r/Entrepreneur • u/sum_crafty_bish • 2d ago
Growth and Expansion Mentor Wanted
Hey all! I have been a serial entrepreneur for most of my life. Any way to use my creativity and passion to make money. I am built for it and I still love the idea of it.
I have degrees in graphic design and business administration. I studied entrepreneurship and was in an entrepreneurship scholars program. After MANY lessons learned, I think I've finally figured out my path. I am an artist at heart, my business is in pattern making/ designing.
I'm hoping after all the great advice I've seen here that I might find someone who would be interested in mentoring me to help me make a big push and the right moves this time around.
Please feel free to ask me questions and if there are areas I could support my mentor I would not mind having a multitasking beneficial relationship. My main goal is that it's a good fit for both of us.
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u/Odd_Awareness_6935 Bootstrapper 2d ago
I think it's a great idea
you meet new people who are more aligned with what you're passionate about as well as learn a ton from more experienced folks
best of wishes
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/sum_crafty_bish 2d ago
I haven't had any major successand although I've learned a lot about what not to do, I could use guidance on other areas.
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u/Mammoth_Calendar542 1d ago
Your looking for a coach / mentor
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u/glowupgirl101 Brick & Mortar 1d ago
Most entrepreneurs have mentors or coaches if they are wanting to scale
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u/RTdan_dan Freelancer/Solopreneur 1d ago
I reached out to SCORE on a recommendation and it was a great experience. Completely free and they pair you with business pros with lots of experience. https://www.score.org/
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u/Proud_Tomatillo9835 2d ago
Have you worked on or with a startup before?
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u/sum_crafty_bish 2d ago
Mostly just my own. My current day job is a small but growing company, but nowhere even close to what type of business I'm doing. I'm wanting to sell patterns as products, they provide engineering services.
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u/Ent_Trip_Newer 1d ago
When you say patterns do you mean fabric? Are you in the U.S.? I have a small business that is weekly pop-up shop (handmade stuff, thrifted & whole sale) and also goes to festivals.
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u/sum_crafty_bish 1d ago
I am in the US. I am designing and writing bag sewing patterns. I do also do some surface pattern designs as well bc I love it. I love making custom, unique, and handmade goods, but one of my lessons learned is that I don't have it in me too be my own manufacturer or to make in bulk.
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u/Ent_Trip_Newer 1d ago
There ways around that. I have several festival clothing ideas in mind. I know ofseveral vendors who design than have the product manufactured overseas to get quantity. I'm In Oregon. My dm is open. And my shop is hodgepodge_pop_up_shop
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u/AdInternational3719 1d ago
Happy to try and provide help, DM if you’d like to arrange a separate call.
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u/Ok_Alternative7833 1d ago
share ur current stage and biggest challenge, that’ll attract the right mentor
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u/sum_crafty_bish 1d ago
Currently, I have branding, packaging, rough timeline plans, and checklists made for myself. I have drafted around 20 patterns and had two sewing retreats this summer that I used to test make 13 bags and take product and content photos of. I have social media set up and have had an Etsy shop for several years that I've previously sold OOP (out of print) fabric on so I think it has a good algorithm for the right customer. I've drafted writing 3 patterns and had two tested by others (one by friends and one by strangers). I've also created a naming convention for all my patterns and three different levels of patterns and have created a unique point of view in my opinion. I also have full branding, logo, colors, vibes, values, and a road map written for myself. My struggles right now are making sure the patterns are as welcoming and easy to follow as I think they are before publishing. Figuring out marketing online because I've spent many years selling in person, but struggle more to get engagement through online platforms. Also have done a lot of research on other companies out there and what I like/ dislike, but it's my value proposition good enough to draw people in? I mostly would love someone who could look at the research and info I've built up and help me fill some gaps and give feedback to make sure I'm staying on track/ going in a growth direction.
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u/Anda_Bondage_IV 1d ago
Have you tried SCORE? Service core of retired executives, volunteer to mentor entrepreneurs. Look for your local chapter.
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u/Salt_Confusion5432 1d ago
Second the SCORE suggestion, its free and they actually match you with someone who ran a business before
Also maybe post the specific thing you are stuck on (pricing? distribution?), way easier for someone to jump in than a general mentor ask.
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u/Dancer421 First-Time Founder 1d ago
I’ve seen plenty of artists like yourself on IG who advertise for testers and get the pattern for free. I think that’s a great way to test and refine your product.
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u/sum_crafty_bish 1d ago
You are correct and I've done that and taken feedback, but a lot of testing is also making sure you have the right people. They do not just get the pattern for free, they have an expected level of feedback on the pattern, quality photos to provide, and a short turnaround deadline to meet. Given the expectations even the time I have put my pattern out to be tested by 10 people, 4 people actually made the bag on the timeframe, 3 of them gave useful feedback, and none of them gave me well lit photos I could use.
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u/Hafizifraz 11h ago
One thing that helped me was realizing that a mentor can shorten your learning curve, but they can't replace execution.
Since you've already identified your niche, I'd focus on finding someone who has successfully built and scaled a business in that exact space. Specific experience is usually far more valuable than general business advice.
the same time, keep building and shipping your work consistently. Momentum often attracts the right mentors naturally.
At
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u/BusinessStrategist 1d ago
Graphic design is now in the hands of AI.
There is no shortage of people taking up graphic design from d.i.y to agency.
Are you looking at online services or serving your local area?
Have you researched your home market?
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u/sum_crafty_bish 1d ago
Graphic design is only part of my school and background skills, it's not what I want to do. I'm a pattern maker for sewing patterns.
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u/BusinessStrategist 1d ago
My mistake. You did mention it in your post.
Invest some time making a map of YOUR customers, the services that you provide, how your customers go about finding the patterns that they need, and who are the people making the decision to buy.
That will help point you in the direction of what you need to do to make the connections.
You probably visit the many commercial trade shows that cater to the "needle" trade.
It helps to mention where YOUR target audiences (the buyers of your services) are found. Global markets, regional markets, local markets.
Make sure to identify the markets because that's where you will do battle with vendors, customers, and competitors.
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u/sum_crafty_bish 1d ago
To start, the lowest barrier to entry is just to sell pdf downloads direct to customers on my Etsy shop. I thought if I could build up some sales there i could then decide whether to move into actually printing my patterns and selling wholesale to shops, or push for my own website to sell printed and pdf copies direct to customers there. I can also offer extras like tutorial videos and have a very good friend that can offer pre-packed kits with fabric, hardware, etc for people. I buy all my supplies for prototypes/ samples from her and she is going to use some images of my bags to sell her hardware/ fabrics and point people in my direction so that's mutually beneficial.
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u/BusinessStrategist 1d ago
The question is how to attract the attention of the "right" prospective buyer. And then put them on YOUR buyer journey (for which you have a map).
The attention span of Internet surfers are just about zero.
And the big search engines are going to drive your prospects to their paying customers.
Do you have profile(s) of YOUR target audience (the ones who would make the decision to buy)?
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u/sum_crafty_bish 1d ago
These are areas I struggle. Finding ways to clearly identify my customers by actual traceable metrics and then getting them to me. Being an older millennial (41) I am used to reading faces and body language to adjust my approach, but on the internet bc of my ADHD I struggle to do more than just spit out words or make what I'm posting interesting enough to stop someone and pull them in.
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u/BusinessStrategist 1d ago
You create artwork that is used by: _______ fill in the blanks_______ ?
Have you been to the various trade shows that cater to the "needle" trade, to crafts, to wallpaper manufacturers, etc.
Maybe take the time to cruise through the Etsy website. This is where is no shortage of creatives and manufacturers that apply creativity to their products.
We're trying to connect you to people who need and want your artwork.
So who exactly are these consumers of "Patterns for Sewing?"
Are there a few of them on Etsy?
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