New Clothing brand. 'Chicken or the Egg?'

[Lucan Unlordly]

Bit of background.

6 years ago I carried out significant research and employed the services of a trade mark attorney to register a defunct brand name under fashion clothing and sportswear. The vintage unregistered logo of which has not been used since the 70's.
I've used the logo on social media to promote a side arm of my main business. It has something about it that people in the market we work in like and has heritage, history and publicity worthy links to famous sportsmen.

I'll cut to the chase. Amongst my circle of personal contacts I can count the following....
The worlds former top male model with Hollywood links, a current reality TV star with 1m plus followers on social media who owns an international retail brand and a third a West end based tailor with outlets in New York and high end retail operation. All have a link to the brands roots via the sports they were involved with..

The dilemma....
Everybody is telling me to tap into these contacts asap. That connections are more important than business plans at this stage. There's a strong chance I could bring them all together and peak their interest, but I'm old school - or watch 'Dragons Den' too much where financials and forecasts are key?

So, 'Chicken or the Egg'?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Get the business plan sorted first and make sure the numbers work out.

You know this - NEVER start a business based on potential reach (unless you are TS, Beyonce etc!).

 

[NickGrogan]

Whats the hurry? You've had the trademark for 6+years, you know these people, presumably for a while if you think you can ask them for favours or to be involved, so I don't understand why you think it needs to be now.

Also a former model is not a model, so likely to be out of the loop a bit and 1M followers on social media is really not that many.

I've worked with a fashion company that was essentially created around the fact that a supermodel was their school friend, so it can work. But she was an active model at the time.

She could walk onto a L'Oreal photoshoot wearing their jewellery, get it in the pictures, and invite them to the parties where big names (Hollywood Oscar winners, etc.) were hanging out.

 

[WaveJumper]

Yes tap into these contacts it could be the way to achieving a rather large market slice, however they maybe be personal friends, but if they are using their own social media presence to promote their own interests / business, friends or not its probably going to cost you. And if they are on the ball its gonna cost you big bucks.

So either (soft) launch your line first then try to garner their interest, pretty sure you are aware having the right people wearing / promoting a clothing line can lead to making some very big bucks.

I would advise doing a little bit of home work and check they are not affiliated to any other brand. My son works with quite a few social media "celebs" through his own company, also his better half has an online media presence herself and a fair amount of sponsors I mention this as the next thing you need to have to hand are contracts (plenty of info on line about these) from what I know and learnt through their dealings nothing is done before people sign on the bottom line.

Could be a very exciting journey best of luck

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Get the business plan sorted first and make sure the numbers work out.

You know this - NEVER start a business based on potential reach (unless you are TS, Beyonce etc!).

That was my initial thought but my idea would be to sell at high street prices. My contacts are all high end and have significant experience and backing.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

High street prices will not allow for an influencer wedge - you need to be at a premium.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Whats the hurry? You've had the trademark for 6+years, you know these people, presumably for a while if you think you can ask them for favours or to be involved, so I don't understand why you think it needs to be now.

Also a former model is not a model, so likely to be out of the loop a bit and 1M followers on social media is really not that many.

I've worked with a fashion company that was essentially created around the fact that a supermodel was their school friend, so it can work. But she was an active model at the time.

She could walk onto a L'Oreal photoshoot wearing their jewellery, get it in the pictures, and invite them to the parties where big names (Hollywood Oscar winners, etc.) were hanging out.

Why not now? Other than my being the wrong side of retirement

I didn't say former model, I said former TOP model, still working and connected.

Closer to 1.4m followers, 3m if partner included but splitting hairs really as it's 1.4m in a particular demographic and supported by reality TV viewing figures.

I think we're ahead of the game in that the brand doesn't need to be created. It has history and heritage but has been out of the public eye for 50 years. I could have had another brand worn in Hollywood a few years ago by a couple of top 'A' listers but social media wasn't on my radar at the time. I could call a guy I know well and ask him if he can ask De Niro to wear some product but there's no plan, nothing in place to handle any sort of demand.
I see this venture a bit like the Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Willis partnership that saw the launch of Planet Hollywood, just a little smaller.

 

[Gecko001]

I think you are right to be cautious about this.

You now own the rights to the logo. Do you have the rights to using the designs?

 

[RevoMark]

If your trademark has not been used for 5 continuous years it could be invalidated on the basis of non-use. Use it or risk losing it. You also need to bear in mind that copyright could still vest in a logo (artistic design) so you may not necessarily be out of the woods in that respect.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I think you are right to be cautious about this.

You now own the rights to the logo. Do you have the rights to using the designs?

The professional advice I received was to register the name as this would prohibit use of the same in any competitive logo design.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

If your trademark has not been used for 5 continuous years it could be invalidated on the basis of non-use. Use it or risk losing it. You also need to bear in mind that copyright could still vest in a logo (artistic design) so you may not necessarily be out of the woods in that respect.

I do use it on clothing and on Facebook..