After my father's death in Oct., Vincent Steele, a neighbor who has been a big influence on me becoming an electrician gave me another idea. " Close the patio in back of the garage to make it a shop. " It was a great idea. He helped me get started. When I ordered and received my unit and letters in Feb of '86, I really pushed to get it done. I also like to note that if anyone has access to a garage and a great idea in mind, it could become a gold mine. Many great inventions were start in a garage.

The phrases then needed a name. 'Truth Slogans' seem to be appropriate. I then had to find a t-shirt supplier and a place to sale the shirts. From the yellow pages, I found a supplier. Fortunately at the time, Collin Cleaners was renting space on there parking lot where they also set up for vendors. It was just a few blocks away. I gave it a shot.

The T-shirt shop **

On that first Saturday of May 86’, I along with the help of the friends, I set up for my first day of business at the Collin Cleaner Swap-meet on 83rd and Western Ave. The sun was shining and the t-shirt was sailing in the wind. I was really satisfied to know I had a good spot near the intersection. But then I realized that there were very few people coming by to check me out . And because of that, I felt stressed. My stomach started to hurt. I stayed out from 9:00 to 3:00pm. I made no sale.

Truth Slogans and Associates

On that second Saturday, I felt real good after we set up. I had more shirts and color combinations.  Still there were only a few customers coming by. The reason for this I analyzed, is that the hamburger stand across the street had closed down and the Post Office on the opposite corner had moved. It was a dead intersection for business. Then it happened, fifteen minutes before closing time I made my first sell. A Jamaican brother drove up and bought, 'Think Positive'. I made my first sale. I must admit, I felt like I caught the winning touchdown pass in the Superbowl because proved to myself that I had a product that sells.

The third Saturday, I was by myself when I saw Travis and three of his boys across the street near the liquor store. Travis was a known gangbangger who often terrorized the neighborhood. I was always at odds with him ever since he broke our window throwing rocks. They saw me and came across the street. "Sh't, here they come", I said to myself as they came closer. By pure instincts I went in a sells mode, talking to them like as though they were real customers. It must of been good because they were impressed with whatever I was saying. They looked at the shirts and went on about their business. Even though I had not one sale, I felt lucky.

The forth and last Saturday at the Swap-meet, my high school friends came around talking loud and acting rowdy scaring away the few potential customers. At that moment I realized I had to change my strategy. It wasn't working out, like I planned.

Although doing business at the swap-meet wasn't very successful, I learned my weakness. As I mention before, there was very few people coming through. But when they did, I didn't say anything other than the price of the shirts. I felt that there was something missing in my approach. I knew that I didn't take advantage of all my communication abilities. I had to be more verbal in my method of selling.

Then my mother (Thelma Blakey) made a great suggestion, while I was looking at TV.

She said, "You should sell your shirts at the parks."

That was a hell of an idea because people are there on weekends. I also would be outstanding which means I had no competition. All I had to do was to create a presentation and sell. In 84', my cousin Ralph Blakey came to Los Angeles briefly for business. He was a salesman who sold cookware by giving dinner presentations. I assisted him a few times. Adopting his technique, I would sell my shirts in a similar fashion:

                 "Hello my name is Derrick, and I'm here to promote my product

                  These shirts are called, Truth Slogans. Share If you Care,..."

Then I briefly elaborate about each slogan as I presented the t-shirts. In the beginning, I stumbled through the words as I gave my pitch, but I got better. I also had to be careful not to intimidate my potential customers and lose the sell. So I would mention the price before the last shirt.

I would say: "..., an also for only $7.00, 'Listening a Thinking Process' and that is all listen is, I got medium, large and extra large. Thank You for listening."

After perfecting the craft of selling, people started to buy . That's when I ran into an obstacle created by the Inglewood Park Patrol. Labor Day 1986, I was selling in Centinela Park (now called Edward Vincent Jr. Park). I was feeling real good because I made a couple of sales. As I was giving a presentation, I notice from the corner of my eye a black and white patrol car . The driver then called me over. It was a Hispanic and a Negro officer in the car with the Hispanic officer doing all the talking from behind the wheel.

He said, "let me see your permit!"

When he read it, he told me that it wasn't valid for Inglewood, which I knew.

Then he said, "Get out the park! If I see you again, your going to jail!"

If I couldn't sell in the park that's cool enough, but to threaten harm, that's uncool. After then I stopped going to the parks in Inglewood. It wasn't worth the harassment. Although I sold several t-shirts, most people don't bring money to the parks. There had to be a better and safer way of selling Truth Slogans.

BACK                                                                                  Next

P2