27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

1) You read about an entrepreneur:

• What surprised you the most?

It surprised me how Knight hit the floor running and started his business right after a

phone call.

• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

I admired how smart his actions were despite how reckless they might seem. He had

an idea, and inspiration and just went for it because of his “what could I possibly lose”

mentality.

• What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

There wasn’t anything that I didn’t admire. The story Knight had to share was so

inspirational and a lot of the actions he took to start his business reminds me a lot of

how I am acting to start the fashion brand of my dreams.

• Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

Considering the fact that Knight was straight out of graduate school when he first

started his company, he encountered setbacks and problems with his Japanese

supplier and after they separated.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? Knight’s focus for

the brand was so different than other people that started businesses. He didn’t start

the business to make a lot of money or to become famous; he started it because he

had an idea and wanted to see how it would play out.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you. I didn’t find anything

that was really confusing.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why? How

did you keep motivating yourself to continue the business despite setbacks? And

what would you think have happened if Nike didn’t grow to be what it is today? I

would ask these questions because they are questions I got curious about while

reading this book. Also, they’re also questions I can learn from as well.

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that

opinion? I think it did take a lot of hard work for the entrepreneur because it takes a lot

to follow through when starting a company. Like Knight stated, “the cowards never

started, the weak died along the way — that leaves us.”

26A – Celebrating Failure

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class, or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester, and failed each time.

During this semester, I failed at budgeting my money. I ate out a lot with my friends, bought what I wanted and didn’t keep track of the small payments that ended up pilling up. Now that I am on my own and that I have full control over my money, I didn’t realize how fast money could be used. I never fell into the negatives and I don’t have debt, but now I struggle with having enough money now; after I used money in the beginning of the semester.

2) Tell us what you learned from it.  

I learned how important it is to keep track of your money and not spend it on things that I do not necessarily need. I learned how to budget in a way that I can see where I spend my money and I try to save as much as I can. And I found a method that helps me be aware of how much I am spending; I found that spending cash instead of using my card helps me physically see how much money I have and how much I have left.

3) Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure. Failure is hard, isn't it? It's embarrassing, sure, but it also means that we have to change something about ourselves. Talk about how you handle failure (emotionally, behaviorally). Finally, talk about how this class has changed your perspective on failure -- are you more likely to take a risk now than you were just a few months ago?

I tend to reflect after I fail. I’m not afraid of failing, but I try to avoid failing and so I try to think about what I did wrong and how I can fix it. This class has helped me think more in depth of my business venture and now I don’t feel so worried or scared about failing. Of course I still have my doubts, but I feel more comfortable with failing.

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children?

I intend on staying with the business for several decades until I cannot and retire. And as I retire, sell it off for a large return.

2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

I selected this exit strategy because I love fashion and I want to continue staying in the field for as long as I can and continue designing clothes until I physically cannot or until I feel like I have found another younger individual to take over.

3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?

My exit strategy has affected how I plan on using my resources to continue to create clothes; by staying in the industry as long as I can, I can continue to not only create connections but also strengthen relationships over the time I run the business venture. My exit strategy allows me to be creative and allows me to explore methods of expression through clothing and styling.

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

The opportunity for my business venture are individuals interested in fashion; especially K-fashion and cannot find an outlet where they can access and purchase trend related clothing items. Most of my opportunity are defined geographically outside of the country of South Korea and can range from teens to mid thirties. This opportunity is growing with the rise of Seoul Fashion Week, K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean celebrities that are gaining fame outside of the aforementioned country itself. This window of opportunity will be open for quite some time but I do think that it will be continuous because Korean fashion is constantly developing and will grow to be something larger than its title of “Korean” fashion. Currently, customers are satisfying this need by either buying their clothes directly in Korea, finding clothing items that can replicate the look from domestic brand companies, or paying high prices for Korean clothing brands that have a limited international outreach. And due to insufficient brands currently in the market, it is difficult for customers to stay loyal to one brand; especially due to high prices for non-brand labels.





My innovation is not life-changing, but it helps suffice a demand and need for clothing. My idea of creating an online Korean fashion mall for international shoppers stemmed from a personal struggle to buy clothes that fall under Korean fashion trends. It would help those interested in Korean fashion and those who are looking to buy clothes that fall under the trend by giving them an accessible platform to buy these clothes. MY Korean online fashion mall would be a platform that connects currently existing clothing brands in Korea to those residing outside of the country; in other words, the clothes would be given to my company in wholesale and my company then would sell them to the customers interested. While this may seem like a simple retail business, my company would be satisfying a need that has not been met even though Korean fashion has boomed; this is due to the lack of Korean businesses that reach out internationally and ship overseas as well. Many online Korean brands do not sell to overseas customers because of the lack of financial ability; due to the large amounts of businesses in the Korean market that are all trying to sell to a limited population. My idea would not only help those business expand to outside of the country but it would also help my target audience.

23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

1. I have manufacturers to produce my clothes
1. This is valuable, but it can change and is substitutable with other manufacturers.
2. I have the financial ability to start up my business
1. This is rare because many startups don’t start will full financial capability and resort to loans.
3. I have designs in progress for the launch
1. This is valuable but it can change and is substitutable with other designs and reforms.
4. I have the capability to design the website
1. This is valuable; can be substituted with a professional, but it helps financially to have the skill.
5. I have models to model the clothes I will make
1. This is valuable; can be substituted with a professional, but it helps financially to have the skill.
6. I have photography knowledge from past experiences
1. This is valuable; can be substituted with a professional, but it helps financially to have the skill.
7. I have my parent’s full support in starting
1. This is rare and valuable because I know many people who have parents that do not approve of their dreams and goals; so to have the full support my parents give, it is important
8. I have contact with people in the fashion industry that I have close bonds to
1. This is rare and valuable that cannot be replaced but it can increase
9. I have contact with businesses that source the products necessary to make my clothes
1. This is rare and valuable that cannot be replaced but it can increase
10. I am in the middle of learning business along with learning about design
1. This is valuable because I understand how important it is to know business and design if I plan on running a proprietorship.

My top resource is my contact with people in the industry with close bonds to because they can help me network and get my brand going and connect me to other people in the industry as well.

25A – What’s Next?

Existing Market.

The next step is to offer more convenient shopping for those interested in Korean fashion.

After interviewing three people, they told me that American shipping companies should be reaching out to these Korean online shopping malls to provide international shipping; or to have an American branch for these shops. If finances are complicated, have these Korean shops provide wholesale to American shops.

In order to create a business to help the niche that is looking for Korean clothing, I think it is important to make use of the already existing market. Whether it be through establishing an extended branch of these online shops to American servers or have these online shops be open to wholesale products, it is important to be able to get these products to the customers in an accessible and easy way possible.

New Market.

My radically different market would be a B2B market. In this case, our business would not set up an online shopping mall ourselves, but be the link between Korean online shopping malls and other offline/online shopping malls in America so that they can sell Korean clothes to foreign customers.

For this new market, the interviewees suggested that in this market, our business can act like consultants to these American malls; referring them to the Korean online shopping malls that fit the American brands’ overall style (ie: cute or stylish or street-heavy or formal or casual, etc etc). That way, consumers can get the benefits of Korean fashion without having to categorize it seperate as “Korean fashion.”

What surprised me the most was about how possible this B2B idea could be. I only thought of it as a B2C market, but after considering how the business would run if it were a B2B company, I was able to see the wider spectrum of opportunities and possibilities that the business could have.

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

I realized that other students in my class felt the same way with this pitch: it was nerve wracking at first, but as we all did it a second, now third time, we get the hang of it and are able to improve from our first time. I also realized that from the second to now this third time, I am able to memorize my pitch a bit better and be able to project myself a bit better too. Like always, I didn’t get any wrong or silly feedback but rather really supportive ones instead which I found to be encouraging.

link:

https://youtu.be/tQfF905PU

21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

HOW TO FAIL AT ALMOST EVERYTHING AND STILL WIN BIG

BY SCOTT ADAMS

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

While the title of the book is literally the summary of the book, the author, Scott Adams writes about his failures and how he ultimately found success through his losses and elaborates on the objectives he learned.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

The class helped me change my goals into systems by allowing me to work towards a business I want to build instead of having me just waiting on future opportunities. And instead of just wishing that one day I will build a company, the class helped me decide through the different assignments and brain twisting questions I faced.

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

The exercise would be based on Adams’ idea of systems vs goals. I would have every think about and decide on a system they would follow up on and have them make a system of their own. I learned through the book how important systems are in comparison to goals. While goals are time restricting, made measly about the future, and specific, systems help make everyday a win by making what is important to you clear and not time restricting. And by being able to follow systems everyday, it helps one to be focused and feel good about everything they choose to do that is part of their day to day system.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

I found it interesting when Adams emphasized being selfish. I always grew up learning to put others before myself, but Adams emphasized working on yourself before helping others. I realized that it is important to develop yourself first because what help can you possibly be if you can’t help yourself? I learned that in order to produce fruit for others, the tree needs to be fully developed, ready, and mature enough to be able to bear fruit.

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

Expert on this market: Joanne from JKim NY Corp

She is the product and project manager and also a client and vendor relation manager. She is also an analyst so she is qualified as an expert in the market. I contacted her when I initially asked for quotes on producing the designs I created. I found the person on a manufacturer listing. She can help me analyze trends for upcoming seasons and pitch in ideas for designs and assist in method of action I should take.

Domain expert in this industry: Ilona Saakova from SCOTT x SCOTT, Inc.

She is a design assistant which fits with her domain expertise in fashion. I also found her company on a listing and I also heard of the company for they create clothes for some of my favorite brands so I wanted to work with them. This person will help me design all aspects for my collection; not only the clothes but also packaging, labeling, branding, website and so on.

Important supplier to this industry: Jenniffer from NYC factory inc

She works for NYC factory Inc, a company that supplies for some of the biggest fashion brands out in the market. I contacted her to discuss my upcoming collection and with regards to pricing and product development. They gave me a chance to produce my clothes with exchange for a positive outcome in my collection. I'll have connection to supplies for creating clothes; various materials and access to technology.

This experience helped me realize the importance of networking and the importance of having a network of people I can work with to produce my brand. This experience was a bit different because it required me to think more in depth of every single network connection in detail. But other than that, there was no big difference.

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

1. I am a college student with the aspiration of sharing and idea and my thoughts throughout clothes and fashion. I am creative and bold; not scared to be bold in talking about taboo topics and shushed conversations. This business that I want to create will become my creative outlet and also a brand people want to wear not only because it looks good, but because it holds meaning to them and because they want to make the same statement through fashion. I want to inspire and encourage others through my work.
2. I am offering an idea. An idea expressed through the clothes. Through the way the clothes are shaped, designed, colored, and produced, the clothes will reflect the theme at hand and will cater to the unmet needs of the customers who never liked a brand that fit them truly till now.
3. All my customers are interested in fashion and like experimenting with clothes. They don't want fast fashion but want items that make them feel exclusive. They also want clothes that aren't too flashy and can easily be matched with other clothes.
4. They care because they believe in the same motto as me: to be bold and to be expressive. Beyond the clothes and the money and everything physical that is involved, I want to build a culture through my brand.
5. The main thing that sets me apart is the reason for wanting to start my brand. I don't want to do it for the money but for the culture I want to build through it. And my background with being Korean American and the things I went through growing up is something I have that nobody in the fashion business has.

These elements do fit together with my business because it is related to the core of my business. They aren't weaker or out of joint and I would believe that these elements are relevant to every business and business owner looking to start a business. It helped me reflect on who I am in terms of my business. It reminded me on why I wanted to make my brand in the first place.