the line?- I see many people just coming up with lines any kind of junk, I must say and calling it a line. What makes customers interested in your brand is the story line or concept behind the brand. We can all have some fresh designs over and over again, but it is the story that brings them back every time. It keeps your customers interested and wanting to know what the next move will be for the brand.

3. Be original, who cares what everyone else is doing- There a million clothing companies or so called clothing companies popping up every day. Everyone that has photoshop thinks they are a designer these days, but it takes more than that. You can't just slap something together and expect people to purchase it. The problem we have with the industry especially buyers that with department stores or boutiques and so forth, is that most of them do not care about originality and this is really sad. The purpose of fashion is to be original, on the cutting edge and coming up with new designs and ideas. So you can pitch you line to a store and be totally in left field but have some really hot product and the store will say, we don't know where to put it, it is nice, but do you have some designs more like this company or that company, this year the theme is military, do you have that. This is what some of them have told us and I refuse to conform to what they want. So to all you store buyers out there, use your own brain and look at what is unique, some people in this world actually want to wear different brands and you all do not offer it to them. To everyone that is starting there line, do go around looking what others are doing, decide what you are all about and it will pull you through in the end. Why do you think Gucci, Ferragamo, LV and all these companies are successful? Originality and they start trends.

4. This is a business, you do realize that don't you?- Designing and coming up with all the idea cool ideas is fun isn't it? Well don't forget this is a business. Is your product able to be sold? Beside the fun of designing and the concepts, do you have other areas of business in place that are more crucial than your designing? Trademarks, corporation or business licenses, an accountant, a business plan and much more. All of these areas are needed to get you to the next level. It is the boring part and most of us do not want to deal with it, but it is the most important part if you like to stay in business. So get these areas in order first and foremost. If you are just a creative person, you need a person or people you trust to take care of these areas of business.

5. Business ethics- even though most people in this industry and the entertainment industry do not have any business ethics, they just don't care. I don't care who you are a millionaire, trillionaire, average joe, arrogant or whatever you are, business ethics are vital in any business. I am big on business ethics, many things drive me crazy because people are not like me and they never will be. It doesn't take a lot to go the extra mile in business. If someone calls you and leaves a message, call them back whether it is something you want to deal with or not, just nip it in the bud. If you tell someone you will do something, just do it, if you are not capable, don't take on the responsibility or if something comes up, let the person know. You have to put all PRIDE aside. A person will have more respect for you if you do what you say or come to them and let them know you cannot. This is the biggest problem I see with people in everyday life. Treat people like you want to be treated, we are all human. I see a lot of these tv reality shows of some famous people and how they treat their assistants and so forth and they expect too much of them as being one person and just the attitudes they have, it is not very becoming. I do not want to ever be like that. Never think you are better than others. If you own a store and you are not interested in a line, just let them know up front, call them back or email them, it is better than people being left in limbo. One day you may want what they have to offer and cannot get it. We here at FFB try our best to write back everyone email and phone call that is of business substance, not just junk, we don't respond to that. Always think about how you want to be treated and that is how you respond to others.

6. R&D-this means Research and Development. Instead of just emailing companies asking who they use for printing, who their manufacturers are, do yourself a little homework. We live in the age of the internet, everything is available at your fingertips, you have to dig deep. No one is going to give you this info without a fee. You have all the free info on the web. Go use it. Research and development, every company has to do it if you want to survive. It takes time, don't be in a rush to put your line out. Do it correctly and in time you will come to market. We did a lot of research and no one gave us any answers, we did not ask anyone for help. Everything we learned we learned it on our own. We don't know any insiders in the industry, we were determined and this makes us feel good, that we don't need anyone to give us anything. Before you ask questions do your homework. Learn about sizing charts, color charts and more on your own, this is really the fun of it all. If not find yourself some seminars, workshops or tradeshows to help you along. You will get a lot more out of it


Stay tuned for Part 2 in the new few days! Hope this helps some.