SMALL BUSINESS : SMALL TALK: Advice From Small-Business Experts : How to Learn What Textile Business Is Made Of
Question: I’m starting a business creating custom-designed home furnishing items and accessories. I have limited knowledge of the textile industry, but find that when I contact trade associations with specific questions, they offer information once or twice but then suggest I join. The membership fees are often expensive, especially when you aren’t sure if they will provide the information you need. I’ve attended networking meetings and found that if you’re the new kid on the block, few members will take time to speak with you. And some of the meeting topics are Greek to me. I’m looking for a more time- and cost-efficient set of resources. Can you help?
--F. Johnson, Gardena
Answer: Sounds as if you may be looking in the wrong places. Networking in and of itself is definitely not the way to get training in a particular industry. The purpose of networking is to offer mutual assistance. It sounds as if you are looking to just take rather than give and take. And that’s not networking, that’s education and training.
The purpose of any trade association is to protect the business interests of its experienced, professionally qualified members. The goal is not to educate would-be members, so that probably isn’t the way to get the specific information you need, either. But an association might be a good place for you to find a few leading people in the trade from whom you could seek advice or a mentoring relationship. Experienced people in general like to give advice, and if the topic is difficult for a lay person to understand, so much the better--it provides you with a great opportunity to ask questions.
Starting a business with absolutely no knowledge of how to do what has to be done (especially if it is technical in nature) is usually a recipe for failure. Perhaps the way to go might be to find a partner with the technical knowledge needed, so you could focus on the creative aspects of the business. Failing that, actual on-the-job experience is another effective way to get the needed knowledge. Maybe an internship or apprenticeship in this industry might be a possibility for you.
--Sylvia Rose, small business marketing, training and consulting, Client/Member Services, Santa Monica
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If you have a question about how to start or operate a small business, mail it to Karen E. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 1333 S. Mayflower Ave., Suite 100, Monrovia, CA 91016, or e-mail it to kklein6349@aol.com. Include your name, address and telephone number. This column is designed to answer questions of general interest. It should not be construed as legal advice.
