SILVER JACKET
ENTREPRENEUR CLASSROOM
12
SESSIONS
11
Videos
LAUNCH
Skill Level
2:30h
Duration
English
Language
Empower Yourself.
TAKE A LOOK AT your
NEW learning path.
5:30: Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom: Erika Prosper
Sr. Director of Customer Insights at HEB/First Lady of San Antonio
Phone:
Email: prosper.erika@heb.com
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: Carlos Acosta
Business Advisor at LiftFund
Office:888.215.2373 ext. 1258
Cell:210.919.5503
Introduction to the Business Canvas and the Business Plan
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” These wise words spoken by Benjamin Franklin are applicable not only to everyday life but also to your small business. Throughout the12-weeks, you, our Silver Jackets, will be fleshing out your business plan. In this first session, Carlos will lead a discussion on leadership, decision making, and doing your research. What does it take to be a quality business owner? Silver Jackets will discuss their passions and realistic vision for your company. You will gain help narrowing down your business goals and begin your business plan by starting with your Business Canvas exercise.
Assignments
Commit to success by starting your Business Canvas Exercise. This will set the foundation for beginning your actual business plan in the next session. Your business plan is the foundation of this 12-week program. Each week you will add to your business plan, ultimately having a professional tool ready for you to use and refer to upon Business Launch.
The discussion will include designing your:
-Company Profile
-Company Mission Statement
-Company Vision
-Company Timeline
Homework
-Finish Business Canvas
-Complete Sections I and II of the Business Plan template
Official Start
Section I
–Describe who you are, your business name, and how much funding you need along with what the funding will do to grow your business.
Key Questions to Answer:
–What does your business do?
-What market need does your business solve?
-What are the 4-7 reasons our business will be successful?
-How much capital, if any, are you seeking for your business? What are you going to use the capital for?
Section II
Company Profile
–What is your business name? Do you have a logo? Do you have a tagline?
-What type of legal entity is your business filed as? (Sole- Proprietorship, Corporation, LLC, etc.)
-When was the business founded? (What date was the legal entity filed?)
-Where are you located? Please provide the current or proposed address.
Company Mission Statement
-A statement that illustrates the “Mission” is an opportunity to clearly define the business goals and what the business does for its interested parties.
-What does your business do? Why are you in business? For whom are you in business?
Company Vision Statement
–Where do you aim to be in the future?
Company Timeline
-Existing businesses- include company history and any major milestones
–Start-up businesses- include specific steps you will take in order to launch
–Both- goals for future growth in upcoming years
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30 Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom: Roger Canamar
International Fashion Designer
Phone: 714-654-0613
Email: racflexx@gmail.com
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: Carlos Acosta
Business Advisor at LiftFund
Office:888.215.2373 ext. 1258
Cell:210.919.5503
Introduction to the Business Plan
In this second session, Carlos will introduce to you the foundation of the entire program, Your Official Business Plan Template. This template will be the outline for all your homework and constructing this template is the ultimate goal of the next 12-weeks. Throughout the 12-week program, you will construct each section for homework, working diligently towards building your Business Plan one section at a time. By the time we are close to the end of the 12-weeks you should be gearing up for your Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, and Official Launch or Re-Launch of your new fashion business to the public.
Assignments
Foundation of your business plan:
-Management Team Members
-Staff Analysis
-Advisors & Mentors
-Operations Planning
Homework:
Complete section III of your business plan:
Management Team Members
–Who are the owners?
-Who manages/ will manage the business?
-Describe the owner’s relevant background skills and experience. What is / will be their roles in the business. Please provide the resume(s) of owners and key staff members in the appendix.
Staff Analysis
–Who do you still need to hire? What will their responsibilities be?
Advisors and Mentors
–Who in your network would be a good mentor for your business?
-Who can you ask for advice and guidance (business advisors, accountants, attorneys, etc.)?
Operations
–What are the days/times and locations you are open?
Begin Financial Projects Sheets
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30: Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom: Jesse Daniels
Head of Design & Brand at San Antonio Shoemakers
Phone: 313-595-7999
Email: jesse.daniels@sas-shoes.net
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: KatheLehman Meyer
Director of the Academic Media Center at St. Mary’s University
Phone: 210-431-4345
Email: KLehmanmeyer@St.MaryTX.Edu
Guest speaker to discuss the importance of branding and his experience at SAS as the head of Brand. Will help students with a Q&A.
Assignments
Know your brand:
-Describe your brand.
-How will you influence customers to associate a positive image with your brand?
-What is your value proposition? (aspirational stages)
-Who is your audience?
-Where does your brand fit?
-Research your name in the marketplace
Marketing and Sales Strategy:
-How will you promote? How effective are your handles now if you already have them?
-What online and offline channels do you use?
-Choose effective handles or change them, choose effective hashtags that serve long term.
-How much do you/will you plan to spend on marketing?
-How will you track your efforts and measure results?
Homework
-Complete Section IV of the Business Plan:
Strategy
–How do/will you promote your products/services to create sales?
-What online and offline channels will you use (website, social media,referrals, print material, etc.)?
-How much do/will you spend on marketing and sales?
-How will you track your efforts and measure results?
Branding
Branding is your promise to your customers. It includes your logo, tagline, color scheme, and messaging. It also strongly conveys how you want your customers to perceive you. It is important to create and employ consistently, a brand that is memorable and relevant to your business.
-Briefly describe your brand, (what you stand for, unique advantages you want your customers to associate you with, etc.).
-How will you influence your customers to associate a positive image with your brand?
–Designing branding.
-Solidify all handles. Think about the long term goals.
-Choose brand colors and identify their #RGB color codes for consistency.
-Choose the brand font(s). Gain help in conceptualizing, designing, and perfecting your logo
-Insert starter branding into starter Branding Board
PATCH EARNED
Turn in Sections I, II, III, and IV of your Business Plan and your starter Branding Board to earn your first patch
Brand Identity
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30pm-6:00pm Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom:
FROM WHERE?
Phone: ?
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator(s): Legal: Rebecca Smith
Rebecca Smith Law Firm
(210) 209-5556
RebeccaSmithLawFirm@Gmail.Com (LiftFund Referral)
Assignments
Guest Speaker will give an Intro to risk management and how you manage risk. Will discuss what kind of insurances will you need. Things to think about: Theft, Fire, Workers who get hurt. How will you protect yourself and keep risk low within your business?
An overview of the legal considerations you need to think about in relation to your business:
-Sole Proprietor or LLC?
-Identify and protect your intellectual property
-Business Insurance
-IP Protection in the fashion and apparel industry
-Patents
-Industry Design or Design Patent
-Trademarks
-Infringement
-Copyright
-How to keep trade secrets in your business
Homework
Register Umbrella company, DBA company name Downtown.
Place this paperwork in your TFII Binder
(Complete Sections I, II, III, and IV of Business Plan if you have not already)
PATCH EARNED
DBA
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30: Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom: Lisa Weller
Twirl Salon Owner / ten years in business / two locations: SA & Austin
(210) 426-1482
Guest speaker will talk about being a business owner for over a decade and how she identified the products and services that her customer would identify with and buy.
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: ?????
TITLE / BUSINESS
PHONE
Assignments
-Students will identify what their product/services are
-List them
-Develop hard costs / COGS
-Develop pricing
Homework
Complete Section V of Business Plan
Products and Services
–Please list your products and services (include your menu, brochure, etc., in appendix).
-Please include the price for each product/service.
-Provide information on the cost of goods or services sold. How much does it cost you to produce your product or service?
Complete Section VI of Customers
Type(s) of Customer
–To whom does your business serve? (Individual consumers, commercial customers, government agencies, etc.)
Customer Profile
–Who is your ideal customer? Create a profile of who your business services including lifestyle, disposable income, education etc.
-Do you have multiple customer segments?
-Do you see any trends within your customer base?
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30: Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom: Elsa Fernandez
Owner of Eye Candy Boutique
210-363-3572
Elsa@HeyEyeCandy.Com
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: ????
TITLE / BUSINESS
Phone
Assignments
Students will gain a crash course in the Photoshop basics that Sole Proprietors need in order to gain independence with frequently used skills: Layers, Resizing, Photo Retouching, Color Alteration, Color Correcting, Heal Tool, Text.
Homework
Refine your Branding Board:
-Refine logo with transparent background
-Define Banding Colors
-Resize logo exercise: Hi Def to 800 px to 150px
-Design website favicon
Students will then design business cards and order them.
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: Burgundy Woods
Senior Digital Fashion Editor & Website Designer, Style Lush TV
210-350-0333
Burgundy@StyleLushTV.Com
Assignments
Understanding how your website will play into your business and aid in promotion and sales. Start thinking about your Industry and the Competition. Gain insight from a web developer as to how to use this tool to the fullest extent to stand out from your competition. What is Hosting? What is a Domain? Learn about free tools that will help you with your business presence online.
–Solidify and Purchase Domain with GoDaddy
-Solidify handles (so they are all the same)
-Solidify a Business Gmail
-Register with Siteground Hosting
-Create a Google Business Profile
-Create a Google Analytics Profile
Homework
Website
–Solidify and Purchase Domain with GoDaddy
-Solidify handles (so they are all the same)
-Solidify a Business Gmail
-Register with Siteground Hosting
-Create a Google Business Profile
-Create a Google Analytics Profile
-Open a bank business bank account. Will need this soon for class.
Complete Section VII of the Business Plan
Industry andCompetition
Market Need
–What customer need(s) are you fulfilling?
Market Fundamentals
IndustryOverview
–In what industry do you compete?
-What is the size of the industry (local, national, global)?
-Are there specific regulations, licenses, or other credentials important to your industry?
Market Trends
–What are the key market trend(s) and how do they affect your business(growth trends, seasonality, consumer preferences)?
-RelevantMarket Size
-How large is your target market (the number of customers who can realistically buy from you)?
Competitive Analysis
–Who are your direct and indirect competitors? Please include the name of the business, location, products/services they sell and the price range. SeeSection VII for example.
-What are their strengths and weaknesses?
-How do you compare to your competitors (price, service, features)?
Competitive Advantage
–Based upon what you know about those competing in your industry; wheredoes your business fit and how does your business stand out (how are youbetter/different)?
-What are your competitive advantages (aspects that are unique to youand your business)?
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30-8:00 pm Co-Facilitator: John Nana
Dryden Lab WebDeveloper (Maestro Referral)
210-255-0951
Assignments
Continuing your website: Understanding how your website will play into your business and aid is promotion and sales. Gain insight from a web developer as to how to use this tool to the fullest extent. What is Hosting? What is a Domain? Learn about free tools that will help you with your business presence online.
–Solidify and Purchase Domain with GoDaddy
-Solidify handles (so they are all the same)
-Solidify a Business Gmail
-Register with Siteground Hosting
-Create a Google Business Profile
-Create a Google Analytics Profile
Homework
–Solidify and Purchase Domain with GoDaddy
-Solidify handles (so they are all the same)
-Solidify a Business Gmail
-Register with Siteground Hosting
-Create a Google Business Profile
-Create a Google Analytics Profile
-Open a bank business bank account. Will need this for the next class.
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: Burgundy Woods
Senior Digital Fashion Editor & Website Designer, Style Lush TV
310-424-0074
Burgundy@StyleLushTV.Com
Assignments
Understanding how to not co-mingle funds and separate your personal income from your professional income. Learn how to manage your accounting on the best software for sole proprietors or single-member LLCs.
-Setting up your personal and business bank accounts in your profile
-How to track your miles
-Set up your taxes
-Learn how to create reports: Mileage log, Profit and loss (PnL), Business and personal expenses, Receipts, Tag Totals, Tax summary, Tax details
-Set up your invoices template and prepare to invoice clients/customers
Homework
-Import past bank transactions
-Go through transactions and categorize them correctly
Complete Financial Projects Sheets
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
5:30pm: Guest Speaker/Words of Wisdom: Jules Aldaz
Wardrobe Stylist for Great Day SA-KENS5
Phone: 214-448-7452
Email: Style@jules.style
6:00pm-8:00pm Co-Facilitator: BurgundyWoods
Senior Digital Fashion Editor at Style Lush TV
(310) 424-0074
Burgundy@StyleLushTV.Com
Assignments
-Learn how to write a press release/receive your template
-Receive starter Media List
-Finish taking headshots
Homework
-Perfect Press Release in preparation for your ribbon-cutting ceremony
PATCH EARNED
Media Relations
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
Assignments
Final session to complete and finish you business plan and check off all items on your Progress Report. Preparation for Certificate Ceremony and Plan Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting
Homework
-Complete Business Plan
-Press Release
-Pencil In Date for Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening
*This 12-week program is designed to build off the previous week’s assignments. It is vital to finish all homework before the next session and to bring it to the class completed. Our ability to help you in class and move you forward is based on your completed homework. Please come to class prepared.
Video 2h
Certificate Ceremony
Location TBD
What past silver jackets are saying
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