Power vs Talent

Chappell Ent.

I didn't really want to analyze how me and agent came to agreement on my terms with working with him, for I didn't want to how bad I got screwed knowing my status as a newcomer. Status came up, which played a big role in negotiation in signing with my agent. For my agent's status as being one of the biggest names in rock and roll history, created power and a reputation that put me below him. Negotiating basically turned into a joke as I would bring up turns and they weren't taken seriously, as I tried again to bring the same topics turning the joke into a serious negotiation. Not having any other offers for representation, but him not knowing that as I clam I had another offer from another agent.  He just called my bluff by saying, "Well go ahead and go with that other offer". So, that backfired and made me look even weaker during the negotiation. How can this relate to my blog? Well say your a smaller clothing company and dealing with a big distribution company. You know what you have is hot and will be in demand, but the distribution company just sees a starting out clothing company. So, maybe the only deal is the best deal at the time just make sure you have the option to renegotiate, so your not stuck when you start making money.
Mutual benefit was there though, for both my agent and me wanted my film to be a success for I get a reputation and he gets his money.
Roles of my agent are exactly that to be my agent and use his connects to get my film out there and find investors to put money up and distribute the film. For me my role was being the creative mind and the person I am for it's what got me here with my agent, so I should keep that rolling for its worked so far.

Brick n Mortar vs Viral

A big concern in starting my clothing line has been if I should start and actual store, an online presence, or even both? Well being a broke college student that only has enough money for rent and food, both is kind of out of the picture. Taking a small business loan for 10 grand to start a brick and mortar business in some shopping mall next to Kim's nails just doesn't suit what I'm trying to get at really. So, I have the traditional way of starting a clothing line online, by doing everything myself from print and press to advertising and marketing. Honestly that's to much for me to handle, until I was introduced to a company called Cafe Press, which is a company built just for guys like me. They do everything from manufacturing to shipping even processing the orders as they arrive. I had some concerns, so I emailed them and they got back to me.
Some concerns with starting my company:

1. start up cost?
We do offer three different shops to choose from which two of these are free (Beta, Basic). However, we do offer another shop which has a few more features that has a cost of $6.95/month (Premium). I have provided a link for more information regarding the shops.
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/index.aspx?area=learn&page=learn

2. do you manufacture when there is an order?
When an order is placed we then start printing the image on the item and ship it out to the customer.

3. can you do the same logo, but with custom colors to the customers preference?
We are only able to print the logo as it is uploaded to the website. If custom colors are desired, the customer would need to contact you directly and you create the item for the customer prior to an order being placed.

4. what's the split, meaning what do i get and what do you get for your services?
The price of the items sold within our Marketplace is set by CafePress and you would earn 10% of the retail price. However, all items in your shop have a base price which is what CafePress would earn from the sale. For you to earn a commission you will need to apply a markup above the base.

5. I was hoping to manufacture local or American, do you do that?
The production facility where the items are printed and shipped from is Louisville, KY.

6. I wanted to connect the customer to the manufacture via video thanking the customer for helping them with this service can you do that?
At this time we do not offer a service for the customers to be connected to the manufacture via video.

Even if some of these concepts aren't going to work like number 6 and number 3, it's still the best scenario for me. Then the rest of the 10 grand from my small business loan can go towards marketing and getting my clothing line out there, that's the real struggle. Only 10 percent! Yeah, but the hard part is done and the only thing I have to do is collect a check.

Ecko Clothing aka Marc Ecko

Ecko Unlimited has become one of the biggest names in clothing, but where and how did he start. People are intrigued with how people become what they have become and to survive in this day of the internet your website or blog or both need to show a story to create a sense of fulfillment for customers to become more than just a customer, but a person among this social network we now call the internet. Marc Ecko's website has it all from the backstory of his life to the art he drew as a kid. Plus when you have a lot of money you can get an interactive website such as his thats also a plus. http://www.marcecko.com/#/ People more than anytime want to feel a connection with something wether it be the clothes they but to the music they listen to. If they can relate then they wont feel guilty about spending their money on a 40 dollar tee shirt. If you take anything out of this just remember to create a universe within the internet where people well enjoy visiting and that has a purpose about you!