Kidz Brandz

www.KidzBrandz.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

Offers US Designer Labelled Kids Clothing at up to 75% below average retail prices. These clothes are from factory outlets in the US and are all brand new.

2. When and why did you start your business?

Kidz Brandz started in January 2008. The original idea came after travelling to the US and seeing the great range of clothing for kids on offer, that we can't always get here. Also I needed something that fit around my kids commitments so I could work from home.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with your business?

Personally owning a business has developed me in all sorts of areas. I've become more confident talking to people, all levels of customer service, choosing and buying stock, technical aspects of running a website and a business.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

The main challenge I find is trying to do something that you've never done before. You have an idea but can't translate that into reality, or your capabilities only go so far. Costs can restrict you in a small business so you have to get creative to solve those issues. For example, there were technical ideas that I had for the website, but had no idea how to do it. I've since linked with council and school programs to help deal with some of these issues.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

There are two aspects to my business; online and offline. Online I've found that newsletters and 'bargain shopper' style newsletters have worked well. Sometimes online communities help with word of mouth as well. Offline I've found that flyers in letterboxes work a treat, over and above print media.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

From the beginning we tried newspapers and print media. It was such a random targeted thing that rarely yielded interesting results that it was put aside to try other methods.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

Hard to narrow it down to one thing!! I do enjoy the buying trips in the US, when I go over to select what stock I'm going to carry for the next few months! But I love the flexibility it gives me to be there for my kids.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

Successful Creative people inspire me, I like attending seminars to get ideas from their experience. My local council run a lot of training seminars for small business people and I find it very beneficial!

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

I'd like to build up what I have and understand marketing a lot better, its one of the things I tend to fall into rather than have clear targets and ideas.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Get good legal and financial advice when you start so that you think through everything properly. An idea is great but its not enough to sustain you.

Visit us at: www.KidzBrandz.com.au