Outdoor Gear Designer Business Plan

Simplistic Labyrinth Design Studio will use their competitive advantage of imagination and expertise to help generate sales.  Simplistic will generally be in touch with prospective customers either at the industry trade shows or when the customer calls with inquiries.  During these conversations, Simplistic will be completely customer focused to give off the impression of professionalism.  In addition to this customer centered attitude, Simplistic will leverage past designs to provide the impression of outstanding design.  These efforts will lead to steady sales growth.

5.1 Milestones

Simplistic Labyrinth will have several milestones early on:

1. Business plan completion.  This will be done as a roadmap for the organization.  This will be an indispensable tool for the ongoing performance and improvement of the company.
2. Office set up.
3. Portfolio and website completed.
4. Profitability.

5.2 Competitive Edge

Simplistic Labyrinth’s competitive edge is imagination and expertise.  Since Ikan was initially self taught in his sewing and design work, he was not limited by the “traditional” techniques of construction.  This allows Ikan to “think out of the box,” meaning that he is able to come up with creative solutions to design constraints.  Ikan is able to approach a project from a multitude of angles, from a cost benefit analysis, ultimate features, and extreme durability (Ikan’s specialty).  This versatility based on imagination is certainly a competitive advantage.

Simplistic Labyrinth other competitive advantage is expertise.  This paragraph will briefly touch on his expertise, for more detailed information please see the management summary section.  Ikan has been designing for over five years.  As stated before, Ikan was initially self taught.  After purchasing a sewing machine at a thrift store, he started to experiment. After getting fairly proficient Ikan interned at Wy’East Fabrics, a prototyper of jackets, tents, expedition tarps, bivi sacks and packs.  After interning at Wy’East Fabrics, working directly under Steve Eck, President and 15 year veteran, Ikan worked for Watershed, a custom manufacturer of Gore-Tex rain wear for search and rescue teams, police, fire units, etc. This diverse experience has given Ikan the necessary skills and experience to design a multitude of products.

5.3 Sales Strategy

Simplistic Labyrinth’s sales strategy will be to emphasize customer service and previous designs as an example of his work.  Customer service will be emphasized to indicate Simplistic Labyrinth’s commitment to making sure that the customer is thrilled will all aspects of service provided.  This includes professionalism in regards to all communications, accurate design proposals, continuous updates on progress, step by step approval process for the design, accurate delivery dates, and complete attention to detail.

Simplistic Labyrinth will also leverage all of their previous designs as a portfolio of their work.  The portfolio will clearly indicate Ikan’s level of design, expertise, and potential.  All the items that Ikan has in the portfolio have been trademarked and patented so Ikan will freely disperse the portfolio to impress prospective clients.

The prospective client will either approach Ikan at the industry trade show or call on the phone.  Either way will be Ikan’s only occasion to turn the information gatherer into a long-term customer.  Ikan will spend as much time as needed with the company to convince them that the obvious choice should be Simplistic Labyrinth.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

The first month will be used to set up the design studio in the basement of Ikan’s home, sign up for the upcoming trade shows, and get advertisements in the appropriate journals and magazines.  Getting the word out to the industry that Simplistic Labyrinth is in business will take several months.  To help cover the bills Ikan will be doing repair work and prototyping solicited through local outdoor stores.  Ikan is friends with the owners of three stores and they are more than happy to point customers in his direction.

During month three Ikan will begin to get business that was generated through the trade show.  This business will be somewhat lumpy, meaning that the revenues will come in large chunks, a large amount one month and nothing for the next.  While this theoretically causes cash flow problems, Ikan is well aware of this nature and will guard against any possible problems. 

From month three on, sales will steadily grow.