In the corporate world, building strong relationships with clients and employees is essential for success. One powerful way to foster these relationships is through corporate gifting. While corporate gifting has been a long-standing practice, incorporating high-end and differentiated elements into your gifting strategy can elevate your company's image and leave a lasting impression. In this article, we'll explore the benefits of using corporate gifting to reward clients and employees, delve into the advantages of employing high-end elements, and discuss the importance of being different in your corporate gifting approach.
Strengthening Relationships
Corporate gifting serves as a powerful tool to express gratitude and appreciation. By acknowledging the contributions of your clients and employees, you can nurture a sense of loyalty and deepen the connections you have built. Gifting demonstrates that you value their efforts and highlights the importance of their partnership.
Motivating and Retaining Employees
Providing thoughtful gifts to your employees can significantly impact their motivation and job satisfaction. When employees feel recognized and appreciated, it boosts their morale and productivity. By incorporating high-end elements into your corporate gifts, you convey a message of exclusivity, making employees feel special and valued. This, in turn, helps in attracting and retaining top talent.
Enhancing Brand Image
Choosing high-end and differentiated elements for your corporate gifts can have a profound impact on your brand image. Luxury gifts reflect the sophistication and excellence associated with your company. They showcase your commitment to quality, attention to detail, and a desire to provide the best experiences for your clients and employees. By associating your brand with premium items, you position yourself as a company that values excellence in all aspects.
Creating Lasting Impressions
High-end corporate gifts have the potential to leave a lasting impression on recipients. When presented with a unique and luxurious gift, clients and employees feel valued and appreciated. Such memorable experiences can solidify relationships and generate positive word-of-mouth referrals. The exclusivity and sophistication of high-end gifts contribute to their longevity, ensuring that your brand stays in the minds of recipients long after the gift is received.
Conclusion
Corporate gifting provides a valuable opportunity to reward clients and employees, strengthening relationships and enhancing brand image. By incorporating high-end and differentiated elements, you elevate your gifting strategy to new heights, leaving a lasting impression on recipients. Remember to use high-end gifts judiciously and select moments that warrant their use. Lastly, being different in your corporate gifting approach sets your company apart and demonstrates a commitment to personalized and meaningful gestures. So, embrace the power of corporate gifting and unlock the potential for deeper connections and continued success.
]]>Hope you have a chance to give it a shot! And remember, stay #dapper!
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We are proud to announce that Xceed Software Inc. has chosen Mr. White for their innovative choice of corporate gifting.
Being in the online software sales business, Xceed has limited face time contact with their clients, they were looking for a meaningful way to say thank you, to their customers. Together, we teamed up and worked towards a thank you gift that would speak innovation. After some research and some branding identification exercises, we were able to create an item of distinction that represents; technology, innovation and fun. In corporate gifting, it’s important to deliver something that is consistent with your brand image but also in quality and especially in creativity. Since then, Xceed has referred us potential clients that maybe interested in similar ideas. Customer validation is such an important referral in business, we are thankful.
Thank you Xceed for entrusting Mr. White with your project.
Contact us if for your custom projects!
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Exactly 12 months ago, we launched our Kickstarter campaign to fund our start up to which many of you participated and made it a success! And for that we are infinitely grateful to you 😊.
Fast forward to today and it has been indeed a fun year for Mr. White! We have sponsored 2 events, recently produced our 100th lapel pin and have made over 700 pocket squares! On top of this we have taken-on many custom orders for special events and special celebrations as we explored new markets such as corporate gifting, wedding gifts and 1-off custom orders. Our community has reached over 12,000 combined followers on our social media sites, we are glad to be part of your lives!
We really could not be happier with the last 12 months. Don’t get me wrong, we have had our hiccups too, but hey, success does not come without failure!
Thanks for your ongoing love! And together we say Happy First Birthday Mr. White!
Mr. White
]]>Vendors who gave were twice as likely to increase their chances of being contacted by recipients as those that didn’t have a gift program. We start with this data found in a survey by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI).
With that said...
Who best to speak about your product than your customers? Is that not the single best validation you can have? Better yet, what if it could happen effortlessly and with no strings attached, wouldn’t that be the best press you could have? Welcome to the modern era of corporate gifting, an art in itself that requires careful planning.
To begin with, we should separate the small promotional items commonly given out at events from the actual gifts. Though both may (but don’t have to) be branded with the company logo, there is a clear distinction to be made. Not only is the purpose of both polar opposites, so are their receivers and occasions under which these may take place. The reason why this is so undeniably important to highlight; is that the “type” of item will not suit both audiences. Further to this, it is crucial that proper attention be given to not only the selection of item, but also its supplier.
Here's 5 tips to successful corporate gifting:
In the realm of corporate gifting, there are many things you should look out for, particularly, if it is appropriate or even permitted. A pharmaceutic provider for instance, is so heavily regulated that it may not be permitted to give client gifts. Similarly, a high-end producer of anything will not be interested in a low-quality product; there must be a fit.
A company’s image is a fragile portrait, one that takes careful cultivation and even more work in maintaining. Once this image has been attained, any potential miscalculation is not worth the downside. If you are planning on pursuing corporate gifting, be extremely careful. If there’s one way to sum it up; stay consistent. The corporate gift is essentially an extension of your core offering, so be consistent, all the way to your gifts and the packaging.
Rest assured, there is someone out there to sign your contract and promise you the world. You can source from suppliers that will do the bare minimum and charge you low dollar. Or you can find the over-the-top supplier that can slip in you their thousand-client list book. Whatever it is that you are looking for, just remember that you should get the same experience from your gift supplier as you wish to give to your clients. This should be a good way to evaluate the gifting experience.
I’ve seen some companies offer a bottle of wine to their clients. They jump through hoops to get them branded and are very proud to offer them to their clients. But how much PR dollars is that really going to fetch you? Don’t get me wrong, clients will surely appreciate the gesture, and then place it in their cellar for who knows how long. And if you’re lucky they will actually open it. If you’re really lucky, they might do so with 1 or 2 potential clients at dinner. And if you’re really, really lucky; they will like that bottle. And then that’s it. Far from a ripple effect there.
Your company needs something that will get your clients to proudly use in public. Something that inspires others to inquire about. Something that if asked about, your client will tell a story about again and again. In that sense, avoid overusing your logo and company name on these items. A wave like that has real potential value.
It’s easy to find something and slap your logo on it. But how good does that logo look on that item at the bottom of a garbage bin? Let’s be serious, who will wear your baseball cap proudly with your logo large and center if your business logo is unknown to most? How many people will use that branded thermos? A pen? A check book? Come on…
Check out our fashionable items for corporate gifting here
We leave you with this interesting piece of data:
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) has conducted surveys of corporate gift givers and recipients. They have shown that vendors who gave were twice as likely to increase their chances of being contacted by recipients as those that didn’t have a gift program. http://www.enterpriseengagement.org
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Ever-pressed for time, I find myself running (just as you probably are too) between meetings in a hectic schedule. Sometimes within the building, sometimes not. As the day unfolds, I inevitably rarely finish the tasks first on my list, guilty of endless re-prioritization. But hey, what can you do?! Tis the way of the corporate era here.
I get a haircut about every 7 or 8 days. Keep it fresh. Normally it’s tightly squeezed in a free half-hour block and scheduled half an hour prior. Because of my last-minuteness, I have a tendency to move around from one hair artist to another, a price for convenience I guess. On the upside, this has allowed me to check out many places in the downtown Montreal area. I always tip well though and hardly a complainer, I believe this is essential in the relationship that you have with your barber, but don’t be shy to say what you want.
MANTELIER
I feel lively and renewed every time I leave barbershop joints, but, never as good as when I go to an Atelier. Adorned with a décor worthy of a private club, my favored experience locally has been Mantelier in Old Montreal. This place is sheer relaxation; smooth lounge music, scotch poured, hot towel and straight razor shave. The artists there are so meticulous they cut your beard hair by the singles. Just kick back, and let the artists work their magic.
But that’s not it, Mantelier is one of the few places that offer premium men’s grooming services from pedicure to manicure, skin care treatments and even eyebrow coloring. It’s a great place to start the bachelor’s day before the big day.
Unfortunately, I can’t pull it off on my busy weekday schedule but whenever I have time to hit Mantelier on a Saturday morning, I do remember. Every time I remember. I remember why I go there, why this is so much more than just a barbershop. It is really a solace for the modern gentleman, where one can properly escape the bustle of the city life and the nonstop rhythm of the metropolis. Don’t get me wrong, I live downtown because I enjoy hectic, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to get away. I love the barbershop for its convenience, but the Atelier gets my vote for the experience.
NOTORIOUS BARBERSHOP
Other notable place to check out in the city; Notorious, was one of the first in the city to effectively bring back life into the modern barbershop. Located west of Atwater, this joint also caters to the scotch drinker, but this time it picks up a hip-hop twist that’s great for the grown up 80’s and 70’s baby. Also known for their “thousand dollar shave”, they have been ingenious with their service offerings to the extent of offering a mobile cut, yes that’s right, a mobile cut.
FRANK & OAK
Frank & Oak too, the local online fashion supplier with a hipster-Mount-Royal-turned-professionals’ attitude is a great place for a fast getup. With several locations on the map, you can easily find a close one for convenience. The cutters are great, but you have to like the very laid back atmosphere.
MAISON PRIVÉE
Maison Privée is just plain sexy. From the name, to the web site, to the high white walls of its Old Port location run by the most colorful of tattooed hair artists in the city; it’s a place that is very enjoyable to go to and the vibe is just awesome. This concept has been so successful, the house has opened 3 more locations and now manages 4 in total. Just recently, Maison Privée completed a collaboration with Cadillac, emphasizing the connection with luxury brands and modern lifestyle businesses like that of Maison Privée.
ROCK CUTS
And you just can’t talk about the local barbershop scene without talking about the real OG’s of the game. Now I would surely be omitting a few names out there and so to avoid the dissatisfaction of providing an incomplete list of the realest, I will just give you one that I am quite fond about, Rock Cuts. Lost in a hard to find area of a suburb flea-market maze, this spot has been attracting and continuously building its clientele for over 10 years. The proud owner, still cutting to this day, started this in his basement way back when, until the lineups were no longer manageable from home. And because prices are half that of the new joints, his clientele comes twice as often and keeps this operation on point like a military drill, way past closing hours of the market to satisfy demand. Still, if you’re looking for the genuine barbershop feel and love to get that precision fade freshened up on a weekly; Rock Cuts is your shop.
Bottom line, the Montreal scene is bustling with cool places to get your hair and beard done. Choice is yours, and it really depends on your style. As I always say when purchasing my cars, the ultimate decision is made when you take it for a test drive.
Enjoy, and stay #dapper
Mr. White
For more information about the shops:
Mantelier soins O masculine: http://www.mantelier.ca/
Notorious : http://www.notoriousbarbershop.com/
Frank & Oak : https://global.frankandoak.com/
Maison Privée : http://www.maisonprivee.ca/
Rock Cuts : http://www.marcado.ca/rock-cuts/
PART 1
First off, do not mistake this for a Barney Stinson recital of the Bro Code, because dressing the part doesn’t necessarily mean “suit up!” Quite the contrary, and this is where perhaps some of us get it wrong; a suit is not always proper. In this issue I will focus on the corporate environment, but make sure to follow the next issues exploring other environments.
Certain contexts require certain attires. And your keen knowledge on what to wear to what event will score you brownie points without you even knowing, it’s a secret weapon that is way underrated in my opinion. But worse, a wrongful interpretation of what you should wear will not only not score you any points, it can most definitely hinder how you are perceived. Not that we necessarily care what people think, but I for one do dress with purpose. That is, my attire has an objective, other than covering my epidermis of course. And if you are reading this, it is assuredly because at the very least you care about what you look like. Another disclaimer, fashion sense and originality is not of the essence here, but rather the ability to adapt your attire the same way as you would a presentation.
So how to define that purpose you ask? For myself, it is strongly influenced by 3 things: my day’s agenda, my current state of mind and my general objective for the day.
I often have a “let’s kick some ass” attitude in the morning. This might entice me to wear camo patterns, stark contrasts like a blue suit with white shirt a red tie (aka the power suit) and maybe some skull accessories if it’s Friday. If I’m cool and relaxed I may be wearing all black, one button jacket and no tie. Serious and relax; all black with a black tie. And so on. But your state of mind can’t be the only driver.
I must validate with my agenda; do I have any meetings today? If so, am I hosting or attending? Who is the audience? If I am leading, what is my message? What is my angle? Am I seeking collaboration or dictating? Is my audience conservative or avant-garde? As a rule of thumb, when giving presentations; avoid anything with patterns. This is just an additional distraction to an already very ADD world. Soft colors and neutrals can help greatly in the role of a peacekeeper. Navy suits and grey are most suitable for presentations, and if your audience or the event permits you to get creative, throw on a different colored vest and feel free to take off the jacket. Even add some accessories such as a pocket square or roll up your sleeves and show your ink if your crowd is a bit younger. Be relevant to convey a message and if you’re sitting in the crowd, go for something tastefully different that will make the scrupulous onlookers take note; a classy lapel pin that speaks well of you, a peak lapel jacket, or fun socks perhaps. Essentially, make sure that you are noticed even if you don't say a word.
In terms of the general objective; when I walk into the office in the morning- do I want people to know that I am attacking serious issues today that require more concentration and less interventions? Or should I be in empathy mode because sensitive topics are circulating? In the latter, a more relaxed attire might do the trick such as a sweater over a dress shirt. A bow tie may be audacious in certain cases, but it certainly does have its place to show you are fun at the office.
As you can see, there is a certain finesse and intricacy behind a seemingly simple objective such as dressing for the part. And the bottom line is that you should look relevant and purposeful as it will grant you credibility. My colleagues reading this will surely have a giggle or two reading this and try analyzing my next get-up, but hey, any secret weapon needs proper handling to be used correctly right?
....Stay tuned for part 2!
Mr. White
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Oakland, California born Mahershala Ali is on track to becoming a household name, as hard as it may be to pronounce…you should get use to saying it, cause he ain’t going nowhere! We zoom in on his style on and off the screen on this episode of “dress like a celebrity”.
I first came to take note of Mahershala in his awesome role as House of Cards power-shaker-slash-table-turner Remy Danton. Although he had been around in other roles, this is the one that really spoke out to me the most. I mean who else can perform classy gritty like this guy? Dressed to the nines and cool as a cat, even when the tables turn, Remy got to get that upper hand. The muscle without using the muscle. Just his baritone voice and ice stare is enough to make you reconsider. Clean cut suits and fresh-pressed shirts like they made them on his back, it goes without saying.
Pursuant to his inherent natural coolness, you can find Mahershala in the Marvel series Luke Cage, playing bad boy Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes. This time more aggressive than in House of Cards, he does also show his vulnerable side. Regardless, it’s the code that I’m getting at, the dress code that is. Costume designer Stephanie Maslansky (website) perfected this look with all types of accessories from the classy hats, to three piece suits and tie pins, this dark antagonist is sharp and cunning with the details.
So I was itching to see how Frank Underwood’s secret weapon rocked the scene when he’s off the screen. It was no surprise of course, to see him dapperly clever in a series of hats and three piece suits. But my favorite is definitely his take on the floral pattern blazer, paired with an extreme cutaway collar, (hidden buttons) buttoned up with no tie. Bold. Classy. Different.
Check out what we found in our clippings! And get inspired fellas!
Mr. White
In this issue of “dress like a celebrity”, we decided to have a close look at the man behind Dr. Watson! No really! If I were to judge this man’s code by the 2 roles I’ve known him to be awesome at, I might fall short of imagination of how he dresses in the real world. Martin Freeman may be best known for his role as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, but I have been more of a fan of his since his role in the British investigative crime drama Sherlock alongside Benedict Cumberbatch.
It was while I re-watched (in marathon-mode) the entire Sherlock series in preparation for the new series 4 to air starting this January, that I really took note of the main characters’ conscientious attention to their attires. Albeit with the help of the set’s creative directors, I couldn’t help but to be intrigued by what these gentlemen may possibly wear in their quotidian.
With the obviously well-polished Mycroft, and the seemingly redundant yet always sharply-dressed Sherlock, it was not until I watched the last episode The Abominable Bride that I started to take note of Dr. Watson’s dress code.
The Abominable Bride is set in late 1800’s London, complete with an array of perfectly executed costumes fitting of the era. In this episode, Dr. Watson is just killing it! Club collar shirts by the mile, thick wools, clever hats, tie pins and tie clips- you name it! If not already part of his character, the cane just accentuated his flair for accessories. Spot on! Oh yeah, and the double Albert pocket watch chain!? Like I said, just killing it!
So I searched the net to see what he wears outside of work, and I found out he is indeed a clever dresser outside Middle Earth! Check out some of the random clippings I found online.
Enjoy, get creative and stay #dapper
Mr. White
Overwhelmed by the positive feedback we received in the first 24 hours of the campaign, we are speechless! The only words that come to mind is WOW, and THANK YOU!
At the start of this journey, we knew that it would not be easy. We weren’t reusing a product that existed already. We weren’t doing this full time. There were no guarantees of success. We weren’t backed by any investments. We knew nothing of the industry itself. It would have seemed like a daring adventure. And it was.
But fast forward to 2 years later and here we are! Armed with a truck load of motivation and so much acquired experience we were confident for our launch. But this?! Is amazing! It is a validation, a confirmation and an inspiration! How else can we feel but to be honored by the support of our Kickstarter backers? We are truly humbled! So thank you to those who have contributed directly and indirectly, those that continue to support, and our future supporters…we owe it all to you.
Remember, you are not backing just a product. You are backing an idea, a vision, and a brand…a dream.
click here to continue the journey with us and support!
Max & Jay
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Well there you have it ladies and gents! We’ve been on this past for nearly 2 years! And although it seems like we have arrived here, it is but a start. Our vision is slowly materializing and I cannot thank you all enough for following our progress from far and close!
It is not without challenges that we have gotten this far, and by all means we do not consider this far at all. But these incremental milestones are so important for us in building our dream, that we need make the most of it! "Tthe goal is only half as interesting as the road that leads to it!” We are firm believers.
It is with great pleasure that we announce to you our Kickstarter Campaign will go live on September 20th! And we are delivering just in time for x-mas!
What is Kickstarter? It is a crowdfunding platform. What is crowdfunding you are asking (I am a mind reader)? It is a means to raise funds for ideas, in exchange for actual product instead of equity. We set an objective to achieve, and if we obtain sufficient pledges (numerous supporting purchases by backers just like you) to meet that objective; we go into production. If we do not meet our objective, you (backers) will not be charged and we will not go into production. It’s that simple.
Today, I thank you for your continued support and ask that you pursue our adventure with us by either, sharing or pledging (or hopefully both) our project on Kickstarter. It will take you no time and will mean the world to us to get your support. Treat yourself or a loved one, they will make a unique gift this x-mas!
Save the date! Sept 20 2016! The link will be posted on our web page!
Mr. White
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I thought it may be of interest for those who don't know how crowdfunding works. It is an awesome concept that permits people with ideas (creators) to connect to people with interest in supporting these ideas (backers). Essentially, it works like raising capital, but instead of selling equity in the company; the creator sells the product. This medium has contributed to millions of new ideas and entrepreneurs. Its the millennial's version of VC!
-The idea creator sets a fund target (ex. 10,000)
-The fund target is usually set at at a threshold that permits the creator to go into production.
-The idea is shared via the crowdfunding platform, encouraged by backers, media and other platforms.
-The crowdfunding initiative usually last between 15-60 days. And serves to raise the target funds (and more).
-During this period, backers can "pledge" an amount which is the amount that will be paid to the creator if the target amount is reached.
-If the target amount is reached: the creator goes to production
-If the target amount is not reached: the creator does NOT go into production and the backers are NOT charged.
It is a great way to mitigate risk. In this process, the backer that pledges an amount of $ does not lose anything if the idea is not successfully funded, and the creator does not lose anything either.
]]>Well then, it has been many months in preparation, but we have been granted approval to move forward. So stay tuned for more details! You will have the chance to help us start our business by funding the first lineup of Silver accessories by Mr White!
Mr. White
]]>What an intense weekend we just had at Mr White headquarters. We recently filmed the promo vid for the upcoming campaign! It was long, it was tough, but it was fun!
Stay tuned for updates!
Mr White
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This was our first time showcasing our product to a live public. We were not selling at this event, merely informing a beautiful local crowd (and beautiful they were indeed!) our intentions to launch a crowdfunding effort in July. What was the event you ask? We were sponsor of the Mantelier soins au masculin event.
Mantelier is a one-stop-shop for men’s grooming services, from hair cuts to hot towel shaves to manicure, pedicure and facials (all while enjoying a glass of something good). Mantelier has successfully completed its first year of business here in Montreal’s internationally known old port and this called for celebration. What better way to do this than to gather the city’s believers in the curated man? Alongside our presence, other local rising stars such as Nathon Kong’s Tailor 2 Go services and more established players such as Porsche Canada and beard grooming products lifestyle brand Brave & Bearded with their addictive slogan “be brave, don’t shave”.
The event was host to a burlesque show, some beverages of course and a series of entertainment acts such as a sax playing homage tracks over a DJ. Oh yeah, and did I mention beautiful people?
As for Mr. White, we came up with gentlemanly British look, including an antique tufted leather chair and a red phone booth complete with London street sign.
We were excited to get to speak one-on-one with the public and get people’s feedback, comments and gage their interest. Overall, it was a great opportunity to get out there and get involved with our public! We can’t wait to do it again, but for now the focus is on the crowdfunding campaign. Stay tuned!
Stay #dapper!
MG
You can find out more about the cool brands mentioned here:
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Oh man! That New Year is right around the corner, and I can’t stop thinking about the launch! We are dead set on making the official launch in this upcoming year. The wind gusts in the right direction and we’ve put in the work. The details are being worked out, still a couple items to iron out, but all in all…I’d like to say that we have kicked some ass. Jason has been steadfast with the vision, I’ve been hard-core with the setup of the business and together we have set the ship ready for the big journey. It’s all essentially a great act of coordination. “Un coup de théatre” if you will…a mish-mash of deciphering treasure maps and washed-up blueprints, ill-equipped with a broken compass and ever-changing winds that force for adapted maneuvers. It’s not easy, figuring out what to do and most importantly, when. But then again, if it were easy…it wouldn’t be fun!
So then, with but a few days left and on the final stretch to the New Year, we look back at some of our achievements, and we gear up for some real work.
In the last months, we were able to amass a decent following on our social media sites, totalling almost 11,000 followers! Super exciting. We also managed to finalize all of our designs, and produce hard samples of each item in silver and in gold. We have set up a good looking web site with payment systems, managed to do some PR and took delivery of some 400 Mr White branded pocket squares.
Now looking forward; January has been sketched-out and since we figure we are about 1 month late on our progress-meter, we’ll have to double the effort in the upcoming weeks. We still need; to finalize the custom packaging, get another order of pocket squares in, finalize the web site, test the Instagram campaigns we have planned, get some professional product shots and set up the Kickstarter campaign…and obviously I am sparing you the details as well as some of our secret plans. Nonetheless, there is still lots of work to be done, and so we are taking this opportunity of the holiday breaks to get some stuff done.
Here’s to closing off a great year and opening up a new one with a bang! Happy holidays everyone and remember; it don’t come easy. So if you have big objectives in the New Year my friends, put the work in. Cheers
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Right now, it’s all about steady progress. So we’ve come a long way, and it ain’t easy don’t get me wrong, but man does it feel good. Seeing the first models come to life from a sketch makes my brain twitch and my heart beat. And along the way, so many decisions to make…Is it the right size? Color? Do we add some bling to it? Is it too flashy? Not flashy enough? Silver? Gold? Platinum? All? Not all decisions will be good, trust me, but decisions have to be made. Ever hear of that saying: analysis paralysis? Well you don’t want to go there, especially in a start-up phase, cause momentum is a cruel mistress for real and too much procrastination will kill a project fast. Move. Move it along and keep it going. It’s the only way.
We were planning for a KickStarter campaign and had to narrow down which designs we would want to sell for launch. Initially, we wanted to draw up 20 models and get them all in 3d rendering so that we could choose which models to go to prod with. In the end, this approach did not make any sense at all because we would lose so much time. So we adapted, and decided to use our imagination before 3d rendering everything. We then planned for 9 designs, in 3 categories.
It took about 4 months to finalize the first three designs…A painful process of back and forth between designs, print, refine, design, print…you get the picture. What we hadn’t realized was the impact of a few grams difference in weight of precious metal. It would easily bring our product straight out of an interesting price point, which we had established following some research and also by using our instincts. Small elements that we forgot, ended up costing us $$ :-\
But so what, now the 3 models are complete, we’re super pumped and we can start taking pictures while we send off some more units to be modeled. Plus we can wear them, a nice feature when you want to be a first-mover, but also to showcase your efforts. The important thing is that we kept it moving, and every time that unit came out with new and refined elements; it felt great. Every time we get to wear a Mr White lapel pin and get to talk about it; it feels great. Today, I feel great and ever more motivated, even though there is still a lot of work to do. I’m not afraid of work, matter of fact, bring it. That’s my attitude.
MG
stay #dapper
]]>In its darkest days shine the smallest ideas. From a dissident time in our lives, when a business venture proved more complicated than anticipated, arose a new concept. This concept would put on hold our original aspirations, whilst putting in place what we had learnt. If there was one way I could sum it up for you all; keep it simple.
My buddy and I have been entrepreneur-minded but caged in the nine-to-five world for too long. Nearly 2 years ago, we decided to partner up and join forces after a few failed solo attempts to break free. You see it takes much to take the first steps, not unlike a child with his hands in a swaying frenzy in front for guidance and fear of falling. So it meant the world for us to take a small step towards our aspiration. After 15 years working in the corporate jungle bureaucracy; we were excited, but we weren’t quitting our day jobs just yet.
So with full of ambition and some frustrations, we set sail for a venture that would see the making of men’s luxury garments made in North America. This proved to be extremely difficult given the scarcity of expertise in what we set out to build and the limited accessibility to the materials we were looking for. After a year and a half of much research, investment and effort: we decided that we needed to make things…. a little more simple. Just to be clear, we didn’t quit. We adjusted.
And then there was light…
It may seem obvious in retrospect, but the sheer satisfaction of seeing our products in progression proved to be a huge motivation. In making our Mr. White accessories, we simplified things a whole lot form the initial concept, which meant we were able to see progress much earlier on in the business development. Witnessing your designs come to life is just euphoric really. After each step of the production process we felt a new high….It was amazing. And as I write to you my friends the products have yet to be 100% finalized but I am so much more of a believer than I could have ever been when working on something with a trillion steps. And so juxtaposed to my 65 hour work week, my motivation is fueled by the small gains we are making; the logos, the hardware, the web site, the content, the social medial sites, the feedback; all crucial elements to keep alive this hunger that is too easily stuffed by the normalities of our routine.
To be continued…
Stay Dapper
MG
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