My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Launch profitable sample sale business

Entrepreneurs with fashion industry connections or event management experience

3-6 months to first profitable event

What Success Looks Like

Regular pop-up events selling high-quality brand samples at 50-70% discounts, generating 20-30% commission on sales while solving brands' inventory disposal problem

Steps to Execute

Research fashion brands in target city with sample inventory problems

Create pitch deck showing sample disposal pain point and your solution

Secure initial 5-10 brands willing to consign samples

Find suitable pop-up venue (warehouse/event space)

Market event to fashion-conscious consumers through social media

Execute first event with strong photography and social presence

Collect data and testimonials

Scale to regular quarterly or bi-annual events

Checklist

Venue secured with appropriate insurance

Brand agreements signed with clear commission structure

Inventory tracking system in place

Payment processing setup

Marketing materials and social media strategy

Staff hired for event day

Photography/videography planned for social proof

Inputs Needed

Initial capital for venue/marketing ($5-15K)
Fashion industry contacts or cold outreach capability
Event management skills
Social media marketing knowledge
Basic inventory management system

Outputs

Commission revenue from sales (typically 20-30%)
Brand relationships for future events
Customer database for marketing future events
Social media content and testimonials

Example

“Partner with 8 premium fashion brands each contributing 50-100 sample pieces. Rent warehouse space in trendy neighborhood for weekend event. Market through Instagram with influencer partnerships. Generate $30K in sales, keep $7K commission, brands clear inventory and get exposure.”