Dear Pennies & Pens,
In this post, #Readmoreink: Hijacking the Runway: How Celebrities Are Stealing the Spotlight from Fashion Designers by Teri Agins, I will be offering a review of the book. I recently checked out this book from the library because I am always seeking to expand my knowledge.
As an emerging fashion designer, I think it’s important to always be learning about my craft. And since Teri Agins is a famous African American Fashion Journalist, I wanted to get some industry insights from her.
I also wanted to read this book because I want to know how and why celebrities having their own brands affects me as a designer. Reading this book helped me see that because I’m not famous or rich, it’s been a struggle to grow my brand, Pennies & Pens.
I literally just updated ISLP’s about page to be more transparent with you, Pennies & Pens. Right now, I’m saving money from my own personal income to invest in inventory, product development and marketing. When I first launched Pennies & Pens, I was printing our shirts via a Print On Demand service but now I am seeking to purchase inventory.
Print On Demand worked at first because I didn’t have to stock inventory but it slowed down the order fulfillment process. Because basically, I wouldn’t print shirts until the customer ordered it – so while it cut down on risks for me as the owner the downside was that customers had to wait longer for their orders.
Also, at Pop Up Shops, it was a turn off to some potential customers that I didn’t have the shirt they wanted in their size available right then and there. One thing I’ve learned about people is that most people are impulse buyers. So it’s crucial that your product is always available to buy – otherwise your customer will just get it from somewhere else.
I have always recognized that although Pennies & Pens shirts have cool phrases printed on them and are made of organic cotton – there are still countless T-shirt brands and other places you can buy a T-shirt from. So it’s not that serious for the average person to become a customer. Even if it is an independent, Black and woman owned brand. Tis sad but true.
But anyway, (gosh I really didn’t mean to get on a tangent), as I said, I’m saving money for inventory, product development (to add hoodies and denim), and marketing. In the meantime, I’ll be documenting ISLP’s growth here in de la Pen…All Pen Everything and the Penny Black YouTube channel.
In the video below (after the longest intro ever), I share my thoughts on Hijacking the Runway: How Celebrities Are Stealing the Spotlight from Fashion Designers. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments below.
And there it is. de la Pen…All Pen Everything. With us, keeping it real never goes wrong.
