tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77262326278257358402024-03-12T21:55:27.928-07:00EvlovE StartupWelcome to the blog for EvolveBackwards.com. This blog will document the beginning (and end?) of a startup T-shirt company. This is for the good of everyone, as it will describe what we did right and what we could have done better.EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-29727063733759335702012-01-29T18:14:00.000-08:002012-01-29T18:16:56.274-08:00Odds and EndsI am a quarter way through Richard Nikoley's new book "Free the Animal: How to Loose Weight & Fat on the Paleo Diet." I have always been a huge fan of his blog and so far I love the book. Richard tells it like it is. He makes sensible connections to the modern world that are obvious once he points them out. It is a great book for anyone interested in the basics of the primal lifestyle or for any primal enthusiast. It is easy to read and understand; entertaining and cheap. Check it out on Amazon. I will post a more complete review once I finish the book.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, here is a great quote by the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, who lived from 460 to 377 BC:<br />
<br />
<i>"Let food be thy medicine & medicine be thy food"</i><br />
<br />
I don't think this needs explanation. It's still true.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I think we need a little tagline for our site. I'm not sure "evolve backwards" says everything we need it to say. I have been thinking of a few different tag lines. For example:<br />
<br />
1. Live Historically. Live Simply. Live Fully<br />
2. Trust/Feed/Follow your Instincts<br />
3. Go Wild<br />
<br />
What do you think? Are these any good? I'll keep trying to come up with more.EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-64143825527507917712012-01-29T17:33:00.000-08:002012-01-29T17:35:31.010-08:00Update - January - Month 1<b>Total sales this month: 5 </b><br />
<br />
Another week has gone by and we haven't made any <i>real</i> sales yet. Just some friends and family, which we are thankful for. That is all we can really expect because we have no traffic to our site besides the people we tell. Therefore, it is our goal to get more traffic! How do we do that?<br />
<br />
I've been reading some books about internet marketing and putting some of those ideas to work. We recently registered our site on Google to aid the search engine in categorizing our site. Now, when you search the words "evolve backwards" our site comes up (on the second page... hey- it's a start).<br />
<br />
We are writing T-shirt review websites in hopes that they can mention our shirts on their blog. Some of those big t-shirt sites get a lot of traffic that we can capitalize on.<br />
<br />
We also started using Twitter, which Charlie is in charge of. None of us are familiar with Twitter but we are learning. Our name is Evlove.<br />
<br />
We still love the idea of our shirts and do think they will sell enough to turn a profit. If there is anything that you think we are missing on our site that would help, please let us know by writing us at CustomerService@evolvebackwards.com<br />
<br />
I will update again soon! Sooner than last time. ThanksEvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-68431018138293027172012-01-23T17:23:00.000-08:002012-01-23T17:23:58.726-08:00Copy and Paste Error!?Upon receiving our first batches of T-shirts from our printing company we looked them over and thought they had come out terrific. Luckily, before we began selling, Charlie noticed that the name of the cave from which the Lions art came from was misspelled... Misspelled on 100+ shirts!<br />
<br />
After contacting the printing company we found out how this mistake was made. As we worked with the designers, we emailed the text we wanted displayed on the back of each shirt. They returned a picture proof of what the shirt would look like when printed. We didn't zoom in to inspect the text on the shirts like we should have. We <i>assumed </i>it was spelled correctly using "copy - paste" and unfortunately we assumed wrong. To be fair, had we taken a closer look at the proof we would have found the error. Since it was both of our faults, the company offered to make us a deal on <i>future</i> orders.<br />
<br />
Now, what do we do with half our T-shirt inventory ruined? We came up with a few ideas. We could:<br />
1. sell them as they are without making mention of the spelling error<br />
2. sell them at a discounted price after mentioning the spelling error<br />
3. give them away<br />
4. give up<br />
<br />
Obviously option 1 is hardly an option as that is not good business and could only have negative results. Option 4 was no good either because we had already come so far. We gave option 2 some thought but decided not to because we thought of a better idea. We are giving them away with every order in hopes that it will encourage people to buy our shirts. A 2 for 1 deal is a great way to sell more merchandise. Sure, we are taking a loss, but, hopefully they sell quickly and we can re-order the correct design.<br />
<br />
We hope that this can prove an advantage in starting our business.EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-13395352093139962582012-01-21T20:49:00.000-08:002012-01-21T20:49:28.037-08:00EvlovE if I ever saw it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLCW4B7HKsZcqQX0l0snpenpVbt2ctpImSCIv-D5DwmpPfCVttfIgnfF21Uj6x3JX99ObTBO6Ky_G5uuvDTlL44CZag0j49nWT_E6v_uuU8aLYQIX_QW3n_Fk09DP6Nk0DXQGYkUyPIfh/s1600/Go-Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLCW4B7HKsZcqQX0l0snpenpVbt2ctpImSCIv-D5DwmpPfCVttfIgnfF21Uj6x3JX99ObTBO6Ky_G5uuvDTlL44CZag0j49nWT_E6v_uuU8aLYQIX_QW3n_Fk09DP6Nk0DXQGYkUyPIfh/s320/Go-Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>**Added some stars to keep it PG ratedEvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-71984403837997815622012-01-16T13:35:00.001-08:002012-01-16T13:37:31.738-08:00Evolution of MedicineThis was emailed to me. It's a joke and fits in perfectly with the principles of EvlovE.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><b>A Brief History Of Medicine</b>:<br />
<br />
I have an earache.<br />
<br />
2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root<br />
<br />
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen, say this prayer.<br />
<br />
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition, drink this potion.<br />
<br />
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.<br />
<br />
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.<br />
<br />
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.</i></blockquote>EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-70075506889796148792011-12-19T18:29:00.000-08:002012-01-16T13:37:31.740-08:00ShippingTo charge for shipping or not?<br />
<br />
In order to keep things simple, we decided not to charge for shipping. To compensate for this, we did increase the price of the T-shirts. We feel this is a fair trade-off. <br />
<br />
First of all, everyone likes to receive free shipping because everyone likes free! Secondly, there is a post office nearby to our business location. We can easily walk packages over to the post office, let them weigh them and ship them- easy. <br />
<br />
We experimented to see how many T-shirts we could fit inside a white poly mailer bag. We discovered that three shirts would fit easily. More than three and we will have to ship inside a flat rate box. This is not that expensive as small and medium flat rate boxes ship for around five dollars and can hold around 15 shirts. If someone wants to buy more than 15 and we have to pay more for shipping, that is OK too because we are just glad to be selling that many shirts.EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-78709262900079539512011-12-18T06:06:00.000-08:002012-01-18T16:40:25.718-08:00Selling Shirts<div class="MsoNormal">As many people know, there are lots of sites online with which to create shirts. And we tried a few of them. Again, and again, and again. There was always something we disliked about each of them. And that problem is inherit with why we decided to create EvlovE in the first place, but that is for another time. It was so impersonal, we couldn’t meet any of the creators, artists, or even salesman from any of the websites. Fortunately, we had remembered seeing a local manufacturer in the months before. Driving by the company, we decided to hop in and see what they could do for us. It was amazing! We met the salesman, the artists, the receptionist etc. They could give us a better shirt, for a lower price, and with a smile. It was great. We had our shirts ready to go, and with great customer service to boot.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Last problem, our store. While our shirt designs were being finalized, we were undergoing the new (to us anyways) problems of getting a business license and starting an online store. With this came unique problems of being able successfully explain what we wanted to do with our business, and creating a friendly atmosphere for people to come, look around, maybe shop, but hopefully learn something about the Primal lifestyle.</div>EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-88917138633365450072011-12-18T05:57:00.000-08:002012-01-21T17:29:09.989-08:00EvlovE ideaNo joke, EvlovE came to one of us in a dream. We had really been focused for a few days on making a shirt relating to Crossfit. When Matt went to sleep that night, he had really been running through this idea, but it came to him in a dream! By the time he woke up in the morning, he knew that we had to use cave art in our shirts, and he knew the company would be focused around the Aurochs. Why the Aurochs? Well you’d have to read the website for that! <a href="http://www.evolvebackwards.com/category_s/1820.htm">http://www.evolvebackwards.com/category_s/1820.htm</a><br />
<br />
After piling through various cave paintings, we finally settled on the picture we use now for the Aurochs. Charlie came up with erasing the background and leaving the outline, which became a big focus for each of our drawings. The three of us, after much debate came up with various ideas for what our shirts could look like. We had a few ideas ready for shirt development but were unsure where to go to create the shirts.<br />
<br />
The idea to use cave art is one that came to us as we tossed around the options with EvlovE. None of us are artists and we don't like shirts with a lot of writing on them. I'm not sure exactly when ancient cave paintings were realized as a great design, but, we were lucky to see that no one else really used these pictures on shirts.<br />
<br />
We think the cave paintings are perfect to represent our industry. The theme is to inspect your life to try and be happier and healthier by living simpler. We believe that our ancient ancestors lived this simple life and were happier and healthier because of it.<br />
<br />
Sure, they were dirtier than us and didn't have all the great luxuries/technologies that we use regularly today, but, they had the important things - the basic necessities. That was all they worried about. When they weren't hunting or working around the campsite they were enjoying one another's company and relaxing. They really did live a wonderful life. <br />
<br />
This idea is gradually being realized. We want to be a coal in that fire.EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7726232627825735840.post-81158938184653669382011-12-17T20:08:00.000-08:002012-01-18T16:33:35.304-08:00T-shirts!? What?<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the beginning, there was…boredom. Left with very little to do before our next assignment, we were resigned to thinking of grander things when a simple audio book about small business was brought to our attention. After listening to the book to and from work for a few days, we were convinced that not only could we start and maintain a small business, but we could succeed! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">So um, what would our business be? Well we had a few criteria to meet. The first was that it must be a low maintenance concept. Soon to be working 60 hours a week and faced with a 45 minute 2 way transit time, it must be something simple for us. That removes consulting and service from anything we would be capable of completing. One of our founding members, Matt, has enjoyed living the Primal lifestyle for years and has felt, also for years, that he should do something related to that. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Living with Matt allowed the remaining members to see the benefits of a primal lifestyle (delicious food with a healthy but simple workout!) Naturally, it was the logical thing for us to do but we still had one thing missing, a product (seems kind of important!) It was Matt, once again, to the rescue. Why not sell shirts? What better way to reach to the broader masses than on our bodies. Ok, so we solved the problem of what we were going to sell, but we were still unsure how, why, or what it was going to look like.</span></div><br />
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />EvlovEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10572160491797777448noreply@blogger.com0