This is how I greet new members when they buy apparel from my company and become apart of our community. When you join Out Of Shape Fitness you then become a Shaper! Now letâs jump back into the conversation from episode 1 as a new business owner and you are seeking guidance to help you move to the next level.
I want to share with you the email conversation that I had with Jeff Henderson founder of &Them. This is my first step in trying to gain valuable knowledge that will allow me to grow as a leader and move this company to a recognized brand.
My name is Dwayne Bester and I am the founder and CEO of a startup apparel company called Out Of Shape Fitness. I found out about your company while reading an article on LinkedIn.(bizjournal.com)
First, I was captivated by the name of your company. I was like wow! Here is a guy who thinks as I do, adding just the shock value of a name which in our culture we use affectionately to group people together. Brilliant! I was like that in naming OOSF.
When I looked at being out of shape, it really was more than just three words that have always been used to view ourselves negatively. The fact is, being out of shape is a lifestyle. We can be out of shape spiritually, emotionally, physically, of course, and financially. But, we can work out of that shape and into the best shape that fits our lives.
So let me get to why Iâm emailing you at this hour from Chicago. I really would love if you took a moment of your time and viewed my site. In my heart, I feel that my brand can be the next wave of social consciousness using Apparel as the sounding board. I have done 95% of the work myself without a major budget in place or with a solid team. I have one guy who has done a lot of marketing campaigns and strategy for Nike and many other major companies and along with my loving wife who allows me to still dream. Â The next level I want to reach with this company I know I need more.
Hopefully, this email can be opened and viewed with an open mind and allow the true story of this brand to resonate in your soul. I do hope to speak with someone soon. Thank you for the time.
Appreciate you taking the time to reach out. We know that starting a business from the ground up is a daunting task. Youâve put a lot work into building a platform to tell your story. Congrats on that alone.
Iâm not exactly sure how our team could support your venture or if youâve decided on what your next steps might be. Checking out your site, it looks like youâve got a lot going on. While our team isnât equipped to tackle startups that arenât funded, we do want to help entrepreneurs like yourself put your best foot forward. Again, we know itâs not easy, so weâre happy to offer the same critique we deliver to larger businesses. We may not be able to offer direct solutions/services, but we can give you critical feedback/steps that you should be able to put into action yourself.
Just remember, our feedback is no different than what youâd hear from a trainer - brutally honest. However, our views are simply our opinions. Our years of experience donât always mean weâre right. We just bet that we are.
We like the energy you are building with. Very positive. So let us know what youâd like to do and we will see how we can help.
The above is a great start! The lesson from this is not to be afraid to ask. Period! A lot of us are too afraid to ask or think we know everything it is to know about running a business. Find a mentor in the field you are attempting to get in and be teachable. Catch you Monday! Until then, keep shaping!
