Lauren Murillo's Entrepreneurial Blueprint: 7 Steps to Starting and Growing Your Own Business
Remember when Lauren first appeared on the Fresh Prints blog - Lauren Murillo’s Career Path: From Campus Manager to Marketing Freelancer? Fast forward a year, and we're back, not just to revisit Lauren's beginning, but to witness her victories, surprises, and moments of insight.
Lauren wasn't entirely certain about her career path after graduating, and that's okay. We've all been there, right?
She dipped her toes into freelancing. Coming up with marketing campaign ideas, structure, designs, and whatnot for authors, businesses, and more. One of her clients - Capri, founder and CEO of Dressd - loved her work so much, that she kept trying to recruit her full-time. After months of dodging it, Lauren decided to take the leap. She particularly loved the sustainable and empowering aspect of the business, and she was already so involved - sooo why not?
But what is Dressd, you ask? Imagine Poshmark and Depop joining forces to create a better realm. With Dressd, you can rent out your stylish dresses or rent one yourself from your sisters for a short period of time. It's like Cinderella's closet but in the real world! Dressd operates on a peer-to-peer basis, the foundation of a circular fashion movement that's here to stay. It's not just about looking good for one night; it's also about feeling good and doing good for the planet – one dress at a time!
With a shopping experience like no other, Dressd feels like scrolling through Pinterest, only this time, those dreamy outfits can actually be yours, even if it's for a night. If you ever found yourself saying "I love this dress but I'll never wear it after that one event," it's literally your dream come true.
Lauren also told us about an initiative Dressd is taking on recently - one she's personally very excited about: Club Dressd – a secret society for fashion enthusiasts, sustainability lovers, and influencer extraordinaires. With workshops, networking opportunities, and much more, it's like the golden ticket for women in the fashion world.
When we asked Lauren about how she got here from freelancing to entrepreneurship, she gave us the following roadmap:
- Research & Development: Before diving into any business venture, it is important to thoroughly research your industry and target market. Identify your competition, understand customer needs, and determine how your business can stand out. Develop a solid business plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and financial projections.
- Legal: Do your legal homework. Licenses, permits, registrations for your state – it's like your business's passport to the real world. While it can be daunting at first, it's also much easier to figure out than you think!
- Finance Finesse: Money makes the world go round, and your business too. Figure out how you'll fund your dream – personal savings, loans, grants, or investors.
- Structure & Setup: Once you have that foundation, set it up. Register your business name, get a tax ID, a workshop (just a place you need to get stuff done), and a basic website.
- Marketing Magic: Marketing comes alongside your product. No matter how good your product is, if no one knows about it, they won't buy it! Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote your business.
- Launch & Soar: The grand finale – launch your baby into the world. A campaign, an event – do what makes sense. Let your dream take its first step toward changing the world.
Lauren's advice is not just words; it's the blueprint of her own success story. So, go ahead and take a page out of Lauren's playbook. If you're in the fashion space and want to get your own business off the ground: Join the Dressd Club! From mentors, potential investors, and people who've done what you want to do - you might just find what you need.
P.S. If you're still in college and love entrepreneurship, become a Campus Manager! Lauren was one :)