Raymond Steeves
Phoenix, AZ (USA)
Role(s):
Founder/Owner/Principal
3 Dudes Quilting, INC>
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Startup
Location:
Phoenix
Industry:
Retail/Clothing
Year Founded:
2008
Number Employees:
1-10 people
Description:
The mission of Three Dudes Quilting is to create a fun and educational environment for beginning, intermediate and advanced quilters to increase their skills and enjoyment of the art of quilting, also to successfully offer products and services unique to our customers needs and preferences; and to listen closely to our customes and offer the type of product and quality of services and classes that they expect and deserve. We believe that by helping our customers become more successful quilters we are creating a more valuable pastime for them and greater value for our quilting shop.
Three Dudes Quilting will be unique in the Greater Phoenix area by:
1. Offering TOP quality fabrics, notions, books, patterns, accessorees, service and classes based on the needs and desires of our customers.
2. By offering extended evening hours for quilters who work. 43% of all quilters have full time jobs (2006 National Survey of Quilters in America) and are underserved by the existing quilt shops in the Greater Phoenix area.
3. Providing friendly and sincere service, education and assistance to all quilters.
4. Being active in clubs, groups, shows, seminars, competitions and the community.
Keys to Success
1. Provide VIP service for all customers. Listening carefully to the customer's needs and preferences and offering the type of products and services the expect and deserve.
2. Provide a convenient location in areas underserved by other quilt stores, with extended hours of operation and classes not provided by other quilt stores.
3. Offer only the highes quiality, 100% cotton quilting fabrics in the colors and patterns with the greatest appeal to the quilters of the commun ity. Offer special ordering of hard to find fabrics and products as requested by our customers. Offer items not available in other quilting stores in the Greater Phoenix area.
4. Develope a marketing strategy that clearly communicates to customers and potential customers how Three Dudes Quilting can help them become more successful quilters, including a WEB site, direct marketing, quilt shows, and special events.
5. Identify local quilting groups, clubs and churches. Make contact with each of these groups and introduce services specific to their needs. E-mail newsletters with patterns, designs, block of the month classes, and promotions for club members and for customers who register at the shop.
The Three Partners for Three Dudes Quilting, INC. have a passion and dedication for quilting that will produce a successful business. We have completed an extensive investigation of the market including financial studies, on site investigation of all local quilt shops, and the use of Refernce Material such as "The National Survey of Quilting in American 2006" published by CK Media, and the "2006 American Community Survey for Maricopa County, Arizona"
We have prepared a complete Business Plan with realistic profit potential and a Financial Plan with well planned and controled expenses resulting in a strong profit margin. We
have incorporated our business and have all necessary tax numbers and licenses. We have secured an option of our desired location.
Total Start Up Cost of our business is $312,000.00
We have invested cash to date of: 30,000.00
We have cast to infuse of: 75,000.00
($25,000 from each partner)
We are looking for a Start Up Loan of: $207,000.00
A complete Business Plan is available.
Successful entrepreneurs suggest, "Find something you are passionate about and start there". We are serious and dedicated quilters who sincerely enjoy the art and craft of quilt making. Being men in a field of mostly women quilters gives us an advantage that we can cultivate. We have been
very strongly encourage by all the quilters/shoppers in the Greater Phoenix area that we have interviewed. We have a mentor who owns a shop in Phoenix and has been quilting for fifty years. We have the support of the Maricopa County Independant Quilt Shop Owners Association.
We are ready to go. . . we need an Angel to help make it happen.
Thank you for reading our proposal.
Three Dudes Quilting
Raymond Jeffrey Frank