If someone would had told me that within three years I would have gone from hustling hats on the boardwalk in Venice Beach, to opening my first 3,000sqft store in Denver (2209 Larimer,) this 4/20 I would have told you that you were crazier then I was.
The fact of the matter is, as of Jan. 1 2012 I went from living out of my Toyota Tundra (aka Vern,) which now has 297,000 miles; to living in the back of my store, 2209 Larimer Denver Colorado.
So how did I do it?
Rent Free
The most important piece of advice I can give anyone starting a company is keep your overhead as low as possible. If you can crash at your parents house don’t be ashamed to do it. (But if they want your stoner ass to the curb let the old lovers have their space.)
The main reason for this is if you don’t have a fixed expense then you can do so much more with your art, clothing company, store, or anything you’re trying to start. I can still recall paying rent and signing that check over and envisioning how many hats I could have been purchasing with it. That’s when I decided to take my company on the road.
Long story short is be ready to sleep in strange places. In the back of your car, in your booth or in the back of your store.
Ruga 101 is a new blog where I’ll be sharing with you some of my tricks of the trade.
Ruga Cons, CEO
