2007
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Eddie Zaragoza of Naim Bran t-shirt company took the ultimate risk from what started as a joke and how consumers are so obsessed with namebrands. Well what started as a good laugh blossomed into a clothing venture, which he charged $14,000 to his personal credit for capital for equipment and initial startup.
The t-shirt brand is ran by him and his girlfriend Connie Ramos out of Tampa, FL sinch March 2007. With the money charged on his credit card they purchased a garment printer (which they plan to upgrade soon) and then open a chain of stores around the country is one of their near future goals.
As of now the t-shirt line has not broken even yet, but plans on hitting that special mark by years end.
Thinking about all the t-shirt brands that exist and the crowded marketplace NaimBrand says their focus is on giving other customers a great experience and showing them that they truly care and not all about just another dollar. They want to nurture and build relationships for the long haul and then the money will follow.
Now time for my opinion considering they have already tapped into a little PR and created some publicity they are definitely on the right track. As far as their designs they are far from anything innovative and truly seem rather bland. Something you could find at Hot topic or Steve & Barry’s. Parody type shirts that don’t seem like you could build?a solid line that could stand the test of time, but that is only one man’s opinion.
Plus the website is very confusing and with the $14,000 bankrolled it seems they could have hired a good designer if customer experience is on the top of their to do list.
Let me know what you guys think? Naim Bran Website
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August 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
The website is not THAT confusing. In fact, it is very simple and could use a little bit more “umph” in creating their brand. More than likely they are trying to make their 14G’s go a bit further by utilizing a fairly simple website with paypal as a merchant. A couple of their designs are a little original in that they are reaching consumers who like, for lack of a better word, “puzzles”.
Who says you have to have flash, music, and all the other little widgets to make your website an “experience” for customers? Naim bran just tryin’ to sell clothes and make some paper…like errbody else.
On a personal note, I am OVER the t-shirt phenomenon (again with the caveat that we are NOWHERE near where we would like to be in that department nor will we ever, I am beginning to think).
August 10th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I never said you had to have flash, music and all the other stuff…but they said in an interview that they wanted the customer to have a enjoyable experience working with them and purchasing their garment.
When I said confusing…I meant like the website is confused as in how a person would be…meaning not organized… I really think it could be put together better.
Everybody is not in it just to make paper…some people actually do it for the love of fashion and the challenge that business brings forth, but to each or owns.
However thanks for your comment. So you decided to give up on the whole t-shirt thing? Don’t give up! It takes time…a lot of time
August 10th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Fred,
It’s a company who buys blanks, prints some stuff on them, and sells them for $15.00. What is all the commotion about ? Enjoyable experience working with them and purchasing their garment ? It’s an Internet t-shirt company ! For the love of fashion ? It’s an Internet t-shirt company ! Let’s check back next year OK .
August 10th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
That is exactly why I wrote about it! I read about it in entrepreneur magazine and didn’t think it was such a big deal, but the fact that he put 14,000 on his personal credit ….made the decision for me to write about them…he atleast took the plunge and that is the least I can say about some people, but I pretty much had the same thoughts about where they will most likely be next year.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
seriously why did you do this article. not trying to knock on them i give them great respect and wish them nothing but the best but Doing an article on a company that invested 14 thousand of his personal credit to start his company, people do that everyday when they try to start a business come on now do we have anything else to write about that has some substance. no disrespect CEO but this is the first article that you have wrote that i find no purpose behind. Ive been reading your blog for almost a year now and i must say it has helped me alot but this one was just not helpful. i know the time and money it takes to start a clothing line and trust me i am well over 14 thousand (of my own money). i am not trying to disrespect anyone and if i did i apologize but from my understanding i thought this blog was supposed to be informative and help motivate young entrepreneurs get a little insight on how to start a clothing line not to promote how much money it took one person to start a t-shirt company. sorry once again if i offended anyone with my words or thoughts.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
WOW Tony…you hurt my feelings with that one
.
I was just trying to tell an entrepreneurs story. This blog is to learn and motivate and inform people of the happenings within the fashion industry and that is what I thought I was doing, but apparently you think otherwise.
Thanks for your comments!
Fred/Dobizo.com
August 11th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Fred,
Don’t be so hard on yourself. I, like you, am interested in reading and knowing all I can about what is going on in the industry. Especially when it comes to new labels and designers. Who wouldn’t be? I think that is called knowing your market and the competition. Some may not consider this competition, but as you mentioned, they are already getting some PR, and how many of us can say the same? So, we need to not discredit any information. When you have the mind of an entrepreneur, all information in your related field is valuable, as well as in the business world as a whole. Who knows what concept, idea or little piece of information you come across it will take to get your mind, your money and just maybe your business flowing! Let’s all keep reading, and learning. Isn’t that what the Dobizo experience is all about?
August 11th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
CEO i did not mean to hurt your feelings and for that i do apologize the only thing that i was trying to say is that i look forward to reading the blog to help me out when i cant answer a particular question orread new info that you post thats all. your blog has helped me so much and i am truly greatful for the time and effort you put into this you are truly a guiding light through this crazy business. like i said i respect everyone for what they do and have to say and i hope i get that in return. i hope there are no hard feelings from anyone. since the first time i logged onto Dobizo i was so thankful that i sent CEO an email thanking him (i hope you still remember) and i will still keep logging on because i love and respect all that is shared on the blog (except for that one post lol) but keep up the great work.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Tony it is all good…I respect everyones opinion and that is all you were giving.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
what is so wrong about an internet only shirt company? The only thing different is that you are dealing DIRECTLY with customers, and in doing so, you can have a more personal relationship with your customers. Yes it does make it harder to sell in the beginning, BUT you don’t have to worry about getting money from your dealers or any of that other stuff. And then you can use that extra money to promote your label even more.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Nothing wrong with being an Internet only t-shirt company at all. I just think that the coverage Fred gave then them lead to some hokey quotes about “doing this for the love of fashion” and making buying a t-shirt from them an enriching experience.
well if anything they can generate publicity. If anything, if you want to glorify a t-shirt line which you retail yourself, you can do it for much less than $ 14,000, and don’t use this amount as a guidleline if you are thinking of doing a similair line.
If they were developing and designing other styles of clothing and retailing themselves and being successful, well then we might have a story.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I didn’t mean to start any controversy. I was simply providing my feedback (at your request) on Naim bran’s website and clothing line. I am happy to see someone obtaining their goals, particularly when those someones utilize 14G of their own money. I would like to see an update of their business in the next year to see where they are because if I am right about the t-shirt phenom, they will have moved into sewn product manufacturing (hopefully).
August 19th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
so today i just randomly Googled our company and this blog popped up. we appreciate the great honest feedback, thank you. its refreshing to read the comments because most people hold back and sugar coat things when they know you’re going to hear it. we knew going into this industry that it was very competitive but we also knew that the future of this company would not solely depend on selling shirts. (plans not disclosed) =)
all businesses have learning curves and even though we’ve only been around since march ‘07, we’ve learned a tremendous amount and we’re aware that’s only the tip of the iceberg. we’re excited for how things are going thus far and yes we’ve also learned that a little revamping of our website is a tad bit over due.
so to other young entrepreneurs here are a few tidbits from a 5 month old company:
(WARNING: this advice is not for the faint of heart and may contain graphic material)
1) whatever you decide to do, have a plan, do your homework, make it happen & don’t wimp out
2) view all criticism as constructive & network like a sorority girl at a frat party (btw, we’re both greek)
3) listen to the insightful song by Ludacris - Eyebrows Down, he had an interesting journey. no really, go listen to it.
although we joke around, we truly believe the above advice has helped us and if employed correctly, may help you in your future endeavors. once again thank you for your honest feedback and we invite you to check back on us in a year and / or feel free to send further feedback.
Eddie & Connie
NaimBran Apparel
http://www.naimbran.com
contact@naimbran.com
“Who says you can’t have it all?”