How to LAUNCH your dream biz! From start to finish!

Hey friends! If you've been following my blog, or on social, you know that I've recently taken on a new challenge: starting a "fictitious bracelet" business (more real than fictitious) to share valuable insights with all of you who are just starting their business journey, or who have a side hustle, or are thinking about getting into the world of entrepreneurship. In this blog, I'm excited to update you on the progress of my NEW venture and share the steps I've taken to set up this business in 2024, SO FAR…

For the first 3 DAYS… As with any new business or idea, it was all about research. I spent HOURS on HOURS researching everything there is to know about the jewelry industry, an industry I don’t know ANYTHING about! But because I’m a recovering perfectionist and I can’t do anything half-ass, I’m diving ALL INTO bringing this fictitious business to life- from building an audience on social, creating a brand, selling on Etsy, and even participating in events. The first crucial step was finding a unique name for my business. I shared my ENTIRE processes for naming ANY business on TikTok and IG which you can watch now! Once I settled on a name, I wasted no time securing the trademark to protect my brand identity. It's a step many overlook, but it's vital for establishing a strong online presence and it also protects you and your business in the long run.

Now that I’m Trademarked and ready to go, I needed to figure out how to make some money! In the beginning, so many people think they aren’t gonna have to spend money but REGARDLESS of the business- you need some form of money to get started with the foundational stuff. LIKE… getting trademarked, buying a seller's permit, starting a website, buying inventory, etc. Remember: You just need to make sure you get started the LEGAL way. You don’t need all the fancy equipment, fabrics, and cookie cutters, or whatever to get started. The WORST thing you could do is get started by being in the hole $10,000. So, your goal after getting all the foundational pieces in place is to start SELLING so you can recoup some if not all, the money you spent getting started. Knowing that with this particular business, I could EXCEL during the Valentine’s Day season, I needed a quick turnaround, so I explored various avenues for selling my products. The initial plan was to join the Rose Bowl Flea Market (this place is MASSIVE and SUPER POPULAR in Los Angeles), a giant monthly event in Los Angeles. However, the six-month waiting list posed a significant challenge that I wasn’t sure I wanted to tackle.

Regardless… I went for it! I applied to the Rose Bowl Flea Market, reaching out to every contact associated with the event. I got all my paperwork completed in LESS than 24 hours, despite most agencies telling me I could expect it in about a week or two, I submitted everything and unfortunately, it just didn’t work out. Sometimes, in business things work out for you, and 70% of the time, things don’t and you have to PIVOT. Which is exactly what I did…

After careful consideration, I decided to open a shop on Etsy – a popular online marketplace. This move allowed me to tap into a broader audience and work around the tight timeline, especially with Valentine's Day around the corner. I also decided to capitalize on my networking skills that I’ve built up over a DECADE and lean into collaborating with a local florist shop for a Galentine’s Day event! This collaboration not only aligned with the holiday season but also presented a unique opportunity to showcase my products in an experience setting.

As of now, I'm knee-deep in preparations for my upcoming Galentine's Day event and am so EXCITED to ANNOUNCE, my Etsy shop is officially open! I would love it if you could support me in any way, whether it’s by shopping for a friend or by sharing the link!

This experience has been both humbling and exhilarating and reminds me of the early days when I started my bakery 13 years ago. This journey is just beginning, and I'm thrilled to share every lesson, success, and challenge with you. If you want to stay updated in real-time, be sure to follow @strandedla on Instagram and @thecakemamas.

I can’t wait to share more with you friend and as a treat for you, I decided to give you access to my BUSINESS BASICS BUNDLE- so whenever you’re ready to get started on your new business you’ll know exactly where to start and what to do along the way.

Talk soon!

Xo, Janelle