Almost August, LLC | Application Preview
Almost August, LLC is seeking government grants to help expand its operations beyond a home-based business. The funding will be allocated towards moving to a commercial space, enhancing labeling and packaging, settling existing debts, ramping up inventory production, hiring employees, and covering insurance and operational costs.
Currently, the business has grown from online sales to participating in pop-up shops, farmers' markets, and larger events. The owner aims to transition to full-time entrepreneurship by January 2022. Plans include improving product labels to appeal to retailers and establishing distribution channels with both local and large chain stores. The owner is also engaging in educational programs through the SBA to enhance knowledge in areas like mass manufacturing and financial management. Additionally, there is a vision to provide products and services to industries such as weddings and funerals.
The application argues for funding based on a strong personal commitment to success, emphasizing that investing in this business is a way to fulfill not only personal dreams but also to empower and uplift the community. The owner draws on experience from a consulting career to highlight a deep understanding of consumer needs and market dynamics. There is confidence that with proper investment, the business can expand its reach significantly.
In the competitive landscape, Almost August faces established brands like Lush and Bath and Body Works. However, the owner believes in leveraging personal ties to the local community, particularly areas with economic struggles, to create a niche. The goal extends beyond profit; it encompasses a desire to educate and offer support to local youth, helping to improve their living conditions and provide them with fundamental life skills.
Ultimately, the application conveys a strong sense of purpose, asserting that the commitment to community development, coupled with business growth, sets this venture apart from larger competitors. The funds are viewed as a significant boost, but the owner is determined to succeed regardless of the outcome.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 86-3246358
Location: CLEVELAND, TX, United States
Length of Operation: Less than 6 months
Number of Employees:
Annual Gross Income:
Annual Gross Expense:
Open to Loans: NO
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Funding Usage
Funding will be used to move my business out of my home, improve on labeling and packaging, pay off current business debt as my personal investments have been maxed, produce inventory on a larger scale, offer products wider area through gaining employees, paying insurance, business related fees.
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Business Plan
At this time I operate from my home front. In the past 6 months I have grown from selling online to pop up shops, farmer's markets and now two day events. Though I still juggle a full time job my goal is to retire from that in January 2022 and fully focus on Almost August. I've started the process of improving my labels to be store-front favorable and have made contact to eventually have my items on large chain and local shelves. I have signed up for SBA learning events to continue to gain knowledge on mass manufacturing, fulfillment centers for distributions, providing employment, financial & tax management, etc. In addition to growing in a full retail space, I plan on offering my services and products to successful industries such as wedding and funeral establishments. You should invest in me because I fully believe that if I do not invest in my dreams someone will pay me to invest in theirs. I am determined to win - either my business grows or I gain so much knowledge along the way I can turn around and guide another small business owner on their journey - but I will win. I develop my products knowing my consumers because I am a consumer who understands that people pay for quality and convenience. My full time job is with one of the largest consulting firms in the world so I have first hand knowledge of product research and client satisfaction. My sales do well with the limited time that I have to showcase them- can you imagine what would happen if I invested more time and was able to offer them in more than one region? If I receive funds to improve labels and packaging to match the quality and appearance there's no limit to how my business will grow. I remind myself of those who knew the potential of their business and committed to its development and growth despite the naysayers. Receiving a grant will help me tremendously however I WILL grow my business with or without it.
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Self Identified Competition
Lush, Bath and Body Works and Yankee Candles all make products similar to mine. Of the many grocery stores in Texas, HEB has grown tremendously in the last 20 years. As one of their avid customers, I return because of the quality of their products and because of their commitment to the communities around them. That type of map is my goal. I live in Cleveland, Texas where the level of poverty surrounds me. Many habitants of this area have so much potential but lack to knowledge and resources to improve their lives. So many kids who attend school in the area only eat when school is in session. My heart is in being able to teach other what I have learned to grow out of disadvantage and provide opportunities to improve their living situations. I want to be able to write a check to a school to cover school lunches for a year for students. I want to be able to fund courses to teach high school students how to manage credit or how to fund and grow their own businesses because too many teens with great potential fall into harmful lifestyles because nothing else is made available to them. Every day I drive through touch areas and see young people influenced by drugs aimlessly on the street in my community. Giving knowledge and opportunity will change the demographic of the area and essentially lessen the negative activity in the area. Cleveland, Cut n' Shoot and Conroe has been known as 'meth land' and I understand that things will not change overnight but I know that change has to start somewhere and I am not willing to wait on 'someone' to make the change when I am capable. So what makes me different from my competitors? My dedication to improve my community for my family and the families I see daily around me. Someone worked hard so that I could have the opportunities that I do (even being able to apply here is an opportunity that someone without internet access and computer literacy does not have) and I want to be that person to open up that chance to others.
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Contact Applicant
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