Everybody has been a “newbie” at least once in their life.
Riding a bike? Probably.
Dating? Yup.
Starting a job? Most likely.
It’s that anxiety feeling, mixed with a hint of excitement and dash of uncertainty. Some embrace it, while others despise it.
As Bizal McLoud worked on his music career, he saw his peers avoiding their dreams because they didn’t want to feel like a “newbie.”
Bizal McLoud tests out a new hoodie design. (Picture by Newbie Lifestyle)
“The older we get, the least receptive we are to trying new stuff, and I want to embrace trying something new,” McLoud said. “Whether it’s starting a brand, getting into a degree, changing gender identities, everybody has to start at square one sometime.”
As a father of seven children, he also wanted to create a launch pad for his children to build off. As a kid, he saw people getting fast money and he followed in their footsteps. Now he’s making money the right way, and he wants to encourage his children to do the same but as their own boss.
Over the past two years, he has been building a clothing brand with his two daughters Cheyanne (18) and Loyalti (12).
Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic, Newbie Lifestyle officially launched in 2020.
“Loyalti helps with the printing process and Cheyanne is going to help as a sales woman and social media brand ambassador, while in school at UW Madison,” McLoud said. “Every hoodie that’s sold, they pay for it, we print it and the profit goes into their pocket.”
Cheyanne rocks the aqua Newbie Lifestyle tee while studying at University of Wisconsin-Madison. (Picture by Newbie Lifestyle)
He said he wanted to create an overall Newbie Franchise that allowed the kids to branch off independently when they were ready. As for right now, between independently designing and printing, they have been building a small inventory with a mass prints every three months.
“I want to keep it a small base, then the kids will allow it to grow the way it needs to be,” McLoud said. “At some point, I will be able to be removed, so they can handle it themselves.”
Cheyanne is going to school for computer engineering and business management. She said that being out in Madison was an opportunity to expose their brand to a different fan base.
“If I was just in Milwaukee, I’d be around the same audience as them,” she said. “I’m around students and people from different communities. It’s a way to build our brand and bring in even more revenue.”
Newbie Lifestyle has a lot in store for future drops. (Photo by Newbie Lifestyle)
She said she has big ideas to expand the brand. While clothing is at the core, accessories and phone cases are just the beginning of where she wants to go.
Loyalti is still learning her niche for the brand. At this point, she helps with the printing. She said it’s fun working with her dad but some parts of the designs can be intricate to work with.
Loyalti is learning the hands-on aspect of the clothing business. (Picture by Newbie Lifestyle)
“I get to learn something new when we’re printing shirts and other stuff,” said Loyalti.
Though she isn’t the biggest fan of virtual school, it makes working on the business easier. She’s going to continue exploring her options with the brand.
McLoud said they have been working hard for Black Friday and the holiday shopping season. From two-piece joggers, to matching pants and hoodies, Newbie is prepping for a big winter and spring line.
“COVID-19 has us locked in the house, but it’s a building moment,” he said. “I’m just trying to get geared up, so when we get legs, we can get this up and running.”
To purchase Newbie Lifestyle, click here.
