The last few decades have been notorious in entrepreneurship and start-up business. Think about it—Instagram and Facebook, Uber and Lyft, all started off as someone’s idea at one point, and now they’re million-dollar businesses. According to smallbiztrends.com, thousands of ambitious entrepreneurs start a business each year. However, a study conducted by Statistic Brainshows over 50% of those businesses fail after the first five years.
Edwin Dhaiti, CEO of Annale Apparel, just launched his clothing line in December of 2019. Annale Apparel is an athletic wear brand that currently consists of dri-fit shirts and tanks tops, gym shorts, headbands, polos and hoodies. With hopes of releasing sports bras, yoga pants and gym bags in the near future. “It definitely gets frustrating. The process is very time consuming, but you have to stay consistent,” said Dhaiti. Born and raised in Haiti, the native says he has always been an athlete, so athletic wear just seemed like the perfect fit. The actual term “annale” means “let’s go” in the Haitian language.
The release of Annale Apparel has actually been prolonged since 2018. Dhaiti had to push the release date back three time because the quality of the clothing was not up to his standards. The 24-year-old shared the story of how he did a test run with the first batch of clothes he ordered. “The words on the shirt began to fade after one wash and the thread started to unravel,” he explained. And it didn’t stop there-- Dhaiti encountered another unforeseen circumstance when he hired a web designer to create his website, only to find out the site wasn’t functioning properly on the day of release. “Those are the types of things you have to prepare for when you work for yourself. Its trial and error,” said Dhaiti.
The Financial Times Guide to Business Start-Up by Sara Williams, details how you must “time the jump” perfectly. Williams talks about the importance of drawing up an initial business plan, forecasting your sales, and applying to have your brand trademarked. Dhaiti just recently filed to have his brand trademarked as well. A blog done by Syracuse University, lists ten tips for young entrepreneurs.One tip mentioned in the blog is to just do it—even if it fails. And to trust your gut and be obsessed with your idea. “The day you say you want to work for yourself is the day you must be willing to work 24 hours a day. I have to be own accountant, delivery man, photographer and whatever else. But it’s all worth it in the long run and I enjoy learning as I go along,” said Dhaiti.
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