Status Update of Disco Valante 23MAR

Well the first week of business of Disco Valante has been a success.  We have sold out of a few styles and sizes…which was great.  I am getting a lot of feedback from women that are buying for their boyfriends and even themselves.  I really never thought about the ladies making up such a significant portion of the consumer base but their support has turned out to be very positive.

I’m finding Disco Valante is making it’s way onto many blogs around the internet.  This word of mouth promotion is really helping DV succeed.   I appreciate all the support and purchases I have received.  I am currently working on getting into some magazines.  Please pass the web address of Disco Valante to your friends and family.

If there are any suggestions on how to make Disco Valante better, please let me know.  I want this company to be shaped by the consumer’s wants and not my own.

Disco Valante update 1MAR09

Hey, guys I’m sorry.  I know I missed another launch date.  However, I am sooo close.  Here is a status update:

1.  All products have been inventoried and stored in the warehouse

2.  Photographer is retouching photos.

3.  Web designer is working on the finishing touches of the web site and awaiting photos from photographer.

I’ve included one of the untouched images of the Disco Valante photo shoot held in New York City in January.  Please be patient with my ever sliding launch date.

This week I will be releasing more photos and images of the web site prior to the launch.

Disco Valante

Disco Valante Status Update

Disco Valante is another step closer.  Today, the shipment arrive at the inventory warehouse on Friday.  They must count thousands of pairs of underwear to ensure the proper amount.  This will take a few days.

The photographer is retouching the photos and will be completed by next Tuesday.

The web designer is working hard on flash pieces of the website and adding content.

The graphic designer is brainstorming on the loads of banners I will have spread throughout the internet.

This is my Dream Team.  These are the individuals that have helped me craft Disco Valante for the long anticipated launch.  I must admit, at times I didn’t know it was really going to happen.  Delay after delay and money concerns have been obstacles in my way.  I have come too far to quit.

To anybody who wants to start their own business, please know nothing goes as planned in the beginning.

Disco-san in Tokyo

Hello everyone!  Well, I`m in my favorite city, Tokyo.  I`m living in a capsule hotel in Shinjuku which is quite the experience.

Once again, I am apoligizing about not blogging very often.  Tomorrow, I will recieve the sample that should allow me to have the confidence in the manufacturer, pay the initial 30% production costs, and get this label off the ground.

This “business” vacation has been rather stressful.  My trip has been plagued with manufacturing setbacks and shady characters.  I will elaborate on both at a later time.

See ya soon

Disco Valante and the Bank

Disco Valante has run into a major road block.  The simpliest way to describe my problem is to say the bank won’t give me money!

After fours months of early preparation and submitting my business loan application, the guy in charge of my paperwork has to decided to renege on offering start-up funds. 

Does Disco Valante have good credit? – Yes.

Has the loan officer ever expressed any faults with the business plan or financial estimates?  – No.

Is Disco Valante a college graduate? – Degreee in Electrical Engineering.  Check.

Has Disco Valante owned another business and made a profit? – Yes.

Has the loan officer ever said everything looks good and there are no problems? – Yes.

Has the loan officer been sitting on my paperwork and not doing his job for 4 months?  – Hell Yes!

It isn’t that I can’t get the money from another institution, it is just the lackidasical manner in which my application is being handled that pisses me off.  

If you don’t know, I’m currently in the Middle East and two weeks away from returning to Washington, DC.  I was supposed to sign my paperwork on 1AUG.  I am almost certain the loan officer would have waited until I got into the bank to tell me the disapproval news…that’s the level of professionalism and courtesy I’m dealing with.  

On the cusp of flying to China, I must now worry about money.  I guess this is the cost of doing business!

GayListDaily.com on the rise!

 

My friend Cooper, the owner of GayListDaily.com, has gotten some much deserved press for his new business.  Disco Valante would like to extend his congratulations on the recent enourmous jump in viewership and email registration.

The people at GayListDaily.com are avid readers on my blog and I thank them for constantly encouraging me.

It has always been important that not only do I succeed, but the people around me succeed.  Way to go Cooper!

Sneek peek…again.

Disco Valante is gearing up for a successful launch and sustained professional importance in the fashion world and social community.

I have posted previews of our opening collection but that was some time ago. I just wanted to refresh everyone’s memory. I will re-post this entry every month to keep our creaviteness in the mind of our followers.

Don’t forget to bookmark www.discovalante.com and go there to register you email address for news of the official launch this fall!

China, please let me in!

Today, I went to the Chinese Embassy to work out the travel logistics of my business trip to meet the manufacturers.   Apparently, unless you have an invitation to the Summer Games, you can’t get a visa to enter China.  What the #@*%?  How can you exclude people from conducting business just because of track and field?  Very easily, I found out.  I just spent $1800 on airline tickets and hotel reservations!

Luckily, I waited for someone who knew what the hell they were talking about.  Even though China is stopping all flow of persons not entering for the Olympics, I was informed I only need to get an additional invitation letter from my Chinese manufacturering company and then I will be granted a visa.

Thank goodness!

The Chinese Connection!

Disco Valante has a manufacturer! This was the hardest obstacle in the development of the company. Language barriers, minimum requirements, lack of craftsmanship, and over pricing of labor were some of the issues that have made my dream a nightmare at times. Being a startup company with limited financial resources isn’t an attractive partner for many manufacturers. Many do not have the want to work with a company with orders that are not gigantic. However, after many months of searching and viewing samples, Disco Valante has decided to do business with the People’s Republic of China.

Now, I’ve got to brush up on my Chinese greetings and customs, establish a Chinese LTD, get a Chinese lawyer, and set up flight and hotel arrangements for July and August. I’m really excited! The next two months will be a whirlwind of traveling, production quality control, marketing planning and overseeing every facet of the business. I’m everyone from the president to the janitor in my operation.

I can now see that my dream is truly real and going to happen. I want to thank everyone that has read my blog, sent me an email or wrote about my efforts. It has meant so much to me. Thank you!

Countdown to DV 2008!

Team Disco Valante is working extremely hard!

The launch is 3 months away and quickly approaching. Concept work by my European design team is almost complete. www.discovalante.com web design work has recommenced. And I’m hammering out the fine details with manufacturing companies. It’s an exciting time here at headquarters.

As of lately, I’ve gotten some really positive support from other blogs and people wishing me luck…THANK YOU!

Get ready to rock some cool stuff! Go to www.discovalante.com and sign up for email updates for the September launch. See ya’ online this fall!