Ivy: Kids growing up in the ‘80s will remember Alyssa Milano from the television show Who’s The Boss? Or if you’re a more recent fan you might be familiar with the television series Charmed. This actress who became a star as a child is taking on a new role, the role of entrepreneur.
Alyssa: I’ve run this whole thing like it’s a small business. I go to all the meetings, I do everything that I can and I literally sit with fabrics in my living room, and, you know, love goes into every single element.
Ivy: Alyssa is touring baseball stadiums throughout the United States launching her new clothing line called Touch.
Alyssa: Basically, you know, it was an idea born out of necessity. I was, I am a huge baseball fan, I had Dodger season tickets for the last 5 years, and I would go to stadium shops and I wouldn’t be able to find anything that would fit my fashion needs, wouldn’t fit my body, or that is in pink. It’s been great to actually, you know, have this idea and then be able to sort of touch it and wear it and it’s really exciting.
Ivy: Her love for the game, as well as her childhood experiences led her to designing fashionable teen apparel for female fans.
Alyssa: My mother is a fashion designer, she had stores in New York and my grandmother is a millener, so she’s 98 now, she just turned 98, so, I guess I’m sort of third generation designer.
Ivy: Where many other entrepreneurs might find it challenging to obtain the rights to sport logos, Alyssa was able to pitch the line of major league baseball directly.
Alyssa: I wouldn’t think I would’ve gotten in the door of major league baseball if I wasn’t an actress. And you know, being an actress is so fabulous for so many reasons, but one of which is that you have a voice to actually, you know, get meetings like that.
Ivy: That initial meeting led to a partnership with a sport clothing wholesaler and producer who already have the rights to the logos.
Alyssa: I think it’s about surrounding yourself with the right group of people to actually make it something that’s successful.
Ivy: Alyssa’s celebrityhood does not make her exempt from all the long hours of being a small business owner.
Alyssa: It’s a labor of love. I design everything from my little living room in my apartment in LA.
Ivy: Touch, by Alyssa Milano is available in stadiums nationwide and thru online retailers. And as the success of the company grows, Alyssa plans to open Touch retail stores as well. I’m Ivy Hartman reporting for SBTV.com.
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