Style Sample Magazine.com » Issue 5 http://stylesamplemag.com The magazine about independent style! Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:00:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Inspiration: Independent fashion entrepreneurs http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/04/inspiration-independent-fashion-entrepreneurs/ http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/04/inspiration-independent-fashion-entrepreneurs/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:00:43 +0000 admin http://stylesamplemag.com/?p=582 We’ve really been feeling the entrepreneurial spirit at Style Sample lately. Maybe it’s the spring weather and the promise of a new start, or maybe we’re ready to change direction, but we’re looking to past and current Blogging + Business features (and obsessively watching clips of “Kell on Earth”) for inspiration:

“The best part is being able to create this business from the ground up on my own. The worst part is being able to create this business from the ground up on my own… it’s hard work but also extremely rewarding.”
~Rodellee of Adore Vintage, Issue #1

“Engage in Twitter, write a blog, do free PR for your friend with the cute handbag line. If the opportunities aren’t there, look for ways to create them on your own terms.”
Crosby of PR Couture, Issue #2

“I’m in love with storytelling, which makes the pieces intimate and meaningful to the owner. The personal touch is best.”
~Wendy of Wendy Brandes Jewelry, Issue #3

“Whatever I put into it is what I get out… so at the end of the day, there is nothing as rewarding as this.”
~Mimi of Brook&Lyn, Issue #4

“Just write about something that you are passionate about and it will come easy. If you really love what you do and work hard at it, then you will be successful.”
~Krista of MyLookbook, Issue #5

“I guess the most crazy part of it is how quickly it’s grown from a small online store to a business which has over 100 stockists.  Rach and I literally squeal when we see girls on the street wearing Stylestalker.”
~Sue-Ann and Rachel of Stylestalker, Issue #6

Are you interested in building your own fashion-based business? How do you get inspired?

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]]> http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/04/inspiration-independent-fashion-entrepreneurs/feed/ 2 11 ways to promote your online shop http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/02/ways-to-promote-online-store/ http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/02/ways-to-promote-online-store/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:00:01 +0000 admin http://stylesamplemag.com/?p=413 In the last issue of Style Sample, Alicia of Instant Vintage shows us how to set up an online shop step by step. Setup is relatively simple, but once you have your store up and running, you have to get out there and promote it! Here are some easy and (mostly) free ideas:

1. Put a link to your shop in your email signature, blog comments, and forum and message board signatures.

2. Create a Facebook fan page for your shop or line. Post pictures of customers wearing your products, links to articles about your shop, and info about how you create your merchandise.

3. Create a behind-the-scenes video like this one about The Brush Factory. Post it on YouTube, Metacafe, MySpace, blip.tv, Vimeo,  and others using an all-in-one video posting service like tubemogul.com.

4. Use descriptive keywords in your item description so people searching can find it easily. Instead of “vintage dress”, try “red cotton vintage sundress size 6.”

5. Post classifieds on free sites like Craigslist and Kijiji.

6. Send email newsletters announcing a new line or collection. If you have a small list (under 500 subscribers), try a free service like MailChimp.

7. Promote offline, too! You can get inexpensive business cards from Moo.com or OvernightPrints and hand them out to friends, family, and potential customers.

8. Participate in area craft fairs or trunk shows. Hand out those cards!

9. If you’re interested in selling offline, create postcards to mail to businesses and publications who might be interested in selling or writing about your products. Be sure to do your research when preparing your pitch.

10. Write press releases when something big happens–a new collection comes out, you snag an investor, or you’re carried at a new store. Submit your release to writers who would be interested in your story and online newswire services like iNewswire and PRLog.

11. Join an ad network–as an advertiser.

Besides blogging, how do you promote your store?

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]]> http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/02/ways-to-promote-online-store/feed/ 0 Collective Call: Fashion Design Collectives http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/01/collective-call-fashion-design-collectives/ http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/01/collective-call-fashion-design-collectives/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:05:03 +0000 admin http://stylesamplemag.com/?p=438 Design collectives like The Brush Factory are great places to pull looks for photo shoots, source new and unusual styles, and support independent designers.

Allowing designers to pool their resources and get real-world experience selling their merchandise, these local boutiques are fertile ground for emerging talent:

MPLS Design Collective (Minneapolis, MN)

The Cloud Factory Design Collective (San Francisco, CA)

Cambridge Design Collective (Cambridge, UK)

Painfully Hip Design Collective (Online)

Fresh Collective (Toronto, Canada)

LA Fashion Collective (Los Angeles, CA)

Neon Collective (Brighton, England)

Conscious Designers Collective (UK)

Vitae Design Collective (Des Moines, IA)

Who did we miss?

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]]> http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/01/collective-call-fashion-design-collectives/feed/ 0 Style Sample magazine’s 5th issue is here! http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/01/style-sample-magazine-issue-is-here/ http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/01/style-sample-magazine-issue-is-here/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:00:10 +0000 admin http://stylesamplemag.com/?p=394 The fifth issue (and first of the new decade) of Style Sample magazine is here!

As usual, it’s chock full of interviews with your favorite established and up-and-coming bloggers, informational articles, thoughtful commentary, the best shopping, and of course, inspiring photos–everything from an interview with fashion illustrator Nicole Jarecz to the inspiring style of cover girl Andy of Style Scrapbook to Minh-Ha’s thoughtful commentary on the influence of style bloggers. Read it now!

Big thanks to everyone (over 30 bloggers!) who contributed to this issue:

The Society of Style
Dimogonda
Sterling Style
Pink Rock Candy
Solo Lisa

Braids and Bows
Previously Owned
Nicole Jarecz Illustration
Fab Blab

Candy Kawaii Lover
Squarectomy
Kelly Talks Couture
Whit and Whimsy
Orchid Grey
La Rue Neuve
Lizzie Jeanne

Stylish Thought
I Love Martine
Stud Farm
Style Scrapbook
Fashion Lookbook

Cafe Fashionista
A Dose of Design
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Fashion Chalet
My Style Pill

Threadbared
InnyVinny
Holier Than Now
Purushu
The Mimi Manifesto
Fashion Champagne
Special thanks Anna of I Want to Wear It for coming through in an emergency!

So sit back, cuddle up in your Snuggie, and enjoy the issue!

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]]> http://stylesamplemag.com/2010/01/style-sample-magazine-issue-is-here/feed/ 13 New Design Collective The Brush Factory http://stylesamplemag.com/2009/12/new-design-collective-the-brush-factory/ http://stylesamplemag.com/2009/12/new-design-collective-the-brush-factory/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:06:30 +0000 admin http://stylesamplemag.com/?p=350 Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the opening of The Brush Factory, a fashion design collective & retail space located in–you guessed it–an old brush manufacturing facility here in Cincinnati, OH.

At The Brush Factory, new designers have the resources and ability to create their own ‘mini’ store and sell their collections at an affordable cost. Current designers carried at the Factory include Lynda Lucas, Chris Kittrell, Brittany Rose (Poncho Rose), Margot and Kit Anderson (CoolSisters), and Jennifer Sult and Lacey Voss.Brushfactory3_1209
Brushfactory2_1209Founder and fashion designer Brittany Rose Kovacs is profiled in the upcoming issue of Style Sample magazine, so be sure to check out the feature when the issue drops on January 5th. In the meantime, you can keep up with Rosie via her blog, A Dose of Design, and become a fan of The Brush Factory on Facebook.

~Tamia

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