Business plan for online clothing business

(The following all amounts are in international currency you can convert into your own domestic currency)

Executive Summary

The Year 1 season will be a great one for women looking for distinctive outdoor clothing online. Liquid Culture will eliminate the middle man and offer creative outdoor clothing that is both functional and beautiful. The savings are passed on to our customers who will be paying a fraction of what they normally do for current retreated fashion in stores.

Liquid Culture's Year 1 line consists of the best fabric, designs and styling on the market. Larry Wilson and Maggie Granger, co-owners of Liquid Culture, have fifteen years of experience between them in the outdoor garment industry. Maggie has been a senior clothing designer for Manic Woman Clothing for the past seven years.  Larry has been the website administrator for South Face the past eight years.

Another strength of Liquid Culture is that it will not maintain any clothing inventory. Liquid Culture has contracted with Magic Clothing Company, located in Los Angeles, California, to produce and ship all Liquid Culture clothing.  Our design team will work closely with the Magic's Indonesian-based manufacturing facilities. The Magic Clothing Company will maintain the inventory and will produce sufficient product to meet the planned demand.

1.1 Mission

Liquid Culture's mission is to present consumers with designs, styling and clothes that energizes any outdoor activity. Whether it be snowboarding, running along the beach, or drifting down a river, Liquid Culture has comfortable, durable clothing that will look and feel wonderful.

1.2 Keys to Success

• Accessible website that is entertaining to surf. Like a trip to your favorite store where you always find something new that you want.
• Establishing a strong advertising campaign in a traditional media vehicle; i.e. magazines.
• Excellent vendor relationship that will facilitate quality manufacturing of Liquid Culture's clothing and quick shipment of orders.
• Acquiring an excellent design staff.

Company Summary

Liquid Culture will offer creative women's outdoor clothing, online, that is both functional and beautiful. Larry Wilson and Maggie Granger, co-owners of Liquid Culture, will create a cost-effective operation that will eliminate the cost of inventory by having a third-party, Magic Clothing Company, handle all manufacturing and shipping of clothing to the customer. Liquid Culture will process the order and collect the payment online. The order will then be sent to Magic Clothing Company to be filled and shipped. Liquid Culture will focus on clothing design and marketing of its products.

2.1 Start-up Summary

Liquid Culture's start-up costs consists mostly of design and marketing. Liquid Culture has $260,000 in investments and $200,000 in a short-term loan.

START-UP FUNDING

Start-up Expenses to Fund

$58,500

Start-up Assets to Fund

$401,500

TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED

$460,000

Assets

Non-cash Assets from Start-up

$0

Cash Requirements from Start-up

$401,500

Additional Cash Raised

$0

Cash Balance on Starting Date

$401,500

TOTAL ASSETS

$401,500

Liabilities and Capital

Liabilities

Current Borrowing

$0

Long-term Liabilities

$200,000

Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills)

$0

Other Current Liabilities (interest-free)

$0

TOTAL LIABILITIES

$200,000

Capital

Planned Investment

Investor 1

$130,000

Investor 2

$130,000

Other

$0

Additional Investment Requirement

$0

TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT

$260,000

Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses)

($58,500)

TOTAL CAPITAL

$201,500

TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES

$401,500

Total Funding

$460,000

START-UP

Requirements

Start-up Expenses

Legal

$1,000

Stationery etc.

$500

Brochures

$0

Consultants

$5,000

Insurance

$0

Rent

$2,000

Leased Office Equipment

$10,000

Computer Equipment/Software

$30,000

Website

$10,000

Other

$0

TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES

$58,500

Start-up Assets

Cash Required

$401,500

Start-up Inventory

$0

Other Current Assets

$0

Long-term Assets

$0

TOTAL ASSETS

$401,500

Total Requirements

$460,000

2.2 Company Ownership

Liquid Culture is owned by Larry Wilson and Maggie Granger.

Products

Liquid Culture will sell women's outdoor clothing online. We will offer outdoor clothing  for almost every type of active use. We will focus on the seasonal clothing demands of our customers including the following:

• Fleece outerwear.
• Rain gear, waterproof breathables, as well as coated nylon.
• Synthetic clothing for outdoor activities.
• Hats.
• Shorts.
• Pants.
• Shirts.

you may add other products as per requirements

Market Analysis Summary

In the past 15 years, women's outdoor wear has grown into a billion dollar niche in the clothing industry. The popularity of the Internet has launched a number of online stores for women's outdoor wear but no company is exclusively selling their products online.  There are a number of reasons for this but the strongest is that the concept is new and untested.  Will customers buy something that they wear that can only be seen online?  We believe they will, if the process is fun and the products are great and cheap. 

The key is marketing our target customers in the traditional advertising medium for fashion, i.e. women fitness magazines.

The ads will focused on the eliminating the middle man in your clothing budget and stepping up to the distinctive style of Liquid Culture. The company logo will also be an important marketing tool in bringing customers to our website.

4.1 Market Segmentation

Liquid Culture will be focusing on two distinct groups of women that purchase outdoor clothing:

• Women 17-25 years of age: Youth drives the market so this is the important group to attract to the website.  They have less money than the older group so we must give them what they want for less.  The key is to have inexpensive selections in each clothing group that have the popular cut. The company's logo attractiveness to this group can not be stressed strongly enough. The initial small purchases will grow larger over time.

• Women 26-40 years of age: They are the core group that will drive Liquid Culture's success.  This target group is responsible for the growth of outdoor women's wear.  They will be harder to pull into the website. Once there, the key will be promoting the quality, attractiveness and savings.  In addition, we will have to assure that the purchase will fit the way the customer wants it to.  It will be crucial that the return policy is hassle-free and speedy.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Liquid Culture will win market share in the women's outdoor clothing niche by aggressively pursuing visibility with its target customers.

5.1 Competitive Edge

Liquid Culture's competitive edge is its focus on the process than on product.  The website is just the endpoint of an entire marketing program to drive customers' interest in Liquid Culture.  Though we have confidence in the quality and attractiveness of our products, we know that building the road to the website is our most important job. 

Larry Wilson's experience with South Face is pivotal to the success of Liquid Culture's website.  South Face's website averaged five million hits a year and is considered one of the most accessible and attractive websites in the clothing industry.  His experience is invaluable in assuring customers' satisfaction with the shopping experience online.

Larry will introduce a new clothing measurement feature that is fun to use and will reduce customers confusion on how the clothing will fit.  This will increase customer satisfaction and reduce returns.

Maggie Granger will be in charge of the clothing design team. As senior clothing designer for Manic Woman Clothing, she watched the Manic Woman's sales grow by 20% for the past five years.  Her clothing designs have been praised in the industry and have spawned many imitators.  With Liquid Culture, Maggie is ready to change how quality women's outdoor clothing is sold. 

Liquid Culture's agreement with Magic Clothing Company is another strong competitive advantage.  Our design team will work closely with the Magic's Indonesian-based manufacturing facilities. The Magic Clothing Company will maintain the inventory and will produce sufficient product to meet the planned demand. This will keep production costs low for products and put a cap on Liquid Culture's overhead.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

Liquid Culture's marketing strategy is a simple one.  In women's fitness magazines like Self, Shape and Strive, Liquid Culture will introduce customers to their products and website. We will also advertise in CosmoGirl and Ellegirl magazines.

For the first two months, Liquid Culture will offer 10% off for all purchases under $100 and 15% off all purchases over $100. We will offer the same discount strategy three more times during the year when new seasonal clothing is introduced.

5.2.1 Pricing Strategy

Liquid Culture's pricing strategy is to pass on most of the store mark-up to the consumer in reduced price for clothing.  This advantage has no negative impact on our sales profit and will also absorb some of the initial cost of offering discounts during our first three months of operation.

5.3 Sales Strategy

Liquid Culture will launch a $245,000 ad campaign targeted at our core customer groups. The focus of the ads will be to "keep the money you give to the middleman" and use it to get outdoors and enjoy life.  Liquid Culture's attractive logo will be heavily displayed in these ads. We estimate it will take most of the year to build our sales to the point where we begin to show a profit. 

Liquid Culture will offer discounts at various times of the year to even out seasonality and build initial awareness of the website.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

We expect sales to increase at a steady rate for the first year. It will begin slow as we open, but will quickly pick up as our customer base increases. Liquid Culture will see a sales increase of 38% between the first and second year. We feel that we can accomplish this steady goal and maintain this amount of sales.

Management Summary

Larry Wilson will manage the marketing team, as well as the development and administration of Liquid Culture's website.  Maggie Granger will be in charge of the clothing design team. She will also manage the production of the designs by Magic Clothing Company.

6.1 Personnel Plan

Besides Larry and Maggie, Liquid Culture will have a staff of eight:

• Three member clothing design team.
• Web administrator.
• Two member marketing team.
• Office manager.
• Accountant.

7.1 Break-even Analysis

Our break-even analysis is based on running costs, the costs we incur to keep the business running, not on theoretical fixed costs that would be relevant only if we were closing. Fixed costs include payroll, rent, utilities, and marketing costs.

7.2 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table and chart are the projected profit and loss for three years.

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following chart are the projected cash flow for three years.

7.5 Business Ratios

We expect to maintain healthy ratios for profitability, risk, and return. These ratios have been determined by the 5137 industry, Women's and Children's Clothing, as found in the Standard Industry Code (SIC) Index.

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Business plan for online business

Executive Summary

Nature's Candy is an e-commerce company designed to become the market leader in Web based sales of naturalistic and homeopathic nutritional supplements.  The company is located in Portland, OR.  Although many Internet companies have recently failed, the Internet is still poised to support e-commerce retailers.  Most of the dot-coms failed because of too easy access to capital and unproven business models with no true revenue streams.  Nature's Candy will overcome these problems with an easy-to-use website and an efficient distribution system.

In the next three years Nature's Candy intends to create an icon e-commerce brand through laser-focused marketing and will grow to $319,000 in revenue.

1.1 Objectives

Nature's Candy's objectives for the first three years are:

• To make Nature's Candy an icon brand.
• To develop an effective, well placed e-commerce site for sales of homeopathic and naturopathic products.
• To launch a laser-focused marketing campaign in a controllable and measurable market that will drive customer's toward the company's website.
• To create an infrastructure for the fulfillment of Web-based sales.

1.2 Mission

Nature's Candy's mission is to provide the finest in natural supplements using the Internet to lower the consumer's cost.  We exist to attract and maintain customers.  When we adhere to this maxim, everything else will fall into place.  Our services will exceed the expectations of our customers.  

1.3 Keys to Success

Nature's Candy's keys to success are:

• Marketing.
• Web design.
• Product quality.
• Service.

Company Summary

Nature's Candy's goal is to become the e-commerce market leader in sales and marketing of naturopathic and homeopathic dietary supplements.

2.1 Start-up Summary

Nature's Candy will incur the following start-up costs:

• Legal fees for the business formation.
• Office supplies.
• Web development.
• Telephone line installation.
• Desk, chair, filing cabinets.
• Shelving units for inventory storage.
• Computer system with Microsoft Office, QuickBooks Pro, CD-RW, printer, and a broadband Internet connection.

Start-up Requirements

Start-up Expenses

      Legal                                                $1,000

      Stationery etc.                                   $200

      Web Development                              $10,000

     Total Start-up Expenses                       $11,200

Start-up Assets

Cash Required                                       $65,600O

other Current Assets                              $0

Long-term Assets                                  $3,200

TOTAL ASSETS

$68,800

Total Requirements

$80,000

START-UP FUNDING

Start-up Expenses to Fund

$11,200

Start-up Assets to Fund

$68,800

TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED

$80,000

Assets

Non-cash Assets from Start-up

$3,200

Cash Requirements from Start-up

$65,600

Additional Cash Raised

$0

Cash Balance on Starting Date

$65,600

TOTAL ASSETS

$68,800

Liabilities and Capital

Liabilities

Current Borrowing

$0

Long-term Liabilities

$0

Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills)

$0

Other Current Liabilities (interest-free)

$0

TOTAL LIABILITIES

$0

Capital

Planned Investment

Quack

$45,000

Stewart

$35,000

Other

$0

Additional Investment Requirement

$0

TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT

$80,000

Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses)

($11,200)

TOTAL CAPITAL

$68,800

TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES

$68,800

Total Funding

$80,000

2.2 Company Ownership

Nature's Candy is a privately held Oregon corporation.  Quack Vendor will be the majority owner.  The company intends to recruit a sophisticated team of owner board members. The board members will be granted shares of stock to provide an incentive for their performance on the board.

Products

Nature's Candy will market and sell private label (manufactured by a company that places the retailer's name on the packaging) naturopathic homeopathic dietary supplements to individual consumers via the Internet.  These products will include ginseng, ginkoba, and various antioxidants.  After year one additional products will be offered.

Market Analysis Summary

The market for vitamins and nutritional supplements has grown to over $6.5 billion annually. Herbal sales alone are growing by 20% per year.  This market is lead by the aging Baby Boomer who is concerned with his/her mortality.  Also, there has been a paradigm shift of perception of nutritional supplements.  Homeopathic and naturopathic products are seen as normal.  In addition, positive medical results from major studies have further legitimized these products.

4.1 Market Segmentation

A significant trend in America, and abroad, is that people are taking a more proactive interest in their health.  This is exemplified by the increase of health clubs and health club memberships.  People are looking to avoid invasive surgery and powerful pharmaceuticals. People are taking an active role in the maintenance of their health and practicing preventive medicine.  Naturopathic medicine promotes the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human disorders through the use of non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical products and practices.  In 1993, the United Stated government recognized this trend when it established the Office of Alternative Medicine.

Besides the general development of naturopathic medicine, the aging of the American population is a significant trend driving the use of naturopathic and homeopathic health supplements.  The Baby Boomers are now reaching middle age and mortality is becoming a focus.  This demographic segment, which is comprised of 80 million people, represents over 50% of our county's discretionary income.  It is reasonable to believe that this wealthy market segment will continue to grow the sales of naturopathic products.

Another global trend is the emergence and popularity of e-commerce.  Brand-focused Web retailers that can provide quality products, customer service, information, and the intangible, emotional buy-in by the customer are becoming hugely successful.  E-commerce retailers have an advantage in that "Unlike traditional retailers, Web-based sellers are not slowed by the friction of store growth and local marketing"  (J.W. Gurley, Fortune, 1/11/98).  In addition, e-commerce companies do not have the excessive overhead of a traditional brick and mortar retailer.  As seen by the recent success of Amazon.com and Gap.com, consumers are comfortable buying online and will pay for convenience.  Experts predict Web sales to grow to $12 billion by 2003.

This enthusiasm about the Internet is not irrational but grounded in reality in light of the recent market crash of Internet retailers.  The recent Internet crash was based on too-easy access to capital invested into retailers and other dot-coms without reasonable business plans or revenue models.  Regardless of the recent fallout, the Internet is a very efficient marketing and distribution model that if done right, significantly decreases costs of serving the consumer. Nature's Candy will harness these efficiencies and will grow intelligently unlike other .dot-coms that became dot-bombs.

4.2 Industry Analysis

The nutritional supplement market is a semi-mature market characterized by high-growth rates, medium barriers to entry, and a few large competitors.  Despite the competition in the market, many companies have reported annual growth levels of 30%.  The market leaders are as follows:

• GNC (General Nutritional Companies, Inc.): This company is a nationwide specialty retailer of vitamins, minerals, and sports nutrition supplements.  With over 3,000 stores, GNC generated $1.19 billion in 2000.

• Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.: Nature's manufactures and markets a variety of health supplements.  This multi-level marketing company had 2000 revenues of approximately $370 million.

• Rexall Sundown, Inc.: Rexall develops, manufactures, markets and sells vitamins, nutritional supplements, and consumer health products through retailers, independent distributors, and mail order.  Rexall had 2000 revenues of approximately $370 million.

• International Vitamin Company, Inc.: IVC manufactures, packages, sells, and distributes private label vitamins and nutritional supplements to drug stores, supermarkets and health food stores.  IVC had revenues of $107 million in 2000.

The primary channels of distribution in this market are:

• Mass market retailers (Fred Meyer, Rite Aide).
• Direct Sales organizations.
• Health Food Stores (GNC).
• Mail order catalogs and the Internet.

4.2.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

Within the mass market retailer channel, the three main primary vitamin and supplement product categories are national brands, broad-line brands, and private label brands.  The national and broad line brands consist of 60% of the domestic market, which the private label brands account for the remaining 40% of the market.

National BrandsExamples:  Centrum, One-A-Day.
Generally do not provide a full line of vitamins or other supplements.
The product formulas are conservative and generic in nature.

Broad-line Brands
Examples:  Rexall Sundown, GNC's Nature's Fingerprint, Country Life.
Full lines of produce under one brand.
Manufactured by company.
This is the market segment where most of the product development and innovation occurs.
Stronger potencies and cutting edge ingredients.
Highest price.

Private Label Products
Examples:  NatureMed.
Under retailer's name.
Smaller line of products than broad-line brands.
Manufactured by a third party.
More conservative potencies than broad line.
Tend to be the cheapest.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Nature's Candy's strategy is based on capturing a small percentage of the growing homeopathic and naturopathic supplement market share through Web sales.

Also, Nature's Candy intends to create a premier brand, so that they can eventually capture market share across broad geographic lines.

5.1 Competitive Edge

Nature's Candy's competitive edge will be their easy-to-use website and superior customer service.  The website design will be a competitive advantage because research indicates that an easy-to-use website significantly increases sales.  The design of Nature's site will encourage purchases because it is so easy and quick to make the purchase.  Too often sales are lost because of complex websites that are far from intuitive.

Nature's Candy's other competitive edge is superior customer service.   The mantra of the customer service department is to serve the customer in any way required.  Customers that call in with problem/issues will be amazed at the amount of personal attention they receive and how quickly issues are not only resolved, but significantly improved.  This will be a powerful asset.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

Nature's Candy  is focused on the merging/redefined Internet marketplace.  The users will be Baby Boomers, which represent approximately 50% of the discretionary income currently in the United States.  They are looking for proactive, non-invasive, and non-pharmaceutical ways to stay healthy as they age.  Nature's Candy can bring these people cutting-edge products coupled with convenience and service.

The long range goal of Nature's Candy is not only to dominate the naturopathic and homeopathic supplement market, but to create an icon brand.  Initially the company will:

• Engage in Web-based marketing for the next year to generate awareness of the company and product information.  Because Internet based advertising has declined in recent quarters, the prices for advertising have consequently significantly dropped making the expenditure more cost effective.

• Engage in outdoor advertising providing general awareness to the public at large and direct individuals to the company's website.

5.3 Sales Strategy

Nature's Candy will process 90% of it's sales online through a secure socket layer (SSL), an secure Internet connection.  All orders will be charged to Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.

By ensuring that the website is easy to navigate as well as simple to order from, Nature's Candy will be ensuring that people who make it to the website will end up purchasing something.  This last point is key.  Research indicates that too many sites that are not easy or intuitive lose customers who migrate through the site, often putting products in their basket, yet leave without purchasing anything.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

The first month and a half will be used to develop and ready the site. There will be no sales. From month two on, Nature's Candy expects a gradual rise in sales.

5.4 Milestones

Nature's Candy will have several milestones early on:

• Business plan completion.  This will be done as a roadmap for the organization.  This will be an indispensable tool for the ongoing performance and improvement of the company.
• Office set up.
• Website completed.
• Complete hiring of the initial company personnel.

Web Plan Summary

Nature's Candy will use their website as their catalog and ordering device.  The website will be a complete product offering as well as to provide company information.

The website will be designed with simplicity in mind.  It is imperative that customers are able to navigate throughout the site intuitively with no problems.  Nature's Candy will be benchmarking websites such as Amazon's to develop a best practices for the different elements of the site.

A phone number will be offered on the website to remedy and problems that customers encounter.

6.1 Website Marketing Strategy

The website will be marketed through search engines such as Yahoo and Google.  In addition to advertisements on search engines, Nature's Candy will advertise with websites that have similar customer demographics like REI.com, an outdoor retailer.  The cost of Internet advertising has dropped significantly with the collapse of so many dot-coms that it has become quite cost effective.

6.2 Development Requirements

Stew Wachit will be responsible for site development. Stew will be hiring a programmer to assist him starting month one.

Management Summary

Quack Vendor, president and founder.  Quack worked for Arthur Andersen until qualifying for his CPA credential.  He left Arthur Andersen to become operations manager at Nautilus Footwear, a niche footwear start-up.  His duties included general office management, finance manager, and jack-of-all-trades.  Quack has gained useful insight into the supplemental industry through in-depth conversations with his father, a naturopathic physician.  He received his BS from the University of Oregon.

Stewart Wachit, technology officer.  Stew worked at Imagina for two years where he specialized in C++ and HTML/XML programming.  Stewart left Imagina to become a Web database developer at Systems Management Incorporated, specializing in ColdFusion and JSP.  He received his BS from the University of Pittsburgh.

There are important gaps as follows:

• Customer service representative/manager.
• Distribution/warehouse manager.
• Advisory board.

7.1 Personnel Plan

Quack and Stewart will be on the payroll starting month one and a customer service agent and distribution agent will be hired for month two.

One programmer in addition to Stew will be hired in month one.

8. Break-even Analysis

The Break-even Analysis indicates that $24,248 will be needed in monthly revenue to reach the break-even point.

8.1 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table will indicate projected profit and loss.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

The following chart and table will indicate projected cash flow.

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