*New Girl Needs New Idea Assistance*

MyDenimFling

Hello SuN`ers!
I`m glad to be here. I see a lot of great feedback on some start-up ideas so I thought I`d post my idea here as well. 
I`d like to launch a type of tryvertising concept that would connect denim jean brands with the women who buy them.  The idea is that denim brands spend thousands of dollars or more in advertising and marketing trying to reach their target market and build better brand loyalty.  But why not use that budget on a more real and direct concept to communicate with this market?  If there was a way to connect and communicate with this market and get honest, raw and experience-based feedback, the denim brands could improve, change or even penetrate new un-tapped marekts like never before.
My concept is an online solution that is built on a large network of women who register with us to receive free or deeply discounted designer jeans to try, keep and then come back to our website to report their experiences on our forum from their everyday lives, the good, the bad and in some cases the ugly. And for the denim brands they too can join our forums and interact with the ladies. 
I`ve researched this idea some and  there are some luxury brands doing this already, so I know with the right approach this could work. 
So I know in order to even get it going, I`ll need a large network of women who show a genuine interest, and then I`ll need to approach denim brands with the idea.  I`d like any feedback on this idea that you all may have.  It`s still very much in its infancy, but we do have a `un-official` website live, just so we can start to grow our network. Feel free to visit the site also and lend your feedback. 
I look forward to any advice or opinions.
My Denim Fling  `un-official` website

jwatkins

Good concept. I think you should probably build the community first without mentioning the tryvertising. It can be done. Then when you have your base you`ll have willing participants in the research. Or, you could tell the members what your plans are, but, only a selected, dedicated few will be chosen to participate. That will keep them coming back. Then when you have six months of active participation you can approach a certain brand and offer your services. The trick is to know what demographics each company is trying to reach and having active participation from that particular demographic on your site.

MyDenimFling

Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate the different angles.  Watkins I like the idea of the selected few to participate, I guess each denim campaign will be different and will depend on the denim brands and how many ladies in our network they want to target. 
Mr. Craig, I understand there is a lot to understand about the industry and knowing what brands target who, as far as my background I`m studying marketing and advertising right now. I chose this industry because it is one that as a woman I can relate to and understand the challenges women face when it comes to jeans, and a great fit, and wanting to let brands know exactly how we feel.
Because bottom line is that the brands are targeting a specific market and they`d like to know what that market wants and needs.  Yes they are in it to make money, but they can make more money if they truly know and understand the market to its fullest and that is still in line with what their brand is and stands for.  I realize that not having deep industry experience is against me, but you know what I have what a lot of women have and that is a desire to find great-fitting and well designed jeans. 
I also believe that with enough interest from women that our reach could be bigger than we think. And we all know how much consumer pull women have in most markets today, don`t we?  This is something I find interesting, and challenging and I`ll pursue it with what I know and can learn. If I make it Fantastic, if not it will just give that much more knowledge to pursue other dreams and goals later. MyDenimFling2007-8-10 10:45:23

Deepak

Hi,
I fully agree with Craig. Such a concept requires you to have a community, the members are active even when offline, technology platform to manage the network, logistics set up for distribution and reclaiming the tried stuff and a constant source of products that are available as and when you need it. Now think of scale you need to accomplish before you present the research findings to a manufacturer and start making money.
It`s a big dream that encapsulates Orkut like community, eBay like network, DHL or UPS for logistics, a conatct center to manage contacts and ofcourse a denim factory to support with its designers on thier toes. Think of its scale.
Well, I hope it would be a workable concept sometime in the future but time isn`t ripe now.
 
 

Flyingpancakemachine

Hey Denim,Great ideas from fellow SUNr`s! It seems like a few people have mentioned scalablity as a key aspect. Sun Microsystems is offering new startups @ http://www.sun.com/emrkt/startupessentials/ They`re offering loads of resources, seriously discounted prices on servers and free tech support! I think these guys are really helping get startups started and you have a great idea!

Fred333

I like the idea with a personalized approach. I think if it takes off would be a create tool in the new Web 2.0 world.

EngineInventor

Although a little bit lengthy for
this format, please e-mail
[email protected]</A> as I have
something to present to you.
              Sincerely,
 
             Darwin Nunley

DefMall

I, too, am engaged in a denim-jeans-related project, and I have also experiemented with the use of a `community` to sell product/services. Why don`t you try this:
Create a forum called "Women in Jeans" or the like. Crate thread/categories that appeal to specific sub-groups ie: Rockers who wear jeans as a fashion statement, at home moms who need something comfortable, womenin business who wear jeans as Business Casual, etc.
Create inccentoives/perks for remaining an active member of the community.
After some time has passed, THEN thro the tryvertising out there to your community. I would think that many would join, and the word-of-mouth atmosphere would encourage MORE members to join (as well as their friends who are not yet a part of teh community).
I hope this is a little helpful...
 

EngineInventor

I`m a bit lost at the starting gate.  Where will you obtain
the free or deeply discounted denim jeans?  Do you have
contracts in place with manufacturers?  Remember - you
"showing up at their door" with what you define as interest
and demand may or may not fly with their executives.
I do not mean to seem in any way negative, it is just that
experience has taught me you must really have all the
answers in place before opening the starting gate. 
Best of luck and I do wish you well.
                 Sincerely,
                 Darwin Nunley