Patsy’s Tie Dye:
A Small Business for a Person
with Developmental Disabilities

By James Walker, Ravalli Services

Ravalli Services in Hamilton, Montana was selected as one of four demonstration sites for the University of Montana Rural Institute’s Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-employment Expansion Design (RESEED) project in 2002-2003. Because of the RESEED project, the staff at Ravalli Services learned to help the people with developmental disabilities we serve develop their own small businesses. Since people with developmental disabilities often require long-term or multiple employment supports, self-employment is often overlooked as an employment possibility for them. The Rural Institute Organizational Consultants who worked with us on the RESEED project showed us how to develop small businesses for people with developmental disabilities that would transform their lives. The key is building the business around the business owner ’s interests.

For Patsy that interest was making tie dyed shirts. Patsy came to work at Ravalli Services in1982 and soon moved into a Ravalli Services’s residential home. She has worked in the processing department and sorts donations to sell in Ravalli Services’s Thrift Store. Every week she participates in a group craft activity, which she clearly enjoys and produces varied creations. Patsy and another person we serve shared an interest in making tie dyed shirts—they both wear this type of clothing. Patsy had always shown interest in brightly colored clothing. Out of this interest came the idea for “Patsy’s Tie Dye.”

Reviewing the Business Idea

With the help of our RESEED Organizational Consultants, staff at Ravalli Services began transforming Patsy’s interest in tie dye into a business. Patsy met with Jerry Zook, her Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in January, 2003. Patsy discussed with him her desires to start her own business and how she would like to do this. Jerry asked Patsy to have a business assessment completed before he would authorize any funding for her business start up. Research began on the “business idea evaluation.” We answered a series of marketing questions to test the business idea, including:

• Who will buy this product?
• Is this market growing? Changing?
• Where can Patsy sell her products?
• What kind of products will Patsy make?
• Home much will it cost to produce these products?
• What kind of business supports will Patsy need?

Patsy and her employment specialist began their research on products and supplies with searches on the Internet. They learned that products should be bright and vibrant, of exceptional quality, and should sell for a fair price. They looked at different techniques of production and talked to friends and possible customers about what clothes they would be willing to purchase with tie dye designs. They checked costs and supplies. They visited local businesses to determine if any similar product lines were available; nothing like this was being sold locally and this was a positive finding that furthered interest. Our region is growing in population and many young people shop for speciality fashion items. Patsy even met a business owner who was interested in a bulk supply of tie dye products.

Research revealed that those purchasing tie dye are typically females ranging in age from 13-50. People who tend to buy “green” products tend to buy tie dye. These are people who enjoy outdoors and are said to be “non-conformist.” Tie dye purchasers tend to shop at thrift shops, farmers markets, and small speciality shops including book stores, music stores, and bike shops. They read the alternative press and are interested in protecting the environment. They tend to be interested in arts and crafts. Hamilton is a rapidly developing community (61% growth from 1990-1998) and the size of Patsy’s target population in this county is approximately 11,565. The tourism industry was not taken into consideration in this figure, and could be one of Patsy’s biggest target markets. There is no known wholesaler for tie dye in the valley at this time. Patsy will have indirect competition from national chains that do sell tie dye wholesale. Hardy’s Shirt Shack expressed interest because they don’t have a wholesale tie dye supplier. They would prefer to buy shirts tie dyed locally rather than from a large company

In order to reach her target market, Patsy planned to approach retail outlets, and would sell her product to them at wholesale prices. If this didn=t work, she could sell on a small scale at flea markets and farmers markets.

Patsy planned to sell her tie dye shirts for $10 a shirt. Her cost to make a shirt is approximately $5.25. Patsy is using Ravalli Services as her place to do business, which leaves advertising as her only overhead cost. Patsy could break even after her costs of advertising. Advertising will include business cards, brochures, and personal contacts to sell to retail outlets. She will also be using promotional displays at flea markets and craft show to sell directly to the public.

Supports

With her market research completed, Patsy and her employment specialist turned their attention to the supports Patsy would need to succeed. Patsy agreed that she would manage her business with support services from Ravalli Services’s staff. Initially Patsy would not have any employees. The business advisor and bookkeeper Patsy selected are staff with qualified backgrounds. Patsy=s employment specialist was asked to help with the general operations of Patsy=s business. These advisors are people Patsy sees on a regular basis. A challenge for Patsy has been to manipulate and operate as many of the applicators of dye as possible because of her Multiple Sclerosis and Epilepsy. Alternative containers that were smaller enabled Patsy to physically participate more fully in the actual creation of her product line.

Funding

Once the business assessment was completed. Patsy went back to Jerry Zook at Vocational Rehabilitation with her business plan and got it approved. A total amount necessary for start up was $1,660. Vocational Rehabilitation committed to funding one half of the project with the agreement that the additional funds would be obtained from Rural Institute and Montana Job Training Partnership’s Montana/Wyoming Careers Through Partnerships program.

Originally Patsy’s product line included tie dye clothing: T-shirts, boxers, bandanas, baby clothes, and text book covers. Eventually the product line was expanded to additional items such as tote bags, aprons, holiday speciality items. These speciality lines include mixed media such as fabric paints, shape overlays, fabric stamping, and stenciling.

On a average Patsy works two hours per week (she has continued to work part-time at the Thrift Store) and averages a gross revenue of $80 per month. She earns an average net wage of $10.25 per week. As the business is just starting increased production hours are anticipated. Increased wages can therefore be realized as Patsy=s business goals are furthered. RESEED project support has been vital is assisting Patsy to assess how she can increase distribution.

Contact Information

James Walker
Ravalli Services
219 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 363-5400

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