Lacy J Creations | Application Preview
Lacy J Creations is applying for government grants to acquire a Direct-to-Film (DTF) printer and better sublimation equipment, which would significantly expand its capacity to serve a wider customer base. The inability to access these tools has resulted in lost business, as the owner often has to decline customer requests due to limited inventory. Currently, stock is purchased in bulk only before events, restricting the ability to fulfill customer needs at other times.
The ultimate dream for the business is to open a storefront that offers ready-made items at reasonable prices, enabling customers to purchase directly without long wait times. Additionally, the owner envisions expanding into custom wood projects, leather cutting, and embroidery, but notes that the necessary equipment for these ventures is costly.
The owner expresses a desire for funding not just as a means of growing the business, but as a pathway to improve personal circumstances stemming from a challenging early life as a teenage mother. Despite struggling with credit issues due to financial constraints, the owner is committed to providing affordable custom products and maintaining customer respect. With the right equipment and investment, the business could thrive in a small town where customer loyalty is paramount.
In terms of competition, Lacy J Creations faces challenges from local businesses known for their broader inventories and quicker service. However, the owner believes that unique designs and a bold approach to product style set them apart from competitors, who may offer more generic items at higher prices. The funding would be a significant step toward transforming the owner's vision into reality. If funding is not approved, the owner expresses understanding but remains determined to continue operating within current limitations.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 488949740
Location: Mineral Point, MO, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: NO
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Funding Usage
This money would allow me to purchase that DTF printer which would allow me a bigger customer base. Due to me not having this printer I loose business because I am unable to do some of the things they request without DTF. Better sublimation printer. The ones I have are regular printers that I have converted. It would also allow me to have stock in my home. I have to turn down customers due to not being able to keep much stock on hand. One case of tumblers are not cheap and I am only able to buy cases when I am getting ready for an event, and typically have to use all I have for that event.
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Business Plan
The amount of money I am asking for would not allow me to do this right now, but my dream would be to open a store. I would love to just have a store front of already made items at a reasonable price that my customers could just walk in and grab what they are looking for. If I didn't have it made I could go to a shelf, grab a blank and make it on the spot without having to wait a week for shipping. I would love to expand my business into custom wood projects, custom leather cutting, custom embroidery, but all of these things cost alot of money to buy the equipment just to get started. Honestly, I am not one to ask for help. Anything I do, I do it with only the resources I have to do it with. I do not want to give a sappy story, but the long story short is I was a teenage mother. My husband and I were both just teenagers when we had our first child. I was 16 he was 18. With that being said neither of our families are made of money so we would just do whatever was necessary to eat, pay for a roof over our heads etc. That would alot of times mean having to skip bills to do these things which in return ruined both of our credit at an early age. In the world we live in you have to have credit to be able to excel at anything. I know people with large pieces of equipment that they rarely use that I would love to own. Not only own these products for the fact of having, but to actually use them and make affordable custom products with these large expensive pieces of equipment. I know you have to get paid for your services but I refuse to upcharge so much that I loose customers respect and repeat orders. We live in a very small town so everyone knows everyone and some of these pieces of equipment other business owners in neighboring towns have, which means my customers have to go elsewhere because I cannot afford to buy this equipment. Investing in me and my small business would mean the world to me. It would be a real dream come true. However, If you were not able to invest in me I would understand the reasoning and continue to be happy in just the small work I can do with what I have for as long as I can afford to do it.
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Self Identified Competition
My three top competitors are Heathers Whisamable Creations based out of Farmington Missouri, Lou Lous store front in my home town of Potosi, and Cindy's Corner based out of Farmington Missouri. My competitors are great people. My opinion and the opinion of many of my returning customers, the biggest difference is style. The types of designs I do compared to what they do. I am not affraid to push the envelope and provide funny bold colorful products for my customer base. Some of theirs are overpriced, dull, and just not a typical design people would love. However they all have the credit to have way more product at all times than I do. Lou Lou's is a store front that I would love to have but are very overpriced. However, if someone needs that quick custom shirt they have the income and equipment to do it right then and there, therefore people will purchase from them if they are in a time crunch.
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Contact Applicant
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