Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am new to SuN and I’m making my first attempt at small business, in other words, I don’t have much of a clue.

 

I have written numerous slogans that I think will go very well on bumper stickers and T-shirts. Currently, it is my intent to make enough money from these slogans to allow me to take a year away from my “day” job to have an honest go as a realtor, because part time in the real estate profession is not cutting it. I give this information so that your advice is given with the understanding that I do not view these slogans as “my big break” idea, but rather as a stepping stone. That view could change though, depending upon how this plays out.

My vision: Find a company, or companies that have printing capabilities for these and other mediums as well as advertising and distribution networks already in place. Work out an agreement where I provide them with the slogans and my vision of the layout, they have them printed, advertised and delivered to customers. I take a small percentage of gross sales and they keep the lions share.

Problems I see:

1. I have no idea how to search out companies like this, for this purpose.

2. I have no copyright, other than the inherent copyright that comes with having written these personally, nor can I afford to copyright every one of these slogans. These slogans run along a common theme and once you read one of them, you can see possibilities for many others.

3. I have considerable negotiating skills, but I have no idea what percentage would be reasonable enough to be taken seriously.

4. I have been told repeatedly that I should have the printing done locally and market and distribute the product myself as the surest way to reap the benefits, however I do not have the luxury of time nor the funds to get this thing off the ground at this time.

I look forward to your advice and suggestions.

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Cheers, Michael Rudd Aspiring entrepreneur, Realtor, Century 21 North Homes Realty, Marine Electronics Technician

Welcome to SuN! 

Have you looked at Cafe Press?  They do the very type of thing you are talking about!  Good luck with your dream!

~Kim

Yes, Cafe press, branders.com, queensboro, keiser and blair, customink.com, they all do what you need.

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Welcome to the group. Trust me you have come to the right place for help with your start up.

Here`s a company with several "novelty" catalogs, each of which includes vehicles for funny sayings, slogans, etc. Johnson-Smith & Co.

You could probably start by having some of these put onto bumper stickers. I know there`s someone out there who makes a machine kit, where you can easily make your own. For example, Xyron. Print up a few and see if you can interest one of the mail-order companies. They`d likely do a drop-ship thing, or might want to order for their own inventory.

If that worked, you`d have some orders, and would likely be able to attract a bigger printing company to handle the actual printing. You can do the same thing with buttons, and get a machine for not all that much to make your own.

Remember, you`re giving these larger distributors an "example," so to speak, of your merchandise. Then bootstrapping off the orders you get to cover either your own costs of commercial production, or to get a loan to cover those costs.

We`re doing the same, with signal flag banners. We sell a few, made personally, to get the product out there. When we have either the money or the orders, we`ll connect with a commercial fabric company and go for volume. Meanwhile, we`re also building visibility to a Web site, and will continue to sell directly from that site as another way to increase orders.

Thaks for the heads up, I was allowed to ask my question on the radio show taped yesterday, and they mentioned those places as well. I spent a good deal of time checking out this site after creating my profile and seeing what`s here. I will be checking out the sites you mention and more over the weekend and maybe I`ll have good news to share soon. Thanks again.

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Cheers, Michael Rudd Aspiring entrepreneur, Realtor, Century 21 North Homes Realty, Marine Electronics Technician

I think it will depend on how you want to be interact within the community.

All of the above sugestions are great  but I think they limit your upward potential.   In those situations you will be competing with every other person in the program, if I undertstand them correctly.

My suggestion is to figure out how you can use your skills to benefit people and/or businesses,  then form a business around that program. 

 If you want to pm me I am sure we can brain storm an idea or two or  15 because everybody should know  by now  that I am the Master Problem Solver.

 

Yes I just made up that title, that is my story and I`m sticking to it.

 

Have a good day

 

Michel T 

Master Problem Solver

 

Master Problem Solver, et all,

I am afraid that my timing here is terrible. I was recently involved in a rear end collision, and now have a rether serious back injury. I can onloy sit for a few minutes at a time and have spent most of this week flat on my back and heavily medicated. Hope to be back with a clear head very soon and wish to continue this project. I`m not seeking sympathy, just want to let you all know why I have not been plugged in so that you don`t think that I`m a slacker

Will be in touch soon,

Ruddster

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Cheers, Michael Rudd Aspiring entrepreneur, Realtor, Century 21 North Homes Realty, Marine Electronics Technician

Jeez..! It makes you wonder, sometimes, when to question a "sign from the heavens," and what exactly would such a sign look like! Hope you make it through all this, and that you don`t lose your spirit. Although it may not look like it, and you may not believe it (I don`t know your philosophy), many people would say that things do happen for a reason, AND they usually work out for the best...in the end. The problem is hanging in until that end. Let us know how you`re doing. :-)

Now that is scary,

It was just a few hours ago that I sent the Ruddster a personal message basically saying the same thing.  An unexpected opportunity.

Michael T