Fire Doll Inc | Application Preview
Fire Doll Inc. is seeking government grants to address urgent financial needs, including back rent and materials for the holiday season. The requested funding of $28,000 is aimed at catching up on four months of overdue rent and ensuring enough inventory for their busy season. Additionally, they need $10,000 to $15,000 for essential materials, with any leftover funds allocated for payroll and other expenses.
The company is focused on expanding its wholesaling efforts across the nation, leveraging platforms like Amazon and aiming for larger retailers such as Target. Future plans include a new production facility to accommodate increased volume and enhancing their marketing strategy to grow their diverse revenue streams, which encompass in-store retail, online sales, events, custom orders, and subscription services.
As a woman-owned business, Fire Doll Inc. has created five local jobs and received recognition for its contributions to tourism, winning the Champaign County Tourism Impact Award in 2022. They have experienced substantial growth, increasing annual revenue from $25,000 to $500,000 since their inception during the pandemic. They position themselves as a unique artisan maker in their niche, with no local competition, though they face national brands like Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works. Their competitive edge lies in their distinctive, heartwarming brand aesthetic, which remains accessible to a broad audience.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 87-2546311
Location: Champaign, IL, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: $250k to $500k
Annual Gross Expense: $250k to $500k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
We are currently behind on rent and utilities. We are barely making payroll. We cannot order materials for our busy season which started September 1st. The funds would be used to catch up 4 months of back rent, then cover the rest of the year ($28,000 for rent). We would also get materials for the holiday season coming up ($10,000-$15,000). Any remaining would help cover payroll and miscellaneous expenses.
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Business Plan
We are moving more into wholesaling nationwide, including Amazon and applying to larger markets through companies like Target. We are hoping to add a larger production facility in the coming years to accomodate larger volume. We would like to invest in a stronger marketing strategy once we are caught up with expenses to expand all revenue streams; in-store retail, online retail, events, wholesale, custom wholesale, and subscription boxes. We are an award winning woman-owned business that has created 5 jobs in our community and with our anticipated growth we hope to add many more. We are a fixture in our city's downtown, winning a Champaign County Tourism Impact Award in 2022 for our contributions to tourism here. We are an Illinois Made Program inductee and represent our city and state as a top tier artisan maker and tourism experience. We have grown from $25,000 annually to $500,000 since 2020. We are a pandemic start-up that was created in an attempt to make ends meet during work loss and we grew very quickly. We have a strong brand and are working hard to continue building it.
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Self Identified Competition
We do not have any local competitors. Nationally we have Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works, and P.F. Candle Co. Though we very much exist in our genre of candles that sets us apart from these. Our brand and aesthetic are artisinal, quirky, and heart-warming, but accessible.
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Contact Applicant
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