018 – Sarah Cogan of The One Garment – “Bag It! There's Gotta Be a Better Way!”

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Launching a startup from ideas and ideals to patents and research…

Film/TV/Theater costumer/scenographer Sarah Cogan, founder of The One Garment Bag, sits with Rob Sanchez (Manufacture New York) and Marc Raco (Monkey Radio) to discuss her soon-to-be-launched business while Rob is meercasting the interview. After a highly successful “Feed the Animals” segment, a look at the news of the impacts of Indiana’s implementation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act leads to an energetic look at the role and responsibilities of business an extension of personal beliefs, how we may be entering an age of the intersection of commerce and ideology, and the impact of personal boycotts, real time response, and the opportunities of fledgling entrepreneurs (UPDATE: Indiana has revised the controversial bill and Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson had the proposed bill amended before signing so that it reflected the Federal law). An announcement of official launch of The One Garment Bag as first garment bag ever at the New York International bridal show weekend of April 18^th, and the relationship between Cogan’s pro-love stance and the need for companies to have a spine.

Cogan reveals how her film/TV experience was the genesis of a product useful for bridal parties, fashion, proms, and pageants. The effort of trying to get footing to be competitive and strategizing to utilize a large market as a path to a more targeted market, while also being open to rethinking as you go. Cogan offers perspective on how uncharted territory can be “terrexciting.”

The value of accountant and attorney parents, and the route to patent pending despite no direct competition. Cogan’s co-branding fantasy connects to thoughts of the power of collaborating with brands for PR power. The democratization of marketing, using mobile technology, to explore every corner of a market, how Cogan did her market and design research, and her high stakes launch strategy. Her advice to other fledgling entrepreneurs about protection and data that she learned in an art theory class is followed up by Rob’s advice about rushing to patent. And why knowing that the immediate answer isn’t always the right answer is critical to success and the importance of balancing creative directions with business focus and allowing new voices to come out.