Six Steps on How to Open a Boutique
February 21, 2012 | 
Author If you have made the decision to open a specialty boutique of one type or another, this article has been prepared for your assistance and consideration. Through this article you are provided six steps on how to open a boutique. Armed with this information you will be well on your way to getting your boutique business open and up and running in no time at all.
Step One
The first step that you will need to take when it comes to how to open a boutique is to consider seriously precisely what type of merchandise you will carry in the inventory of your boutique. You need to make specific choices and develop a specific theme for your boutique.
Step Two
The next step that you will need take when it comes to how to open a boutique is to line up reputable and reliable vendors and suppliers. You need to make certain that you always have a dependable and trustworthy source of merchandise for your boutique.
Step Three
The third step to keep in mind when it comes to how to open a boutique is to make sure that you decorate your space in an attractive manner that is appropriate to the type of merchandise that you will be selling through your boutique. You may be able to undertake this step on your own. However, you will also want to consider engaging the services of a professional when it comes to making sure your boutique space is appropriately and attractively decorated.
Step Four
The fourth step that will be part of the process of how to open a boutique is to develop an appropriate advertising plan to kick off your boutique’s operations. You will want to make sure that you garner the attention of potential customers and get them into your boutique as you go about getting your business up and running.
Step Five
The first step associated with the process of how to open a boutique is to make sure that you engage the services of the best possible employees. Perhaps you will be a one person shop when you initially open. However, in this day and age, many individuals who go into the boutique business have at least one other person on their teams even when they are just starting. In any case, whether you have one employee or a number of employees, you have to make sure that you are serious about your hiring practices and that you work to ensure that you do create the very best staff for your boutique.
Step Six
Finally, you will want to make sure that you make your grand opening a true event when it comes to how to open a boutique. It is on your grand opening that you will attract the greatest attention to your boutique and you will want to make sure that you do this with flare and a bang.
Marketing Environment and the Factors Involved
Marketing environment is made up of all the factors and forces that influence marketing. These forces can be internal like departments (other than marketing such as finance department and human resource department) or external like competitors, suppliers, economic or political situation. To understand them better, marketing personals divide them in two categories namely macro environment and micro-environment. Let’s have a look at some of the important factors involved in marketing environment.
Internal factors:
All the departments involved in business management affects the process of marketing as well, for example the finance or research department in large enterprises. Marketing department is bound to keep their expenses under the budget set by the finance managers or to consider recommendations from the research department. Similarly the supplies and collections can have an impact on marketing as well.
Customer markets:
Different types of customers markets include consumer markets (B2C), business markets (B2B), government markets (B2G), also a new type of customer market has emerged as a result of globalization i.e. international market. Where most other departments will treat these markets similarly, marketing team has to treat them all in different manner. Though most advertising campaigns are targeted to consumer market, the type of customer market does affect marketing decisions on the whole.
Competition:
Competition is becoming more and more influential in a company’s approach towards marketing. Competition stems from the business that is offering the same product as yours. A business has to counter this competition through marketing; some times businesses do try to have a hit at their competitors in advertisements (though not candidly). The level of competition is also a decisive factor when planning on how much to spend on marketing.
Different types of publics:
Another important microenvironment factor is the publics (government, consumer associations, financial or media publics). All of them can have an affect (positive or negative) on company’s reputation and marketing.
Demography:
Good marketing managers tend to spend plenty of time in conducting demographic research for their targeted consumers. Demography is the research of gender, age, race or anything else related to consumers. International businesses are concerned about various races (Asians, Hispanics, etc) and their different set of demands. While the terms like “baby boomers” or “generation X” were invented to reflect the specific age groups of consumers.
Economic Factors:
All the variables of economic markets like inflation, rate of exchange, fiscal policies and monetary policies fall under macro environment factors. They affect all businesses, and needless to say their marketing efforts as well.
Other Factors:
Other notable macro and microenvironment factors are marketing intermediaries, political stability (or instability), new technologies or natural forces.
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The 10 Top Places to Shop in Barcelona
If you are seeking the best places to shop in Barcelona, then those detailed below are ten of the most popular. They are used for shopping in Barcelona, both by visitors and also the city’s residents, so are not just used by tourists. This beautiful city is famed, not only for its history and its magnificent architecture, but also for its shopping which is famed throughout the world.
1. Paseo de Gracia:
This famous street is also known locally as Passeig de Gracia, and boasts some of the most expensive shops in Barcelona. Noted for its famous modernist architecture, this street runs from Plaza Catalunya to the metro Diagonal. You will find many famous names here, including Gucci, Desigual, D&G, Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik, and also a number of top restaurants and bars to refresh you when you are tired of shopping. Those searching for world famous brands and pure luxury will be delighted here, but be ready to use your credit card and spend freely since this area is for upscale shopping, and the prices reflect it.
2. Portal de L´Angel:
If you are right in the centre of Barcelona, then this is a pedestrian thoroughfare in the Ciutat Vella (downtown) district beginning at Plaza Catalunya and running to the cathedral. You will find the department store El Cortes Inglés at its start and the street also boasts names such as Benetton, Massimo Dutti, Camper, H&M and Zara. This street offers more economical brands and its target market is a younger crowd, so if you are searching for the latest fashion trends at an affordable price you should come straight here.
3. La Rocca Village:
La Roca Village outlet is situated in the village of the same name that is off Junction 12 of the A7 motorway. You can also get a bus from Fabra I Puig metro in the Sant Andreu district or a train from Sants Station. It’s well worth the time taken to get here because you will find top designer outlets at up to 60% off and some of the best shopping therapy in the world. Being an outlet, it also has a Rebaixes period (seasonal sales) held in July and January when well known luxury brands are sold at a bargain prices.
4. Diagonal Mar:
This area offers a large number of Barcelona shopping stores, cinemas, restaurants and other facilities, as would be expected of one of Barcelona’s newest shopping centres. Open from 10 am to 10 pm, you can shop here day and night. Good for family shopping.
5. L’Illa:
Situated by the corner of Avinguda Diagonal 555-559 and Carrer de Constança, L’Illa is a shopping mall that offers more than 170 shops and restaurants, including Benetton, Diesel and Zara. It is easiest to get the Tombus, or circuit bus, starting at Plaza Catalunya and goes on to stop at 28 locations. This distinctive blue bus will drop you off at Diagonal and Paseo de Gracia allowing you hop on and off for your shopping. When it turns left on Diagonal, wait until it reaches L’Illa and then get off. The advantage of this large shopping center is that you can find mid-priced and well known brands like Zara, Mango, etc., as well as small, unique boutiques with more exclusive models all in the same place.
6. Raval:
Raval offers you a good choice of vintage fashion. You will also find several second hand shops here and the historic Boqueria Market, one of the most famous markets in Europe. Lailo, on Carrer de la Riera Baixa, is an example, offering top-quality goods such as genuine Victorian bustles and vintage dance costumes. However, if you can’ find what you want here, there are several others on the same street for you to check out.
7. Gracia:
Gracia was originally a separate village from Barcelona, and even now it retains its own character with bars, restaurants and plazas, and also several unique boutiques and shoe shops. Although you pay, you are sure to find original and creative fashions here. Get off at the Fontana metro stop and walk down Carrer d’Asturies towards Carrer Verdi and turn right. You will find all you want around this area.
8. Encants Mercat:
This is a flea market, or antique market, however you look at it. Known also as the Mercat Fira de Bellcaire, this is the largest open air market in Barcelona selling anything from books to furniture. You must haggle for a good deal and it is expected that you do. The Encants Mercat is open each day except Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm.
9. El Borne:
If you are young (or even not so young) and are looking for a trendy area of Barcelona, then El Borne is for you, with its clothing, shoe and jewelry boutiques. The cafes and bars are packed at night, and you will also find the textile and Picasso museums here. El Borne is where the artists tend to hang out.
10. El Corte Inglés:
Almost where we started, El Corte Inglés is situated in Plaza Catalunya, and is not only Barcelona’s largest department store chain, but also the largest in Spain. There are several around the city, and this is the biggest, offering a range of goods that you would expect to find in a large comprehensive department store. If you like wandering around large stores, then this is for you. In Spain it is said that if you can´t find what you´re looking for, come to El Corte Ingles, because the huge variety of items means you can find almost anything you need.
These are the top 10 places to shop in Barcelona as we see it, and unless otherwise stated, normal store opening hours are from 10 am to 8.30 pm, although you should expect some of the smaller boutiques in areas such as Gracia, Raval and Borne to close for an afternoon siesta from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Songs, Finger Plays & Activities for Infants & Toddlers
That precious little person in your life is definitely the cutest thing on the planet earth, and positively the most intelligent! Why, he was born speaking Greek, and you don’t even know any foreign languages!
But seriously, language is one of the first ways developmental growth in children is noticed by the general population. Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa know this baby is the next Baseball Hall of Famer or Albert Einstein, but the cashier at the supermarket won’t know diddly squat about that adorable big blue eyed baby unless she can speak intelligently while strapped safely in the shopping cart.
So how can one help promote language skills besides reciting the abc’s and Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star over and over again?
Starting with finger plays, action rhymes, and songs to sing, there will be numerous activities listed. Each will explain the multi purposes of and the age of the child for which the activity is intended. More will be added over time as they are found.
FOR MOTOR SKILLS WITH TODDLERS:
Start with clapping and tapping your hands and feet. Let your toddler mimic your actions.
Read the following rhyme, clapping and tapping when indicated:
I have two little hands that clap, clap, clap.
I have two little feet that tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, clap.
Tap, tap, tap.
Clap, clap, tap.
Encourage your child to SAY “Clap” and “Tap” as you say the rhyme.
FOR SELF-CONCEPT BODY AWARENESS WITH TODDLERS:
Sing the following song to the tune of “The Farmer In The Dell.”
Where are your piggy toes?
Where are your piggy toes?
Oh no, where have they gone,
(pull off socks)
I see your piggy toes.
Pulling off socks is one of the first skills a toddler learns. Sing this song while pulling off your child’s socks, then let your child pull them off by himself. Encourage your child to pull off the socks without any help while you sing the song.
SELF-CONCEPT AND MOTOR SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:
One of the most challenging things a toddler is learning is how to dress herself. Somehow it always seems the diapers come off easier than the shoes go on!
Encourage your child to practice motor skills and begin recognizing opposites by giving her a hat that fits easily on her head. Have her put the hat on and take it off, saying Hat on, hat off, hat on, hat off as she does.
SELF-CONCEPT AND BODY AWARENESS FOR TODDLERS:
Sing the following to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”
Head and shoulders,
Head and shoulders.
Knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
Eyes and ears,
Eyes and ears.
Mouth and nose,
Mouth and nose.
Have your child touch each body part as it is sung, then repeat the song naming different parts of the body.
THINKING SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:
Recognizing that an object is still there though it can’t be seen is a significant milestone for toddlers. Play peek-a-boo often with your child, and play games where an object is hidden with a blanket, scarf or bandana, or inside another object.
MOTOR SKILLS FOR TODDLERS:
Recite the following rhyme with your toddler sitting on your knees. Move your knees and toddler up and down following the lyrics.
Marching, marching,
Up we go.
Marching marching,
Nice and slow.
Marching, marching,
Down, down, down.
Marching, marching,
Through the town.
Let your child stand and stretch up high and bend down low, or be lifted high or put down low as you recite the poem.
MOTOR SKILLS, LISTENING, AND EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS:
Large motor skills are needed in order to develop as well. Sing the following song to the tune of “The Farmer In The Dell” and let your child giggle and wiggle as you both do the movements to the song. Substitute different body parts and actions.
Shake your arms like this,
Shake your arms like this,
Clap your hands and turn around,
Shake your arms like this.
MOTOR & THINKING SKILLS, EXERCISE FOR TODDLERS AND ALL AGES:
This is a great one to do when you’re super busy, yet your child is demanding your attention. It is also a great activity to do for transition times such as after story time getting ready for lunch, after playtime getting ready to go to the store, and other difficult times when you just HAVE to do something else besides hold your toddler on your hip.
Recite the following actions, doing the motions slowly at first, then quickly. The kids will dissolve into peals of laughter and free you up to get a few things done.
Clap, clap, clap your hands as slowly as you can.
Clap, clap, clap your hands as quickly as you can.
Rub, rub, rub your hands as slowly as you can.
Rub, rub, rub your hands as quickly as you can.
Roll your hands…
Wiggle your fingers…(sometimes I wiggle my fingers accidentally on their ribs!)
Twiddle your thumbs…
Stomp your feet…
Wiggle your body…
Wiggle your eyebrows…
Slap your knees…
Blink your eyes…
ACTION AND LANGUAGE BUILDING POETRY FOR THE YOUNG CHILD:
Poetry is a clearly delightful way to introduce children to new words and language skills. Here are a couple of poems that have not only lots of fun words to learn, but to act upon, too!
JUMP OR JIGGLE
Frogs jump
Caterpillars hump
Worms wiggle
Bugs jiggle
Rabbits hop
Horses clop
Snakes slide
Seagulls glide
Mice creep
Deer leap
Puppies bounce
Kittens pounce
Lions stalk-
But-
I walk!
~~~by EVELYN BEYER~~~
WHISKY FRISKY
Whisky frisky,
Hipperty hop,
Up he goes
To the tree top!
Whirly, twirly,
Round and round,
Down he scampers
To the ground.
Furly, curly,
What a tail,
Tall as a feather,
Broad as a sail.
Where’s his supper?
In the shell.
Snappy, cracky,
Out it fell.
ANON
THINKING SKILLS AND SELF-CONCEPT BODY AWARENESS FOR TODDLERS:
Counting repetitively to two with a toddler gives him a boost in premath skills. Have your child point to his ears, eyes, hands, feet, legs, knees, cheeks, elbows, thumbs, big toes, or heels, and count each one with him: One, two, one, two, one, two…Progress to 5 fingers or toes.
FUN HUGGING CUDDLING GIGGLY TIME WITH YOUR TODDLER OR CHILD OF ANY AGE:
The following rhyme is a favorite with kids of all ages.
Round and round the garden runs the little mouse. (Hold your child’s hand palm up, running your finger in circles very lightly on his palm.)
Up, up, up he scampers, (Touch your child’s arm on wrist, inside of elbow, and upper arm on each “up”.)
Into his little HOUSE! (Tickle your child’s underarm on HOUSE!) This is almost guaranteed to be a favorite of both you and your child!
Fun TICKLY KNEE Activity:
All ages of my daycare kids have loved this over the years. Very simple for people who don’t memorize things well, it’s a great standby for just about any child! Just tickle the child’s knee above and to the outside of his knee while reciting the following, and be almost 100% guaranteed that squeals of delight will follow, along with constant begging for MORE, and DO IT AGAIN!
Tickly knee, tickly knee, if your laugh, you don’t love me! (That’s it! See, I told you it was simple!)
FUN SEASONAL FINGERPLAYS AND ACTIVITIES:
Tune-The Mulberry Bush
Jumping in the pumpkin patch, (jumping through the whole verse)
Pumpkin patch, pumpkin patch,
Jumping in the pumpkin patch,
So early in the morning.
**Substitute clapping, stomping, flying, swaying, winking, etc.
SIMON SAYS FOR HALLOWEEN:
1. Fly like a bat.
2. Stomp like a monster.
3. Walk like a skeleton.
4. Hop like a bunny.
5. Pounce like a cat.
6. Dance like a ballerina.
7. Roll like a pumpkin…
COUNTING FIVE LITTLE PUMPKINS:
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
One fell down and broke his plate.
Four little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
One fell down and lost his skate.
Three little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
One fell down and lost some weight.
Two little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
One fell down and said “Don’t be late!”
The littlest pumpking sitting on a gate
Fell down and said, “No more pumpkins sitting on the gate!”
FIVE LITTLE OWLS:
The first little owl has great, round eyes. (Point to one finger at a time.)
The second little owl is of very small size.
The third little owl can turn her head.
The fourth little owl likes mice, she said.
The fifth little owl flies all around,
And her wings make hardly a single sound.
FOUR SEASONS POEM:
Spring is showery, bowery, flowery.
Summer is hoppy, choppy, poppy.
Autumn is wheezy, sneezy, freezy.
Winter is slippy, drippy, nippy.
ANON
MUD poem:
Mud is very nice to feel
All squishy-squash between the toes!
I’d rather wade in wiggly mud
Than smell a yellow rose.
Nobody else but the rosebush knows
How nice mud feels between the toes.
by Polly Chase Boyden
Thunder Finger Play:
Thunder crashes. (Clap hands.)
Lightning flashes. (Move hands with zigzag motion.)
Rain makes puddles. (Flutter fingers.)
So I can make splashes. (Jump.)
Fun, new words, even if they’re not real, can be a great way to get a baby or toddler exposed to different sounds. The earlier a child is exposed to the sounds of different languages, the easier it will be for him to pick up on them and learn them more fluently. Here are some fun poems with silly words to share with your child:
The Cow Poem:
The cow mainly moos as she chooses to moo
and she chooses to moo as she chooses.
She furthermore chews as she chooses to chew
and she chooses to chew as she muses.
If she chooses to moo she may moo to amuse
or may moo just to moo as she chooses.
If she chooses to chew she may moo as she chews
or may chew just to chew as she muses.
by Jack Prelutsky
And a silly one for an older child, Eletelephony:
Once there was an elephant,
Who tried to use the telephant–
No! no! I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone–
(Dear me! I am not certain quite
That even now I’ve got it right.)
Howe’er it was, he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk;
The more he tried to get it free,
The more buzzed the telephee–
(I fear I’d better drop the song
of elephop and telephong!)
Songs and fingerplays are so much fun, and are a great bonding activity between a child and her parents, grandparents, and other caregivers.
More songs, poetry, and fingerplays will be added to this guide over time as I run across them and as I myself have time. Thanks for looking, and be sure to mark this as one of your favorites for easy reference!
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How Did Jennifer Hudson Lose Weight?
How did Jennifer Hudson Lose Weight? Are you interested to know the answer? Well if you haven’t already heard, Jennifer has recently revealed more than ever her incredible weight loss victory, and is happy to share with others how she finally did it. Truth is, losing weight and achieving a gorgeous body figure seem to be one of the ultimate goals of many people nowadays… celebrity or not.
And, the demographic is changing as well. People of all ages, sizes and means are looking for effective ways to get healthy. Gone are the days when only the rich and beautiful could afford to lose weight. It can be as REAL for you as it was for Jennifer if you have the right tools.
People may have different reasons why they would want to shed some of their extra layers. Some want to lose weight to gain a better looking figure and become more confident in their clothes. While there are some individuals who want to lose weight to keep a healthy lifestyle and feel even better on the inside. There are also people who have no choice but to shed some extra pounds because of their worsening health conditions. Unfortunately the latter is now the #1 purpose for major weight loss on a global scale.
Whatever the differing personal reasons may be of people who want to lose weight, one thing is for certain – losing weight and keeping it off continues to be one of the major challenges. Period.
Too many diet plans, exercise regimens, slimming products and medical surgery procedures have been introduced in the market lately. These wide ranges of choices leave people who want to lose weight like you, and me in a dilemma. We are now confused of what plan or procedure to follow. Of course, we surely want to make sure that we use “the one”. But what is it? And more importantly, which is truly effective but would not pose us any serious side effects?
Then we see this American actress/recording artist Jennifer Hudson losing a significant amount of weight which makes us wonder how did Jennifer Hudson lose weight? For those who have followed the career of Ms. Hudson since the time she gained Hollywood-scale popularity as one of the finalist on the third season of American Idol in 2004, it is pretty easy to agree that her looks (and especially her weight) are so much better than before. With her new look, and attitude Jennifer Hudson is no doubt dangerously gorgeous.
We know Hudson’s gig is in acting and singing. Heck she has an Oscar! But she’s also the latest celeb to lose a LOT of weight and of course, this has people talking. So, how did Jennifer Hudson lose weight? I have found out that the actress and singer achieved her desired weight using portion control learned through a program called Weight Watchers Points Plus. She lost 80 pounds by eating low fat and low calorie food. She likewise had to cut out fried foods. Her menu was consisted of such things as nuts, salads, grilled chicken and cranberry juice.It is apparent that her meals included carbohydrate, fiber and palm size serving of protein.
If you’re wondering how did Jennifer Hudson lose weight just by changing her diet you need to also know that it didn’t stop in the kitchen. Hudson’s diet was coupled with exercise, which included running, playing basketball and basically getting as active as often as she could. With her program she hired a personal trainer to assist her and help keep her on track.
How to Start an Online Clothing Store in 12 Steps
This article is meant to be a very rough outline in the process of starting up an e-commerce based clothing store or boutique. In the high-paced and competitive world of fashion retail setting up your store is just the first step and quite honestly has little bearing on how successful your store will actually be. For example, Bluefly.com has an estimated monthly traffic of 840K, but since going public in 1998 has never made a single year of profit. As of December 31, 2009, Bluefly has an accumulated deficit of $147,468,000. Your guess on how they remain in business is as good as mine, but think of it this way. Even if you only make $1.00 of profit your first year of business, then you are technically doing better than Bluefly.
Please note, many of these steps can be done concurrently. For example, while you are filing your legal forms, you can work on your web design. This is especially true if you are depending on a third-party to design and set-up your website. They may work on a longer time frame than you initially anticipated. I do highly suggest that you just focus on the business plan initially. For example, if you decide that you are going to design your website with a specific concept while you write your business plan, then you just might find after researching that your concept is not what you’re going to move forward with. In this case, you probably spent 40-60 hours on non-productive output.
1. Write a business plan.
To be honest with you, when my girlfriend and I launched our website, we did not have a business plan, but we did write one eventually. The simple fact is that if you are planning for success, then you must write a business plan sooner or later. In business school, you write it sooner than later. The business plan is important because it forces you to do research about the industry, your competitors, and your resources. Additionally, it forces you to think deeply about how you are going to succeed in this highly competitive industry. If you think that you are going to be just like Modcloth, then why would you expect to be successful compared to Modcloth when they are working with millions of dollars of venture capitalist funds for a workforce, marketing, inventory, etc. I don’t have an answer for you, but my point is that you have to come up with a plan before investing your life’s savings into this new venture. Also, the business plan is important because it also forces you to estimate how much money you will need and where that many is coming from. The reality is that unless you have real background in finance, you will not be able to build a 5-10 year projected Discounted Cash Flow Model and figure out your WACC, but having some kind of rough idea of your cash flow is better than nothing.
You should also include a plan on how you are going to initially set-up your website. For example, using a subscription-based shopping cart will change your budget than if you decide to use an open-source shopping cart. Also, you should also do your initial research on web hosting companies since they can range from $10/month to over $300/month. My only suggestion is that you get the fastest and most reliable that your budget will allow. Please note, that all I’m suggesting is that you plan what you are going to do as far as web design and hosting is concerned, not that you go out and pay for these services right now. The only expense that you may want to consider at this moment is that for registering a domain name. That’s because they are relatively inexpensive to register and you don’t want to possibly miss out on registering your wanted domain.
You should come up with a budget and plan for marketing, public relations, and search engine optimization. These will most likely be your largest expense heading into the future. Remember, buying inventory is not an expense, it is an asset.
Last, but not least, you also want to plan on order fulfillment. This is just a fancy way of saying how you are going to pack and send your product, as well as what return procedure and policy you will have in place. Will you use USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL? Will you have free shipping, returns, and/or exchanges? These are all things that should be planned for, though will change over time.
2. Apply for a Employer Identification Number with the IRS
Once again, if you are planning for success in the future, then you are going to have to run your business legally. You will need an EIN to open a bank account, apply for a business license, and get a seller’s permit. Just search “EIN” in the google search engine and the IRS website should be the first result. When applying for your EIN, you will need to know the legal structure of your business. For example, if your business is going to be a one man or woman show, then you are going to apply as a sole proprietor. If it turns out that you and your mom are going to run the business, then you may choose partnership or decide to incorporate.
Pick your fictitious business name, “Doing Business As,” and file it with your county clerk
One of the more exciting step in setting up your business will always be picking a name. My girlfriend and chose T.I.L. Darling because before we were officially a couple, she would tell me that in Thailand, her home country, that she and I could never go out alone as even friends. I told her, “This is London, Darling.” So, I guess our business name should technically be T.I.L., Darling, to be more grammatically correct. Once you have your fictitious business name, you need to make a pretty good attempt to make sure no one else is using that same name. Otherwise, years down the line when you are making money, you can expect a letter from a lawyer saying how they are going to sue the designer pants off of you.
If your county registrar/clerk has a website with downloadable forms, then search for the DBA filing form, fill it out, and bring it to the county clerk. Otherwise, you will just have to do everything in person. There, you will probably have your first business expense with the filing fee. Your second expense will be the requirement that you advertise your new business name in an approved newspaper or public publication so that if anyone has a problem with your DBA then they can step forward. The county clerk will be able to point you in the right direction for this step.
3. Open a business bank account
Again, planning for future success, you will want to open up a separate bank account for your business. This way, you can track and easily separate business expenses from your personal expenses, write checks or have transactions under your business name, and just generally feel like a real business.
4. Start designing and setting up your website
There are actually a few methods of going forward with your website. I will explore a few options starting from the most costly to the least costly. Even though I would have to question whether or not running an online business if for you, but if you have extremely limited experience with web design or are just not internet savvy, then you may need to do everything third-party. If you realize that you’re going to need someone to design your website, initially set-up your domain and site, then you will probably need to find some kind of subscription based shopping cart. For example, if you have money to spend, then search “boutiquecommerce” in the google search engine. This company will do just about everything for you, from web design, domain registration, web hosting, to ongoing support. There are many third-party shopping carts fitting almost any budget. To be honest, I have no experience with any paid or subscription based shopping cart and so I will limit any opinion I have on them.
Another alternative is to buy a website template designed on top of an open-source (free) shopping-cart platform. Search “templatemonster” in the Google search engine. Filter your search to include E-Commerce templates and choose “fashion” as your category, though you can customize any template to your needs in reality.
On a side note, before you purchase your template, you should set-up your server. During your business plan research, you should have figured out what web host fits best for you, but now is the time to actually spend some money because you will not be able to test your template unless you have a server to upload it to. This also means that if you haven’t done so already, then you will have to finally register your domain name, which is something you should have also figured out in your business plan. Most web hosts will actually register your domain for free, but feel free to use a service, such as godaddy, and you’ll need to change the namerservers to point to your web host.
Once you have your template and web host, then you need to upload your template and start customizing it. You can either use a “template tuning” service or if you have enough html, php, and photoshop experience, then you can do it yourself. Unfortunately, this step can be pretty difficult even for somewhat internet savvy users because this is where you will need to learn a little bit about setting up a database, setting up a database user, and how to use an FTP program to upload your site. That’s why some may opt to use a third-party shopping cart, but this option is by far the most flexible and cheapest if you have the time and are willing to learn.
You will also need to figure out how you will accept payment on your website. If you want to accept credit cards, which you should, then you will need a payment gateway. The most popular would be PayPal Pro and Authorize.net. You will need to apply for an account.
Of course, there is the ultimate DYI approach, where you can not only design your own website, but also code your own shopping cart. If this is the case, then I highly doubt you need to read this section of my tutorial.
5. Make Business Cards
Yes, I actually made this an individual step because you will need a business card to register for trade shows, as well as deal with suppliers. Since you are also working on your website design, it is also more efficient to work on a business card design. Additionally, you need some lead time because printers will charge you extra to expedite printing and shipping. So, if you plan ahead, you can save quite a bit of money.
6. Apply for a business license in your city
Once again, if your city has website dedicated to business, then you should be able to download an application for a business license. In some cities, you can even apply for a home-based business license. Of course, only fill out a home-based business license if that is your case. Bring or even possibly mail your completed application and filing fee to the appropriate location. The reason I put this step after designing your website is because the business license fee is a yearly fee and so why pay when you are not even close to launching your website.
7. Apply for a Seller’s Permit
At this point, you should be fairly proficient at filing out forms. The last application you should have to file is for your seller’s permit, sometimes mistakenly called a resale license. The seller’s permit will allow you to buy from your wholesalers without paying sales tax, but it also requires you to pay the sales tax on any items sold, within your state, every quarter. Of course, in modern commerce, you are allowed to collect the sales tax from your customers.
8. Figure out how you are going to display your products
Before you actually source your products, I believe it is wise to first figure out how you are going to display your products on your website. Are you going to use a mannequin, model, or just lay it flat. Will you outsource your product photography or do it right in your bedroom, which is how we first started. If you are going to do it yourself, then you still need to make sure it fits your budget and business plan as far as purchasing equipment. If you are going to need equipment, then now is the time to either jump online or go out and start making a real investment in your business.
9. Plan your product mix and find suppliers
While you are figuring out how you will ultimate display your products, you will want to start researching where you will buy your products. If you haven’t done so, then you will want to start thinking more about your product mix. Of course, it needs to fit perfectly with your business plan, concept, and budget you already established in step 1. Fashion buying is another topic completely and I highly suggest you read up on it if you can.
After you have some kind of buying plan, it’s time to find suppliers. If you are lucky, then you will be able to catch the MAGIC Marketplace trade show in Las Vegas. They have vendors for vintage inspired clothing, juniors clothing, indie clothing, etc. It is essentially the largest fashion trade show in the USA and maybe the world. If you cannot find suppliers at MAGIC, then I would honestly be surprised. If you cannot wait for the bi-annual trade show, then you are most likely going to need to take a trip to the Los Angeles Fashion District. If you are looking for the glamorous world of designer labels, then you will be spending your time at “The Intersection.” At this intersection you will find the California Market Center, Cooper Design Space, Gerry Building, and The New Mart. Here you can find brands such as A.B.S. By Allen Schwartz, BCBG, and Betsey Johnson. If you are in this market, then be sure to bring copies of your business license, business card, and seller’s license. Also, as an online business, be prepared to be rejected by many showrooms. If you’re like me though, then it should only inspire you to be more successful so that when the time comes you can reject them.
If your price point is a lot lower, then you are going to really want to spend time around the San Pedro Mart area. You will probably find that 80-90% of these wholesalers are not right for your target market, but that only means that you should find 10%-20% that is right and will be able to focus on building those relationships into the future.
Of course, you can always turn to the internet, registering with sites like fashiongo and lashowroom. Additionally, you can contact individual brand sales reps and they should send you line sheets and look books. In fact, this is how most business will be later in the future, but I suggest you visit trade shows and marts to get your feet a little wet.
10. Start product photography and adding content to your website
Since you should have planned earlier for product photography, this step should be self explanatory. You want to add the products to your website and get it ready for a more official launch.
11. Start your marketing campaign, Search Engine Optimization campaign, and PR campaign
Again, these campaigns should have already been planned in the first step. This step is pretty much a hundred different subjects on its own and so I will not really dive to deep into it. The most rudimentary start would be to submit your site to search engines, such as Google and Yahoo!, sign up for Google AdWords, and start a Facebook and Twitter account. There is probably a good chance that will have to depend on paid advertising to get decent traffic at the beginning, but I highly suggest you plan and budget appropriately.
It might take one day or a whole month, but you’re going to get your first order and at that point you can finally say you really set-up your online clothing store.
12. Keep learning as much as you can
Like I said, setting up an online clothing store is just the first step. In reality, you are going to have to learn as much as you can about fashion buying, merchandising, marketing, search engine optimization, html, php, ajax, javascript, analytics, etc.
Identifying Dog Worms and their Symptoms
There are 5 different types of dog worms (internal parasites), which your dog can fall prey to. These are: heartworm, hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm and whipworm. As a dog owner, I recommend that you educate yourself on these worms in order to be able to recognize the symptoms if they should become evident in your dog.
Early worm detection is important because each type of dog worm requires a different form of treatment. You should also be aware of the fact that roundworm and hookworm are zoonotic, which means that these worms can be transmitted to humans. Some worm infestations may show little to no symptoms, whereas others can demonstrate severe symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. Some dog worms can be seen by the naked eye while some cannot, therefore it is a good idea to ask your vet to perform a stool test for dog worms once a year.
Below you can find a list of common telltale symptoms of dog worm infestation, but keep in mind that these symptoms can also be a sign of a more serious problem. Either way, always consult a veterinarian whenever your dog is not “his usual self.”
Dull coat
Weight loss
Appetite loss
Pot-bellied appearance
Coughing
Low energy level
Diarrhea
Vomiting
ROUNDWORMS (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina)
There are two types of Roundworm: Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonine. This is the most common type of dog worm, which affects the intestines and causes a pot-bellied appearance, mostly in puppies. There are a few ways puppies can become infected. Puppies are often infected before birth through the mother’s uterus or through her milk. Puppies can also contract these worms through the ingestion of an infected animal (such as a rodent) or infected soil. Roundworm eggs can live in soil for many years. Once a puppy has ingested the infected soil, the eggs will hatch in his intestines, allowing the worms to live there and grow to adulthood. These adults will then produce more eggs.
Roundworms may be found in your dog’s stool or vomit. They can grow to about 7 inches in length and have a spaghetti-like appearance. If this type of infestation is not detected early and is allowed a chance to develop, a buildup of worms in the intestines can cause an obstruction which may result in death. The symptoms of a severe infestation are: pot-belly appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull coat and weight loss.
Puppies should be dewormed every 2 weeks between 2 and 12 weeks of age, then monthly until he is 6 months old. Once your puppy has reached 6 months of age, he is less susceptible to contracting these worms but should continue yearly exams (or more often if considered high-risk).
Because Roundworm can be transmitted to humans, it is important to promote good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly. Transmission of this dog worm to humans is usually through infected soil, which may be in your backyard or front lawn. Because the eggs are sticky and can easily adhere to hands or clothing, make sure children (and adults) wash their hands after playing outside (especially at a park or playground), after playing with the dog and before it’s time to eat.
Treatment generally involves administering oral medication (dewormer) with follow-up fecal exams and a monthly heartworm medication. Try 1-800-PetMeds – America’s Pet Health Resource
Prevent your dog from contracting roundworms by cleaning up fecal matter from the backyard as often as possible. Also, administering a heartworm medication such as HeartGard – Prescription Heartworm medication for Dogs & Cats is a good preventive. Do not mix wormers and consult your vet before giving your dog any medication. And last, but not least, always remember annual exams.
HOOKWORMS (Ancylostoma caninium)
Like Roundworm, Hookworm harbors in the intestines and can also be transmitted to humans. Hookworms can affect a dog at any age. It is a small, thin worm that hooks on to the intestinal wall and sucks the blood from its victim, which cause anemia and perhaps death. Due to their sharp teeth, they also cause bleeding in the intestines. Hookworms are not visible by the naked eye, therefore should be diagnosed by a vet. As with roundworm, hookworms also live and grow to adulthood in the intestines. They can also be transmitted to pups while in the mother’s uterus or through her breast milk. A dog infected with hookworm would experience bloody stool, anemia, weight loss, pale gums, diarrhea and low energy level. Skin irritation can be a sign of a severe infestation.
Hookworms can be transmitted to humans by penetration of the skin, making it is possible for people to become infected simply by walking barefoot on infected soil. Hookworms, when transmitted to humans, can cause bleeding in the intestines along with abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Treatment usually consists of oral medications (dewormer), follow-up fecal exams, intravenous therapy and, if necessary, a blood transfusion. Hookworm infestation can kill your pup before the worm is ever detected. This is why it is so important to keep up with veterinary visits and exams.
TAPEWORMS (Dipylidium caninum)
The tapeworm gets its name from its long, flat, tape-like appearance. It is yet another parasite that affects the intestines, and like the roundworm, can be seen by the naked eye. Broke pieces of this dog worm would be found in the dog’s fecal matter, which give it a rice-like appearance. These pieces of worm, although broken, can be found (still moving) around the dog’s anus, in his stool or in his bed. Common symptoms of severe tapeworm infestation are abdominal pain, nervousness, severe itching around the anus, vomiting and weight loss.
Transmission to dogs is often caused by the ingestion of infected fleas. Although, humans are susceptible to being infected, a dog cannot transmit the dog worm to a human directly.
Regular over-the-counter deworming medication is not effective in eliminating this type of dog worm. A prescription dewormer is administered orally or by injection (praziquantel or epsiprantel). Consult your vet. Try 1-800-PetMeds – America’s Pet Health Resource
WHIPWORMS (Trichuris vulpis)
Whipworms are long, thin (whip-shaped) dog worms that live in the dog’s colon and are not visible by the naked eye. They attach themselves to the intestinal walls and feed off of them which, in turn, causes intestinal bleeding. Common symptoms of whipworm infestation are anemia, weight loss, flatulence, diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool and lack of energy.
Although whipworms are the most difficult to eliminate among the families of dog worms, there is effective treatment available.
Whipworm is most effectively treated with fenbendazole (panacur), but febantel can also be used. Prescription medications are usually more effective. The treatment lasts for up to 5 days and is repeated after 3 weeks. After this treatment is finished, consult your vet about recommending a heartworm medication (containing milbemycin oxime) as a prophylactic to future infestation. Try 1-800-PetMeds – America’s Pet Health Resource
Along with administering heartworm medication regularly, here are other ways to prevent reinfection:
Remove feces from backyard every few days
Clean yard with a safe cleaning agent (which kills worms)
Have feces tested every 6 months (more often if previously infected)
HEARTWORMS (Dirofilaria immitis)
Heartworm, although highly preventable, has the potential to be fatal, if contracted and left untreated.
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, mostly during the warm months when mosquitoes are most active. The mosquito becomes infected from biting dogs that carry the disease. These dog worms destroy the muscle and tissue of the heart, which can cause congestive heart failure and result in death. At this advanced stage, your dog would experience the typical signs of worms, such as pot-belly, coughing, lack of energy and dull coat.
Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of this disease until it has progressed to an advanced stage. For this reason, it is important to start your dog on a heartworm preventative such as HeartGard – Prescription Heartworm medication for Dogs & Cats at 6 months of age (after the first stage deworming process is complete. Check with your vet). Prevention is the best medicine.
General guidelines for dog worm prevention
When walking your dog in a park, picking up his feces as a standard practice not only prevents soil contamination, but also prevents the spread of many other dog diseases.
Regular visits to the vet and stool testing is a great way to prevent dog worms, as well as other illnesses. Twice-yearly worm testing is recommended. Make sure your dog is tested for worms before starting a heartworm preventative.
High-risk dogs should be screened more often (check with your vet).
Flea control is important because fleas are responsible for the spread of tapeworms.
Most puppies find feces quite appetizing. Keep your dog away from feces: his own as well as others. This is the most common form of worm infestation.
When cleaning your dog’s area, such as his bed or crate, spray it with a strong saltwater solution and let dry. This aids in the prevention of worms.
Before traveling with your dog to obscure destinations, consult your vet of the potential risks to your dog.
Avoid exposing your dog to stray animals, birds and dead rodents, which often harbor immature tapeworms that can mature inside your dog.
Contact your vet if your dog displays any symptoms after receiving worm medication.
This information is NOT intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, dog trainer or pet care professional.
Engage Your Audience – Stimulate the Senses
“All the world’s indeed a stage, And we are merely players, Performers and portrayers, Each another’s audience outside the gilded cage.” Neil Peart-1981 “Limelight.” Rush’s 1981 hit “Limelight” demonstrates the first rule of engaging your audience. It is a paraphrase of Shakespeare’s quote from his comedy “As You Like It” written in 1599.
The act of incorporating established ideas into your original pieces is called transformativeness; it is a great way for an audience to relate to your original work. Transformativeness is legal under the US copyright law as long the original material is created or integrated into a new work that has a different meaning from the original. In the example above, Shakespeare wrote his “All the World’s a Stage” speech to identify the seven ages of a man’s life. Neil Peart paraphrased this quote to level the playing field as a private person when he is not performing. In this case, “All the world’s a stage” has two very different but valuable meanings, the first is a litany of a man’s life and the second a plea for privacy.
The second rule of engaging your audience, as Peart and Shakespeare make light of, is to realize that they are as much a part of the performance as the band or the actors on the stage. Even though a set list may be the same every night, the audience makes every show unique through their interaction with the band. Shakespeare was the first to make this note and Rush reiterated it some 382 years later. I remember running sound for “As You Like It” as a theater credit for college in 1994. The director thought that it would be interesting to present it as a fifties musical. Directors often change the time periods of Shakespeare plays as a way to put a unique twist on the material and modernize it to a more relatable time period. In this way, the audience can better identify with the play.
In the same vein, bands will often learn the local dialect or about local sports teams to better relate to a specific audience. When attending a Rush concert in Pittsburgh, I remember Geddy Lee asking, “How are yinz guys doing tonight?” which is local Pittsburghese. The audience laughed and appreciated the local knowledge that these international performers had acquired.
The other ways that Rush has engaged its audiences over the years, have been both surprising and exhilarating. I remember on the Counterparts tour in 1994, a sequence of cartoons involving two bunnies in a slap stick comedy. A brown bunny was chasing the white bunny through old fashioned clothes ringers and other household objects. The audience was engaged in laughter. At the end of the cartoon, a gun shot went off and the focus changed to the stage where a large inflatable brown bunny wearing a gangster hat had just shot and deflated his white bunny counterpart. The audience let out a mass gasp. Then the bunny angels took the white bunny to bunny heaven and the audience was elated. Then the opening notes of “Tom Sawyer” were played. This quick change of emotions can be equivalent to the rush that one feels when riding on an exciting roller coaster. It goes beyond visual and auditory stimulation into the very core of our emotions.
Rush is a band that is not only seen and heard but also physically felt. I remember the first time that I saw Rush in 1987 on the Hold Your Fire tour. I was standing four rows up from the floor at an arena show. When Neil Peart performed his drum solo, the awesome power was so incredible that it reverberated through the floor into my entire body and my heart beat had to sync up with his drums. It was an all encompassing experience that kept me entirely in the moment. After all, that is what engaging an audience is about, overloading as many senses as possible to ensure the audience’s attention is focused strictly on the band.
My final example is the chicken rotisserie ovens that stood at Geddy’s side during the “Snakes and Arrows” tour. Rush used the strong sense of smell to entice our senses. Throughout the show, a roadie would come out and baste the chickens. The tasty scent of barbecued chicken wafted through the audience. If they had thrown the chickens in the audience, they would not have only have stimulated our sense of sight, sound, feel, smell but taste as well. However, four senses is fairly comprehensive considering most bands only stimulate sight and sound. Bake some brownies for your next gig and see how many people return to see your shows.
Stimulating the senses of your audience is something to be considered when rehearsing. Your songs should be a tight and animated interaction between band members is always a plus. If you can, add a visual element; such as a light show, this will draw the eyes of your audience to the stage. Talking directly to your audience, by name if possible, can also personalize your connection with the audience members, and finally, the senses of smell and taste can be a novel addition to your show as well.
Birthday Party Games for Boys
Boys are rambunctious and like to play hard. Some favorite party games that we have found our boys like. You can modify the rules of the games if you want, just have lots of fun!
Water gun fights
This is like the classic cowboys and Indians game. Boys are split up into teams and armed with squirt guns. The object is to drench the opposing team. No hostages, just full on war. You may want to make sure that they bring extra clothes or only play this game on hot summer games. There are all sorts of water guns available, even the dollar stores have several shapes and sizes available.
Three Legged Race
With this game it is important the boys are close to the same size or one could drag and injure the other. Little boys may want to accompany an adult. Pair up the boys into teams of two. Tie the right leg to the left leg of your teams. The goal is to run together, as a unit, and finish the race first. You can make this interesting by making it an obstacle course or you can have a straightforward race from point A to point B.
War
The boys all have a gun and holster, or a sword and holster, and they play war. I encourage the children not to point their weapons at each other but to pretend to shoot at the feet of their victims and make them dance for you. Imagination usually takes control of the boys and they find a way of becoming super heroes, cowboys, bad guys, whatever their group seems to need and they act out what they can imagine.
Pirate
Boys can dress up in pirate costumes and reenact their favorite pirate movie. From treasure hunts to dueling the games are only limited by your imagination…or the imagination of the children.
Spoon race
It takes a spoon and either an orange, an apple, a tomato, a small ball, or an egg to play this game. The players all have a spoon held in their teeth and they pass the item from one another touching nothing with your hands. The item is supposed to make it to the end without falling but with younger children this may prove to be difficult.
A twist on this game is the players can place the item on the spoon then place their hands behind their backs and run to the finish line without dropping the item.
Home Remedy For Sinus Infection
Sinus infections are one of the most common infections across the world. Sinus attacks are caused by an infection in the sinuses or cavities that are present in the bones near the nose. When there is any swelling in these sinuses because of some infection, breathing becomes difficult, resulting in fever, headaches, and other discomforts. This is known as sinusitis.
Each sinus or cavity in the skull has an opening that allows free exchange of mucus and air. Each sinus is joined to the other by a mucous membrane lining. When there is an infection like hay fever or a disease like asthma, these sinuses and the lining become inflamed, causing air and mucus to be blocked inside or a vacuum to be created. This can cause pressure on the sinus walls, causing severe pain. Millions of dollars are spent for sinus medications and sinus research.
Sinus infections can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Sometimes, the infection may also lead to some brain infections or other chronic problems. Though there is no effective remedy for sinus infections, a lot of comfort can be gained by treating the sinus symptoms like headaches, nasal discharge, nasal blocking, runny nose, ear/neck/cheek/jaw pain, swelling of eyelids, etc. However, acute or chronic sinus infections require prolonged treatments, comprised of antibiotics or therapies like saline nasal rinses, topical/oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and intranasal corticosteroids.
Sinus infections can also be treated by some home remedies. A lot of relief can be obtained by inhaling steam from a vaporizer or a bowl of hot water. Applying a hot or a cold compress over the inflamed area would also provide relief. A decoction of mustard seed powder and water, instilled in the nostrils; eating jalapeno peppers; drinking juice of ripe grapes; applying a paste of cinnamon and water on the forehead; applying paste of ginger and water/milk on the forehead; applying paste of basil leaves, cloves, and dried ginger on the forehead; inhaling steam of eucalyptus oil; and drinking warm tea are all found to be effective in providing some relief. Drinking a lot of water and other fluids would also help. A great deal of rest is also required. However, it is better to consult a specialist if the infection persists.
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