IndexIntroductionPart 1Part 2Challenges of a start upDedicationSelecting the target marketOperationsMarketingConclusionIntroductionEvery person comes to a stage in life where they have to evaluate a number of different options and choose one for their future commitment. The other day I shared a lunch date with my childhood friend Brian at an off-campus coffee shop and we discussed the changing fashion trends both on and off campus. Brian is a science nerd, always interested in new developments in the world of avionics. Brian, in his cheeky ways, calls me “nista,” a sarcastic nickname he gave me because of my deep love for clothing and fashion. Interestingly, Brian is right. As we continued our conversation over french fries and crispy chicken wings, it occurred to me that I needed to start thinking more about my dream of running my own clothing store in the not-so-distant future. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayPart 1I have an unparalleled love for fashion and clothing, a love that has grown since my childhood. I had once considered pursuing a career in science, just to enjoy competing with Brian, but that was in the ignorance of adolescence. At the moment I have decided; I will open my own clothing store. I didn't just get up one morning and choose my profession, no. It took a lot of soul-searching and information searching to realize that my passion for clothing and fashion can be turned into an income-generating business for me and perhaps many other people. I have spent countless hours on fashion blogs and online fashion magazines searching for new information and updating my current knowledge. The biggest obstacle for me was the lack of adequate funds to subscribe to major periodicals. Despite my inability to afford subscriptions to major fashion publications, I have been fortunate enough to receive occasional copies of fashion magazines from family friends, as well as rare library specimens. According to Kamphausen (2014), the best lessons and inspirations for a businessman are learned during the course of the venture. The success or failure of a business depends, for the most part, on the entrepreneurial ambition and resilience of the business owner. Personally I believe I have great resistance and desire for success. Operating a successful business, however, requires formal skills in communication and financial management. Furthermore, a good clothing store operator should have in-depth knowledge of both conventional and emerging trends, in order to fine-tune the business to always maintain relevance. In this regard, I intend to take the relevant academic courses and acquire all the necessary knowledge. A college education is especially necessary for entrepreneurs entering a rapidly evolving market like the apparel industry. Businesses are managed to make profits for the owner (Kotler, 2007). I also want to earn a satisfactory income from my future business activities. On the surface, it might seem like the apparel industry is crowded given the large number of retail and merchandise stores that have opened. I've already done my research and discovered that there is a huge untapped market in American cities. Success in the apparel industry, as I have discovered, comes from proper business planning and customer selection. The trends offashions are constantly changing and an entrepreneur will always get customers. I already have the right attitude and am pursuing the necessary academic program. I plan to be ready to start my own business even before I finish my studies.Part 2To find relevant information and prepare for my future occupation, I searched for a conversational audience of a renowned clothing store owner. I had to prepare well to make sure the opportunity was well exploited. I had the question I wanted answers to and I wrote them down. Well, the interview was quite informative as my interviewee had great knowledge of the apparel industry, having been in the industry for nine years. Naturally, any entrepreneur is thrilled when he encounters longevity in the desired business sector. Tony was informative and inspiring to talk to. Tony has an in-depth knowledge of fashion trends both locally and internationally. Furthermore, Tony has his hands firmly on the reins of his business. As he informed me, “Businesses don't always go according to the owner's plans.” From the interview I gathered a lot of useful information which I will present in the next section. The Challenges of a Start Up I started by asking Tony what it was like when he was starting his clothing store business. Tony informed me that the startup was not as easy as he had anticipated. The country's economy had begun to contract and consumers' spending power had been severely eroded. However, Tony had already decided to start the business and had already secured the financing. When Tony talked about financing, I realized that I was very ignorant about raising capital to start my business. I hadn't given much thought to the idea of ​​financing. I asked Tony about financing his startup and he informed me that he used bank credit for his startup. He had presented a very detailed business plan to the loan officer and this contributed greatly to the success of his loan application. Tony informed me that many businesses expand because they have good credit backing. Not all potential entrepreneurs can raise the capital needed for a business from personal or family savings. A good start-up business would also benefit from the support of a good financier to absorb the risks and uncertainties that arise from business operations (Tiffany, 2001). The discussion with Tony made me appreciate the important role that research plays in supporting the development of a good business plan. While the entrepreneur may have a very in-depth knowledge of the operational details of the proposed business, it is always helpful to seek out more information about the venture in order to develop a formidable and financially sensible business plan. In addition to the challenges of raising capital, Tony also had trouble identifying the right location for his business and, strangely, deciding on a name for the company. At this point, I was already convinced that Tony was very knowledgeable about how a clothing store works and, therefore, I asked him to walk me through the factors one should consider when starting a clothing business. Dedication According to Tony, the most part begins nascent companies fail in the first year of foundation. Researchers also made the same observation. Tony attributes this failure to what he called “starting a business to prove that you can also be an entrepreneur.” The process of starting a business should be well thought out. A business is a risk and the person who starts it must be prepared to face and overcome enormous challenges. A clothing company also has risks and, therefore, demands.