Help start a small business!

I’m 38 and from the UK! I’m a transgender/queer creator. I have been into arts and crafts for many years and have learned a range of skills that I have used to create things for various stores in the past but now I am really focusing on my business.

I have been focusing on my graphic design and making clothes and designs that I would wear. I couldn’t find many things that I really liked but I knew what vibe I wanted and that’s when I started to create things for myself and make clothes that might also be someone else's vibe. I love to mix Y2K and vaporwave styles and elements together. Things that I liked when I was a teenager and things I am really into style-wise now.

Not to mention as a plus size person it’s harder to find something fun to wear that either doesn’t cost the world or isn’t what large companies deem ‘what the non skinny people are -allowed- to wear’ so I try and find items for my designs that fit larger people, make acessoiros that are adjustable, clothes to mod that will suit those of us with a larger frame. Not to say I won’t be doing as many different sizes as possible, I am passionate about everyone being able to enjoy expressing themselves.

I have always been interested in 90s grunge and goth, as well as other alt-fashion elements. I am also huge into fandom culture, including horror movies, video games, and anime.

My store will be a mix of third-party manufactured items with my designs, giving second-hand thrifted items a second life via being modded, turned into something new, my handmade resin and jewelry/accessories.

It sounds like a real mix doesn’t it? Well, I like to do a range of things as I have many interests! I am also passionate about thrift shopping and saving once-loved items from being in a landfill.

I have been doing craft fairs for years but have struggled to find my sort of market in my small town and one of the reasons for my gofundme is so I can use the funds to travel further/out of town, learn to drive, maybe one day get my own store in a better city with better prospects and a chance to really give myself the shot I have been working towards for many years.

The kick start I need to help propel myself into a future I have been envisioning for so long.

The last year or so I have been further behind than I would have liked because of health changes and house moving as well as other issues, but now I am in a stable place and have the chance to try and work towards my dream.

My plan is to open up my own online store again, become better at self-promo, able to travel, expand and strive towards having my items sold in stores and to one day have my own shop. For once I am telling myself it’s okay to dream big and grab the things I want and create things I really love and I’m proud of.

I want to thank everyone who helps with the gofundme, support or even just shared links/posts. It means alot to me.

The Plan

Buy items I need for a stall front [on top of my existing items]

Shipping supplies

Promo materials [such as new business cards]

Online store fees

Have a catalog made to show stores who might be interested in selling my items for me.

Money towards pitch costs for events

Money towards traveling costs

Trying to get enough money to learn to drive/get a car

Enough stock to fill shelves/stalls at events

The biggest part of what I need is the money for driving lessons and a car. But with even half the amount, I can at least get a good start to affording travel and stock to get started with going to other events and asking around other towns/cities if they will stock my items.

—Starting out costs—

Business cards 250 to start: £15.00

Fixtures for stall: £60

Packaging/Shipping supplies: £100

Craft supplies: £200

Online shop yearly payment: £228

Keychain and sticker order: £100

Print order: £30

Intensive driving course + test: £3000

Renting a table at a local store to sell my items: £130 [I want to do once every so often to help get out there and to raise money

Product booklet for marketing: £35 [10 copies]

Stock of clothes - £££?

1 Set of a smaller amount of items [11] per design in 3 sizes [S range, M range, L range] £103

1 set of full range of items [17] per design in 3 sizes [S range, M range, L range] £308

[Currently have 48 designs/colourways]

1 Set of a good amount of items [11] per design in 1 size £68

1 set of full range of items [17] per design in 1 size £203

Ideally I want to do a mix of items/designs/sizes

Depending on how much money I raise will depend on how much stock I can afford to start with.

Steps already taken

Bought items to use for giveaways to promote

Items to have modeled to show some of my designs and styles of clothing I can do.

Already selling on ETSY

Created a website

Have a good amount of handmade items [Resin, jewelry, keychains, bracelets, stickers, prints]

All my socials have been created and have some past posts

Handed out a number of business cards while doing events in my local town

Have the supplies to make things such as sewing/craft supplies. Tools and so forth as I have been crafting for years

A home office for my business

My website