TODAY’S ENTREPRENEUR
By Ste Brown
This is the third of several articles I am writing for the MSR. My spotlight this month will be on Kimani Beard and Kimani Apparel, Inc. Again my objective is simple: Showcase minority entrepreneurs and provide creative solutions to help find your way out of this economic crisis.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the New Markets, New Jobs: The National Export Initiative Small Business Tour at the University of Minnesota. All of the notable dignitaries were either there in person or via the Internet hook-up: Governor Dayton, Mayor R.T. Rybak, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and various other consulate staff from Mexico, Canada, China and the Philippines.
I would like to thank Rep. Keith Ellison for keeping the community informed about his event. It was definitely beneficial and more than educational.
Some notable numbers you may want to consider are 95 percent of the world’s customers live “outside” our borders. Minnesota has about $20 billion in exports to Asia and Canada. We are number six in agricultural exports with $5.5 billion in agricultural goods sent abroad.
Two-thirds of all jobs are from small businesses. One-half of the workers own or work for a small business in the U.S. Thirty percent of all exports revenues are from small businesses. Only half of those businesses ship to one country. The goal should be to export to multiple countries.
Mexico is the 10th-largest retail market. By 2020, they expect to be the seventh-largest retail market. In the next five years Mexico will be the leading manufacturer in the world of cars! GM invested $4.8 billion in manufacturing facilities in Mexico in the past four years. Mexico produces two million cars per year.
There are multiple opportunities in all countries for various products. Do not assume your ideas or services cannot be exported.
‘Today’s Entrepreneur’ spotlights Kimani Apparel
Company: Kimani Apparel, Marquette Ave., Minneapolis, MN
As a graphic designer, Kimani began to create logos and web concepts. He took his passion for design and started putting his graphics on hats, T-shirts and jackets. His clothing passion was nurtured by his mother Bernice Purnell, who worked as a seamstress.
As his passion for clothing design grew, Kimani wanted to launch his own clothing line. He went out to the Chicago Clothing Show in 2003 and 2005. During that time he met Shaquille O’Neil, who loved his concepts. He also met with USA Mecca Clothing Line and had articles published in MPLS ST. PAUL Magazine and Insight News.
Although another six years had passed before realizing his dream, he never gave up on himself. Since that time, Kimani has been mentored by Bob Truax of Zubaz fame on production and marketing.
Kimani is also taking his clothing line into his new concept for Anotha Planit Café. This is a new spin that is moving forward in the urban areas to create an environment where people can go for coffee, soup and sandwiches while at the same time kick back, listen to some soft jazz music, and converse with their friends while conducting their business meetings. Kimani has divided the space into part café and part boutique featuring his clothing line.
The café will provide free Internet access while expanding to include other features such as a virtual office, incubator leasing and conference rooms.
Kimani is meeting with investors on his various initiatives and hopes to begin production soon.
Strengths: The strengths of Kimani Apparel are his unique graphic skills and the fact that consumers are always looking for the latest and greatest in clothing styles. Consider Sean John, FUBU, Phat Farm, and others — Kimani Apparel has all of the makings to be just as successful. His Anotha Planit Café is also a clever tool to market his products.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately, minority-owned businesses are under-funded and need major capital to make their ideas work.
Financials: Kimani’s business plan is stellar. His financials are sound, and he has Bob Truax to help cut those numbers even more by having his clothes produced in Pakistan. If you are interested in being an equity partner, contact sgbro@comcast.net for further details.
Conclusions: Look for Kimani Apparel coming soon to a store near you.
Support African American enterprise. We need people like Mayor Rybak and other community leaders to listen to these entrepreneurs and help them get some city funding for creating new jobs and opening new business opportunities.
Ste Brown, M.S., is a corporate consultant who welcomes reader responses to sgbro@comcast.net.
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