Entrepreneurs need to learn a little bit about nearly every aspect of business — and they need to learn it fast! What better, safer way to learn than from other people's mistakes? That's why we've launched this new series — “What I Wish I Had Known" — to share lessons that successful business owners have learned through experience. We hope their advice prepares and informs you for your own entrepreneurial journey. And, if you missed it, check out the first installment of this series: 6 Things I Wish I Had Known About Building a Website.
There's no doubt that having a great website is critical for telling the world your brand story and growing your business, but the pressure that comes with building your first website can often be overwhelming. For some small business owners, the desire to get it just right is so strong that they delay the release of their website indefinitely or sometimes don't bother with building anything at all.
3D design is often considered a difficult and costly endeavor for those with an invention idea — either you have to buy expensive software, or hire a qualified modeler or designer. Fortunately, there are many free 3D computer-aided design (CAD) packages available (web-based and downloads) to help get your prototype started and ready for production.
It's time for a brand refresh.
From colors that feel dated to visuals or a logo that popped out of 1999, your brand may be showing signs that it needs new life. But it's important to make changes without losing who you are in the process. (Remember, you don't want to lose or offend people loyal to your small business.) How do you do it? Here are ways to tackle a refresh that you will love.
Most small business owners and entrepreneurs are interested in building out their product idea, not fussing with a 3D printer. The promise of “press the print button" and, voila, your product prototype is ready within minutes — is a myth. The best way to prototype is to use one of the many 3D Printing Service Bureaus.
Creating your first apparel product can be a daunting task. Especially if you don’t know where to start. Before you can “officially” make your product in a factory, you will need to create a production-ready sample for factories to replicate. You can hire someone to do all the ground work for you but if you are looking to build a fashion business from your product idea, then you will have to start thinking strategically BEFORE you finalized your apparel product designs with a manufacturer or technical consultant.
It's finally happened. After years of kicking around mere "ideas," you've thought up something worthy of all caps: THE IDEA. The one that will let you quit your full-time job, earn you a billion dollars, and eventually own your own island. Here's the problem, you don't know how to turn your brilliant idea into a brilliant product that consumers everywhere will want to buy.
Attracting repeat shoppers is a goal for any small business owner. The key is wowing customers every step of the way. But where do you start? You may think it's your company's website design, but you're forgetting something. Consider the humble packaging label for your products. Never fear, we're here to show you how to make a big statement with a few simple product packaging design tips.
Before investing time and money into manufacturing a product you'll need to make sure you have a working and viable product to produce. Creating a working product prototype is a hugely important step in that process.
Whether you are an established designer or aspiring fashion entrepreneur, properly communicating your design ideas is crucial to the outcome of your product. You have your product idea, what next? Do you start meeting with factories? Do you hire a consultant? How does product development work? What does it take to produce in America?
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Start Your Something
At Weebly, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to build something new and do what they love.
The Inspiration Center features experts sharing what they've learned about starting and growing these types of big ideas.