Outdoor Gear Designer Business Plan

Ikan Fabreekate graduated from Washington and Jefferson College with a philosophy degree. While in school Ikan worked in an outdoor store part time to help fund college. Ikan continued to work in the outdoor store following college. Ikan decided to go to law school believing he wanted to participate in the justice system as a prosecutor.  He enrolled at Willamette University in Oregon and during the first year of law school he quickly realized that he had no interest in being a prosecutor.  Ikan still finished law school recognizing that the education was quite useful although not sure of what he wanted to do.  During law school he found a source of inexpensive, slightly damaged, outdoor clothing and fabrics and with his limited sewing knowledge he repaired them. 

Ikan was first introduced to the industry when he brough a fleece jacket into Wy’East Fabrics to have pit zips sewn in. Although Ikan had yet to develop the sewing skills at that point, he was quite proficient at the design of the modification and gave Wy’East Fabrics very specific instructions for the modification.  When the job was done Ikan inspected the work, was generally impressed with the sewing quality, but politely pointed out how the work could be improved.  Steve, the president of Wy’East Fabrics, recognized Ikan’s constructive feedback and made the necessary changes, vastly improving the modification.  While in the store, Ikan picked up some fabric and notions and began to play with his sewing machine.  Within a few months Ikan had gotten quite proficient with his sewing and had developed good relationship with Steve. 

While still in school Ikan set up an internship that allowed him to use all of Wy’East Fabrics’ equipment in exchange for watching over the store and helping out customers.  This is where Ikan’s skills really improved.  This later developed in to an apprenticeship where Steve was refining Ikan’s skills as well as learning a few things from Ikan. 

Upon graduation, Ikan was not excited about practicing law and he accepted a job with Watershed, a large custom Gore-tex manufacturer of rainwear for government agencies.  Ikan worked hand in hand with the President and chief designer Bruce.  Soon Ikan was doing a lot of the design work himself.  At this point Ikan realized that he had the skills to open his own design studio and the rest they say is history.

7.1 Personnel Plan

Ikan is Simplistic Labyrinth Design Studio, the sole employee.