Mid Year update - Scarf and Bag in Small Business Startup Journal - The Journey To Starting My Own Brand of Travel Clothing and Handbags

Well - what a few months it has been.

First of all - no, I will not be making the exhibition next month at the Made In Australia Expo in Sydney.

Instead I am going to exhibit later. I was given the option of either exhibiting at the Melbourne expo in March or waiting a full 12 months and exhibiting in next August 2023 in Sydney again.

I sat on it for a week and almost went for the option of exhibiting in Melbourne in February.

But I decided to wait the full 12 months for 3 reasons.
1 - It would still be too tight for my launch timeline on Kickstarter
2 - the cost of sending everything and staying in Melbourne would cost more
3 - The Made In Australia Expo in Sydney shares the same weekend as Fashion exposed and so I am also to get the attendees for both events, which means double the foot traffic and buying power for the same price.

My leather bag has stalled at the moment, the last thing I have left to order are my zips.
I can’t order them to make my second prototype because I will be ordering in bulk from the same zipper place I plan on getting my scarf zips.

I can’t colour match my scarf zips until I have purchased my printed material which has been a nightmare process of back and forth between suppliers on Alibaba, some of which ghosted me and others were not able to print in the right colour matched shade I needed.

I am working with a final supplier and hoping to finalise the purchase of some prints to be sent to me this month, so that I can then finalise the colours to order my zips.

I have also paid a deposit to Karen for my scarf pattern and first prototype design to be made.
I went to visit her and her factory manufacturer and we were ablet to smash out exactly what my design needed and how we were going to overcome the challenges of the strategically placed clasps.

The factory owner mentioned that it was a great idea and a great design, some positive feedback consider I have not shared the idea with too many people yet.

Finally I also after almost 3 months, received my IP registration for my Design right for the scarf. I COULDN’T BE MORE THRILLED.

Not only does this mean I have the legal right to the design, but I can take action to protect it if anyone copies it. I can also start to release marketing and drum up interest online now that I have my certification.

Honestly I am so relieved and feel like I am one step closer to finalising my prototypes.

I have so much to do though in terms marketing, advertising and planning for my launch.