Zero To $100K
Clothing Brand
Blueprint Case Study
By Mind Of Dee
Contents
Introduction
3
Defining Your Purpose
4
Choose Your Niche
6
Come Up With A Name
8
Design Your Logo and First Product
9
Setup Your Digital Presence
11
Decide Between Pre-Made or Order
11
Order Samples
11
Develop a Marketing Plan
11
Launch Your Drop
11
Ship Your Orders
11
Manage Your Money Wisley
11
Plan Your Next Drop
11
INTRODUCTION
I'm Dee.
If you don't know me, my name is D. I first
got into the clothing brand industry at 16
years old. I had two brands that failed prior
to starting the one that I own now,
Conflicted Lovers. At 17 years old, I took my
$600 Chick-fil-A check and invested it
into my first design and my first sample.
From there, I was able to build a six-figure
empire with my business partner, Jah.
You probably bought this $1 Case Study
because you’ve been seeing clothing
brand owners on TikTok starting their
brands, getting those Shopify notifications
on drop dates, and you’re thinking, “I want
to start my own clothing brand!” In this
video, I’ll break down step-by-step exactly
what I did to start and grow my clothing
brand to profitability.
So, if anybody can teach you how to build
or scale your clothing brand, it could be
me. I was able to do this all organically,
without any big ad team and without any
big influencers.
As you already read in the title, we’re going
to be going over how my clothing brand
went from . So, get your pen out, get your
pad out, or open the notes app on your
phone—let's get to the game!
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER ONE
Defining Your
Purpose
What’s Your WHY
Here’s My WHY
How To Find Your WHY
Your "why" is everything.
Without a strong reason,
you’ll struggle to push
through tough times.
My "why" is financial
freedom. I want to wake up
each day and decide how I
spend my time without
being restricted by money.
You find your “why” by
asking yourself the following
questions:
Once you’ve got your
answer, write it down. Better
yet, comment it below—it
has to be compelling
enough to keep you going
when things get tough.
MIND OF DEE
Why do you want to
start a clothing brand?
What inspires your
brand image?
What kind of people do
you want wearing your
brand?
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER ONE
How To Define
Your Purpose
Here’s how I defined my brand’s purpose:
Why do I want to start a clothing brand?
Starting a clothing brand isn't just about making clothes. When I started
Conflicted Lovers, I wanted to build something that could truly impact people. I
saw the opportunity to create pieces that resonate with people emotionally that's why I chose the name and the whole concept of being conflicted in love.
Plus, I wanted to prove that you can build something successful at a young age
if you're willing to put in that real work. It ain't about just throwing some designs
on t-shirts - it's about building a whole vision and movement that people can
connect with.
What inspires my brand image?
My brand image comes from real emotions and experiences that everybody
can relate to. With Conflicted Lovers, I took the concept of love and conflict
- something universal that everybody goes through - and turned it into a
brand identity. I get inspiration from everywhere - Pinterest, social media,
real life experiences. But what really drives the brand image is making sure
everything connects back to that core concept. Every design, every drop,
every piece has to tell part of that story about love and being conflicted. It's
not just random designs - everything has meaning behind it.
What kind of people do I want wearing my brand?
I'm not trying to limit who can wear my brand, feel me? A lot of people make
that mistake of being too niche. Instead of targeting a super specific
demographic, I want anybody who connects with the message to wear it. If
you've ever felt conflicted in love, if you relate to that emotional struggle,
this brand is for you. That's why we focus on quality and making pieces that
are versatile but still have that deeper meaning. When I see somebody
wearing Conflicted Lovers, I want them to feel like they're wearing
something that represents their story, not just another piece of clothing.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER TWO
Choose Your Niche
You need to decide what type of clothing
brand you want to start.
Examples include:
Streetwear
Luxury Fashion
Women’s Fashion
Athleisure
Minimalist
Outdoor/Adventure Wear
Workwear
Religious Clothing
Formal Wear
Shapewear
Loungewear
The list goes on and on...
Examples
Your niche will determine everything:
logo design, brand name, product
choices, and even your marketing
strategy.
When I started, I made the mistake of
being unclear about my niche, which
led to inconsistent drops and
confusion among customers. Don’t
repeat that mistake—define your niche
first.
I obviously went with streetwear when
you look at Conflicted Lovers
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER TWO
How I Chose My
Niche
Here’s how I chose my niche:
"How did I choose my niche?"
I'm gonna keep it real with y'all - I didn't actually focus on picking a specific
niche when I started Conflicted Lovers. Instead, I focused on creating a brand
identity around this concept of being conflicted in love because that's
something everybody can relate to. I wanted my brand to be bigger than just
one category or style. When you limit yourself to a super specific niche, you're
also limiting your audience and your potential to grow.
"Why did I choose my niche?"
Look, a lot of brand owners make this mistake thinking they need to pick some
super specific niche to succeed. But I realized that if you create quality
products that resonate with people emotionally, that's more powerful than
trying to fit into some box. With Conflicted Lovers, I was able to connect with
people through the message and concept, rather than trying to target just one
specific type of customer.
"Why did I go with streetwear?"
To be honest, I wouldn't even say Conflicted Lovers is strictly streetwear. We
create pieces that can be styled different ways and appeal to different people.
The focus isn't on fitting into a specific category - it's about creating quality
products that represent the brand's message about love and being conflicted.
That's why we've been able to do numbers with everything from t-shirts to
hoodies to pants. When you create something with real meaning behind it and
focus on quality, you don't have to limit yourself to one lane.
The key is, I didn't get caught up trying to follow what everybody else was doing or
trying to force myself into a specific niche. I focused on building something
authentic that could grow and evolve while staying true to the core concept.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER THREE
Come Up With A
Name
Pick A Brand Name
Find Inspiration
Write Down Ideas
Stop overthinking your
brand name! If it’s taking
you weeks to decide, you’re
procrastinating.
Look for unique and specific
ideas. Use platforms like
Pinterest, Instagram,
YouTube, Facebook, and
Twitter. Pay attention to
captions and usernames for
creative sparks.
Explore the world around
you: observe nature, try new
things, and draw meaning
from your experiences.
Write every name idea on
paper to visualize them.
Spend time refining your
list: Compare names and
eliminate weaker ones.
Narrow down to a list of 1015 strong options.
Pick something that
resonates with you and fits
your niche. Once you have
your name, move on to the
next step.
Get Feedback
Post a poll on Instagram or
other platforms with your
top name choices. Gather
opinions to see which
names resonate most with
your audience.
Use the feedback to
confirm or refine your
choice
MIND OF DEE
Align Your Name with Your
Brand
Ensure the name reflects
the style and concept of
your brand.
Create designs and pieces
that complement the
chosen name to establish a
cohesive brand identity.
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER THREE
How I Chose My
Brand’s Name
Here’s how I chose my brand’s name:
When I created the Conflicted Lovers logo, I took the same approach I take with all
my branding - I made sure it tied back to the core concept of being conflicted in
love.
The name itself came from me spending time looking for inspiration on Pinterest,
Instagram, other places, really thinking about what would resonate with people
emotionally.
I wrote down like 150 different name ideas, shared polls on Instagram to get
feedback, and kept refining until I found something that could truly connect with
people.
Once I had Conflicted Lovers, that's what inspired the whole logo design. Every
piece of my brand ties back to that core concept of love and being conflicted.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER FOUR
Design Your Logo
and First Product
Creating a Logo
Design Your First Product
Create a Tech Pack
Your logo represents your
brand identity. A poorly
designed logo can damage
your credibility. Tools like
KD, Photoshop, or Canva are
great for creating logos.
Come up with a design, put
that design on a mockup,
and identify the details you
want for your product.
Gather all your product
details because they’re
essential when creating and
sending your sample to the
manufacturer.
If you’re not a designer, hire
one. I recommend
@TunesSTD on Instagram—
just share your brand name
and niche, and they’ll create
something professional.
Decide on the type of
material you want—
polyester, cotton, or Pyrex—
and the type of printing—
screen printing, embroidery,
or DTG.
You can provide these
details in a tech pack.
Once you’ve submitted
your details, the next step is
receiving your sample from
the manufacturer.
How To Make a
WINNING Product
Here’s a super valuable
video that explains in depth
how you can create a
winning product in terms of
design, material and look:
https://youtu.be/uviKHrMwh
A0?si=oSgm7skjq-U-Keja
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER FIVE
Setup Your Digital
Presence
Start your Instagram and TikTok accounts now, even if you have nothing to post.
Add your logo to the profile picture
Set the bio to “Coming Soon”
*IMPORTANT* - Start interacting with niche-related content. Tell friends and family to
follow you to build an initial audience.
Building a Website
Shopify is hands down the best platform for e-commerce.
It’s user-friendly and tailored for running a clothing brand.
It’s exactly what I use for Conflicted Lovers
If you’re unsure how to set up your store, watch a tutorial—it’s straightforward.
Once your Shopify is ready, you’ll need a clean, simple website design (white
background, easy-to-read text) and a domain name.
I recommend using a “.store” domain for your brand.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER FIVE
How I Setup My
Digital Presence
Here’s how I setup my brand’s digital presence:
I'm gonna tell y'all exactly what I did with Conflicted Lovers. First thing first, I made
sure to get my Shopify stuff squared away - you need an EIN number from irs.gov
before you even touch Shopify. That's basically your business's social security
number, you'll need it for taxes and setting up your business bank account too.
For the website, I recommend y'all get a .store domain. Not just because big brands
like Rihanna and Michelle Obama use it, but because websites with a .store domain
actually sell 87% more than other sites. Plus, you get double the visibility on Google,
and it helps reduce your ad costs too. Don't pay that $14 a year Shopify be taxing
for domains - you can get a .store domain for 99 cents.
I set up Instagram and TikTok before I even had my first sample. But here's the
game - don't just start posting random stuff. When I first started, I didn't post
anything on my brand pages until I had my sample in hand. The only exception is if
you're posting content about starting your clothing brand journey.
For marketing, I focused heavy on organic reach first. A lot of people run straight to
ads, but I learned you need to figure out how to get 1,000 views organically first. If
you can't create engaging content organically, running ads ain't gonna help. That's
why my strategy was perfecting my content game first.
Content is king. If you want sales, you got to post content - and not just any
content, but engaging content. I stretch my content too - one video can become
multiple pieces of content across different platforms. Like when I'm recording
something for YouTube, I'm also getting content for TikTok, Instagram, all that.
And here's some real game - build your personal brand alongside your clothing
brand. Look at Hollywood Shaq - he built his clothing brand from his personal
brand. Started with fit of the day videos, built an audience, then launched his
brand. That's why I make sure to document everything - the unboxings, the
shipping process, all of it. It helps build both the brand and my personal platform.
Remember though, this is just the foundation. The real work comes in consistently
creating content and building your presence every single day. If you're not posting
every day and really working this, you're leaving money on the table.
CHAPTER SIX
Pre-Made Or PreOrder
My Recommendation
Pre-Made
Pre-Order
The Pre-Made Process is
ideal if you can save up
enough funds before
launching—especially for a
January 2025 drop—
because customers
prioritize fast delivery.
First, order a sample. Next,
purchase bulk inventory
upfront. Then, plan and
execute marketing
campaigns. Finally, launch
and deliver products
quickly to customers.
However, if you're working
with a tight budget, PreOrders can still work if you
carefully manage timelines
and communication to
avoid customer
dissatisfaction.
Pros: Meets demand for
fast shipping.
First, order a sample. Next,
obtain a small batch (3-4
items) for marketing and
modeling. Then, launch
marketing campaigns with
the sample. Finally, accept
customer orders, then use
those funds to fulfill bulk
manufacturing and shipping.
MIND OF DEE
Cons: Requires higher
upfront investment.
Pros: Minimal initial
investment.
Cons: Risky due to
potential delays,
chargebacks, or
logistical issues.
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER SIX
What I Did For My
First Drop
Here’s what I did for my first drop:
For my first drop at Conflicted Lovers, I went with pre-made - started with about
50 pieces. And let me tell you why - when I launched, I wanted to give my
customers the best experience possible. If you've been following me, you know I'm
always telling y'all to run pre-made if you can, even if it's just 20-30 pieces to start.
People hate pre-orders nowadays, they want their products as fast as possible.
Plus, running pre-orders puts you at risk with Shopify - they might start holding
your funds if you get too many chargebacks or if customers ain't getting their
orders fast enough. That's why even for my first drop, I wanted to have that
inventory on hand.
My first drop sold out completely - all 50 pieces. That's because when you run
pre-made, you can ship orders out fast, build trust with your customers, and avoid
all those headaches that come with pre-orders. Plus, when customers know you
got inventory on hand and can ship fast, they're more likely to buy from you again.
That's the strategy I used to build Conflicted Lovers into what it is today. Start with
what you can handle - you don't need 200 pieces for your first drop. Get you 3050 pieces, make sure you can sell those out, then reinvest and grow from there.
That's how you build a sustainable brand.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER SEVEN
Order Samples
It can be a little tricky finding trusted manufacturers but here are some ways to keep
yourself protected:
Check the manufacturer’s Instagram (if they have one). Look at the quality of the
products. If it seems off, it’s better to move on. Be cautious with manufacturers that
don't showcase their work or don’t have an online presence at all.
Ask other brand owners. Going with manufacturers that are already trusted by
others can reduce the risk, especially when starting out. If you can, get references
from brands you respect.
I always try to do payment plans. This ensures the manufacturer doesn’t delay or run
off with the money.
I avoid services like Cash App or PayPal for large payments. Instead, use platforms
that offer payment protection.
Be realistic about the timelines. If a manufacturer promises to produce thousands of
items in a few days, question the feasibility of that claim.
Ensure you have open and consistent communication with the manufacturer.
Set up video calls with the manufacturer to see their operations firsthand and
ensure they’re up to your standards.
Here’s a script I use to get lower rates on my samples
"Hello brother, how are you? My name is Dee owner of big brand Conflicted Lvrs. We
have sales over $100,000 just this year, with over 50,000+ followers on social
media. I would love to work with you on my HUGE upcoming project. I have a
techpack prepared with all details included. I was searching around for a new
manufacturer because I didn't appreciate the lack of communication from my
previous. So l reached out to you to potentially give you an opportunity to work with
me. I have a lot of manufactures working on samples, just to see which manufacturer
can do the best work. I would like you to produce a sample for me at a reduced cost.
if you can't I understand, I will take my work else where! Thank you brother."
CHAPTER SEVEN
How I Ordered My
First Samples
Here’s how I ordered my first samples:
When it comes to ordering samples, it all starts with having a proper tech pack. Let
me break down exactly what I do:
First, the tech pack needs to include:
Mockups - digital examples of your product
Color codes - exact hex codes for your designs
Fabric details - you gotta know what materials you want
GSM weight - this tells you the quality/weight of the product
Printing method - whether you want screen print, DTG, embroidery
Size chart
All your extra details like custom tags, zippers, any special features
I work with manufacturers in both Pakistan and China. For anyone starting out, I
recommend Athletic Rush - they do quality products, cheap samples, and have low
minimum order quantities.
Once you got your tech pack and manufacturer, communication is key. I stay on
top of my manufacturers every day checking progress. And here's something most
brand owners won't tell you - make sure you approve the sample before it ships.
Get photos and videos, make corrections if needed. Don't let that sample leave the
factory until it's exactly what you want.
I'm telling y'all this because I've dealt with manufacturers sending me messed up
samples - like those beanies I showed in my videos where the design was uneven.
That's why you gotta be thorough with your tech pack and sample approval
process.
Remember, manufacturers might try to cut corners if you don't know your stuff.
That's why I always know exactly what materials I want, what GSM weight,
everything. You gotta study this stuff so they can't try to give you lower quality
materials for the same price.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER EIGHT
Develop a
Marketing Plan
Intro
Options
Structure
This is a crucial step many
skip when starting their
clothing brand—I skipped it
with my first brand, and I’m
telling you it’s key to better
results. For example, with
Conflicted Lovers, I sold 50
t-shirts on my first drop,
which is great to start out!
Your marketing plan can
include organic strategies,
paid ads, and influencer
marketing. In the organic
spectrum, you can use
platforms like TikTok,
Instagram, Pinterest,
Snapchat, Twitter, and
Facebook.
Plan your marketing
structure. Decide what
content to post on specific
days, what goes on your
story versus your feed, and
consider using tools like
ChatGPT to help brainstorm
content ideas. I recommend
marketing for two to four
weeks before your drop to
build hype. Post AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE - but
obviously make it high
quality content.
For paid ads, consider
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok,
Snapchat, and Google ads.
Influencer marketing allows
you to send products to
influencers, get people to
wear and promote your
products, or set up affiliate
links.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER EIGHT
How I Developed
My Marketing Plan
Here’s how I developed my marketing plan:
When I first started marketing Conflicted Lovers, I focused heavily on organic
marketing before anything else. Let me break down my strategy:
I started planning my marketing 2-4 weeks before any drop. Here's the thing - if
you market for too long without letting people buy, they get tired of seeing the
product. But you need enough time to build that hype. That 2-4 week sweet spot is
perfect.
While my sample was being made, I'd prepare all my content ideas. I'd go through
TikTok, Instagram, looking at what other clothing brands were doing that was
working. But I wouldn't just copy - I'd think "how can I make this video even better?"
Like if a video already got 20K views, I'd think about how to add something extra,
maybe a funny joke that would get people commenting.
For content planning, I'd literally sit down and plan out:
What videos I needed to shoot
Who I needed to shoot with
What locations I needed
Exactly what days I was shooting what
I'd plan this all out in advance because I needed a video to post every single day
during that marketing period. You might need to shoot 3 videos Monday, 4 videos
Wednesday, and more the next week to have enough content.
A lot of y'all say you run out of content ideas - that's because you're not stretching
your content. One video session for me becomes multiple pieces of content. Like
when I'm recording a YouTube video, I'm also getting TikTok content, Instagram
content, everything.
The key to my marketing success wasn't paid ads at first - it was focusing on
creating engaging organic content that people actually wanted to watch. Look at
me now - I get consistent views without having to pay for them because I spent
time learning how to create content that hits.
That's why I always tell brand owners - before you even think about running ads,
figure out how to get 1,000 views organically first. If you can't create engaging
content organically, throwing money at ads ain't gonna help.
CHAPTER NINE
Launch Your Drop
This process is critical. Think about how companies like Nike prepare for a product
launch.
They brainstorm for months, create sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and
collaborate with celebrities like LeBron James.
Follow a professional rollout strategy to build anticipation for your drop.
After your rollout comes your official drop day.
By now, your website and social accounts should be ready.
Upload your products to your Shopify site, set pricing, add descriptions, and announce
to the world that your products are available.
Drop day is when you see the results of all your planning and producing.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER NINE
How I Launched
My Drop
Here’s how I launched my drop:
When I launched my first drop with Conflicted Lovers, I did it the right way. First off,
I made sure I had everything set up properly before I even thought about dropping:
Had my Shopify store ready
Got my EIN number straight
Had my social media accounts set up
Had my pre-made inventory (50 pieces) on hand
Got my shipping supplies ready (label printer, poly mailers, business cards)
For the marketing, I spent 2-4 weeks building hype before the drop. I wasn't just
posting random content - I had a whole strategy planned out. Every single day I
was posting content, building that audience, getting people excited about what
was coming.
I focused on organic marketing at first - TikTok, Instagram, getting those videos out
consistently. I made sure people could see the quality of the product, the
packaging, everything that would make them want to cop when it dropped.
Here's something important though - I wasn't doing no pre-orders for my first drop.
I had those 50 pieces ready to ship because I wanted to build trust with my
customers from day one. When they ordered, I was able to get those packages out
fast, include nice packaging with business cards and everything.
The drop sold out completely. Why? Because I spent time building that
anticipation, had quality products, and was ready to ship fast. Then I took all that
profit and reinvested it right back into the brand. That's how you build something
sustainable.
A lot of y'all try to rush your drops without having everything set up properly first.
But I planned everything out - from the content I was going to post, to how I was
going to package orders, to making sure my Shopify was set up right with my
shipping rates and everything. That attention to detail is what made my first drop
successful.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER TEN
Ship Your Orders
After the Drop
Make it an Experience
Shipping on Spotify
After the drop, you’ll need
to ship your orders. Make
sure you have the
necessary supplies, like
polymailers, a MacBook, a
label printer, and labels.
Adding a sticker, business
card, or wristband to your
packages helps boost your
brand identity and makes
the unboxing experience
special.
In Shopify, you can set up
custom shipping rates. Go
to your Shopify settings,
then click on "Shipping and
Delivery."
Honesty and timeliness are
critical—ensure every
customer gets their order,
even if it’s just three people.
Avoid leaving a bad
impression on your first
drop.
I got my sticker made on
VistaPrint and sourced
business cards on Alibaba.
These small touches make a
big difference to your
customer
MIND OF DEE
From there, you can create
custom shipping rates and
set how much the customer
will pay for shipping. For
example, you can set a flat
rate of $5 or $10 depending
on your pricing strategy.
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER TEN
How I Shipped
Out My Orders
Here’s how I shipped out my orders:
When it comes to shipping orders, yhere's exactly what I use:
Equipment needed:
MacBook/laptop/PC (don't try to run this off your phone)
Thermal label printer (I got a Thor printer from Amazon for like $70)
4x6 labels (you can get these in bulk or free from UPS with a business account)
Poly mailers (I use 14x19 size - perfect for tees and hoodies)
Business cards/stickers (I got mine from Vistaprint for about $17)
Custom bags for the actual products
For the Shopify setup, a lot of people get confused about shipping costs. Here's the
game - in your Shopify settings under Shipping Rates, you set what the customer
pays for shipping. When they check out and enter their address, they'll see that
rate. That money goes straight to your account, so you're not paying shipping out
of pocket.
My shipping process:
Print the packing slips
Print the shipping labels
Put the business card inside
Add the packing slip
Put the product in the poly mailer
Seal it up
Put the label on top
Pro tip: I use packing slips to make the process faster. I can just match the product
with the slip and know exactly what needs to go in each package.
Now for dropping off packages - when I first started I was taking them to UPS. Now
at my warehouse, I got a setup where UPS, USPS, and DHL come pick up packages
daily at a set time. But when you're starting out, just take them to UPS and tell them
you got prepaid packages.
Remember - shipping is about the customer experience too. That's why I include
business cards, use custom bags, and make sure everything looks professional.
When they open that package, it should feel special, like when you order from Nike
and get that Nike sticker.
This ain't the glamorous part of owning a clothing brand that everybody wants to
talk about, but getting your shipping process right is crucial. If you can't get orders
out fast and professional, customers ain't coming back.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Manage Your
Money Wisley
Now you gotta know what to do with all the money you just made.
Many people spend profits prematurely.
For the first year, reinvest every dollar into your brand.
Use profits to fund designs, samples, and bulk orders for your next drop.
This discipline will help your brand grow faster and bigger.
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER ELEVEN
How I Managed
My Money
In my first year with Conflicted Lovers, I made $120,000, but by December I only
had $50 in the business bank account - that was a huge mistake I don't want y'all
to make. Here’s my system for managing money:
First, you NEED a business bank account. Don't get your Shopify money paid to
your personal account - you need to track everything coming in and out. Go to
Chase, Navy Federal, BOA, whatever, with your LLC documents, EIN, and articles of
organization to open a business checking account.
Then here's how I break down EVERY payout:
Business Checking (40% of all money)
Use this for bulk orders and shipping
This is where your largest sum stays
Payroll/Services (20%)
For designers, photographers, influencer promos
Use this for samples and marketing too
Taxes (10%)
Don't forget about taxes bro
You can pay quarterly but we do it yearly
Savings (10%)
Emergency fund
Don't touch unless absolutely needed
Personal Pay (20%)
Only if your brand is profitable
In your first year, I recommend taking 0% and putting that extra into business
checking and services
For example, on a $10,000 payout:
$4,000 to business checking
$2,000 to payroll/services
$1,000 for taxes
$1,000 to savings
$2,000 personal pay (if you're profitable)
If you're just starting out, I recommend:
50% business checking
30% services
10% taxes
10% savings
0% personal pay
CHAPTER ELEVEN
How I Managed
My Money
I keep separate checking accounts for each category. Every payout gets split
immediately. This way, I always know exactly what I have to work with - if I got $3K
in services, I know that's what I got for designs, samples, and marketing.
Don't make the mistake I made early on of having all your money in one account.
You might see $10K and think you can spend $8K on a bulk order, then forget about
marketing, taxes, and savings. Break it down properly and your brand will grow way
faster.
And if you're not dependent on the brand income, challenge yourself to not take
any money out for a year. Just keep reinvesting. I promise you'll have a six-figure
business by the end of those 365 days if you stay disciplined with this system.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Plan Your Next
Drop
Analyze Your Results
Reinvest
Plan Out Your Next Drop
Review what worked, your
analytics, audience
feedback, and ways to
improve.
Reinvest and prepare for
your next drop. On your
second drop, avoid preorders and go for pre-made
inventory instead.
Rinse and repeat exactly
what you just did, but now
you have some experience
and are able to go into your
next drop with more
knowledge.
Constantly seek ways to
enhance your productivity
and effectiveness, whether
by changing your routine,
incorporating new tools, or
optimizing your workflow.
MIND OF DEE
Look at other clothing brand
promotions and try to get
creative with new ideas. The
only way you are going to
scale, is by testing and
trying new strategies and
seeing what works best for
you.
@MINDSETOFD
CHAPTER NINE
How I Planned My
Next Drop
Here’s how I planned my next drop:
After my first drop sold out, the key was reinvesting those profits smartly. Here's
exactly what I did:
First, I avoided pre-orders for the second drop. Once you prove you can sell out
pre-made inventory, stick with that. Customers hate waiting for pre-orders, and it
can mess up your Shopify account if people start doing chargebacks.
For inventory planning, I looked at my first drop's performance - sold out all 50
pieces. That showed me people wanted the product, so I knew I could go bigger.
But here's the game - you don't want to go too crazy. It's better to sell out fast than
sit on inventory for 9 months (like I did with those complicated sweatsuits).
For the marketing plan:
Started planning content 2-4 weeks before the drop
Made sure I had enough content to post EVERY day
Stretched my content across platforms (one video session becomes multiple
pieces of content)
Built on what worked from the first drop
But here's something I learned - before planning that next drop, you need to
analyze everything from your first one:
What marketing worked best
What your customers liked and didn't like
How your shipping process could improve
What price points worked
I always tell people - your second drop should be better than your first in every
way. Better quality, better marketing, better customer experience. That's how you
build a real brand, not just sell some clothes.
And remember - don't get too hyped from that first success and start spending
crazy. All that money from the first drop needs to go back into the business samples, inventory, marketing, all that. That's how you scale up properly.
Success is all about consistency and discipline. A lot of people will watch this and
never apply it, but y'all got the tools to start right now. Stay focused on your
journey, invest in your growth, and don't compare yourself to others.
CONCLUSION
Time to Take Action
To recap here are the steps I just covered
in this case study
Defining Your Purpose
Choosing Your Niche
Coming Up With a Name
These are the exact steps that I took with
Conflicted Lovers, that made it a six figure
clothing brand that generated over
$500,000.
Each of these steps includes additional
work and research, so dig into each one as
you progress. If you need help, check out
related videos for more guidance.
Designing Your Logo and First Product
Setting Up Your Digital Presence
Pre-Made or Pre-Order
My YouTube is loaded with game, so head
over to my YouTube channel and lock in,
you can even search for specific topics on
my channel.
Ordering Samples
Developing a Marketing Plan
Launching Your Drop
Shipping Out Orders
Managing Your Money
Planning Your Next Drop
MIND OF DEE
@MINDSETOFD