Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Vasquez.
Hi Eric, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
This how our business started from the ground up.
August 2019, when I was studying to attain my first undergrad degree our professor assigned us the task of creating a complete business plan. Having no experience doing so, I formed a business plan for a factory that would create retail ready merchandise for influencers nationwide. YouTube was emerging as a career at this time so I predicted tons of opportunity in this space as YouTubers ultimately found it exceedingly difficult to juggle all the ventures that licensed intellectual property has to offer. However, I was a 20 year old college student with no access to capital, a small amount of business acumen, but a lot of hopes and dreams. I knew one day I would be able to use this business plan, even if it weren’t going to be today, tomorrow or next week.
Fast forward 6 years, after investing and building a detailing business that I believed would change the landscape for detailers nationwide based on the feedback I received, when our family suffered a great loss!
The cousin I grew up with from birth abruptly ended his life in a way none of us saw coming. He was a legendary tattoo artist that would’ve been handed the keys to a brand new shop in the coming days if he had stuck around just a little longer.
On that exact day I believe he became an angel of mine and began living through me. I woke up the day after his passing sketching away non stop. As tears ran down my face uncontrollably, I began Illustrating designs I never knew I was a capable of. Now I had a brief history with graphic design as I learned to use it solely to create my detailing logo the way I envisioned. (I have always been very particular about branding and symmetry.) But I was never capable of accessing the creativity to do cohesive designs consistently the way I can now. He inspired me to give this career my all.
Now equipped with the imagination, graphic tools and hunger, all that was left was a business plan. Well, I remembered about that promising business plan I created in (*1392 business ethics*). So I dusted off my old laptop, booted it up, and found the file from 7 years ago. This plan had everything I needed. From the budget, to the sales strategy, and even the competitive analysis. I knew that clothing and merchandising was something huge that I could build on. One of my favorite quotes being “don’t sell the gold, sell the axe.” The difference being that one sells to the consumer, the other sells to the business. Well what’s great about merchandising is that with the right equipment you can do both.
Ultimately 3 months ago my wife and I turned our back on being consumers and began liquidating our assets as this is one of the very few options when starting from the bottom. Cadillac? Gone. Luxury? Done. Luxury out, business in. We figured all of this will come back when the time is necessary, but right now, we have to let it go.
We began making calculated investments into our equipment so that we could offer as many services as possible while learning the ins and outs of producing merchandise similar to a supply chain.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road by any means, but also not too bumpy.
Running a business can be very challenging. Some of the challenges that we faced have been finding time to incorporate social media, create new product, and scale the business all while finding new clients.
Thankfully, we are equipped with the tools to do so, so it is just about managing time well enough in order to get it all done in a reasonable amount of time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What you should know about Creators Studio is that we are giving businesses the opportunity to offer retail level merchandise with branded tags and branded bags. What this does is show your clients and supporters the passion you have for your business as our products polish off your branding like a fresh coat of wax on fresh paint. When you contract our services, along with an individual who has had a life long passion for branding, you will also receive a business partner to run ideas and strategies by to solidify what your branding means, or where it is going.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was when my brother, Dad, and I spent two weeks in the wilderness and walked 120 miles at Phlimont Scout Ranch. We fundraised and trained for this wilderness trek for months as we knew it would be a tough experience. We drove from Houston Texas to the desert in Cimarron, New Mexico to start our journey. It was an experience I will never forget as we endured injuries within our group that needed life flight, food that was unbearable, and the possibility of being mauled in your sleep. Overall, that experience gave me so much confidence in my ability to do anything that I set my mind to.
Pricing:
- 15 Shirts for $15 dollars front and back printed
- $18 front and back printed shirts
- $22 business shirts – retail ready with tags and your own branding
Contact Info:
