Jumping into the Jean Industry

Chris Scott has a unique idea for a denim apparel line. In June, he explained it to other small business owners who gathered at the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce for a course on writing business plans. The reaction to his business idea got a few strange looks. His company, Java-N-Jeans, hopes to deliver what plus sized women search for when they hit the mall - denim jeans that fit. Not clear yet on what where the "Java" comes in? We'll come back to that.

Scott acknowledges he's got tons on multimillion dollar competition in the plus sized denim market: Apple Bottom, Baby Phat and Lane Bryant to name a few. They're all trying to serve the curvy female buyer. "That market is small because in that size category, no one is really paying attention their style of clothing. I think they're missing out with this market out there," Scott told entrepreNEWS.biz while sipping Starbucks coffee at Lenox Mall. The average price for a pair of Java-N-Jeans will be $79.

Scott's female friends are his focus group. He says they're anxious for him to start selling the jeans soon, but they'll have to wait about two years before they can see a pair of Java-N-Jeans on a store rack or selling on the company website. Scott is revising his initial business plan to include a manufacturing facility in Georgia. This way he can keep his product and jobs in the U.S. He says, "I need to be next to my product. If I contract out the work that means I have to get it done overseas and I won't really know what I'm getting. To really perfect this I'd rather wait and have something good versus rush and have something not good."

Java-N-Jeans will formally launch once the U.S. economy recovers, Scott says. In the meantime, he's looking for investors. One thing he needs just as much as capital is a mentor, someone to help him navigate pitfalls. Scott describes his poor experiences looking for help from people in the apparel industry, "I've been searching high and low. Some people I've given too much information. No one really wants to help me except for my seamstress right now."

In Atlanta market, at least one other company set its sights on the plus sized denim industry. The AJC.com recently profiled PZI jeans.

PZI jeans range from size 4 to 16. Scott says Java-N-Jeans will range from sizes 12 to 32 with special attention to the needs of taller women.

Another distinction that could separate Java-N-Jeans from the pack is the Java. Scott says he integrated it because he loves coffee, plus it symbolizes women of color. He'll incorporate coffee into the rinsing process to give some of his jeans a distinct look, as well as sell coffee in his stores. Scott says the coffee idea is something his female customers appreciate. "Women love coffee. Women love jeans. Why not bring the two together? When one is not doing that great, the other will."

In the meantime, Scott is selling some other designer's jeans, showing buyers his prototype for Java-N-Jeans, and getting their feedback so his future denim line will fit them perfectly.