How to Grow Your Business 101

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers a variety of services to help small businesses run, start and grow.  A panel of savvy business experts will share their advice and expertise on various stages of business ownership.  Whether you’re just starting your business or been in business awhile – there’s something for you.  Find out about technical assistance resources, training opportunities and financing options.

• Date: March 4, 2013
• Time: 2:30 PM
• Where: The Northwest Rooms next to Key Arena

We’re very proud of our partnership with Seattle Fashion Incubator. Anything that we can do to help young entrepreneurs launch their business’s and create jobs in the communities we serve is an honor. We got word from SFI that one of their members that attended our Fall 2012 event met with one of the panelists on SBA loans they met at the event.

Get realistic about your financing options and learn what lenders are looking for. Hear about traditional and alternative forms of financing. Find out where to go when the bank says “no.” Get tips on how to develop a strong loan proposal, the documentation required, questions to anticipate, and how banks analyze your proposal to make a final decision.

Thanks to a program sponsored by Chase and LivingSocial called Mission: Small Business℠, your support could translate into a $250,000 grant. But we need at least 250 votes at missionsmallbusiness.com to qualify.

To vote for our business:

1. Go to missionsmallbusiness.com and log in using Facebook.
2. Search for our business by name. No need to enter city or state.
3. Click on the blue Vote button next to our business name to show your support for our business.

Then sign up your business and let us so we can vote for you!

Last week we had the pleasure of participating in the Greater Washington D.C. Fashion Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 State of Style Advocacy Day on the Hill.  The purpose of this annual event is for leaders in the fashion and creative economy community to come together to raise awareness and advocate issues the affect the fashion and apparel industry on Capitol Hill.

In 1973, there were more than 2.4 million textile and apparel workers employed in the United States; by 1996, that figure had dropped by 40% and has intensified in the last decade.

Jennifer Fisher, Director of Advocacy, GWFCC

Our President and Co-Founder of the Seattle Fashion Incubator, Steven Paul Matsumoto, was invited to participate in a panel discussion held at the Rayburn House Office Building.  The panel discussed President Obama’s small business agenda, and significant pieces of legislation currently in committee, and the importance of business incubators to the creative economy.

The distinguished panel of industry leaders moderated by Lauren Rothman, Huffington Post Style Contributing Editor also included:

• Janet E. Heinzen, Director Office of Textiles and Apparel, US Department of Commerce
• James V. Hunter, Legislative Aide, Representative David Price (D – NC)
• Jacqueline B. West, Field Operations Specialist, Office of Field Operations, Small Business Administration
• Adriana Pavon, Co-Founder of the Detroit Fashion Collective

The panel urged attendees to voice their support for H.R. 2275 American Textile Technology Innovation and Research for Exportation (ATTIRE) Act, and H.R. 1418/S.509 Small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2011.  In addition to discussing how Fashion Incubators from across the country are assisting small businesses in their markets, and the formation of a National Coalition of Fashion Incubators.  There are currently 13 identified incubators which have expressed interest in coalition membership. We’ll forego any historical references to the original colonies.

We would like to personally thank Mr. Alan Lee, and Representative Jim McDermott’s (D – WA) office for taking time to meet with both Mr. Matsumoto, and Mr. Daniel Arthur Done regarding these important jobs creation issues.  Please click the links above and let your legislators know that you support the passage of the above bills.  With your help we can revitalize the industry, and create ‘Made in the USA’ jobs.