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Fashion Designer feat. Stephanie Foster
174 Plays3 years ago
Today, we’re discussing Fashion Designing and Business Ownership. Shows such as Project Runway, The Hype and The Fashion Fund highlight how talented you have to be to succeed in the apparel and fashion industry. Having an artistic eye, sense of style, and sketching designs are only prerequisites to enter this world. You also need strong sewing skills, an in-depth knowledge of fabrics and software training on programs like Adobe. In addition, you better be equipped with exceptional communication skills to negotiate with suppliers, project management skills to handle priorities and know how to budget.
Today’s Guest is Stephanie Foster, The Creator & Owner of Prissy Duck. Her mission with Prissy Duck is to bridge the gap between taller women and fashionable clothes while keeping it trendy, contemporary and sexy. All of her life experiences have given her the foundation to thrive, which include earning her Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism, being a leader as a Division I Basketball Player and dedicating her time in a service sorority.
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Transcript
The Essence of Fashion Design
00:00:00
Speaker
I have to convey some like fast movements you know really abrupt fast movements and I would say color definitely it has to be some bright colors involved just because you know we're talking fashion here but as far as the designer goes I would need to
00:00:25
Speaker
I need some straight lines as well. It's like precision within the chaos. That's what we're going to call it. It's all this chaotic stuff going on behind the scenes, but to the customer,
00:00:42
Speaker
looking in it's a well-ran business you know you have this new collection coming out of these new items you can buy try it on whatever you need to do as the customer but behind the scenes the designer is losing her mind you know maybe so it's like a you know we need some
00:01:03
Speaker
some precise lines, some symmetry going on, but also some kind of way this artist needs to convey the chaos that's happening behind it. And maybe somewhere in the middle, they can blend it so that it all comes together at the end. You know, in some kind of way, these two things blend together to make something beautiful.
00:01:31
Speaker
What's up world?
Introduction to the Podcast and Topic
00:01:32
Speaker
I am your host, BA, and this is Take Your Homeboy to Work Day Podcast, your favorite podcast to learn about careers. Here's what you can expect by tuning in. Each episode, I'll invite a guest to share their career journey from a youth in school to their rise as a professional. We'll learn the nuts and bolts of jobs, and I'll ask how what they do shows up in our everyday lives.
00:01:59
Speaker
Finally, I'll have them open up about how they find fulfillment through their work. So for anyone interested in hearing the firsthand experience of a specific career, these conversations are your launching pad. Today, we're discussing fashion designing and business ownership.
Skills Needed in Fashion
00:02:17
Speaker
Shows such as Project One Way, The Hype, and The Fashion Fund highlight how talented you have to be to succeed in the apparel and fashion industry. Having an artistic eye,
00:02:29
Speaker
A sense of style and sketching designs are only prerequisites to enter this world. You also need strong sewing skills and in-depth knowledge of fabrics and software training on programs like Adobe. In addition, you better be well equipped with exceptional communication skills to negotiate with suppliers, project management skills to handle your priorities and know how to budget.
00:02:56
Speaker
Today's guest is Stephanie Foster, the creator and owner of Prissy Duck.
Stephanie Foster's Journey
00:03:01
Speaker
Her mission with Prissy Duck is to bridge the gap between taller women and fashionable clothes while keeping it trendy, contemporary, and sexy. All of her life experiences have given her the foundation to thrive, which include earning her bachelor's in broadcast journalism, being a leader as a division one basketball player, and dedicating her time in a service sorority.
00:03:25
Speaker
I knew I wanted you to be a guest when I first thought of creating this show. So I appreciate you joining me today. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate you having me. I'm excited to be here and I can't wait to talk more about Prissy Duck.
00:03:41
Speaker
Of course. There are no shameless plugs, so I want you to promote it and I want you to tell your journey. So that's exactly why I wanted you on here. Of course. So my first question, I gave an introduction of what I think fashion designing and business ownership has been, but in your own terms, what has it been for you and what does it mean to you? So for me, fashion designing, this has actually been a personal journey for me.
00:04:09
Speaker
I started prissy duck from a personal need. I have always wanted to dress up and be cute. You know, so, and me being tall, it just was not there. Like the options were very scarce.
00:04:23
Speaker
They weren't cute to me. I felt like the clothes that were made for tall women were catered to older women. The cuts were unflattering. It was just a lot that wasn't there. So I resorted to wearing a lot of little dresses. And when I say little, I mean, like, you know, short dresses, but to show my long legs. But so for me, it was a personal journey. But even before
00:04:51
Speaker
I got older and wanted to go out and wear, you know, certain things. I had these feelings in high school. I just couldn't find jeans or cute pants or whatever it was I couldn't find. So I wanted to become a designer way back then. I just didn't have the means or like really the mindset to figure it out at the time. But for me, fashion design fills a need. It fills a hole.
00:05:16
Speaker
in the industry, even though, you know, for some people who may be listening, you know, I have a very unique group of women, tall women.
The Tall Women's Fashion Market
00:05:24
Speaker
It is a very untapped market. There are a lot of us out there who are searching for cute clothes to fit us properly. That's why I started what I started. But even if you feel like the clothing industry is saturated, it still doesn't have you. It doesn't have your own touch on it or your own particular eye.
00:05:43
Speaker
So there's always room to help somebody out there. There could be somebody out there with, they feel like they have broad shoulders. You could create broad shoulder shirts, you know, I don't know, but it's creating a space and filling a need for people who can't find the items of clothing they want that actually outwardly convey how they would like to feel. So that's to me, what being a fashion designer is all about.
00:06:13
Speaker
Wow. And you know, I guess in one way it's surprising and on the other way, it shouldn't be surprising to me at all that the fashion industry hasn't catered to women with your height or body type, such as broad shoulders or women that you interact with being an athlete. So I am surprised and then I shouldn't be surprised at the same time. So thank you for sharing that. As you decided to make this move into the brand,
00:06:41
Speaker
creating your brand, who were your inspirations? I guess first, who were people that you looked at that you didn't know? And then was there anybody personally that you had a personal relationship with that you did know that helped you get into this? Hmm. So it's kind of interesting because I feel like when you look online or even in magazines, there's so many women on the fashion scene, you know,
00:07:11
Speaker
especially celebrities and all that, but they're not necessarily tall. So I didn't really have a tall person or celebrity that I looked up to per se. Outside of WNBA players, you know, the more popular ones that were out there, I was like, wow, it would be great if I could get them to wear my clothes.
00:07:31
Speaker
However, they weren't necessarily fashion figures. You know, they were basketball players who could use some tall fashionable clothes, but they weren't necessarily looked at for their fashion. So for me, I didn't really have a tall person that I specifically looked up to for that, but I drew my inspiration and still do from so many things. I mean, social media. I mean, it's like a fashion show on your phone. For the most part, you know, everybody's trying to create riddles and take pictures and
00:08:01
Speaker
look as fly as I can be. And I'll be like, wow, that's so cute. I wish those pants were long enough for me. So a lot of what I do, I'm drawing inspiration from magazines, social media, people I see when I'm out. I'll be like, OK, let me take a mental note. That is so cute. I need to create something like that. So a lot of that happens. My mind is always on fashion and prissy-dug. What can I bring to tall women that we want?
00:08:31
Speaker
I feel like I don't have to be out here creating these crazy designs that with a bat wing going one side and fringe, like it ain't gotta be all that. I'm not trying to recreate the wheel. I'm just, there's a lot of stuff out there that already exists that I wish I could wear. So that's kind of how I go about it. Like these pants are really cute. I would love to have those in a length that actually looks good on me.
00:08:58
Speaker
So that's the route I go. I'm not trying to necessarily create all these like crazy designs. I'm just trying to take what's already there, things that catches my eye that I like to see and have them made for tall women.
00:09:13
Speaker
Makes sense. And then when I when I asked the question about inspiration and you were mentioning there weren't really many people, the only one I could think of who was tall, the only woman I could think of that was tall and maybe people considered her to have a fashion sense would have been Lisa Leslie back in the day.
00:09:28
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, I can see that. Yeah. But thank you for sharing that. And, you know, one of the questions I love to ask people early on, because people always want to know, you know, is this career path work worth it financially?
Financial Growth and Strategies
00:09:46
Speaker
How much money can I make?
00:09:48
Speaker
Um, so, you know, if you would be willing to share, you don't have to share your own personal journey and you can even give this number in ranges as a fashion designer, your first year or first few years. How much can one expect to make if they decide to create their own brand? You know what my, okay. I can only speak for me. And for me, my first few years was figuring it out. So.
00:10:19
Speaker
I'm gonna say not much, but that's just my own personal journey.
00:10:25
Speaker
There are people who you see them online where social media has kind of changed the game for some people. They started this new business and somebody got behind it and they blew up real fast. So it happens pretty fast for some people, but for me, it's been a slow gradual climb. So like I say, when I first started, I was just figuring it out.
00:10:50
Speaker
I had, actually when I started, it wasn't just tall women's clothing. It was tall and average height clothing. And I was like, you know, not to leave anybody out. I'm trying to reach as many people as possible. And you know, people are like, well, you'll actually do better if you focus on a smaller group, if you focus on a niche. And of course, you know, me knowing everything. I'm like, well, no, you know, why would I leave out this group of people? Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So
00:11:20
Speaker
Years down the line, I finally realized that it would actually be for my best benefit to just do tall women's clothing. Had I started there, who knows, I might be even further today. But it took me years to realize that, okay, actually I do only need to focus on tall women's clothing. When I did that, that's when I really saw a turn happen in my business. Number one, because your money goes a lot further when you're just catering to a smaller group.
00:11:49
Speaker
You know, I don't have to spread my money across average height and tall clothing. I can just focus on tall, which allows me to get more pieces and have more variety for just tall women. And in turn, they have more options of things they can actually buy from me. So that's when I noticed the difference. I would say the first, let me see, I think one year, I think probably initially I might be maybe made like $1,500, like early, early on.
00:12:18
Speaker
And then it kind of grew. I never had a year where I made less, but it just, I was like, how do I get people to buy my stuff? I couldn't figure it out. And then, so it's definitely money. It is definitely money in the clothing industry for sure. You just have to find your customer and you have to advertise. So you have to pay money to advertise and put it out there. And then I remember when I finally.
00:12:45
Speaker
broke 10,000. So one year then I was at, I had like $12,000 and I was like, Oh my gosh, okay. I can see it happening finally. But it's, I'm like, but it's still not enough to live. You know, I still need to figure out how to make this. So then the following year after the 12,000, I think it was like $33,000 and I'm like, okay, we're getting better. We're getting better.
00:13:14
Speaker
And then it was, it literally jumped from 33 to $175,000 in one year. And that's when I was like, okay, like now I can see, you know, I'm like, I can see this happening now. It's becoming real that I could quit my job and that I can do this full time. Things just started to click for me. I started getting a lot of followers on Instagram.
00:13:43
Speaker
a lot of just word of mouth. It was like everything was happening for me at the same time. And then, so now I'm probably projected to make between 350 and 400,000 this year in sales. So, yeah. So, I mean, it's like I said, it's been a low, a long slow grind. I started my business in 2014. That's eight years, you know, so it's been eight years.
00:14:13
Speaker
And finally, I'm like, okay, like I can see all my hard work has paid off or it is currently paying off, you know? So for me, it's been a slow grind, but some people, it happens much faster. Maybe they figure out things before I figured it out, but that's my own personal journey. Wow. Well, congratulations. Thank you. Yeah, that sounds very exciting. I can even hear the excitement as you talk about that journey.
00:14:42
Speaker
So let me ask you, as you were building the business, you mentioned that you've been doing this for eight years now. What skills did you learn after you started that you think helped, that helped you further your success? Was there something you didn't know when you began, but then you learned it the first couple of years? And when all of those skills came together, they helped you reach this level of success so far?
Entrepreneurial Qualities and Lessons
00:15:09
Speaker
So,
00:15:10
Speaker
Let me see what skills I feel like I already had a lot of qualities within me that it just made sense for me to be an entrepreneur. I think, you know, like I just feel I've always done extra just growing up. I've, I've never just went to school, you know, I always did more. I played a sport. I pledged a sorority. I volunteered, you know, it was always extra. So.
00:15:37
Speaker
To me, I always encompassed these things or these qualities that would benefit me when it came to starting a business. But I would say it may be just solidified it even more. Like I felt like I was already a hard worker, but I remember even now there was a point
00:15:59
Speaker
No, there's nobody on this planet that could say they worked harder than me. I've truly believed that because I was like, there's no way, there's no way somebody else is doing this and not getting no sleep. And, you know, I just felt like it's just so much. And, um, so, you know, hard work. I was definitely say determination, but consistency, you know, cause we all know you're not always going to be motivated 100% of the time.
00:16:27
Speaker
most of the time you're not going to be motivated. So many times I just want to lay down, but I can't. If I don't do this XYZ for my job or for my business, it's not going to get done. I'm literally the only one. So a certain level of grit, I would say developed in me, um, where I had, I couldn't hang out with my friends.
00:16:52
Speaker
I had to say no a lot of times, you know, social life and dating life was kind of non-existent for quite some time. But I was okay with that because I had bigger goals and bigger dreams. And I just knew that that's what I wanted to do. But I will say as far as like, not necessarily skills within me, but just figuring out how to order clothes or how to order, place a big order of clothing, how to order samples, how to do all that. All of that took me some time to figure out
00:17:22
Speaker
and how to find a manufacturer that's a good manufacturer. I've had some bad problems, some bad times where I got an order back and as soon as I opened it, I just bust out crying because it's not right, it's wrong. And now I've wasted all this money that I don't even really have for real. I barely bought this order and now I can't even sell it. So I've learned a lot of valuable lessons
00:17:49
Speaker
going through this process, but definitely just how to be steadfast and how to be determined and do not quit, do not give up. I will be lying if I said there were times that I didn't really, not for real, I don't want to say I really wanted to quit, but it crossed my mind.
00:18:12
Speaker
You know, I'm like, man, if I didn't have this business, I could drink some wine right now and just be chilling, you know, or whatever. No, you know, I thought about these things. I'm like, I'm over here struggling, so sleepy, head hurting, and this person over here bored. Like what? So, so yeah, like as far, I can't really think of like any other specific skills, but more so qualities that I feel like I already had.
00:18:42
Speaker
were just solidified and amplified during this process. Yeah, well, big respect. That is so inspirational to hear. And thank you for sharing all that. And on top of that, on top of all that, I know you had that wild job as a 911 operator too,
Balancing Work and Business
00:19:01
Speaker
right? So I mean, that had to bring another level of stress to everything, right? Oh my gosh. So yeah, so that, I was actually working that job when I first started my business.
00:19:12
Speaker
which made it a lot more difficult because that was a very demanding job. Like we worked 12 to 16 hours a day. I think I work one eight hour day a week usually. Most other days were at least 12 to 16 hours. And a lot of times those were not voluntary hours. You think you're going home at
00:19:33
Speaker
2 30 p.m. Today, but you're not you have to work until 6 30 or even 10 30 they could mandate you to stay for up to 16 hours and it happened often so I Still tried to make it work because I'm like, you know, I need I need money, you know I'm trying if I have a business I need to fund this business so I need to make money and It was good money. It was just very demanding. So I You know
00:20:02
Speaker
did what I need to do. I was like, let me save some money. So I knew I wanted to quit. So I was like, let me save as much money work as much overtime as I can save up because I want to quit. And I want to see what happens when I focus on prissy duck 100% of the time. So I stuck it through for I wanted to work until five years because that's when you reached a certain level of being invested at the job, you know, those type of things. And so I worked there.
00:20:30
Speaker
for as long as I needed to work there. And it was time. You just couldn't make any plans. You couldn't say, hey girls, let's go out this Friday because you're probably not gonna make it. You probably gonna have to work. And then just trying to run a business at the same time. And this was early on. So early on in a business, I mean, it's hands all the way on. You can't not do anything. You need to be there for everything.
00:20:58
Speaker
Yeah, and when you're working, and I only have eight hours from the time I got off to when I have to be back to work, what am I going to do? So that job had to go. It was cool for what it was, and it helped me with finances and stuff, but there was no way at all. Not to mention the amount of stress a job like that has. Yeah. I can't imagine, actually. I can't imagine.
00:21:27
Speaker
You don't want to. Well, but yeah, it's just it was a lot. So, you know, starting business is stressful. Then I'm stressed from this job. It just wasn't a good. It was not a good combination.
00:21:46
Speaker
And it was overwhelming. So I knew I had to go, but, but it is a part of my, my story and my journey because I, like I said, I saved up money. It allowed me to be able to focus on Percy Doug full time with the money I saved. Salute to you for having that level of discipline, especially in your early to mid twenties, when you're seeing everybody out, uh, that takes, I have a whole nother level of respect. So for being able to stay focused on your dream.
00:22:17
Speaker
Oh, trust me, I was in my, that was, you know, that's prime turnip years. You know what I'm saying? And I was- Yeah, I know, that's my hey, I know. On the weekend. So yeah, I think about that sometimes like, well, you were literally like 25 working third shift. But it, but it, hey, it, it paid off.
00:22:43
Speaker
Over the past eight years since you've been at Pre-C Duck, what has been your proudest achievement?
Achievements and New Ventures
00:22:54
Speaker
Hmm, there's, let me see. There are a couple, but I would say my proudest achievement for real was when I finally made Six Figures because
00:23:13
Speaker
To me, that was like a guide or like a base on the type of support I could get and what I needed to be able to leave my job. I was trying to figure out what number I needed to make with my business that would help me comfortably be able to say, okay, I no longer need to work. I'm making enough money
00:23:40
Speaker
with this business now. And for me, it was when I broke six figures and I was like, wow, I have a six figure business. You know, like, I don't know. For me, it was just something I had always strived for. Initially that was like my initial, one of my initial financial goals. So I have other ones, but the first one was six figures. So for me, that's my proudest. My other proudest was when I finally got my own office. I,
00:24:09
Speaker
I always said I wanted an office, but I was able to just work from home. Honestly, a lot of my shipping, I did from home. I did all shipping at home. Now I housed my clothes somewhere else, but I would go to that place, pick up the clothes, take them home, ship them from home, and then do all that. So finally I got a place that I could do all of that already there. So it eliminates a lot of the back and forth. I have my own office that if I want to
00:24:39
Speaker
be there all day I can or whatever, just stop in, I can do that. But that was my other one. I just really, I really felt accomplished or like I did something. Cause it took me a while, like seven years before I finally have my own official office. So those are the two. Awesome. Impressive milestones.
00:25:04
Speaker
As you're still, you know, I guess as a business owner, you're always looking to improve and evolve. Um, what are you working on right now to improve either in yourself or in the business that will help you for this next five to 10 years? So right now I'm actually working on other streams of income. So that's, I want to do like, so I want to help other business owners.
00:25:33
Speaker
especially maybe those who are looking to be in the fashion industry and not necessarily just have vendors where they take clothes that are already made and sell them as their own. I'm looking for people who are wanting to make their own custom pieces. So, you know, I want to create a, either an ebook or some type of course.
00:25:56
Speaker
to help people navigate that. So that's something that I'm working on just to create some passive income, you know, something I don't really have to be too hands on with, but it's also benefiting other people. That's another, that's one thing I want to do. Another thing I want to do is, or that I'm actually working on when it comes to streams of income is me and my sister are working on another business. And we want to start that at the beginning of next year.
00:26:22
Speaker
And I guess just to briefly talk about that, it's creating balloons with African-American characters, like people and stuff like that. So my sister, she's in the party scene and that space, and she realized that they're not there. And she may have run across one or two, but she's like, man, we could really do something with this here, you know, we could really. So that's another thing I'm working on.
00:26:51
Speaker
but that's on the strength of income part. But I'm sorry, what was the other part of the question? Just so I can make sure. I guess any tangible skills within yourself. Tangible skills within myself. So I'm working on creating less stress for myself.
Mental Health and Business Maintenance
00:27:13
Speaker
So yeah, this has been a big one for me. And the reason why is because
00:27:19
Speaker
When I say I have, like I said before, there is nobody that can say they worked harder than me. I just feel that way just because of what I know I've done. You know, there's nobody could say, cause I was like, if Pristy Duck for some reason was not successful, nobody could say it's not cause I tried. You know what I'm saying? So, um, but it was literally pedal to the metal that whole time.
00:27:46
Speaker
Like I said, social life was non-existent, dating life was non-existent. I was so focused and just always 100% with everything. I didn't realize like what effect it was actually having on my body. And I would at one point finally, but it took a long time. It took years. I was so overwhelmed. I was having heart palpitations, headaches all the time in
00:28:15
Speaker
The headache part is a big deal because I don't get headaches. I'm just, I'm one of the lucky ones who does not get headaches. So when I started getting headaches, I'm like, okay, this is not good. You know, like I started to feel the effects in my body. I was just tired. I didn't want to do the work, but again, I had to because, you know, it was just me. And I'm like, okay, this is not healthy. And because my mom was like, all this doesn't even matter if you're not here to enjoy it. So.
00:28:44
Speaker
I was like, you're right, you know, and I want to be alive and I want to be healthy enough to actually reap the benefits of what I've worked so hard to do. So that has been a continuous journey for me, but as of recent, like very serious, cause I'm like, okay, I need to make some changes. Whether that means I started making myself watch TV, like you need to sit down and turn on law and order.
00:29:14
Speaker
You know, or whatever it is, like I started forcing myself. That's a nice basketball show. Well, not to me. I'll be all up in it, you know, but or whatever it is, you know, because I used to turn on a basketball game, but I'm not really watching the game because I'm on my laptop. You know, it's just on in the background. So when I'm watching a show like that or whatever show, I have to watch it. I have to pay attention. So it forces me to relax.
00:29:41
Speaker
So that's one thing that I've done. I have to make myself watch TV. Um, when I feel myself getting overwhelmed, I close my laptop and I might go lay down for a few minutes. You know, so these are all things that I've, when I say recent, probably in the last few months have finally started doing, and I can tell a big, huge difference in my body and the way I feel.
00:30:08
Speaker
And one of the biggest things I did though was I finally hired some help. I was doing everything by myself for a long time. Now I actually have people who they do my shipping for me and they do my returns for me. And it has been such a huge relief. Like, I don't know what took me so long, you know, but, but it's been great. So, um, definitely relieving some stress has been one of the things and
00:30:39
Speaker
Being okay with the process, like most people, you want it to happen right now. I want first stuff to blow up, okay? I need it to be everywhere. So sometimes we get in this thing where we get ourselves all worked up, because stuff ain't going as fast. But taking the time to be like, you know what? It's fine. The best part is the journey.
00:31:06
Speaker
Because when you finally get to where you've been trying to get to, it's that much better. You appreciate it. You have just a certain love for it because of what you went through. If it came easy, you wouldn't value it. So those are, I would say, a couple of things that I've adopted or started working on within myself.
00:31:30
Speaker
Awesome. Thank you for sharing that message about putting the work in on yourself, your mental health and on your physical health. So that's critically important, especially for all business owners, because you feel like you need to put everything into it and sacrifice yourself.
Artistic Representation of Fashion Design
00:31:47
Speaker
But thank you for sharing that message about working towards balance.
00:31:50
Speaker
So I want you to think abstract with this next question here. So imagine you're talking to an artist and they want to create a picture, a memorial about what it is a fashion designer does. How would you describe what you do to an artist so they could create a visual representation of what a fashion designer is?
00:32:19
Speaker
Hmm, that's a good question. Okay. So I feel like part of it has to include some chaos only because it's such, it's moved so fast. You know, you have seasons, spring, summer, winter, fall.
00:32:42
Speaker
And you're trying to get, by the time you get your summer collection, you're, you just sent the samples off for fall or winter. You're already working on it. You know, so you don't even always have time to really appreciate and like be like, Oh, look at all these beautiful dresses. Cause I'm already working on the next, you know, so it moves so fast. So it would have to, it would have to convey some like fast movements, you know, really abrupt fast movements and.
00:33:12
Speaker
I would say color. Definitely. It has to be some bright colors involved just because, you know, we're talking fashion here. Um, but as far as the designer though, I would need to, what would I need? I need some, some straight lines as well. So it's like precision within the chaos, you know, that's, that's what we're going to call it. Um, because, you know,
00:33:40
Speaker
When you're you know, it's all this chaotic stuff going on behind the scenes but to the customer Looking in it's a well-ran business, you know, you have this new collection coming out or these new items you can buy try it on whatever you need to do as the customer but behind the scenes
00:34:00
Speaker
the designer is losing her mind, you know, maybe. So it's like a, you know, we need some precise lines, some symmetry going on, but also some kind of way this artist needs to convey the chaos that's happening behind it. And maybe somewhere in the middle, they can blend it so that it all comes together at the end. You know, some kind of way these two
00:34:29
Speaker
things blend together to make something beautiful. While you were talking, I was thinking of maybe like you're in the eye of a hurricane and then everything you have to deliver is like the hurricane that's around the eye of it, that's just swirling about and creating that chaos. I don't know where the straight lines could fit in, but I imagine like somebody looking down, you're in the middle, you're in the eye of it, so it looks calm and cool because you're in the eye of the hurricane, but then everything around you is just swirling around.
00:35:04
Speaker
So I want to switch things. We've talked a lot about the good side of it, the inspiration, your motivations, but with anything, there's also a bad and ugly side.
Advice for Aspiring Designers
00:35:15
Speaker
So what are some watch outs? If you were talking to a young person wanting to create, you know, wanting to create their own fashion line and you wanted to give them some watch out tips about the industry, has there been anything negative that you've encountered that you would give as a heads up?
00:35:25
Speaker
I like that. I like it. I like it.
00:35:35
Speaker
Definitely making sure you pick the right manufacturer because I have lost quite a bit of money messing around with the wrong manufacturer. Now that kind of has a part two because I was also rushing the process. You know, had I taken my time to make sure things were correct and make sure I got this fixed before I moved forward with my bulk order,
00:36:04
Speaker
then I probably could have avoided that. So that's a two-parter. Making sure you pick the right manufacturer, but also don't be in a rush to get the product. Because what I found out is your customers will be waiting whenever you're ready. Just because you don't have it in October, when you do have it in December, they'll be ready to buy. It's OK. They're going to be waiting for you.
00:36:34
Speaker
So we put our own stresses on ourselves wanting to rush something. And then like I said, then you get it back. You can't sell it anyway. So now nobody can get it. And now you're out of money. You know? So definitely that do not rush the process. Please take your time. I know from personal experience and also pick the right manufacturer. Another one is don't get too caught up in
00:37:04
Speaker
I mean, money is big. I mean, you need money to move forward, but I feel like there are things out there that can help you. You know, especially recently PayPal now has a thing where you can borrow money and you pay them back gradually as you have sales. Shopify does that as well. Stripe.
00:37:26
Speaker
Quick books like there's a lot of things out there now that are helping people Be able to get funding still maybe not as much as you would like, but it's something to help you Don't be so desperate that you get yourself in these situations Where you borrow money from something where the interest was crazy, you know, and now you're Struggling to pay it back. It's not worth it or whatever, you know, just make very smart strategic and
00:37:54
Speaker
moves and choices. Like when I first started my business, I knew I had a certain amount of money. So I had to be very strategic. I personally like to dress sexy. I might like to show a little more skin than some people, but I knew that wouldn't necessarily sell how I needed to sell. So I'm like, let me create these dress pants that everybody can wear.
00:38:22
Speaker
And once I can sell enough dress pants, then maybe I can't introduce one of these outfits that I want to introduce. But so, you know, making strategic moves don't be too hard on, you know, trying to find this big lump sum, because a lot of times if you don't have the proof or the history to back that, you're not going to find this big lump sum that you want. So those are some of the main things that
00:38:48
Speaker
come to mind in the fashion industry just do not rush the process please because
00:38:53
Speaker
You don't want to be crying like I have been. Thank you for those words of wisdom. And you actually answered my next question also when you were sharing a little bit about how fintech, some of the Stripe and PayPal have helped with the financing of businesses. Because my next question actually was about technological advances and the pandemic.
Impact of Pandemic and Technology
00:39:17
Speaker
How do you see fashion designing evolving?
00:39:20
Speaker
So you already answered this, but is there anything else you may want to add as it relates to technology or how the world has changed because of the pandemic and fashion design? Man, I'm going to say for real, the biggest jump that happened in my business was during the pandemic. And for a lot of industries, they could not say that. For a lot of industries, the pandemic was the worst thing that could have ever happened. For me, it was beneficial. People were at home.
00:39:51
Speaker
on their phones, looking at TikTok, trying to make TikToks and change clothes and trying to, you know, take pictures for the gram and whatever. And I was a fashion industry or I'm a fashion company for tall women. So a lot of tall women were just online shopping. So for me, the whole technological space and the whole push on video content, reels and TikToks and stuff has been very beneficial because
00:40:20
Speaker
If you're trying to change up your outfits and snap your fingers and now you're in another outfit and you know all that stuff, you need clothes and you need clothes that look good. There's only so many tall women's fashion clothing lines out there. And I'm going to even go further to say, depending on the look you're going for, you're even more limited on where you can shop if you're trying to be super dressy or feel like you're looking sexy or whatever. So.
00:40:50
Speaker
For fashion lines or clothing lines, I'm going to say technology is a big benefit. Everybody's trying to have this image, you know, they're trying to uphold this image to wear whatever they're trying to look like. They're trying to look like they got money. They're trying to look like they're whatever, you know, you can find the clothes to create that look you want. So.
00:41:15
Speaker
depending on the type of brand you have. And if you're able to get the name out there and market it to people, I mean, you're doing pretty good for yourself. Like you'll have the customers who want to buy from you for the looks they need. And as you said, I already talked about how these different various companies are providing money to people. It's out there. They're making it easier. Just also be careful with the interest rates and percentage that they're taking out. So.
00:41:44
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you for sharing that awesome. This conversation has gone so well. Your journey has been inspirational and you've even shared so many words of wisdom to help out somebody who is considering going into it.
Future Aspirations
00:42:02
Speaker
My, what's the right word, convictions? My convictions were right. When I first started the show, I knew I wanted to have you on and you've been an amazing guest. So thank you for sharing so much. Before we go, I always like to ask one question to my guests, just so the audience can learn a little bit about who they are and what they like and their interests. So I have a question for you. Are you ready? I'm ready.
00:42:31
Speaker
I'm just trying to see what this is. All right, so you are an A&R at a music company and they've given you an unlimited budget where you can get any three artists onto a song and this can be dead or alive. Which three artists are you going to select for your song?
00:43:04
Speaker
Okay, so one definitely has to be Rihanna. I mean, she's been, first, she's always been one of my faves, so I'm gonna just say that, but she's been out of the game for a little minute. She's been doing her Fenty and her makeup, so, you know, so cool, but I'm definitely Rihanna. That's better time spent. Yeah, that's one of the three most things I hear in a month. Yeah, exactly, exactly. Janet Jackson.
00:43:33
Speaker
I love Janet Jackson. Let's see. And I don't know if this will even match, but maybe, hold on. I mean, I know, I was going to say Michael Jackson, only just because I really like Michael, but I don't know how Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Rihanna are going to go. But I honestly would prefer to see them more than anybody current.
00:44:06
Speaker
That's what I was going to say. That's the beauty of the question. Because you don't know when they get in the studio and they start creating and they're bouncing ideas off each other and writing lyrics down, you don't know how that's going to go. But that would be a great trio of people to get into the studio. And who would you get to produce it? Is there a certain beat maker that you would like to actually do this song? Oh, man. See, I'm not.
00:44:33
Speaker
that familiar with a bunch of producers, but just from the ones that I know, maybe CC again, I don't know how this would mesh. I'm thinking Jermaine Dupree. Hello. Hey, the man's making hits. He's made hits. Social death. Social death has made hits. I mean, yeah. So I don't know, maybe.
00:44:57
Speaker
Oh no, hold on. Jermaine Dupree and Janet used to date. They used to date him and Janet, so she probably wouldn't want him. That's what the best music has created, though. You think so? She wouldn't. You're right. She wouldn't. That's what the best music has created when there's emotional, especially when it's like negative emotions and they get in the studio together. I mean, I think it'll work well. But who, I guess, if you had to switch it out, who would you pick then? Because she doesn't like him and Janet.
00:45:23
Speaker
What about Teddy? Teddy Riley? Teddy Riley? Yeah, yeah. Maybe Teddy Riley. Awesome. Well, Stephanie, thank you again for coming on the show. Before we go, where can everybody learn more about Chrissy Duck? And have you all created a website or anything yet for the balloon business? If so, feel free to share that as well.
00:45:46
Speaker
Okay. So for prissy duck, you can find me on Instagram or find prissy duck on Instagram at prissy duck designs spelled all out like normal, normal words, no Z's or anything. Facebook is just prissy duck and our website is www.prissyduck.com. The balloon business. We do not have a website yet. We're working on it now, but we did just register the business and we've gotten
00:46:16
Speaker
multiple you know a good amount of our inventory in so we're working on it the name is called balloons be popping so be on the lookout for that we will definitely be promoting it and everything so we're excited so that's how you'll find us and we'll have that on instagram soon too so
00:46:34
Speaker
Awesome. I hope you turn that into a six-figure business also. And then Prissy Duck goes to seventh figure. Oh my goodness. What is that big gala that's in New York every year? I'm having a break for you. You're not talking about Met Gala. Yeah, you're a Met. Okay, yeah. I need to be on that red carpet. We'll manifest Prissy Duck being at the Met. Let's make it happen. I'm telling you. I don't know what outfit I'm aware of, but it's going to be something.
00:47:03
Speaker
Well, thank you again. This has been a great show and I hope you have a great rest of the day. Thanks. You too. All right. Bye.