You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Working on your own brand and clothing line is a very<br />
fun and rewarding experience. It’s a wonderful journey<br />
as you will see. If you have any feedback for me regard-<br />
ing this book, please email me at jeff@gomedia.us.<br />
Ben Scrivens of Fright Rags<br />
THREAD’S NOT DEAD • Jeff Finley<br />
Don’t Over-think It<br />
Remember why you got into this field? It’s fun and rewarding. Designer Brandon<br />
Rike reminds us, “I also roll my eyes at the constant “over-talking” of an<br />
industry that is as simple as making cool graphics for bands [and apparel companies].<br />
Let’s <strong>not</strong> act like we’re philosophers, let’s just make good art.”<br />
Start! Don’t Put it Off<br />
This is a great strategy employed by the most successful people. What they’ve<br />
realized is that they don’t need a 5 year business plan. They have an idea and<br />
they take the first baby step to get things rolling.<br />
I asked Ben Scrivens from Fright Rags what he recommends for you to do and<br />
he says, “Start. As simple as that sounds, it’s the one thing that holds people<br />
back the most. They get caught up in minutiae like copyrighting everything they<br />
do, or getting a trademark, or worried about their ideas getting stolen even<br />
before they have sold a single t-shirt. So my advice is to start right now. Dive in<br />
and figure it out while you’re in it. Hell, I didn’t even have a DBA until I received<br />
a check for $12,000 from Hot Topic and couldn’t even cash it because it had my<br />
company name on it!”<br />
Don’t Worry about Problems You Don’t Have<br />
Matt Wigham of Big Cartel says, “Don’t worry yet about how you’re going to<br />
fulfill hundreds of orders per day, how you’re going to run an affiliate program,<br />
or how you’re going to scale your website to accomplish all the ideas you might<br />
have one day. If your products suck, none of that is going to matter. Stay focused<br />
on what matters [when you’re small] and that’s your designs.”<br />
Focus on what you Do Best<br />
Ben from Fright Rags says, “I find our best successes come from when we focus<br />
on the things we know we can succeed at, which is usually what we’re most<br />
passionate about. When those things align, magical things happen. And cutting<br />
out all the distractions helps you do just that.” Mark from Glamour Kills<br />
adds, “Figure out your style. Get to know it and embrace it. Don’t try and do<br />
Conclusion & Next Actions 83
Change language