ⓂⓈⓉ MudSlide Gloves+Pucks: available 3/24/09!

[jmasta]

Thanks virtualdude! All that was very helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to read the entire thread

It's hard to find employees that I would trust to make the gloves to my standards, but it is definitely time to start hiring. I tend to be a perfectionist, and the manufacturing setup I have going has somewhat of a learning curve

My plan is to pay them by the glove... with the implication that they must pass my seal of approval before they get paid. I feel this would be better than an hourly wage (college students are lazy! and i don't want to bother keeping track of hours). Any insight or suggestions on this?

[virtualdude]

Originally Posted by jmasta

Thanks virtualdude! All that was very helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to read the entire thread

It's hard to find employees that I would trust to make the gloves to my standards, but it is definitely time to start hiring. I tend to be a perfectionist, and the manufacturing setup I have going has somewhat of a learning curve

My plan is to pay them by the glove... with the implication that they must pass my seal of approval before they get paid. I feel this would be better than an hourly wage (college students are lazy! and i don't want to bother keeping track of hours). Any insight or suggestions on this?

No worries! Actually, I gotta admit that initially, I just wanted to learn about the gloves but wound up wanting to find the website.
Not being an entrepreneur myself, I don't know all that much that I can help you with, but I think I have a few pointers. One thing is that I'm not sure what sort of skills go into making the gloves, but I figure you should figure out what you're looking for in an employee and go from there.
Interviewing will help you to sort things out and remember that you don't need to hire the first one that sounds good. Interview a few people and see who's got the personality and skills match with you. Discuss their technical capabilities, their attention to detail and quality, and consider them a long term employee. Pay a fair wage. Not too high, not too low. Your wage and any "perks" you give will be rewarded with loyalty. I'd suspect that hiring a fellow skater would aid in the quality of the product. It may be a good idea to take their picture so you can match their face to a name and resume, if they have one.
Also, given that it'd be your first employee, consider that if Mudslides gets really big that they may need to grow with the company. In other words, hire someone with potential to step up into growing other employees, growing the business, handling customer service. What I'm trying to say is that at some point, you do have to ease off the reigns and trust a little bit. One mentor of mine mentioned that the way to move up is to replicate yourself. Train someone on how to do your job. Do that a second time and you can move on to bigger and better things.
I'd suggest you start looking into some entrepreneurial books to consider things about what it really takes to get started with a business. Look into writing a business plan and weigh out the cost of the gloves vs. the price to sell them. You need to make enough profit to pay the materials, employee(s), overhead(rent), R & D investment, and pay yourself. Also, consider getting some investors/loans so that you can bump up production and get a real place of business. You WILL need a business plan for that.
Look into getting a retail license so you can start getting your glue, gloves, puck material, and Velcro at wholesale prices. Buying in bulk is awesome.
Check with your city to see if there are any entrepreneurial community groups where you can meet other business owners. Also, as much as the other vendors may have had beef with you in the past, reach out, try to mend the bridges and discuss business ideas with them. You don't need to talk to direct competitors if you don't want to and definitely not share any secrets, but reach out and see if there are any pointers to getting started from the business side of things.
I'd also see if you can chat them boys at Original Skateboards considering their whole line of boards and trucks came about because they wanted to do something different. I'm sure they've got some ideas on how to run things. Not that they're entirely on top of things, but at least they're out there slugging it out day after day trying to live their dream.
I see a lot of kids bash vendors because they think that vendors are "the man" or whatever, but the truth is that they're all just a bunch of guys living the dream trying NOT to have to push papers or pencils all day long. The guys who own the big companies had to start somewhere. That guy from Tactis, once upon a time, probably was building #### in his garage too. I give props to them because they were able to become successful with it.
I'm sorry I can't give you any real help as far as starting a business. I've yet to cross that bridge. One thing I will say is that since you're in college, start getting your business classes handled and you might want to consider a double major in Business and whatever else you're studying. The Business classes will aid you in running your company. See if there's an entrepreneurship track within the business degree and go get that thing! And don't forget to get your MBA too. It'll REALLY come in handy!
BTW, you'll want to get an accountant soon too. Track the money because you'll eventually need to pay taxes on it.
I guess that's about it for now. I'll let you know if I can think of anything else.

[jmasta]

MudSlide is officially upping production by 300%

hired on two today

[RodRod]

Originally Posted by jmasta

MudSlide is officially upping production by 300%

hired on two today

very nice

[virtualdude]

Originally Posted by jmasta

MudSlide is officially upping production by 300%

hired on two today

NICE!! Congratulations!! Best of luck!! =D

[luftywaffles]

Awesome!!!

Now get those pucks out!

[Petary791]

Hey man I haven't read back a few pages but I just want to make sure you're doing alright! Keep it real, keep it slidey.

[lizardbowl12]

I may be purchasing a pair of these soon.....get em goin'!!

[jmasta]

carbon kevlar gloves are looking promising....

[MJKam11]

I think i'll be ordering either some blacktops or mudstones in the kinda near future (like after x-mas maybe, we'll see).

[xtreme23]

Originally Posted by jmasta

carbon kevlar gloves are looking promising....

hey are you still behind on pms? sent one a while ago so just waiting on an answer

[DirtyCarve]

Hey, I haven't left much here after I got my gloves back in about july or augest i think it was...
Anyway I love them and everything and have been really trying to get my skate buddies and everyone else from ASRA on them
Though sad thing is these new elite mudslides have been to late for me, as I need some leather/kevlar gloves for Newtons (dw I'll still put my greenstones on them)
But yeah I'm pretty confident I'll buy a set for next year's.
Also you were talking about stickers a while back, any news on that?
Cos' I'd love to rep you and your gear even more, I could be like on your skate team or be your Aus representative

[jmasta]

Originally Posted by xtreme23

hey are you still behind on pms? sent one a while ago so just waiting on an answer

Sorry man. I thought I was up-to-date, but I obviously missed a few. To anyone who is still awaiting a reply, please do not take offense, and feel free to contact me again (I won't bite ). I realize my current email-order system is completely inefficient. I really do like the personal approach, since I get to personally speak to every customer... but it leads to longer waits and missed orders. I will do be very best to get back to everyone.

I've got big plans to streamline the sales and production. Until now I have been making the gloves on a custom basis: sell one glove, make one glove, etc. Starting in 2010, everything will be pre-made with live inventory. My goal is to ship all orders same day... combine this with priority mail shipping, and you will be shredding your new gloves by the upcoming weekend!

I have actually not accepted any $$$ for the last few weeks. I want to supply everyone with a killer product, but I also don't want to keep anyone from sliding! Those who have shown interest in the last month, I have starred that email and you will have first grabs at the new batch

Originally Posted by DirtyCarve

Also you were talking about stickers a while back, any news on that?

Stickers: yes! I have a few designs going in Photoshop right now. i have contacted a few companies, but I like to fully research everything out before I commit to anything (I first started planning this whole glove/puck operation last NOVEMBER.... months before I ever whispered a word of it on the 'fish). I want to make something that people would be stoked to represent.... not the cheapest thing available that falls off your board after one session

and last but not least.....

Website: yes! Expect it to launch in early 2010.... and expect to have some surprises! I've got a few updates and new products up my sleeve. I have to laugh at myself when I read my earlier posts... the plan was to have a killer website from day one, but my perfectionism got the better of me. I actually started the website in January, but after my HD crashed, I lost everything.... hours and hours of wasted time

summary: MudSlideTech is going pro

[jmasta]

Oh I forgot to mention...


finally got my shipment of plastic. My supplier shipped it my old address, and it has been sitting in some guy's living room for almost a month. He finally mentioned it to my old landlord, and luckily she saved my number. Good thing a grand worth of high-grade plastic has absolutely no value to the average person

[luftywaffles]

excitedddddddddddddddddd

MUDSLIDE REPRESENT.

gotta rock mudslides with steez, no grabbing rail



edit: and Jeff, the guy at your old house must have thought you were a complete weirdo ordering rods of plastic.

[xtreme23]

Originally Posted by jmasta

Sorry man. I thought I was up-to-date, but I obviously missed a few. To anyone who is still awaiting a reply, please do not take offense, and feel free to contact me again (I won't bite ). I realize my current email-order system is completely inefficient. I really do like the personal approach, since I get to personally speak to every customer... but it leads to longer waits and missed orders. I will do be very best to get back to everyone.

no worries bro. i can send the paypal now if it will speed up the process so that once they're done you wont have to wait for payment to ship them. lemme kno

[SeanML]

Jeff,

Have you considered making something like a Timeship "Pyro Puck"? I just got one myself (absolutely sick, I love sparks) but it's much thinner than your pucks and I'm afraid it won't last very long. The sheer badassery of throwing sparks combined with the durability and comfortable size/shape of your pucks, and I'd be in heaven.

Just sayin'.

(btw, I'm still using the mudstones... I only have one pyro, and I only use it when I'm particularly concerned with looking intense)

[jmasta]

Originally Posted by SeanML

Jeff,

Have you considered making something like a Timeship "Pyro Puck"? I just got one myself (absolutely sick, I love sparks) but it's much thinner than your pucks and I'm afraid it won't last very long. The sheer badassery of throwing sparks combined with the durability and comfortable size/shape of your pucks, and I'd be in heaven.

Actually...... yes I have. stop reading my mind

My brother is a survival instructor (S.E.R.E.) in the AirForce. They supply him with these magnesium firestarter rods that you can't buy in stores. In other words, lots of sparks! He gave me one, and I've been playing around with my own pyro pucks (unfortunately I posted this on my bro's facebook wall awhile back... let's just say mothers don't really approve)

Actually a great alternative are those Tail Devils. I just put velcro on the back, and then you can easily swap it out for a finger puck. Looks downright badass. Awesome for those evening slide sessions

[lizardbowl12]

Originally Posted by jmasta

Actually...... yes I have. stop reading my mind

My brother is a survival instructor (S.E.R.E.) in the AirForce. They supply him with these magnesium firestarter rods that you can't buy in stores. In other words, lots of sparks! He gave me one, and I've been playing around with my own pyro pucks (unfortunately I posted this on my bro's facebook wall awhile back... let's just say mothers don't really approve)

Actually a great alternative are those Tail Devils. I just put velcro on the back, and then you can easily swap it out for a finger puck. Looks downright badass. Awesome for those evening slide sessions

me and me bro used to play with those on the tails of our skateboards when we were younger. at night slidinf threw dry leaves and i remember one time we sprayed it with WD-40....it lit on fire and we threw it at a tree...haha goodtimes

[luftywaffles]

i want the mudslide stickers.

i can haz?