Spring Palette

Special Promotion Weekend

~As a special promotion for the store customers will be able to draw for a percentage off their purchase on Saturday May 1st and Sunday May 2nd. They will have a chance to draw for 10%, 20%, or 30% off of the total purchase! During this promotional weekend, I will also provide champagne (for those of age of course!!!) and refreshments for customers to enjoy will perusing the merchandise!
~This promotion is intended to get customers in the store and interested in the brand as well as encourage loyal customers to purchase more. Having the promotion the weekend before Mother's Day will also encourage and remind customers to buy gifts for the special woman in his or her life!

Equipment

Clothing Racks: $109 (6)

2 Arm Rack: $82 (4)

Hangers: $689 (Includes 300 top and 200 pant)

Steamer: $38

Sewing Machine: $500

Professional Form: $299

Display Form: $178 (8)

Dressing Room Mirror: $299 (3)

Chairs for Dressing Room: $629 (3)

Tall Display Table: $1399

Short Display Table: $599 (3)

Area Rug: $699

Equipment

Business Cards: $27.95 (for 100)

Desk: $599

Office Chair: $399

File Cabinets: $499

Computer for office: $1499

Fax & Printer Combo: $299

POS System: $1349

Cash Drawer: $145

Card Reader: $71.50

PIN Pad: $125

Receipt Printer: $264

Price Gun: $96.17

Open/Closed Sign: $49.95

Storefront Sign: $74.95

Bags: $213 (for 100)

Tissue Paper: $13.87 (2 reams)

Licenses~Structure~Insurance

Cost of business licenses: City- $42 County- $22

The business will operate as a limited liability corporation (LLC).

~A Limited Liability Company (LLC) combines the tax flexibility of a partnership with the personal liability protection of a corporation. LLC owners report their share of business profit and loss on their personal tax returns, similar to tax reporting for a general partnership. Forming an LLC can help separate yourself from your business, protecting your personal assets in the event of a judgment against the company.Owners of a LLC have the liability protection of a corporation. A LLC exists as a separate entity much like a corporation. Members cannot be held personally liable for debts unless they have signed a personal guarantee.

The retail store will be located in Nashville, TN and I will maintain a website to keep customers informed but will not sell merchandise from the site.
~The store will be located in the Music Row area of Nashville. The rent will be $3066 per month

Insurance: The annual premium rate for general liability and fire and extended coverage for a business with a value of $250,000 would be $977. 

http://www.cityfeet.com/Commercial/ForLease/greenhillscommercialrealestatelocal/2222-12th-Avenue-S-Nashville-TN-37204-15708510L1751888L0.aspx

Domains~Patents~Trademarks....Oh My!

When searching www.godaddy.com I found that oiablue.com is available for purchase and it would only cost me $10.69 per year! oiablue.net and oiablue.org are also available for purchase. I think it would be wise to purchase all three domain names. The total cost for all three domains would be $38.67 per year! That's a pretty good deal!

A quick search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website produced great news! The name oia blue is not a registered trademark or patent! The downside is the outrageous fees! Online trademark registration costs between $275 and $325. The cost of a basic filing fee for a patent is $220 plus an additional small entity fee of $110 if applicable. I never realized opening a small business could cost so much!

Getting The Word Out!

Nashville is becoming quite the budding fashion center! With this emerging interest in fashion, it is only fitting to showcase the amazing talent that is present right in our own backyard! In September 2010, Couture Fashion Magazine will present Nashville's first ever Fashion Week! Fashion Week Nashville will host 30 shows featuring amazing designers and boutiques in the heart of Music City.

As a new brand I need to take every advantage to get my name out there. Participating in Fashion Week Nashville will hopefully create interest in my brand and excite potential customers. The entry fee for Fashion Week Nashville is $2000. There is a $1000 deposit fee that secures the show time and show date. Designers and boutiques are responsible for providing the models, apparel, accessories, playlist or band, hair and makeup, dressing crew, check in crew, and sending out invitations to their show. Couture Fashion Magazine will provide the venue, seating, lighting, and sound, but it is up to each designer/boutique to be in charge of his/her guest list and checking guests in, adding to the runway, and providing VIP bags, if they wish.

I will also utilize social networking sites such as twitter and facebook to create fan pages and keep customers up-to-date and interested in the brand. Trunk shows will also play a vital role in attracting customers. Local fashion forward boutiques such as E. Allen Boutique, Emmaline, Haven, Posh, and Hemline would be optimal to showcase new designs. Also, online magazines such as nashvillelifestyles.com, nashvillescene.com, and nashvillefashion.com will be utilized by purchasing ads and possibly a having an article written about the brand. Placing an ad in the Nashville Scene would cost $235 per column inch. 

Giving Back and Socail Responsibility

Social responsibility should be at the heart of every business and as the founder of oia blue it is my desire to create a foundation to raise money for missionary efforts. As a Christ follower it is my desire to point others to a Christ centered life. Mission work is crucial for reaching men, women, and children around the globe who otherwise may not have access to or understanding of the word of God. The oia blue foundation will provide spiritual and financial support to families as they travel around the world to spread God’s Word!

Environmental Chic

oia blue will take every advantage of modern technology to reduce wastefulness and environmental harm. Communicating with customers, retailers, distributers, etc. electronically will allow the business to operate paperless. With paperless billing, for example, there are no statements to misplace, not checks to write, and not stamps to buy. Online bill pay allows you to pay your bill in a matter of minutes! Operating paperless is a great way for any and all businesses to be environmentally responsible!

In addition to environmentally friendly business operations, oia blue will also offer organic clothing options for our "green" minded customers. Organic cotton that was grown without the use of harsh chemicals and fertilizers will be available in our basic tees and dresses.

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Personal Photo from Santorini, Greece

~Maybe this clothing line will be so successful I will be able to retire here one day!~

The oia blue Woman

The oia blue customer is a woman between the ages of 23 and 31. She is college educated, single or married, and may or may not have children. She has a classic, elegant style but enjoys mixing fun and unusual prints into her wardrobe. She is very feminine but desires to be taken seriously in the work place. This woman is an oia blue customer because she appreciates quality, fit, and timeless pieces. She doesn’t mind paying higher prices for clothing that will stand the test of time and never go out of style.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's website, females make up 51.2% of the population in Davidson County. My brick and mortar store will be located in the Nashville area of Davidson County, so this is statistic will hopefully work in my favor...plenty of women looking for fantastic clothing!

Introducing...

Here is the logo I have developed for my brand! Simple and clean!

In case you were wondering oia is actually pronounced ee'-yah. My inspiration for my brand name came from where my Husband and I stayed during our honeymoon. Oia is a small village on the Greek Island of Santorini. It is absolutely the most breath taking place on earth. The churches that dot the island have beautiful, bright blue domes. Hence oia blue!