YOUR FASHION BUSINESS REQUIRES YOUR MIND BEFORE YOU GIVE IT YOUR MONEY!

Throwing a rich sauce over tough chewy chicken won’t improve the chicken…

…And it’s the same in your fashion biz.   Just throwing money at your business only MASKS the problems.

Instead, successful fashion designers plan strategically with a launch formula.   They know the best areas to spend money that will move their business forward.

Look, I get why you might think that you need a huge investment.  In the past you had to produce large 40 piece collections for wholesale buyers to take you seriously.  You also had to pay for large studio & showroom space….

...But what most people don’t realise is that TIMES HAVE CHANGED allowing you to start a fashion business with just a small budget.  In fact waiting to find that huge investment or backer could be preventing you from taking action and getting started!

In the Twenty Twenties you can work from a small space with some of your team working remotely.   You c...

CHARGING LESS FOR YOUR FASHION PRODUCTS IS THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FASHION BRAND

If you have lots of unsold inventory I know how tempting it can be to lower your prices THINKING that it will increase sales….

But that could be the worst thing you can do to build your brand! 

I know it can be really disheartening when no one is buying....

But have you ever considered that if lowering prices meant increased revenue then all cheap garments would fly off the shelves and we all know that’s not the case!

Customers queue to buy £3000 Chanel handbags and bespoke Ferraris have a 5 year WAITLIST! ... Yet I’m sure you’ve seen all the images being circulated showing huge landfills of cheap clothing!

If you are lowering prices like the Floundering Fashion Designer then you’re probably burning yourself out working more hours, attracting the wrong customer and deterring those who ACTUALLY want the best, most expensive products…. Or, perhaps resorting to...

One of my students , a few weeks ago, came to me in a bit of a flounder.    She said there was no point designing anything because everything already exists and she felt it impossible to design anything unique.

She didn’t want to add yet more unwanted clothes to the worlds surplus….

….So it all just seemed pointless and she was about to give up!!!

Do you ever feel like that?

I'm sure it was just her brain finding excuses to keep her “safe” and prevent her going after her scary goals!!!

But nevertheless it got me thinking that technically she was right!!!    When it comes to clothing everything has already been done before!

But, as I said to my student, not designing and following your passion as a designer because the things you want to create have already been done is one of the worst things you can do if you’re trying to become a successful fashion designer

I completely understand why she would think that.  At uni design tutors told you everything had to be c...

Most fashion designers think that to grow a successful fashion business all you need are fantabulous unique designs, customer acquisition, sell as many products as you can and make great profits.

I understand why you think that….It’s what everyone told you: college tutors, business books, the marketing guru’s, your bank manager,  business advisors…!   We are conditioned to believe that business is all about the cold bottom line and that we have to focus only on the intellectual aspect of a sale....  But,  have you ever wondered why 60% of UK businesses that put blood sweat and tears into great products, sales and profits fail in their first three years.

Don’t get me wrong….you do need fabulous unique products, sales and profits to grow a successful fashion brand…..However what is very often missed is the EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.   Building strong emotional connections with both your customers and your team will form strong lasting relationships that keep your customers returning, ...

Every Bodacious Fashion Entrepreneur knows that it pays to keep ahead of the curve when it comes to retail trends and to build a UNIQUE brand that embodies their individual style. 

 If you enjoyed last weeks blog about the demi-couture business model, and you are still not sure about the best business model route for you, then you’ll definitely like this post.   I’m about to give you another really EXCITING business model that I’m sure you’ll love.

Are you still procrastinating in indecision about which business model is best for you and making these mistakes:

• You don’t know who your customers are;
• Have no idea what the price points should be for your market;
• Have not yet gone past the starting line and you’re feeling FRUSTRATED because you don’t know why it’s taking you so long;
• Have no clear direction so are overwhelmed by SCATTERED business advice and can’t retain anything because it’s all too much.

Or perhaps you have already started your business but you: 

• c
...

Do you know how the workers in your factory are treated?  For example are they allowed to join other workers in a trade union?  

Forming or joining a trade union to protect the interest of themselves and colleagues is a fundamental global human right as set out by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  It's something I am passionate about and in Fashion Entrepreneurs Academy (my group coaching programme) I only advocate manufacturers that uphold their workers rights and treat them fairly.

The trade unions are empowered to negotiate with employers in “collective bargaining”….basically this just means that the union negotiate with employers (collectively) on behalf of the workers for things like salaries, equalities, human rights, fairness, responsibilities, working hours, working conditions, sustainability etc. to arrive at a collective agreement that will form the basis of the employment relationship. 

Collective bargaining involves a specific process of joint de...

GARMENT LABELLING

Starting your fashion business?…  And you’ve made it past the starting block?…. Congratulations!! …. Well done!!!! ……You did it!!!!!  

…Now you‘re probably thinking about things like materials, pattern makers, manufacturing and garment labels.

If you’re anything like the floundering fashion designer you more than likely haven’t considered the legal obligations regarding your garment labelling. 

After designing your fantabulous garments the last thing you want to hear is that it can’t be sold in your target market because it’s missing a label or that the label is missing vital information.   

If you shipped a delivery of incorrectly labelled garments to your customers, and they were held up for weeks on end at customs,  ultimately not meeting your customers delivery date. Not only would you loose the money it cost you to produce those garments, you could loose the loyalty and trust of your customers.

It’s not just a beautifully designed logo on...

Whether you’re a start-up or an established designer you probably all want more sales!.

Are you posting on social media twice a day, running out of content and still seeing no growth?  Perhaps you're just getting started on your fashion business adventure with no idea what the next best step should be.....Or perhaps the pandemic has slowed the growth of your business.

Everyone in business wants more sales and more profit…otherwise its just a hobby!...... And how much energy, time and money is it costing you to find new customers?  

It’s so much easier to sell to existing customer than it is to bring on a new customer and the more offers you put in front of them the more sales you will get…….

"But I only have one product” you might be saying.   “No-one wants to buy more of my one product”…...

Can you add more products?… If you don’t want to add more products how can you sell more of the same thing to your customers?  How can you inspire them to buy more colours, fabr...

If you read last weeks blog you’ll know how to get the most out of attending a large fabric trade fair…..You might already have attended last weeks London Textile Fair.

The next event on the calendar is Premier Vision New York which is on 20th and 21st July and Premier Vision Paris   21st to 23rd September.

PV New York,  held at Centre 415, 5th Avenue (bet 37 & 38th Streets), will have 200 exhibitors and highlight a new emphasis on sustainability highlighting responsible industry measures.

In addition to the huge selection of  fabric suppliers and agents they also have a new Smart creation area based on a global eco-responsible approach which is based on:

• Social and ethical responsibility
• Environmental performance
• Traceability
• Finishing & Dyeing processes
• Recycling technologies
• Organic content
• Alternative materials

Most fabric fairs are not only the best place to source fabrics at wholesale price they are also a good place to discover the seasons major trends...

So, it’s that time of year again……Time to design your next collection…..and find some fantabulous fabrics that will inspire sell-out pieces and get your Instagram followers all in a tiz!!!

So, where do you start looking for fabrics?    If you are still over-paying retail stores its time to stop that and take your business seriously. 🧵

You could use dead stock fabric or start some up-cycling etc, but if your brand really needs metreage you should start attending the professional trade events.   These will be taking place worldwide over the next few months showing fabrics & trends for A/W ‘22 and the London Textile Fair starts in just a few days!

Fabric fairs are opening live for the first time since the pandemic and the London Textile Fair starts on Wednesday 13th July.   Premiere Vision New York is 20th & 21st July and Premiere Vision Paris is 21st & 23rd September live or 20th to 24th September on-line.

The fabric fairs are not only the best place to source your fabric...