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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
not as big a deal, but this kind of happened for me with my singlish t-shirts, which I started selling around 2011-ish. at the time, local slang was still mostly considered low-status. I don't wanna claim full credit for it, but today even Disney sells singlish merch in SG
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Alexey Guzey 🇺🇸
@alexeyguzey
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*Nothing* like @RoamResearch existed prior to 2019, yet within a year several copycats launched --> Guard your secrets closely and disbelieve people who tell you that ideas are not important. And be ready to compete on execution with the entire world, once it learns your secrets.
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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
personally for me I see it as a win, even if I was never going to be able to "capture the whole market". I wasn't really trying to do that. I was just trying to have fun with t-shirts that I personally wanted to wear. made a bunch of money in the process
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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
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In 2011 when Singaporeans were still kind of ashamed of Singlish, I started making and selling Singlish tshirts Now Disney has gotten in on the game 😂 Game over
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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
before Disney showed up, there were a bunch of other legitimate competitors who emerged (several of whom we consider our friends, and collaborated with). that was cool and challenged/inspired us to get more creative and interesting. there were also blatant ripoff/copycats
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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
to this day people still buy my t-shirts, which is nice. I like money. but it doesn't really excite me to wear or sell them any more. it's no longer edgy and cool when mickey mouse is also in on it. so now my challenge is to follow my earnest nose to see what excites me next
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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
i'm now kind of informally "the jewelry guy". it's kind of a step up from "the edgy t-shirt guy" – riskier moves, greater payoffs. maybe I'll start buying and selling these. I have the $$ from t-shirt profits, I have the marketing chops, a reputation, most of everything I need
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Visa ✈️ SF (Aug 2-14)
@visakanv
(both of those pieces cost me S$10 each, which is like US$7. I bet I could sell them for US$60-ish with some great copywriting and photography on a beautiful website.)
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