entrepreneurs
Kickstarter Update:
Debbie Porter &
Fabulous Phebe
Photo : Katy Anderson
In December, Ciao Bella! published an article about Fabulous Phebe
creator, Debbie Porter who launched a Kickstarter campaign. Porter
raised enough money to publish a third children's book in her Tales of a
Fashionista series which is co-written by children, and to produce her
children's fashion line. Fabulous Phebe is a brand with heart that offers
children positive character building messages.
Initially, Porter sought to raise $3,500 and exceeded her goal, raising
$5,224 through Kickstarter. In January when her line was shown at The
Coffs showroom in Dallas, stores in five states picked it up. To date,
eight states carry her brand and Porter just shipped pieces to New York
for an upcoming fashion show produced by designer, Cesar Galindo.
Recently, Porter received an invitation from Shark Tank to audition
her line in Houston at Rice University where auditions were being held.
Porter said that Shark Tank producers listened to 500 eager entrepreneurs
pitch their ideas. She is currently waiting to hear back from the show to
find out if her company was chosen .
Photo: Debbie Porter
"We're building our fan base on social media,"said Porter. Social media
for Fabulous Phebe includes a Youtube channel, Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and Pinterest. "A mother of one of the children involved in the
project posted a Fabulous Phebe dance-off video on Ellentube, (on The
Ellen DeGeneres Show website) and the video came in the third or fourth
place. That inspired us to launch a dance contest choreographed and
instructed by the children." Porter loves the enthusiasm that the children
bring as each Fabulous Phebe project comes to fruition.
Currently, Porter is creating a Fabulous Phebe nightgown and book set
and a short animated film to pitch as a cartoon. She continues to seek
investors. Porter, who works full-time as a photographer said, "I'm
doing everything I can to keep it going, in addition to a regular job.
What helps is that I was able to create the whole package including the
illustration, the fashion design and the photography myself. Positive
feedback is what keeps me going. Perseverance is what it's gonna take"
Porter urges would-be entrepreneurs to follow their dreams. Dream Big
was the first book. I think we should inspire people to dream. " Visit
fabulousphebe.com.
Photo: Debbie Porter
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