We Have Plenty of Young Talent in Michigan

I am inspired by the world.  I love different places, sounds, and smells (well most of them).  I feel a great connection to people in other countries and a desire to understand and impact their lives.  I like to think that I bottled up my passions and made them into a tangible substance…a business: World Clothes Line.

I’m a social entrepreneur at the age of 24.  My youth is normally a subject of conversation when speaking with other professionals.  A charitable business requires insight and perspective, which is usually not associated with anyone under the age of 30.

So, how did I do it? Let me explain.

My company is called World Clothes Line.  It’s an online apparel retailer with a philanthropic mission: to clothe the world.  WCL matches every item sold with a new item for someone in need.  When our customers purchase merchandise for themselves, they also give directly to others.

WCL clothing designs are inspired by different countries around the world.  Currently, we sell t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants in 3 collections: Indonesia, Peru, and the United States.  Items purchased from each collection will benefit people in that respective country.  The WCL team travels (we actually go!) around the world to personally deliver clothes to people who need them most.

So, what inspired this?

I love to travel, and in taking advantage of my youth, I’ve done quite a bit.  My passport booklet is my resume: Europe, SE Asia, Central and South America, and even around the U.S.A. (I wish there were stamps for individual states).  I travel on the cheap, also a result of my youth.  I don’t have much money, and I don’t mind a lack of amenities.  I carry a backpack, sleep in hostels, ride local transportation, and eat from street vendors.  Viewing the world from this perspective allows me to see the living conditions of everyday people.  I see the universality of basic needs and how many go without them.

Here comes the kicker!  Through my travels, one luxury in my life became noticeably apparent.  I was continually asked for my clothing.  I expected food and money requests, but more often than not, my clothes were my most prized possession.  I realized the need of clothing around the world isn’t very well recognized.  Clothes can be re-worn, and therefore, they are. When I returned home, I wanted to give back to the people I had met, thus, World Clothes Line was born.

How I did turn these observations into a business, you ask?

With passion and careful planning, I founded WCL in January 2010.  I felt such a strong connection to my cause because I had witnessed it firsthand.  I could visualize the faces of people in need. Those faces sent me to work every day.  I realized I couldn’t clothe the world on my own, so I created a “Buy 1, Give 1” campaign that allows my customers to support my mission.

I spent nine months thoroughly constructing my business plan, website, merchandise, and marketing strategy.  These months were not easy, as I had a lot to learn, but, I had an open mind and wasn’t afraid to ask for help.  (Ahh, the benefits of being young.)

Financially, I was in the best position to start a business.  I don’t have a family to support or a mortgage to maintain.  Honestly, I don’t have much money to begin with, so I don’t have much to lose.  I was excited, optimistic, and probably very naïve, but that allowed my creativity to flow.  I designed a unique marketing theme of clotheslines and clothespins.  I created a “Tracking Club” to engage my customers.  I made slogans, taglines, took photos, shot videos, test-marketed my products, and began social networking campaigns.  All of these have greatly contributed to WCL’s success.

World Clothes Line launched as an online retail store in September 2010.  Since then, I’ve been off to the races.  I see my age only as an asset.  I’m imaginative and persistent, and my youth makes me stand out.  Being the youngest one in a room is a good thing as I have more years ahead of me to grow and develop World Clothes Line.

My 5 tips for young people looking to start a company:

1. Do something that excites you! If you are going to invent your own business, make sure it’s something you want to do day-in and day-out.  I keep my photo albums and travel journals in my office to remind me of the people I’m helping.  They re-energize me.  Follow your passion!  It may be cliché, but it’s true.
2. Have a clear, concise mission.  Know what you want to accomplish, and stay focused.  Not everyone has your background or expertise, so be “user-friendly.”
3. Invest in your website.  If you’re going to spend big on anything, create an exceptional website.  When you are young, your legitimacy will be questioned.  People will look you up before giving you a chance.  If your website is engaging and unique, it will speak volumes.
4. Tell your story as many times as possible to whoever will listen.  Don’t underestimate any person or opportunity.  Give presentations, write to newspapers, be active in social media, guest blog (wink, wink) and talk to everyone you can.  You’ll be surprised who may hear you.
5. Keep, keep trying.  Realize you may not succeed right away and then, (you guessed it) keep trying!

With that, good luck to all my fellow young entrepreneurs!

Mallory Brown
www.WorldClothesLine.com