5 things independent designers forget to price in, and it's the reason they're earning less than a 9-to-5
On a new client's first session I asked what her selling price was and despite having beautiful logos, packaging and designs, her prices bore no relation to the cost price, materials, complexity of design or even to her ideal customer.
If I hadn't stopped her in time she would have wasted all that sampling and launching budget... and no sales was the least of her problems. The worst thing was that she actually risked giving her brand a bad reputation, because buyers would see that she didn't know what she was doing.
Many designers fall into this trap. There are 5 key things that independent designers forget to price in, and it's the reason they're earning less than a 9-to-5... even if their garments sell for thousands.
1: Fittings and alterations.
Most designers only price the time spent cutting and sewing, but fittings can add 5 to 10 hours per style. Multiple fittings, adjustments, tweaks to get the fit perfect? That's all unpaid labour if you're not pricing it in.
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Jane McMillan
Jane McMillan
Founder of Fashion Entrepreneurs Academy
Jane McMillan is a fashion launch architect and consultant living in London. Her Mac Millan brand gained celebrity clients including a former member of the British Royal Family and her work has been shown in editorial features such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, In Style, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, WWD, etc. and featured on several broadcast media including Channel 4 and the BBC. For over a decade, Jane's collections were showcased internationally, appearing on the official catwalk schedule at New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park, the British Fashion Council's Designer Exhibition, On|Off catwalk shows at London Fashion Week, and Tranoï Paris. For many years, Jane consulted for renowned fashion brands including Roland Mouret and Roksanda, while also serving as an Associate Lecturer at Central Saint Martins, where she mentored students who have since become some of the most sought-after names in London, Paris and other global fashion capitals. Today, Jane brings together her experience in luxury fashion, education and business to help independent fashion brands launch their collections, attract the right customers and grow to the next level.
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