Comments on: How I got my start: Vicki Piippo & Calico’s Closet http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/ How to start a clothing line or run the one you have, better. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:49:13 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Vanessa Simmons http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12256 Vanessa Simmons Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:44:42 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12256 Great story you shared with us. And yes, you could always afford to do what you love. Nothing could stop that passion. Nothing. Great story you shared with us. And yes, you could always afford to do what you love. Nothing could stop that passion. Nothing.

]]> By: vicki http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12244 vicki Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:05:19 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12244 I use an attorney to read all the contracts and also advice my on the CPSIA law. Which would be another piece of advice, if you attorney gives you advice, take it! I"m not in California. I use an attorney to read all the contracts and also advice my on the CPSIA law. Which would be another piece of advice, if you attorney gives you advice, take it! I”m not in California.

]]> By: Tracy Christian http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12234 Tracy Christian Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:02:28 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12234 Wow, this forum is unbelievably helpful. I'm starting a plus size clothing line and I'm trying to do everything EXACTLY as Kathleen has described. I'm relying on everyone else's wisdom. When begining your businesses, did anyone else contact an attorney? I'm intimidated by all the legal mumbo jumbo California requires. Wow, this forum is unbelievably helpful. I’m starting a plus size clothing line and I’m trying to do everything EXACTLY as Kathleen has described. I’m relying on everyone else’s wisdom.

When begining your businesses, did anyone else contact an attorney? I’m intimidated by all the legal mumbo jumbo California requires.

]]> By: colleen http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12212 colleen Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:23:27 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12212 Thanks for the book title, Vicki. Thanks for the book title, Vicki.

]]> By: vicki http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12166 vicki Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:20:34 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12166 Colleen, I picked it up used at Hastings, Costing for Profit by Frances Harder. There is another Fashion for profit, but this one was right there in front of me. For me it is simple, simple, simple and easy to put my numbers in. The FI forum has talked about too, but this worked for me. I was sending quite a bit of my stuff of to be sewn, but now am back to doing it all; not hard because there isn't much to do until I get my stuff tested before I can ship. Yes, I have a business plan. I am currently reworking it due to the CPSIA law and figuring out a new plan. Colleen, I picked it up used at Hastings, Costing for Profit by Frances Harder. There is another Fashion for profit, but this one was right there in front of me. For me it is simple, simple, simple and easy to put my numbers in. The FI forum has talked about too, but this worked for me.

I was sending quite a bit of my stuff of to be sewn, but now am back to doing it all; not hard because there isn’t much to do until I get my stuff tested before I can ship.

Yes, I have a business plan. I am currently reworking it due to the CPSIA law and figuring out a new plan.

]]> By: Marialexandra http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12165 Marialexandra Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:28:10 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12165 Hi Vicki, I read your story and it was like reading my own. They might not be exactly the same in everything, but I think most of us in this business can see ourselves in a lot of what you wrote. Thank you for writing it. Don't feel like a failure, failure is looking back at your life and just saying "what if" and "I would have..." and never even trying. Do you have a business plan and have you tried showing it to someone who might be interested in investing in your company? Its never too late to find that "fairy Godmother" you joke about, they aren't easy to come by, but they do exist. I wish you the best of luck and prosperity and health to your loved ones. Hi Vicki,
I read your story and it was like reading my own. They might not be exactly the same in everything, but I think most of us in this business can see ourselves in a lot of what you wrote. Thank you for writing it. Don’t feel like a failure, failure is looking back at your life and just saying “what if” and “I would have…” and never even trying. Do you have a business plan and have you tried showing it to someone who might be interested in investing in your company? Its never too late to find that “fairy Godmother” you joke about, they aren’t easy to come by, but they do exist.
I wish you the best of luck and prosperity and health to your loved ones.

]]> By: colleen http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12162 colleen Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:22:47 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12162 Hi Vicki, Thank you for your story. You have accomplished a lot! I like your web-site; the clothes are adorable. Are you still making all of them yourself?! Do you remember the title of the book you read on COGS (Cost of Goods Sold)? Was it helpful? Best of luck. Hi Vicki,

Thank you for your story. You have accomplished a lot! I like your web-site; the clothes are adorable. Are you still making all of them yourself?!

Do you remember the title of the book you read on COGS (Cost of Goods Sold)? Was it helpful?

Best of luck.

]]> By: sarah http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12161 sarah Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:50:01 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12161 That was wonderful to read. I have so much respect for you and have felt so many of the same things along a similar journey. Thank you for contributing that. I wrote my "how I got my start" the day Kathleen made the post but have resisted sending it because I am embarrassed by some of my willy nilly business practices. Your post gave me strength to send the email. That was wonderful to read. I have so much respect for you and have felt so many of the same things along a similar journey. Thank you for contributing that. I wrote my “how I got my start” the day Kathleen made the post but have resisted sending it because I am embarrassed by some of my willy nilly business practices. Your post gave me strength to send the email.

]]> By: Leslie Hanes http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12157 Leslie Hanes Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:40:07 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12157 Hi Vicky, I wish to much luck and success...sometimes they go together, despite whatever abilities we possess. I think we are all little girls dressing our barbies, even when we have been in the business for years. I consider myself self-taught, but your story reminded me of my real beginnings... In grade 8 I had an alcoholic sewing teacher. She made us make drindle (gathered) skirts. By the time I got to select my fabric, all that was left was brightly striped muliticolor denim. I was no Twiggy, so it was pretty scary to see. I skipped school the day of the fashion show. I guess that taught we that I could probably do better on my own! Regards, Leslie Hi Vicky,
I wish to much luck and success…sometimes they go together, despite whatever abilities we possess. I think we are all little girls dressing our barbies, even when we have been in the business for years. I consider myself self-taught, but your story reminded me of my real beginnings… In grade 8 I had an alcoholic sewing teacher. She made us make drindle (gathered) skirts. By the time I got to select my fabric, all that was left was brightly striped muliticolor denim. I was no Twiggy, so it was pretty scary to see. I skipped school the day of the fashion show. I guess that taught we that I could probably do better on my own!

Regards,
Leslie

]]> By: Lisa DOWNTOWN JOEY http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/how-i-got-my-start-vicki-piippo-calicos-closet/comment-page-1/#comment-12148 Lisa DOWNTOWN JOEY Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:42:20 +0000 http://www.fashion-incubator.com/?p=2818#comment-12148 Vicki... thanks for sharing your story! Ironically my path was Bratz doll clothing on ebay and then children's custom boutique clothing. So glad you came over to Fashion-Incubator! Wishing only good things in 2009! Don't give up--forge ahead! With friendship, Lisa Vicki…

thanks for sharing your story! Ironically my path was Bratz doll clothing on ebay and then children’s custom boutique clothing. So glad you came over to Fashion-Incubator!

Wishing only good things in 2009! Don’t give up–forge ahead!

With friendship,
Lisa

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