Architectural Designs

How can I find a mentor? I'm Trying to start a home accessories line and I need a mentor.?

The only thing that I have right now is an idea. I have design ideas drawn on paper for a home accessory line but no one seems to offer any open useful advice about how to get started. So I thought to myself its not really common to start this kind of business is probably why people don't have much advice. So I think my best bet would be a mentor. Does anyone know of any websites or any other source that would offer useful information on a something like this?

Public Comments

1. If you need guidance in starting a business, there are several places that provides help to starting entrepreneurs. Here are places where you may be able to find a mentor: - Government Mentoring Programs such as SBDCs, which works with community colleges and local business development councils to offer mentoring programs http://www.sba.gov/sbdc/sbdcnear.html ; or the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wnet_roundtables.html - Volunteer programs such as SCORE http://www.score.org which is composed of mostly retired executives and entrepreneurs - Formal mentoring programs such as Athena Foundation http://www.athenafoundation.org/programs/globallinks.html , Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program http://www.helzbergmentoring.org/HEMP/ , or The Aspen Institute MicroMentor Program http://www.micromentor.org - Professional organizations such as the National Women’s Business Council http://www.nwbc.gov/Mentoring/programs.html - Industry and trade associations - Local business groups, such as the chamber of commerce - Local chapters of business groups I suggest you network. Join your local business groups -- often you'd meet someone who'll be willing to teach you the ropes. Or at least could refer you to someone in the community or elsewhere who can help you. You may also find people in the same business who is willing to partner with you and guide you.