Introduce Myself

[JEH]

Originally Posted by Oi!GraphicDesign

Hi Jen,

Welcome!

I'm a graphic designer and a mother of two girls (a 3yo and a 9mo). I officially opened business (Oi! Graphic Design) just over three years ago, after having freelanced for many years alongside my full-time work. I specialise in logo design and print promotion, and support for publishing, basic web design and printing. My three year old is extremely discerning and loves fashion, so you if are after some free advice or feedback in any of these areas, I would be happy to help.

It's so difficult to find quality shoes for young kids. I live in a small country town (Kyogle, just 2.5 hours scenic drive through the Border Ranges, and a popular weekend destination for some Brisvegans). Our local shoe store stocks a great range of adult shoes, but they don't stock toddler shoes anymore. Apparently stockists are all focused toward the department stores and their minimum order per size is two high for a small independent. Please don't take my hearsay for gospel, but it could be something to keep in mind and research for a potential target market: small independent retailers who are after smaller quantities.

All the best with your new business venture. Even if you don't require my assistance, I would love to have a browse when you are up and running!

Emma

Hi Emma,

thanks for the encouragement and the offer of help. I am still working on the nuts and bolts at this stage of how to structure the business and what legal issues I need to address and just more in depth online research but hope to be able to start looking at logo design very soon. I have also been getting the idea that the volumes some distributors require are too high for me but I am trying to source directly from manufacturers and wholesalers in Europe rather than locally mostly because the brands I am after are not sold here yet. I will keep you posted though.

[David Solomon]

Originally Posted by Oi!GraphicDesign

Hi David,

I'm certainly one of those women who apply a holistic approach to business, but are you able to elaborate on your win-win and win-lose analagy – I'm unsure of the context?

Cheers,
Emma

Hi Emma,

Sorry for being slow to reply.

I have found the male perspective to be, “For me to win, you have to lose. The pie is only so big, and my job is to go and carve out as big a piece of pie as I can.” Men are traditionally competitive in business.

Whereas women will more take the attitude, “Well there’s a pie there that’s only so big. Why don’t we see how we can make that pie go further? Or why don’t we work at making another pie then I can have a pie, and you can have a pie and we’re both going to have more pie.” So it’s very much about collaboration and win-win.

Is this your experience too?

Warm regards,
David.

[inxpress111]

Originally Posted by JEH

Hi Emma,

thanks for the encouragement and the offer of help. I am still working on the nuts and bolts at this stage of how to structure the business and what legal issues I need to address and just more in depth online research but hope to be able to start looking at logo design very soon. I have also been getting the idea that the volumes some distributors require are too high for me but I am trying to source directly from manufacturers and wholesalers in Europe rather than locally mostly because the brands I am after are not sold here yet. I will keep you posted though.

Good luck with it - it all sounds very exciting and I am sure you will get loads of advice here - lucky for you you have seen the product and know the brand - can't wait to see it hit the stores.

[Calcul8or]

Originally Posted by David Solomon

Hi Emma,

Sorry for being slow to reply.

I have found the male perspective to be, “For me to win, you have to lose. The pie is only so big, and my job is to go and carve out as big a piece of pie as I can.” Men are traditionally competitive in business.

Whereas women will more take the attitude, “Well there’s a pie there that’s only so big. Why don’t we see how we can make that pie go further? Or why don’t we work at making another pie then I can have a pie, and you can have a pie and we’re both going to have more pie.” So it’s very much about collaboration and win-win.

Is this your experience too?

Warm regards,
David.

Hmmm....I think I just felt something shift in my maleness.

It's interesting that you choose to differentiate on the basis of sex David, because to be honest, my own personal view is that those kinds of generalisations are as much at risk of being false as making generalised judgements about people based on other aspects of their beings and/or personality.

But the more interesting question is that if your philosophy is in fact true, then wouldn't women be better served by a woman, whose possession of the very qualities you claim they own exclusively cannot therefore be denied?

This also further begs the question about what exactly you're saying about your own services, if all men play to win at their customers' expense.

I know the above could be construed as either harsh or personal, but I sincerely do not intend it to be so. They're just thoughts that sprang to mind after having read your comments, and I hope you'll accept them in the genuine spirit of curiosity in which they were intended.

[PaulThomas]

Originally Posted by janathimes

Hi..., I'm newbie to this site. I am form United States. I don't have much knowledge but would like to gain & share whatever I have. As everybody knows that nowadays forums are the best source of Knowledge, and through forums we can learn a lot.

business finance
franchise finance

Hi Jana,

Welcome aboard the FS Forums. I was just wondering why you have two links that go to the same Australian website when you are form (from) the US? Just wondering!

Cheers,
Paul

[David Solomon]

Thanks so much for your feedback.

For sure any generalisation is always going to have exceptions. However, it is my observation over 20+ years that the vast majority of men behave in a very competitive way in business.

And yet, there are plenty of men who don't - just as there are plenty of women who behave in what I have described as a masculine manner as they think this is what they need to do. Whenever I discuss this with women I get vigorous nods of agreement.

As in most things, any extreme could be perceived as being unhealthy. It's the balance of masculine and feminie energies that is so powerfu - Yin and Yang - where seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent.

There are plenty of great women role models out there teaching women to embrace their femininity in business and I applaud and support them. What I do is in a Yin-Yang manner so it is very complementary i.e. 1 + 1 = 3.

There was a time when I could not have done this. Maybe I'm a "sensitive new age guy" but I have definitely grown a lot over the last 25+ years of personal development work, and I believe (based on empirical feedback as well as how I feel) that I can bridge both aspects of masculine and feminine ways of doing business.

I really appreciate you raising this issue as it made me look in the mirror for a few moments and this is always a good thing.

Warm regards,
David.