Kid is a label pushing the belief that everything looks better in black and white. I’m a believer. 

Representing my hometown, Sydney, Kid. delivers a refreshing blend of originality with classic cuts and designs that demand attention.

What made you decide to start your own t-shirt label?

To be completely honest, my main motivation for Kid. came from two of my best friends who I’ve known since I was about 13. I love to draw and paint whenever I get some time to myself and about 2 years ago I finished an artwork of a gun with a rose shooting out of the end of it (the print on the ‘Gunflower’ tee), showed it to these two (because I basically show them everything I draw/paint/create) and as soon as they saw it they just said, “rotate it, print it on a t-shirt, and send a couple our way”. That was actually all the motivation I needed (the fact that one of these two is actually an extremely popular DJ in New Zealand provided a little extra push for me to take a chance and actually test my ability also!). I’ve always felt that ‘Kid.’ could work so amazingly as a label name and concept and was really excited when I found out that nobody had trademarked/registered it so I jumped on that straight away! Also my inability to find t-shirts, singlets, and jumpers that both fit me well (as I’m quite tall), and had a print on it that I actually appreciated played a big part in my decision to commit myself to exposing all of my ideas and creativity to society through humble t-shirts, singlets, and jumpers (for now), and I’m very glad I did!

How long were you in the planning process before you officially launched?

Well I can date that painting I mentioned earlier to about November 2010, and that is basically when I made the decision to commit to starting my own business. From there, I had to get the whole business structure set up properly whilst also doing loads and loads of research on how to actually get things going. Volume 1 was released in May 2011 so it took roughly 7 months to officially launch, and this involved everything from structuring the whole business and financial side to drawing and painting the designs to designing the t-shirts for Volume 1, the sampling process, the photo shoot concept development and execution, all whilst trying to generate hype for Kid. before launching the collection online.

There’s a huge scene in the States and the UK for indie clothing labels. How do you feel we compare with our scene here in Australia?

I think the indie scene in the states and the UK in terms of the labels and what they produce is quite fascinating although I am a fan of the up and coming labels within Australia. I think we are home to plenty of very talented and creative individuals and it’s only a matter of time before a lot of these labels get the recognition that they deserve!

What was the biggest obstacle in your way of launching your label? And how did you overcome it?

It’s very important to believe you can do it and make sure you have a strong support network around you (something which I’m lucky to have and very thankful for). The biggest obstacle is definitely self-doubt, especially when things go wrong during the many processes involved. The biggest way to overcome it was to actually believe it when people tell you they love what you’re doing, and it’s also important to understand that success and recognition does not come overnight. The whole process is so enjoyable though and I personally wouldn’t give it up no matter what obstacle comes this way.

Marketing for t-shirt labels is hugely important, what was your marketing plan when you launched your brand?

Be bold. Be simple. I placed so much focus on the photo shoot for Volume 1. It had to be perfect, it had to be different, and it had to be effective, and I was extremely happy with how it turned out (shout out to my photographer Louis for absolutely nailing the whole thing!). In terms of marketing techniques, generating as much earned (word of mouth) media as possible. It’s so important to get people talking to their friends about the label, and I’ve found this to be the most effective way of generating a buzz and increasing the hype surrounding Kid.

There are so many t-shirt labels out there, with new ones coming out every day…what do you think makes a label stand out and make a name for itself?

I think it’s extremely important to develop a basic principle, which for Kid. is ‘everything looks better in black & white’. I feel that the simpler something is, the more effective it is. Whilst each label may have something great to offer, the ones that stand out to me personally are the ones that have an effective and bold label message, principle and focus, and I certainly feel that ‘everything looks better in black & white’ is a perfect way of summing up Kid. in one sentence. It is exactly the message I want to communicate to everybody and it is something that I want Kid. to be known for.

Is there one label out there you look at for inspiration and admire?

To be honest I don’t think there is, I obviously wear a lot of clothes from a lot of other labels but I’ve never been absolutely fascinated with one particular label.

Now that you’ve launched, is there anything you would have done differently?

Haha most definitely, I made lots of mistakes first time round but I’m glad I did because now I know what to do and what not to do as I begin to plan for Volume 2. I think it’s just apart of the learning process though, and I’m happy I’ve made the mistakes then because I know I won’t make the same ones next time. There isn’t really anything I’d do differently because producing Volume 1 was a great experience and looking back I’m pleased with how the process went and the people I met along the way.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d offer for those out there who are wanting to/have recently launched their own label?

Be serious about it. It takes a lot of dedication, motivation, and hard work to start any business in any industry, and take criticism as graciously and as willingly as you would take praise. It’s probably a little cliché but it is so true when people say that you learn more from those who critique you rather than those who praise you. And also never be disheartened by anything, sometimes things go wrong and they’re completely out of your control, you’ve just got to adapt, solve the problem, and continue to move forward.

Where do you see your brand going in the next 3 years?

Hopefully everywhere! Definitely excited to see what is going to happen next, right now my main focus is to keep pushing Volume 1 and start preparing Volume 2 for a winter release next year, but do not worry, Kid. will continue to pop up with various surprise additions to Volume 1 whilst you all patiently wait for Volume 2 to drop!

To lure you in, there is a PS3 and a bar fridge full of cider. Win.

Email me at georgie@beneathrejection.com if you’re interested.

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There are a few books that I found invaluable when learning the ins and outs of business and I’d like to share my top 5 with you.

1. Guerrilla Social Media Marketing – Jay Conrad Levison + Shane Gibson

This is a great book full of tips and tactics to leave an impact in the social media sphere. It focuses on the importance of building relationships and getting the most out of your marketing for the least amount of cash.

2. Think and Grow Rich – Napolean Hill

This is one of the best selling books of all time. And for good reason. It’s incredibly inspiring and will change the way you think about making money and how to go about it. I did find this book incredibly annoying to read because of the ridiculously written sentences and over punctuation and capitals but hey, it’s still a must read. And I’m a picky reader.

3. Instant Cashflow – Bradley J. Sugars

Another book based on marketing for small business. I think this is an awesome book – you’ll find all kinds of action plans and ideas for really different ways of marketing your business. When you step back, it all seems pretty obvious but it’s really easy to over look the easy ways to get your brand out there.

4. Get Anyone to do Anything – David J. Lieberman

A little obscure you may think, but bear with me. Running your own business ultimately means having to step up to represent your brand. Whether it be with clients, buyers or the press. Knowing how to handle yourself in stressful situations and hold onto an element of control is imperative. A lot of people struggle with confidence when dealing with people and you just can’t be like that when you’re the face of your brand. A good read full of good tips and pointers for gaining confidence and being able to approach anyone.

5. Do You! – Russell Simmons

Whether you’re a fan of Phat Farm or hip hop in general is really irrelevant. Russell Simmons is the ultimate entrepreneur. He’s been behind a bunch of successful brands and this book is a great look at the mental attitude it takes to get that point of success. I go back and read this book a lot, and always come out of it feeling inspired and that all my goals are achievable.

There you have it – that’s my top 5 books you should read if you’re running your own business. If you have any others you think are worthy of being on the list, please feel free to share them with the rest of us!

Fear not, this post is not being written in the spirit of 1960′s bra burning or anything of the like. Quite the opposite actually. I personally take my hat off to all the dudes out there holding it down and keeping this scene strong. I just wanted to stop and reflect on how lucky we all are to be apart of a community that is so diverse.

I do however have a keen interest in seeing other women make a strong name for themselves in the tee game. So if you’re a female behind a brand, show us what you’ve got. OK, that sounded a little off. Never the less, if you’re out there listening come forward and show off your brands to us..

If you have a look through any of the many t-shirt forums out there, chances are you’ve come across someone who acts like a dick. It’s easy to get caught up in back and forth arguments and respond to criticism defensively. Let’s face it, people are harsh. Especially behind the guise of a computer. But nothing impresses me more and makes me want to support a label than seeing those people handle themselves with pride and professionalism online. It automatically makes me think that their service is going to be top notch, and my interactions with them are going to be smooth sailing.

When you order from an online clothing brand, the experience should go far beyond just receiving a tee in the mail. That’s what I expect when I go to a commercial shop. But when it comes to indie line, we’re competing for a smaller market, a market that expects more. Thanks to the likes of Johnny Cupcakes (in my opinion the master of customer service) your customers have grown to expect a lot from you and your label. And it’s your job as a business owner to over deliver.

One of the most vital things to the success of your indie brand is going to be making genuine supporters, ‘fans’ if you will. These are the people who will buy from you repeatedly. They will spread your name and brand message and be behind everything that you do. Sounds good right? It’s possible, and it happens. And how it happens is by over delivering to your customers on all levels. That means the way you act in public, the way you treat people online, your products and the way you interact with your customers.

A great example of this is 17 year old Peter Takis. He’s the owner of a Canadian based label, Local Advancers. Whether you’re a fan of his clothes or not, this is a business owner doing things the right way. If you check out his Twitter or Facebook you’ll see positive messages that inspire people to follow his label. Messages that make people feel involved. If you go a little further and see comments and responses to criticism on the forums you’ll see the way he handles himself is the epitome of professional. And there are plenty more owners out there like him. Jeff Sheldon of Ugmonk, and Kyle Creek of Sugar Steak are two of the owners we should aspire to be like. They’re positive, they take the time to give back to the t-shirt community and they make rad designs – win.

When you own a small business, like a garage, you’re usually only on display at your workplace and what happens outside of there is your own business. But when you’re the name and face behind a brand, everything you do can affect the way people see you and your label. So the next time someone is being a jerk, whether it be online or in person, take a deep breath, swear to yourself if you have to…and then act like a business owner and respond in a way that makes your brand look the best it can.
As always, thanks for taking the time to read this post and following the blog in general.

When it comes to storing your tees, the rule is to keep them protected, dry and folded to make sure they stay in mint condition. There’s nothing worse than accidentally damaging a tee and knowing you’ll never be able to sell it.

Storing your shirts in an organised and manageable way makes a huge difference to the way you do business. It’s really all about coming up with a system that works for you and your label.

The two best storage methods I’ve tried are tubs and shelves:

Storing your tees on shelves

If you have the space to do it, then storing your tees on shelves is the easiest and most effective storage method. But it does require space. It also can be expensive. If you have a look at your local furniture store you’ll see a decent shelf can set you back a tidy penny. But if you have a look on eBay, or in your local classifieds it is possible to pick up a bargain.

Try labeling your shelves with the shirt names and sizes and keep them stored in poly bags.

The storage system at Ugmonk

Storing your tees in tubs

Tubs are great, mainly because they hold a lot and are easy to stack on top of each other, cutting down on the space required to use them. When you’re using tubs, I would recommend getting one for each of your designs. I would then make sure all of your tees are bagged, size labeled and stacked in accordance to their size. This makes it easy to reach in and grab the size you need.

This is how Fuscare store their gear

Now that we’ve covered storage, there’s the issue of maintaining your inventory. If you have an online storefront that tracks your inventory for you this job is pretty easy. Each time you make a sale, the site will deduct the garment from your inventory. However, if you are like me and also sell offline you’ll need to keep a closer eye on things.

Every two weeks I like to take all my tees of their shelves and write down a tally of how many shirts I have. Then I log into my BigCartel account and adjust the stock numbers. It might sound a little pedantic but I like to make sure that when someone orders something from the site, I can deliver.

I also keep a secondary stock chart that I made in Excel just to be safe.

I’m sure everyone has a different process and way of doing things, but I wanted to share what I have personally found works and hopefully it will help you keep a close eye on things. If you’ve found another way to store and track your tees that you think others could benefit from, please share below.

- Georgie

“There is so much I want to accomplish here. In three years time, I envision great expansion within the Prestigious brand heading, including market outreach, retail locations and catalog volume.” – William Matte

William Matte had a desire to start a clothing line that representing his values, and at the tender age of 20 founded Prestigious. Prestigious is a unique brand combining 100% vegan-friendly products and eye catching designs that you actually want to wear. With a strong focus on social media, William goes out of his way to help others and share his experiences and knowledge with as many people as he can. I caught up for an interview to find out all about the roots of Prestigious and what the future holds for this brand.

You founded prestigious when you were only 20. That’s pretty young to have such a solid vision for your life. What made you decide to start your own t-shirt label

Prestigious began when my desire to do something on my own involving clothes and art came to a head around the end of 2007/ early 2008. I decided around that time that I didn’t want to be a career man. I didn’t feel as motivated like the other students who I shared business management classes with at college, and I had different goals. I wanted to be in business for myself and I wanted to start a tee shirt company of my own. It has since evolved into more than a few t-shirts (I’ve had upwards of designs released, reprinted and retired in the past three years) and the plans for growth and development are as rich as ever these days. I was working full-time and taking a full coarse load while maintaining good grades and keeping my parents happy (I still lived home at the time with them), so a degree of personal responsibility was not a concern- I was ready to open up shop and being 20 at the time was merely coincidence.

Running your own label can be all-consuming. How have you managed to balance work and social life having your own business at a young age?

The key to accomplishing tasks is focus and motivation. I had the motivation to grow my business organically on my own dollar and my own elbow grease. I focused on the little, less “fun” aspects of marketing a brand to the public via the internet as I grew and I am glad I took the time to do so. Traffic and sales would not be where they are had it not been for my time spent tweaking, planning and promoting- selling comes later. In the midst of all this, as mentioned above, I had a full time coarse load, job, and circle of friends/etc. whom I maintained what I consider to be healthy relationships with I didn’t sleep much!

Funding the start up of a label is something a lot of people struggle with. How did you get all the funds together to launch Prestigious?

Funding was a split between cash saved and cash borrowed – AKA credit cards. I cannot stress the following enough in regards to the latter: BE CAREFUL. Printing shirts, paying for art, hiring a photographer and a web developer (which are all extremely important in the life of an online teeshirt entrepreneur) are not even close to cheap. We’re talking thousands PER RELEASE, not year, and this is printing 15-20 different tee designs a year, 100 pieces each or less. This is all considered small scale. I know this from experience and those bills pile up quick. I would never suggest cutting corners to save money on expenses but a great counter to debt is proper savings. As mentioned above, I worked a full time retail management job and when you start a business, you invest a lot of your own money. I worked long, hard hours to launch my brand the way I wanted to at the time.

Everything you make is vegan and ethical. Was that an important part of your vision for your label initially?

Every product sold by Prestigious is made in the United States, sweatshop free, and by fairly treated human beings in the given workplace. We never use animal-derived dyes, leather, silk, suede and so forth and never will. In the past year I began marketing to the vegan community because I had been vegan long before starting this brand and felt that I could open the door to an entire demographic simply by letting that demographic know that I sold products they’d appreciate- cruelty free, captained by a vegan entrepreneur in his early 20′s. I had a wonderful feature on www.peta2.de in 2010 which gained the brand popularity in German speaking areas (the article was published exclusively in German, actually). I guess without realizing it at first, I could double-dip the brand’s exposure in both a constructive and honest way to both the indie tee community and the veggie community. It is very important to let your audience know about yourself without assuming they’ll find you and do all the work themselves.

There’s so much to learn when you start your own brand…how did you learn the ins and outs?

Each day is a day you should learn something new. I will never know completely the ins and outs of any industry, as it takes a lifetime to master a craft in many cases. When it comes to running a business efficiently, it is best to read as much as you can. This reading should include testimonials of those in a position similar to yours, a person or brand who has accomplished something. These people/entities know what they’re doing, and if they are kind enough to share what they know, the rest of us should listen and take heed. Read articles on the internet and talk with like minded people- the recipe for success.

These days there’s an overwhelming amount of brands popping up everyday. What do you think it is that gives certain brands longevity over others?

The indie apparel market has been saturated for years, and this will never cease to be the case thanks to the power of social networking and the internet as a whole. The ease in which one can dive into running a brand with both feet is a double edged sword. It is easy for a new brand owner to bite off more than they can chew, especially in the very beginning- overspending, overbuying, and under-compensating skills in marketing and brand development- a recipe for obscurity, monotony and an eventual fade-away. It is difficult to find something truly different these days, something that stands a head higher than the rest. Those who can, however, will last and keep selling units.

For those interested in the process of running a t-shirt brand, can you tell us what a typical day is like for you over at Prestigious?

Day to day operations vary, as does the amount of sales volume we experience. There’s never nothing to do, one must retain down-time can be great for drafting, planning, organizing, and catching up on emails/customer service. I try to tweet, tumble and Facebook with our fans as much as possible. I pack all our orders personally, deal with each customer and maintain our website. There’s days when I don’t eat because I don’t stop working, and there’s days when it’s a bit more relaxed and I can think, plan, create and so forth.

Vision is crucial for the success of a brand. Where do you see Prestigious in say, three years?

Three years from now, I hope to have expanded our catalog to several largely different areas than where you currently see the brand. There is so much I want to accomplish here. In three years time, I envision great expansion within the Prestigious brand heading, including market outreach, retail locations and catalog volume. I’d like to elaborate further but I could go on forever  Let’s look forward to 2012 as we have much in store to unveil…

Lastly, do you have any advice for the other people out there who are wanting to launch their own label?

Save money, plan ahead, be unique and always stay motivated to put the work in. I am always willing to help anyone with questions personally, just contact me through our website at www.thisisprestigious.com.

 You can check out the entire line over on their website, facebook, tumblr or twitter.