I'll start this blog with saying my cousin is a successful import/exporter from Overseas. He was at times my kick up the butt and reminder to never become complacent, that doesn’t matter how advanced I thought I was, I was a sardine in the ocean. I will succeed because I’m obsessed, but its dangerous when you don’t respect the process. When you want everything yesterday and don’t want to learn it today. I’ve grown so much on my journey and still got so much growing to do!
My launch will start with 8 types of Filter Media, but I spent $1000 on samples for all product avenues of this Hobby. The first few months were going back and forth with overseas suppliers, sifting through at many different manufactures and finding the best outcome for my business. I would have spoken to over 100 suppliers easily over the span of 6 months but feel I have all the information I need now to grow slowly, whenever the business is ready. I have sample products for Filter Media, Aquarium and Pond filter foams/mats, sponge filters, Pleco Caves and ornaments, Aquarium Lights, Air Pumps, Heaters, Pond Pumps, Wavemakers and even food! Id like to see myself over the board with these products but initially it is just to large of a range. But like I said, when I’m ready to move into these products I have them stored away.
I guess hindsight is an amazing thing, but I was very naive when sourcing these products. I magically thought I’d source everything at once and do a major launch. It just isn’t possible, not in my position, there are a lot of products here! What I’m trying to say is, I spent A LOT of time speaking to other suppliers for items I may not even launch within the next 6 months. Did I do the right thing? Could I of been in the market earlier? Who knows, I guess ill just have to look forward and know there was a reason for everything. If I wasn’t spending the time sourcing all the different types of products mentioned, id believe id be well on my selling way already.
Picking business names in an uneducated frame of mind is dangerous, it really is. So my initial business name was ‘FOUND NEMO’. Now, without spending a Million Dollars in legal advice I quite simply changed this name. When did I change it? A night before my beautiful cartons were meant to be printed. PRO TIP: Find a very skilled, patient and intuitive designer, this guy saved me. His name is Michael and he is from Romania, not only does he speak better English then me he is the most patient man on earth. I found him through a 3rd party, ‘find your designer’ type website. Not only did he price match my initial designer, he translated my mumble jumble, unclear ideas and transformed them into a carton I am so proud of. I must have changed text, pictures, ideas 1000 times. Michael you are a gem mate and look forward to working together again as my hustle grows in the future (Hopefully).
Back to ‘FOUND NEMO’, the name change was quite stressful. It wasn’t until we went out for a few drinks, my girlfriends friend whom is a graphic designer herself, put me in two minds whether using the word ‘NEMO’ was such a good idea. I don’t think I got one blink of sleep that night, how was I going to grow if I was constantly doubting my brand? I sourced a great packaging company overseas, whom gave me a great printing price for 1000 custom cartons, funny enough they were starting the print the next morning. Long story short, I placed a hold on the whole printing process whilst my designer Michael within 24hours made all the amendments that would now see my business as ‘Hunky-Dory Aquatics’.
I am hoping one day I can look back and laugh at all of this!