March 14th, 2015
Do you need to cut waste from your workflow to grow your business more efficiently? Most…
March 3rd, 2015
When you are your own boss, staying productive is in your hands. This is a double edged sword, sometimes resulting in unfocused or…
February 24th, 2015
“Should I sell to department stores or boutiques?” This is a common question design entrepreneurs ask. The argument is strong for both…
February 22nd, 2015
MAGIC is the world’s largest fashion marketplace, comprised of ten unique communities showcasing the latest in apparel, footwear,…
February 16th, 2015
As an up-and-coming entrepreneur, I founded my business with just $24,000 in startup capital. I stretched it as far as it could go. I’ve…
February 12th, 2015
Black History Month is an opportune time for me to reflect on the contributions from the…
February 11th, 2015
If you want to know when the fashion industry first became digitalized, think Donna Karan. In early 2007 fashion editors around the world…
February 1st, 2015
The old adage “work smarter, not harder” is more than a business cliché. As anyone who runs a company would tell you, every second…
January 17th, 2015
My parents were entrepreneurs, so I thought I knew exactly what to expect — operations, budgeting, sourcing and so on. The difference…
January 13th, 2015
A few months ago, Avantūr was nothing more than an idea. Two friends with a passion for design and a desire to create. Today, Avantūr is…
January 12th, 2015
There’s something about the pairing of the classic baseball hat form with new unique fabrics, that makes an MBS hat really really handsome. The result of this combination is a hat that feels…
January 9th, 2015
Showing your personality and passion in your product Manufacturing your line is an exciting process as you watch your product unfold and come to life. It’s exhilarating to see the product move from…
December 10th, 2014
Small businesses and freelancers are often left reeling when it comes to tax time. If you haven’t been making any quarterly estimated…
December 9th, 2014
It is that time of year for Holiday Shopping Shows and one of the biggest shows in the Midwest, One of A Kind, happens right here in Chicago! The show has a fantastic assortment of…
December 4th, 2014
Your first year in business is sort of like driving cross-country through dense fog. It’s a long, harrowing trip and you can only see…
November 11th, 2014
Now in its fourth year, Small Business Saturday has helped local entrepreneurs fuel sales and connect with customers the Saturday after…
November 4th, 2014
I make necklaces from vintage pieces I find in flea markets all over the world because I love materials that are entirely unique. My…
October 31st, 2014
I have been in the world of branding for over 20 years creating brand strategies, and designing and implementing projects that range from small local restaurants to big corporate projects. For…
October 29th, 2014
Small business owners are constantly on an entrepreneurial roller coaster. When any new business is starting out, they go through a phase that we call “the hustle”. This is where you are…
October 7th, 2014
To entrepreneurs, time is extremely valuable. Most of us have a full-time job to dedicate 40 hours a week to, leaving just evenings and…
September 19th, 2014
A while back someone explained to me that being an entrepreneur was a bit like being a duck. While the duck appears graceful and calm on the surface of the pond, their legs are thrashing…
September 2nd, 2014
Hardware is hard. As an entrepreneur working in this field, you have an incredible amount to think about: manufacturing, supply chain…
August 27th, 2014
Finding a good balance between work life and personal life is an age old dilemma for…
August 10th, 2014
When building a business, the number of hats an entrepreneur will wear can grow…
July 30th, 2014
dog·ged1 [daw-gid, dog-id] adjective: persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious: a…
July 23rd, 2014
While it can seem like a harrowing decision to make (especially if you are far along in the development or launch of your brand), ending a business relationship with a company that isn’t delivering…
July 16th, 2014
1. Choosing the correct legal entity Entrepreneurs face a myriad of choices when deciding what entity type they choose. The most…
April 17th, 2014
Startups are hard; 3 out of 4 that even make it to funding fail. Workdays run into nights (and weekends), resources are limited,…
February 7th, 2014
Manufacturing takes dedication, attention to detail and operational know-how. There is no class you can take to tell you everything you need to know on starting a hat factory in Manhattan, an apparel…