Fashion Insiders & Co

Just because you started your brand and it is your "baby" doesn't mean that you know or have the skills to grow it and make it profitable.  And unless it is profitable and operated in a way that allows it to grow - you will be stuck in a hamster wheel feeling exhausted and frustrated. So here is what you or your CEO needs to do in your business to ensure you end up with the fashion brand that you envisioned and want to have. Discover: The 3 key roles a business CEO must fulfil Why are they important Should you be the CEO of your own brand and business?   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co    

Jane Hamill, a successful ex-clothing designer and retailer who saw a growing need in this niche for honest advice and specific step-by-step strategies to run a profitable product business without losing your shirt – or your mind. In this episode we chat about all things fashion business, lessons learned from mistakes made and what works now that leads to more sales. Discover more in this episode: 6:00 - pricing fears when launching your brand for the first time; The reasons why we underprice  The mistakes Jane and Dessy made early on with their brands  Why “copy-paste” what others do is not a sustainable business strategy The importance of stock management  12:00 wholesale - the role it plays in business in today's day and age 19:00 the need to have a backup plan for suppliers, especially in times of economic downturn 20:00 - lessons about managing inventory How to pivot and adapt to tough times as a brand 25:00 what helps a brand to do well in business one course of income 30:00 How to find success with FB ads 39:00 Jane's advise about how to make more sales Key Takeaways: “I want to give people a good deal” is NOT the mindset to have if you want to operate a profitable sustainable business; “ ...that's working for them, I better do it too” - a common mistake made by many new creative entrepreneurs; “It's way more fun to have lots of little bosses than one big boss” is the advantage of selling DTC versus Wholesale; “Inventory is your biggest expense” “Your relationship with the customer is the most important thing!” If we learned one thing from the pandemic is that we cannot just rely on one source of income. Resources: Connect with Jane via: Website: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/ Instagram: @janehamillchi   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co  

If you have a fashion brand chances are at some point or right now you might be wondering why you are not selling - at all or more of your products.  It is very common for new brands to launch and sell nothing for a long time. Imagine having spent months and years working on your brand and a vast amount of time and money and then silence. No traffic to your website, no sales...and everyone you ask telling you how nice your product is. This is the reality for many newly launched brands.  Then a few years later - you are not selling enough - you know you can sell more but why is it not happening?  The answer for many is simple and hiding in plain sight.  Listen to this episode and discover: The four reasons why you may not be making any sales; What could be wrong if you are NOT making any ales at all? What can be the reason behind not selling MORE? Why conventional marketing is not working as efficiently for fashion brands? Why marketers are wrong to speak of multiple ideal client profiles and why you really ONLY have one. Why you need to tailor your marketing to the three types of customers you will have at any one time? and much, much more... Resources Mentioned: Discover more about Fashion Collections That Sell training opened for enrolment now. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business - join us here: https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fcts About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co    

Back in 2008 I launched my very own fine jewellery brand Deci London. Despite knowing so much after working for 10+ years in the fashion industry, launching and growing a brand and business of my own came with a whole new set of learning and lessons I didn't expect.  Reflecting back on running the brand for 8+ years has resulted in 19 lessons which you can read all about HERE, but in this episode, I share 3 invaluable lessons that I often share with brands I work and advise and are lessons everyone must learn from.  Listen to this episode and discover: Why asking for advice from experts and business gurus can be detrimental to your business. Why if you are not aligned with what you create as a product or business, you will not succeed and get the results that you want and need.  Go where the demand for your products and business is. Move with the demand and expand on your target market.  Resources Mentioned: Discover more about Fashion Collections That Sell training opened for enrolment now. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business - join us here: https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fcts   Read the full blog post here:    About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co  

A childhood love for hats became a thriving business for Swiss-born, Thailand based Anne-Claude, the founder of accessories resort brand Mon Panama. When the pandemic came, the demand for her retail business overnight dried up. But closing down never crossed her mind. Her passion and determination to save her "business child" led her to pivot to survival.  Listen to this episode and discover: How Anne-Claude started the MonPanama hat brand; Discover the origins of the famous Panama hats (hint: you'd be surprised to know they do not come from Panama at all);  How she overcame the challenge the pandemic presented to her and her business model at the time; how she pivoted her business model and repositioned herself and her brand; What are her challenges and how does she deals with them in terms of product development and manufacturing; How she works with local artisans  How she plans to retail new material collections to her international markets and much more.... Key Takeaways: “When you are so much inside of your brand you don't see what's in front of you” “Believe in yourself and love what you're doing”  Resources: Connect with Anne-Claude via: https://monpanama.com/ Instagram: @monpanama   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co  

Meet Monika Young, a London-based creative, ex-fast fashion buyer and a lover of all things California.  When her buying job in Berlin started giving her the blues, she knew she had to make a change. She saw first-hand how fast fashion brands were destroying the planet and she wasn't down for being part of the problem. Launching Monika The Label was born out of her love for fashion and desire to re-imagine how a fashion brand can be fun and do good at the same time.  Listen to this episode and discover: How her dream job of being a buyer pushed Monika to walk away and start her own brand doing the opposite of everything she experienced and learned as a buyer; How she balanced sourcing and manufacturing in the UK with offering a well priced mid-market product that is affordable for her customer base; How she got copied multiple times and her approach to dealing with this creative "worst nightmare" type of challenge; What her plans for growing her label are and what she is ding in order to become a fully circular fashion brand; How she great a community before she launched her brand; much much more... Key Takeaways: "Working as a buyer and seeing the cost prices at which we were buying products made me question the ethics and practices of the industry. How can buying a garment at $3 be possible and provide a living wage for those who make it?" “Even if the garment can no longer be worn, there are many ways in which the fabric can be re-used and up-cycled” “My priority is to focus on growing my brand and myself” “Learn from your mistakes and when things seemingly go wrong, don't spend too much time feeling down about it because the solution is often so much better than before.”   Resources: Connect with Monika via: https://www.monikathelabel.com/ Instagram: @monikathelabel   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co    

Most fashion brand founders chase cash in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. Often if they find financial success at the beginning, they struggle to maintain it and make it last.    Others spend years building a "brand" without (seemingly) much success until one day...everything seems to fall into place and money starts to pour in.  Ever wonder how success is created in the fashion industry and what it takes to monetise your brand and business....then listen in... Listen to this episode and discover: What is branding How is branding different from direct response type of business brands What creates better long term financial success  What you need to do in order to make the right decisions  About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co  

Yusuf's passion for making started whilst reading law at The London School of Economics where he thrived in the extracurricular. He continued to explore his creative side whilst training to be a solicitor. An avid workshop taker, he tried the gamut of crafts and discovered a passion for premium natural materials and a flair for working with his hands A chance weekend workshop in The Cotswolds introduced Yusuf to the world of traditional British leather craftsmanship and began a quest that has taken Yusuf all over the world to learn from the best and returning home to obsessively hone his skills in his home studio An all-consuming hobby turned into a career and you can learn all about it and a lot more in this episode: Listen to this episode and discover: How Yusuf turned a passion into a hobby into a profession and why he is proud to be a craftsman; What are the mistakes he made and continues to make that he would like other creatives to know about; The importance of not falling for the current culture glorifying the idea of "hustling" [12:00] The importance of having different streams of income [18:00] How to protect your designs from being copied [33:00] What it means to be "sustainable" as a brand [38:00] Key Takeaways: Leatherwork is a beautiful marriage of beautiful material and the craftsmanship process.  Craft is about connecting. Connecting with the materials and then transmitting that connection.  For me, there is no choice but to work on my own. Making is therapy. It is a way to process things, a way to turn whatever feelings I have inside into something beautiful. When most people start out they want to overprice the value of their art. Why are you setting up a brand if you care for the planet? Making more products is not saving anyone! The solution is not making more stuff! Resources: Connect with Yusuf via: https://www.yussi.co/ Instagram: @yussico Fall in love with leather under Yusuf's watchful eye - book a workshop HERE   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co  

Most creative brand founders inexperienced in business observe and emulate how others do it. However, so much can be missed and left invisible to a trained eye. In this episode, you'll discover how to add to your collection range strategically and by taking a lesser risk. Growth can come from many sources and not everything you can offer as a product under the label of your brand must be completely new and designed and made by you alone.    Thinking and acting strategically with an end outcome in mind is the secret sauce many successful brand founders utilise successfully and use later as leverage to faster and bigger gains and growth. You can too! Listen to this episode and discover: The four hybrid collection creation opportunities are available to anyone in the fashion industry. Why using external sources to add to your already existing range can be a smart move. How to know what to use and when to use hybrid co-creation opportunities. Key Takeaways: Hybrid co-creation opportunities allow for low-risk, maximum gains experimentation. There is more than one way to grow your product range and fast track the growth of your brand. You don't have to choose this or that. The fashion business is not black or white. You can have both - this AND that.  Join the waitlist HERE and be the first to know when Fashion Collections That Sell training opens for enrolment. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business.    Resources: Get your copy of the Become A Fashion Insider book here: Amazon UK | Amazon USA and all other international outlets of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and other online booksellers.   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co

Most creative brand founders and designers overestimate the importance of individual products and design elements and hugely underestimate the importance of having a cohesive collection.  In fact - most creative brand founders do not understand what "cohesive" means in terms of a collection structure. In continuation from episode 58, in this episode you will discover a new layer of awareness you must have as a brand founder and designer. Listen to this episode and discover: The two aspects your collection ranges must have in order to work harder for your brand and convert more sales; The three types of audience you are encountering when marketing The importance of having various price points within your range; What is the most important goal product collections must accomplish; and so much more.... Key Takeaways: Successful collections need to recognise and address the three types of audience you are dealing with at any point in time. Customers need the right amount of choice in order to make a purchase - not too much and not too little. Price diversity within your range allows for customers at different points of their customer journey to convert.  Join the waitlist HERE and be the first to know when Fashion Collections That Sell training opens for enrolment. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business.    Resources: Get your copy of the Become A Fashion Insider book here: Amazon UK | Amazon USA and all other international outlets of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and other online booksellers.   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co

Most creative brand founders and designers overestimate the importance of individual products and design elements and hugely underestimate the importance of having a cohesive collection.  In fact - most creative brand founders do not understand what "cohesive" means in terms of a collection structure.  Listen to this episode and discover: The three key areas most brand founders face challenges that prevent them from seeing steady business growth; What having a cohesive collection means [13:00m] The importance of focusing on the "evolution" of your product ranges and not having a mini "revolution" every time you launch; How a cohesive range can help grow your brand from a customer point of view; and so much more.... Key Takeaways: Collection building is about evolution and not revolution. Collections must look like families and the products within them look like they belong together. Successful brands know how to create and cultivate loyal repeat customers. Resources: Get your copy of the Become A Fashion Insider book here: Amazon UK | Amazon USA and all other international outlets of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and other online booksellers.   Join the waitlist HERE and be the first to know when Fashion Collections That Sell training opens for enrolment. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business.    About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co

Meet Sonia Summan - a multi-talented fashion industry expert who has spent 20+ years specialising in sales for a wide range of brands from the high street to the luxury segment of the industry. Quite honestly - there is nothing Sonia doesn't know about growing a fashion brand vis a vis different routes to market. Which is what this episode is all about... Listen to this episode and discover: What Sonia's current role in the fashion industry is (clue: she wears more than one fashion hat) and how Sonia learned to be a top sales expert; How the sales opportunities within the industry have changed over the last couple of decades and what are they (hint: Sonia has been part of setting up JVs, franchises, wholesale, licensing, retail set up and more...) What caused her leave working for fast fashion (there were weeks when she made over 1 million pounds in sales in that one week alone) and pivot; working for fast fashion meant that sometimes she was involved in selling over 52 collections a year; The importance of networking as a brand growth strategy and getting organic reach The importance of having a two-fold sustainability outlook - environment and business.  When is licensing the right route for a small brand to explore and how to make the best of this sales option what she do now and why she is so happy at this point of her career. Episode Takeaways: High street selling is about volume (margins can be lower) and has to hit the MOQ of the supplier whereas in luxury fashion sales numbers are lower and there is a focus on nurturing the customer along the buyer journey. Resources: Connect with Sonia via: Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/soniasumman Instagram: @fashionstrategists.com ClubHouse: sonia205   REGISTER YOUR INTEREST IN THE FASHION COLLECTIONS THAT SELL  Join the waitlist HERE and be the first to know when Fashion Collections That Sell training opens for enrolment. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business.  About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co  

More than half of those brands that launch close doors within a year or two of launch. Many struggle a little longer and join the long list of brands that once had so much promise and then they no longer could be sustained. If you wonder why or feel like you are one of those founders navigating the fashion entrepreneurial rollercoaster then listen on.... In this episode you will discover the key reason why so many brand founders become overwhelmed, and what they can do about it. Listen to this episode and discover: What is the supply and demand every fashion business must balance; How to balance the two sides of the business and avoid overwhelm and much more... Resources: Get your copy of the Become A Fashion Insider book here: Amazon UK | Amazon USA and all other international outlets of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and other online booksellers.   Join the waitlist HERE and be the first to know when Fashion Collections That Sell training opens for enrolment. Discover how to create a steady flow of supply and demand for your fashion business.  About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at insider(at)fashioninsiders(dot)co

Meet Arlette Ess - a self-taught artist and ex-model who turned her art into wearable creations. And not only that...her works of art can now be bought at Hermes - the luxury brand that exemplifies art, craft and luxury.  Listen to this episode and discover: How Arlette got her start in the fashion industry Why she escaped working for the high street as a print designer and the contrast between designing for the mass market and designing for luxury clients. What Arlette's design process looks like and how she has learned to value and price her works of art. The mind shifts she has had to make in order to be able to build a brand and business around her art How she overcomes objections that may cost her sales. How she manages the fear of making mistakes  The idea of success and what it means to her. How Arlette chose to recognise herself as already being successful. ...and so much more. Takeaways: “I create designs that people can enjoy without owning them and I'm ok with that” "High-end fashion - how do people enjoy it? By buying a knockoff or admiring from something without buying it - and that's ok!"  "Having a low self-esteem is a waste of time"   Discover Arlette's art and brand here: Website: https://arlette-ess.com/arlette/ Instagram: @arletteess   About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

The great creative brand founders, leaders and fashion business CEOs ask the best questions in order to get the right information. This is what ultimately distinguishes those who succeed from those who flounder and disappear.  Knowing how to ask powerful questions is the unspoken trick great businessmen have up their sleeve and you can have it too... In this episode, discover: Why asking great questions is so important How to ask great questions What to look for when asking good questions Mentioned resources: Why working with specialists is better than working generalists - episode 008 of the Fashion Insiders Podcast Become a Fashion Insider book About the Podcast Host: Dessy is the author of Become a Fashion Insider book and the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. (Buy the book here: https://amzn.to/35wo2y9 ) *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co  

Following on from the last episode setting out business trends to be mindful of throughout 2022, in this episode Dessy speaks to Karolina Barnes about the importance of creative collaborations as a growth business strategy.  Episode notes: Listen to the episode and discover ... Why this year all brands will have to reinvent themselves Why creative collaborations are a great business strategy at any time but particularly in 2022 Two easy and quick to implement creative collaborations any brand can organise What the Strategic Growth Day is and why you should attend it. ...and much more. Resources: Join the Strategic Growth Day https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/strategicgrowthday-1   Get your copy of the Become A Fashion Insider book mentioned in the episode.   Buy on Amazon (UK) or Amazon (USA) or in other digital formats here.   About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co  

As we turn the leaf to a new year - what can we expect from a year that follows on from an already very challenging past couple of years?  In this episode, Dessy discussed five core themes she believes are important to take note of and be mindful of as the new year unfolds.  Episode notes: Discover how the core themes of 2022 will affect your fashion brand and business: Survival Think Global and act locally 360 Degrees Sustainability by Design Less is More Community First Bonus: Collaborations Key Takeaways: Fashion brands must evaluate their business and find ways to strengthen their supply chains, sourcing, manufacturing and logistics networks, with a renewed focus on being agile, sustainable, transparent and exercising better cost management.   It's time to talk less and act more. Greater effort needs to come from the initial stages of the design process, sourcing of materials, how we look at merchandising, production, marketing and sales, consumption and then disposal.   A survey compiled by McKinsley indicates that the consumer mindset is not strongly tied to the fashion cycle. This offers greater freedom and opportunities to small emerging brands. Resources: Get your copy of the Become A Fashion Insider book mentioned in the episode.   Buy on Amazon (UK) or Amazon (USA) or in other digital formats here.   About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co  

To niche or not to niche is the question most ambitious fashion would be fashion-preneurs and brand founders should ask themselves but oftentimes don't. The result is often struggling to find success, frustration and loss of time and money. In this episode, you will discover why less is more when it comes to launching a new product line or a brand for the first time.  Episode Notes: In this episode, discover: Why it is important to launch small-ER range and not be everything to everyone all too soon; What are the three core business areas that you need to be mindful of when launching a new brand or product line; Why "less" is better than "more" and what that means to your business (hint: it is a good thing); Some examples of successful brands that focused their offer and used the learnings to build a big and successful, profitable business. Resources: Get the Become A Fashion Insider book mentioned in the episode.     About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co  

Become A Fashion Insider (The Book) is OUT!  After years of thinking about it and hoping I will discover another book on the topic (and I didn't) I sat down and wrote my own. This book presents the vital information creative entrepreneurs and brand founders need in order to launch and build a successful brand.  Episode Notes: In this episode, discover: Why I wrote this book? Who is the book for? How is this book different from others that are already published? How to use the book to benefit fully from the knowledge in it and build your own success story. and much more... Resources: The book is available to buy on Amazon worldwide, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones. Buy the book on Amazon UK here and Amazon USA here Discover what bonuses you can get by simply buying the book here. Share your a-ha's and favourite sections of the book on Instagram here and use #becomeafashioninsider  About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Discover more great content on our YouTube channel. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co    

Polly Alexandre started her professional career in the fashion industry, but that was just the beginning... She soon realised that as much as she loved fashion, perhaps the job she was doing wasn't the right one for her. Perhaps there were other ways n which she can be creative and earn a living.  With every new job she got, she faced mindset blocks, and overcoming them for herself catapulted her into becoming a success coach to other creatives and helping them succeed just as she had.  Episode Notes: In this fascinating episode discover more about: How Polly got in and out of the fashion industry; How she got featured in Martha Stewart magazine as a wedding photographer; How she became a success coach for creative entrepreneurs and what it means to be one; What are the most common money blocks creatives face -  How your DNA is affected by past ancestral stories we bring into this lifetime; ...and much more. Key Takeaways: When we shift what we believe we are worthy of we attract opportunities and money. If you change what you think feel and believe about money - that's when things change for the better. Money is always available Learn how to handle different opinions and criticism. One in 10 people will just not like you - so learn to believe in yourself, strengthen your self worth and focus on the things that are working The world needs more creative people. They bring richness, beauty, and wealth to the world. Take a stand for the “AND” Resources: Connect with Polly via: Instagram: @polly_alexandre Website: https://www.pollyalexandre.com/ Get Polly's freebie: https://bit.ly/E49freebie   About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co    

Alma Barrero is an image consultant with a twist. After spending years working with women and helping them find or change their style, she was left burned out and wanting to play a bigger part in her client's transformation. Instead of keeping her private world and working separately - she decided to merge them. The result was a blend of style and soul work.  Episode Notes In this episode, Alma shares with the listeners all about: How she got her start in the fashion industry and became a holistic image consultant; Alma Barrero explains how she unlocks real change in her clients, the kind that will lead you to unshakable confidence and owning a style aligned with your ultimate being. What led her to write a book about her work and what makes her book totally different from anything you have ever read or heard of; and much, much more. Key Takeaways: Soul styling = Sustainability Dressing consciously means choosing clothing pieces that really deserve to be in your wardrobe. Dressing with soul is about honouring your magnificence. It's not about having a certain look and style, it is about how you project who you are through clothes. You are unique for a reason. Resources: Connect with Alma Barrero by: Website: www.almabarrero.com IG: @almabarrero Buy The STYLE POWER book here: www.stylepowerbook.com About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Stephanie Irwin has worn many hats within the fashion industry and as a podcaster, she knows more than most about what the true face of the fashion industry is. In this episode, we speak to Stephanie however about her job as a UX designer within a large fashion online e-com retailer. Her knowledge, tips, and insights are a must listen to for brands focused on growth and success. Episode Notes In this episode discover: How Stephanie got her start in fashion; The problem with fashion internships and entry-level jobs; Why Stephanie considers “entitlement” to be one of the biggest problems  in the industry at present; What is UX, why it is so important to know about it and design your website with it in mind? Why so many brands use Shopify; Simple tips on how to test your website design and functionality and see where and how you can improve it; Why speaking at your customers is so important; ....and much more. Key Takeaways: You don't have to be the best at something, you just have to be different. If you think you know, but you're not sure…stay curious - meet people and ask questions Success metrics are good but getting real-time feedback from real people is a crucial component to growth. Resources: Connect with Stephanie at: Website: www.stephieirwin.com IG: @stephieirwin Books mentioned: Essentialism by Greg McKeown >>> Buy it here Effortless by Greg McKeown  >>> Buy it here About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

 Lily Hattingh is one-half of the Mojo Media Agency - a boutique media company that works closely with small eCommerce business owners who are looking to grow their business or in a need of little extra mojo to take their business to new heights. Their specialty is branding, marketing, and advertising - a 360 approach to growing a brand online. Episode Notes In this episode, Lily shares tips and insights relating to optimizing any eCommerce store. Discover how:  Common mistakes brand founders make with their websites, that prevents them from earning more; How to maximize sales from passing visitors and convert them to customers; Why email marketing is vital to brands growth; Why sending too many emails is not an issue and how to ensure those who unsubscribe can be still marketed to; How to turn your website into a growth engine and not simply be an obstacle in the way of growth; ....and much more Resources: Connect with Lily and Mojo Media Agency by: Website: www.mojomediaagency.com IG: @mojomediaagency About the Podcast Host: *** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here*** Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Kate Hills is perhaps the best-known British manufacturing champion. Over the last decade or so, she has challenged creatives to think differently about manufacturing in Britain and strategically plan for making on local soil. She has supported British manufacturers by highlighting their plight and bringing awareness to the issues faced by manufacturing businesses in the UK.Episode NotesIn this episode you'll discover:How Kate got her start in the fashion industry and what fuels her passion for British manufacturing;How the pandemic and Brexit have impacted and disrupted the garment and manufacturing industry in the UK;What is the UK is great for and who should manufacture in the UK?Why visiting factories is so important How and why clear communication with factories is so important?Why Kate calls herself the Celia Black of UK manufacturing (i.e. she is a matchmaker of sorts);Why being organized and professional can help you when it comes to the prices manufacturers quote you;Why being honest is so important in the fashion industry.....and much moreKey Takeaways:Education doesn't value the making part of fashion but more the design part.Making in the UK means you can weave in the story of your manufacturing as part of the product story.There are different pockets of manufacturing speciality within the UK but on the whole making in Britain is good for brands who want to make small volume and high quality.Resources:Register for Kate's even on 4th November 2021 here:https://makeitbritish.co.uk/british-brand-blueprint/ Website: https://makeitbritish.co.uk/IG: @makeitbritishAbout the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

While most of us procrastinate from time to time, creatives often take procrastination to a whole new level and turn it into perfectionism.  Perfectionism, in turn, drives us mad and makes us feel incomplete, never quite good enough, and robs us of any joy creativity may bring. Sound familiar?This is the topic of this episode and who better to speak to than Deborah Taylor - a certified hypnotherapist who is an expert in working with entrepreneurs and helping them overcome procrastination and perfectionism. She is also the author of the book "How to be a Finisher", which is a must-read for anyone who may or may not suffer from bouts of procrastination. Episode NotesIn this episode discover:What causes perfectionism and procrastination and why we are all to a small or large degree guilty of avoiding finishing what we start.When is procrastination good for us and we should not feel guilty about taking things slowly;How to overcome perfectionism in life and the workplace;Why the book "How to be a Finisher" is a game-changer and more than just a simple book. Resources:Buy "How to Become a Finisher" book here: Connect with Deborah and discover more about her services and resources:Buy the Book: https://howtobeafinisher.podia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesubconsciouscompass The Balanced Mind Podcast  About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Meet  Patrick Morrison - a trained artist, turned branding and graphic design consultant, turned chief of Everything at  Furious Goose - a luxury silk scarf and accessories fashion brand.Over the last five-plus years of growing his business and even personal brand, he has mastered the light-hearted approach to growing a brand and found a happy medium of working hard and enjoying the success and opportunities that come as a result of his hard work even harder. Episode NotesIn this episode discover:What made Patrick launch his brand and  why he chose scarves;Why he manufactures in the UK and how this helped him launch and grow his brand;What manufacturing challenges he experienced and how he manages the manufacturing process;What is his sales model and how he is building his luxury accessories fashion brandHow he has used the wholesale retail method as a strategy to grow his businessWhy PR is challenging "nut to crack"How to network and build relationships strategicallyWhat he will do differently if he started all over againWhat was the biggest mistake he made that he wouldn't make againThe importance of having your brand coherent across all touchpoints and the role it plays in advertisingResources:Connect with Patrick and discover the Furious Goose luxury accessories fashion brand:Website: https://furiousgoose.co.uk/Instagram: @furiousgooseAbout the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

We all want to look and feel great. there are countless ways in which we are told we can achieve this. One less talked about sure-way to looking your best however is to do with wearing the right size and fit of clothing. Meet Melanie Potro - a classically trained dressmaker, couturier, and now style confidante to women entrepreneurs who is on a quest to teach us how to get to know our bodies better. Accepting that we are not symmetrical and learning how to measure ourselves so that we can find the right fit and size of clothing can be liberating. Episode NotesIn this episode discover:How Melanie got her start in the fashion industry and her unusual journey in and out of fashion until today.Why knowing the correct size measurements are important in the fashion industry and can help build a better brandWhy it is important to know intimately our bodies and how to take measurementsEpisode Takeaways:"We are not built symmetrically like a tailors dummy""Creating corsets is like making sculptures. It is a form of paying homage to the female body"Resources:Connect with Melanie:Website: https://www.mpcolourandstyle.com/Instagram: @thestyleconfidentclosetDownload Melanie's helpful  Measurement Chart for Fashion Designers and Pattern CuttersJoin Melanie's course How to Take Accurate Body Measurements and grab 10% discount with the code: DISCOUNT10About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Every fashion designer and creative entrepreneur who goes into business for themselves and spends time and (a lot of) money building a brand wants it to succeed beyond their wild dreams. Every single one of them will encounter the same set of challenges along the way. Those who overcome the obstacles in the way - go on to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Many however don't.In this episode, we look at seven lessons every entrepreneur must become aware of and apply to their fashion business in order to remove the constraints they face and go on to experience success. Episode notes:Learn why keeping things simple is the key to business growth. Discover why it is getting harder and harder to sell products and how to sell more and grow your fashion brand exponentially Most advice given by successful entrepreneurs is boring - yet it is what we all need to hear and follow. Find out why. ...and much more is packed into the 7 Fashion Business Lessons.Key Takeaways:Complexity doesn't scale, but only creates confusion, which can kill off your business.Nurturing customers is better than focusing on just acquiring more leads. Businesses will only grow to the level of competence of their founders. Resources Mentioned:Sign up to the VIP waitlist for the Fashion insiders Business Club due to launch soon.About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

If you are frustrated with social media and do not see the kind of ROI you'd expect given the amount of time you spend creating and posting content online - then you are not wrong. Social Media Marketing is not what it used to be unless you are advertising. The alternative is making better use of search engines. And Pinterest in particular - given that it is a visual image-based platform. Episode Notes:In this episode we speak to Craig Lewis - a Pinterest agency founder and Pinterest approved partner who helps e-commerce brands grow their businesses the smart way and get a solid ROI of x2-4 times of their investment consistently. Hear first hand from Craig and discover how Pinterest is the smart choice in marketing if you are a product e-commerce based fashion brand:Why Pinterest is the platform to be and focus on as a fashion brand How the longevity of pins vs other social media platforms comparesWhy Pinterest demographics of active users is well-positioned for fashion brands to exploitHow to use Pinterest to drive traffic to your website and salesMost common mistakes made, and tips on how to correct themHow to work with a marketing agency and ensure you get resultsCraig's best advice for growing your brand with PinterestKey Takeaways:Pinterest is a search engine just like Google and YouTube. People spend time on it searching for products and information with the intent to purchase often. Pinterest as a business has repositioned to attract and service primarily product-based e-commerce businesses and is optimizing the search engine to generate maximum results for its users. Pinterest works best when there is a clear intent set behind the pinned photos and boards created.Resources Mentioned:Pin&Grow agency website: https://pinandgrow.com/Connect with Craig via LinkedInThe Strategic Brand Positioning Program teaching fashion brand founders how to position their brands correctly on the market for maximum growth, exposure, and profit.About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Fashion clothing manufacturing is a key process in the lifecycle of launching and growing a product-based brand. Often mismanaged, rarely given its dues - fashion manufacturing is the Cinderella of the fashion industry.  It does all the heavy lifting and hard work for fashion brands large and small but is always mistreated. With all the recent focus on local manufacturing and the focus on large brands misusing overseas apparel factories and leaving them stranded with cancelled orders, it is easy to forget that offshore manufacturing also includes small businesses delivering invaluable services to the fashion industry.  Not every brand is able to afford to work locally and pay fair local labour prices. Equally not all overseas factories are large operations, serving fast fashion and employing cheap labour. In this candid conversation, we meet Karishma Kapur - a fashion clothing factory founder from Mumbai, India who runs a small apparel factory working with female-run, independent clothing brands. Unlike most manufacturers, Karishma has her own passions and business mission that she was woven into the business activities of her business. Episode notes:In this episode discover:How Karishma set up a fashion clothing factory by herself and how she started;What is it like to run a fashion clothing factory in Asia and the challenges most creative entrepreneurs do not see or understand take place;How she has chosen to be different from the mainstream manufacturing landscape and what makes her stand out;The reality of fashion manufacturingKarishma's appeal to fashion creative entrepreneursand much more...Resources:Connect with Karishma Kapur and the ODD Factory:Website: https://theoddfactory.com/Instagram:  @theoddfactoryTo learn how to how to find and select the right manufacturer to work with, and how to save time and money by effectively structuring and running your own manufacturing processes, enrol in the Fashion Manufacturing Mastery online course now. https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fmm21About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

We often hear stories about fashion brands whose founders made a successful transition from a past career into fashion. But imagine having recently left a high-paying job to dedicate yourself and grow a hobby into a business and then the pandemic takes over. For many, this has spelled the end for their brands. For others - like Sarah Haran - the pandemic offered an opportunity for growth and expansion. Discover first hand how Sarah grew her brand over the last 18 months and how she used the pandemic to reposition her brand entirely and find a whole new level of business success. Episode notes:Learn what made Sarah leave a successful career and launch her own leather handbag brand;What made her brand different and how she had planned to grow it pre-pandemic;What she learned about her ideal customer and how she adapted on the basis of this knowledge;The role of creating and nurturing a community has had on her business bottom line;How she plans to grow her brand in the future and her new customer acquisition strategy.Key takeaways:"Every day is a (fashion business) new school day" Look UP and OUT of the fashion industry to get fresh new ideas and business knowledge;Focus on one channel and stick with it - do not jump around and chase other great ideas too soon and too fast.Resources:Connect with Sarah Haran:Website   https://sarahharan.com/ Instagram @sarahharanukAbout the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

I don't know about you but I found myself wondering lately if "fair trade fashion" and "sustainability" were one and the same thing or not? What happened to "fair trade"? A few years ago everyone was talking about it and all of a sudden no one is but the focus has moved to sustainability? Why and how can this happen? As always - when I have a question that I can't answer by myself - I search for the best person who can help me with it. In today's episode, I speak to Morin George - a buyer and product developer in fair trade who spent over 20 years working with artisans around the world to showcase their heritage skills and culture through the development of beautiful products.Over the years Morin was able to spend time on the ground with suppliers as well as mingle with policymakers and witness firsthand the impact fair trade practices can have on communities globally.In this episode we discuss:What is "fairtrade" and how is it different from "sustainability"?Why fairtrade is perhaps more important than sustainability?What can small independent fashion brands learn and implement in terms of fairtrade practices in order to create impact within the world and the fashion industry? What is driving and motivating Morin to launch her own fashion label?Key Takeaways:There are ten fairtrade principles that align with the UN Sustainability goals and "sustainability" is one of the 10 principles."When you can you should, when you can't - do what you can"Asking questions, working together, and caring is the foundation to successful business and sustainability practices.Resources: Connect with Morin via her  Instagram @tamayo.lifestyleEtsy shop @TAMAYOGiftsAbout the Podcast Host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

It is not often that we hear success stories involving small fashion brands, single female founder-owned and that sold successfully in a matter of a few years. But these stories exist and today we get to hear firsthand about it. Meet Hayat Rachie - a young ambitious woman who after getting fired from yet another job - decided to create a job for herself, launch a brand of her own that will allow her to express her talents on her own terms. If this is not enough, she also set upon herself to be the disruptor in an industry she didn't know much about and change women's lives along the way. For some, this may be a risk too far. A form of gambling many may not be willing to take. But Hayat was fearless and did take the risk to gamble the little she had and it paid off. Episode Notes:In this episode discover:How she started and what her brand "Neon Moon" stood for and was about;What was the defining factor that contributed in a big way to her brand's ultimate success;How she built and nurtured a tribe around her brand and why that was important;Why manufacturing was one of her greatest challenges and examples of how she overcame those;The importance of having good mentors and support network and the best advice she got from them;....and so so so much more. This is an incredible value-packed episode. Grab a pen and paper and enjoy the story you are about to hear. Connect with Hayat:Twitter: @hayatrachiLinked In: @hayatrachi Key Takeaways:"The success of a brand lies with the person who started it""Our customers were like investors to us. They invested in our brand by purchasing our products and we kept them updated and involved in our progress as a brand just like we will keep investors in the loop"Resources:Fashion Manufacturing Mastery Online Program for Fashion startups and growth-stage fashion brands: https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fmm21If you want to grow a success story like the one we shared, you need to know how to position your brand on the market and convey your story, connect to your customers and market your products strategically and effortlessly. This and more you can learn by enrolling in the Strategic Brand Positioning Program : https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/sbp-eg About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write t

Meet Ngaire Takano - a sustainable sourcing fairy godmother helping brand source and develop fashion brands rooted in sustainable practices.During the conversation, we speak about the fashion industry as a large and the issues that exist in contradiction to the bigger goal of creating a sustainable fashion ecosphere.Episode Notes:Why sourcing for fabrics online can be so hard and what to do insteadWhy certifications might be killing the manufacturing industryWhat fabrics are good to use and why bamboo is not as good as we may think it isHow to create collections and fashion brands responsibly and sustainablyResources:Connect and follow Ngaire Takano:Instagram: @_ngairetakano/LinkedIn: ngairetakanoAbout the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Superfit Hero is an American activewear brand unlike any other. Founded in 2015 by Micki Krimmel, the brand emerged from her experience as a competitive roller derby player and athlete. Her sports activities and experiences re-shaped her attitude towards her own body to a point where she wanted to help others feel the same. The answer for her came in the shape of launching a  "body-positive, size-inclusive fitness brand with a mission to empower women." After crowdfunding the brand's launch, and armed with a few years' worth of customer data and strong community feedback, Micki pivoted to offer exclusively activewear to plus sizes L to 7XL.“I created Superfit Hero to exist as an alternative, a fitness brand that celebrates bodies as they are, not as they ‘should be,” said Krimmel in a statement.Episode Notes: In this riveting and candid conversation with Micki Krimmel, the CEO and Founder, and Carrie Beth Langham, Superfit Hero's Product Lead, discover:- What inspired Micki to launch an activewear brand aimed at plus size female athletes and why she wasn't scared to niche down to what may seem like a tiny target market;- What challenges did she face, to begin with, and how she managed to survive through 2020 which brought unexpected challenges;- What makes SuperFit Hero's product so special and the lengths Micki and Carrie Beth go through to ensure the fit is perfect and the quality unrivaled;-  How they are creating and scaling a brand by leveraging the power of a mighty, loyal community;- Discover how the deep purpose on which the brand is founded drives the business forward, so much so that big brands - unable to compete are copying while large retailers courting Superfit Hero. - and much much more....Resources:Connect and follow Superfit Hero:Website: https://superfithero.com/Instagram: @superfitheroAbout the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Everybody loves a bargain - but what benefit or damage can this bring is the question.Lowering prices — also known as discounting — might seem like a great way to turn heads and generate interest in your fashion brand and bring in much-needed sales, and in many cases, it can do just that. But there are a lot of layers and potentially negative implications to consider when offering one.Episode notes:Listen and discover:what are the top five reasons why you should not discount;what are the implications of rushed decisions and discounting not done strategically;what are the alternatives if you need to clear stock and make salesResources:Join the Strategic Brand Positioning Program in order to learn more and work on strategies that will help you sell more, market better, and grow a sustainable brand for the long term -faster. Join here.About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategize how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Creating a successful fashion business means that you need to focus on creating a sustainable fashion brand business. Creating a sustainable fashion brand business means that you need to know the fundamentals of creating, building, growing, and scaling a business. In this second instalment (see ep.30 for Part 1) of a conversation with business consultant Darryl Bannon we delve into:Episode Notes What is the difference between "growth" and "scale" when it comes to building a thriving sustainable fashion brand business?Why it is important to have people of value in your business and to document and create systems;What holds fashion brands up when they think they are ready to bring in investors onboard? What you need to be aware of when building a sustainable fashion brand business. Why pre-sale is a good business model to develop. Are all successful brands really "successful"? What are some of the signs that some brands may be struggling and all is not well?How brands stay relevant to new generations of customers;Can you grow a successful business if you are not profitable as a business?... and much more. Mentioned Resources:Online Accounting systems: Quickbooks, XeroProfit First by Mike Michalowicz Becoming Halston series (Netflix)About the Podcast Host:*** If you would like to book a powerful Breakthrough Power Hour and work through a challenge or strategise how to launch or grow your fashion business, book an hour with Dessy here***Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Inspired by watching a creative jewelry duo pitch the investors on Dragons Den, this is a follow-up episode to episode 30. In this episode we demystify the world of finance, in particular, what do investors look for when considering a business to invest in.Episode notes:What investors look for when considering to invest any amount of money;What are the key metrics and numbers to know;Why being comfortable with discussing numbers is important;How to speak to investors if you are not confident with numbers;How to present to investors.Resources:The Workbench pitch at Dragons Den.About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

The biggest cause for fashion brands to fail before they have even launched or later down the line and cease trading is a lack of finances. Building a fashion brand is not cheap and having enough to cover day-to-day operations and cover development and production for two seasons at any one time is essential. But by contrast, raising finance is not easy. While there are many options, most creatives are not aware of most of the opportunities or if they are - they may not be able to present their ideas in such a way as to unlock these opportunities. In this episode, we look into what financing options are there from start up stage to scale up phase. Listen to the episode and discover:How to finance your fashion brand from the initial "I have an idea" stage to launch;What questions do you need to ask yourself before starting a fashion business and looking for ways to finance it?What are the financing options for the early stages of business and what is bootstrapping?What are the expectations when you borrow mone6y from friends and family and other investors?Is getting a loan a good idea?What are the advantages of using credit cards to pay for your business purchases?Who is start-up loan a good fit for?How to finance for growth?Why you should always keep money in your business;When is the best time to start looking for investors?What are investors looking for when considering investment and how to select and vet investors;What is the true cost of getting investment money?Episode Takeaways:“Fashion retail is NOT dead, bad retail is dead”"You have to evidence you have a business before seeking any kind of financing"References:Information on European Grants for the fashion sector.Information on claiming Research & Development Tax ReliefConnect with Darryl:Website: http://www.darrylbannon.com/About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Following graduation Chelsea Chu was lucky to find employment quickly in the fashion industry. And not just any job but a buyer's position for an online luxury retailer. In this interview, we look into the role of a buyer in the industry and what led her to decide to launch her own brand, and the challenges she is encountering along the way.Episode Notes:What it is like to be a buyer in the fashion industry; what does the job entail?The im[ortace of knowing your target customer profile and how this helps buyers when they select what to buy.How men's shopping habits defer from womenWhat led her to want to launch her own brandWhat business model she would like to follow for her own business and why.Why educating your customer is important to do.Takeaways:As a buyer, you need to at all times balance the point of view of what is commercial and what is visually appealing"Typically the mass consumers will not care about sustainability because they prioritize looking good and cost first"References:"To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out The World" by Lucy SiegleConnect with Chelsea:Website: https://www.animaanimus.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_animaanimus/About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

As creative entrepreneurs we often feel overwhelmed with the myriad of tasks and jobs we have to do and hats we have to wear.  Many creatives are also sensitive and actively (even when they do not realize it) avoid tasks and jobs that deplete them of energy, leave them upset, exhausted, and feeling unworthy. Sometimes, we need a helping hand and a new perspective to overcome the procrastination that keeps us stuck. In today's episode, we have a guest who helped herself do just that and then decided to make it her life mission to help others. Episode notes:What is Rapid Transformational Technique (RTT) and how can it be helpful to creative entrepreneurs?Why did Selina choose to specialize in working with entrepreneurs struggling with procrastination?What is causing us to procrastinate and how to overcome it?What are the four personality types and how knowing what type you are can be helpful in business?Tips for better productivityResources mentioned:Eisenhower Matrix https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/The Four Personalities Tendencies Quiz (Gretchen Rubin) https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/Connect with Selina Mann via:website https://www.selinamankarlsson.ch/About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Launching and growing a fashion brand is a lonely process. Particularly as a solo founder going to market with a specific, purpose-driven brand. Today's episode is unusual in as much as it is a recording of a live coaching session with one such fashion female founder - Joanna Blein - founder of Feel Good Couture premium clothing brand for women suffering from skin conditions. Helping her reframe her challenges and challenging her to also make subtle changes and innovate within her own business is how growth takes place. Episode notes:- How the realization that her ideal customer profile is not perfect is leading Joanna to a deeper niche down and a better understanding of the brand value proposition;- What is stopping Joanna to connect on a deeper level with her ideal customer and generate more sales;- How to grow her brand beyond clothing and reach more potential clients;- How her current pricing structure is preventing her from selling more;- Where she needs to focus in order to grow further and faster her brand and impact she is looking to create on a bigger arena.Resources mentioned:Register for the Strategic Brand Positioning Program FREE Masterclass and discover the secrets stopping independent small brands from generating more sales and creating a bigger impact. About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

No matter how long you may have been in the fashion industry and the level of success you have as a business, if you are a product-based brand you will be having manufacturing problems somewhere along the line.  Often these challenges are self-inflicted and can to a great degree prevented if proper selection and checks were made at the beginning - when the designer or founder was looking to select a manufacturer to work with.Part 1 of this topic covers mistakes made at the startup level. Listen to episode 24 for more tips and know-how.Episode Notes:Discover what are the three core manufacturing sins most creative entrepreneurs make, that cause them so much terrible further on;Learn how to approach in the right way the selection of manufacturers to work with;Discover why being in the right head-space is essential when it comes to manufacturing your products.Key Takeaways:Take your time and do not make rushed decisions;Check your motivation and ego before making a decision and entering into a contractual relationshipEnsure you look internally within your brand for what is leading to challenges and problems and not only blame the manufacturer you work with.Resources:Fashion Manufacturing Mastery Online Program for Fashion startups and growth-stage fashion brands: https://www.fashioninsiderstraining.com/fmm21About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

If you are frustrated that your brand is not growing faster, you might be making one or more fashion brand positioning mistakes. In this episode, Karolina Barnes is jumping in with Dessy and discussing what is "fashion brand positioning" and what are the most common mistakes brands make that is keeping them stuck.Mentioned Resources:Join the Strategic Brand Positioning Program waitlist or register to attend the FREE Masterclass on Brand Positioning HERE.About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Fashion manufacturing is challenging at the best of times, but when you are first starting out - it can easily seem like the biggest challenge in your way to launching and success. We look into the reasons why this is and what future brand entrepreneurs can do to help themselves in the process of finding the right manufacturing partner to work with.About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Many graduate designers encounter challenges along the way of making it in the fashion industry that often leads them to set up a business that aims to solve the very problem they faced. One such fashion entrepreneur is Charlie Brandley Ross who is the founder of Offset Warehouse and the Sustainable Fashion Collective.Episode Notes:Discover what led Charlier to set up her business and the challenges she faced that led her to entrepreneurship;What is the difference between "ethical" and "sustainable" fabrics and how Charlie source materials?How fabric sourcing and fashion has changed over the last decade;Why the concept of "deadstock" is no longer what it is meant to stand for and Charlie sees brands using it as a "cheap win";What does "organic" fabric really mean and how to find and source them;Sourcing unusual materials from indigenous communities and who uses such fabrics?What is the "Sustainable Fashion Collective" and how it helps designers grow their brands?How to approach sourcing online, when you cannot attend fairs or travel?Mentioned Resources:Connect with Charlie at:Website: https://www.offsetwarehouse.com/Sustainable Fashion CollectiveInstagram: @offset_warehouse/Maeve Wadge - Sourcing Sustainably for sourcing in India. About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands.Contact Method:Fashion Insiders & Coofficial website: http://fashioninsiders.co/Instagram: @fashioninsiderscoClubhouse: @fashioninsidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you.To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

What can you do if you know that the world can be your oyster and you are passionate about fashion and sustainability? In the case of our guest - Edwina Huang creating a solution to an age-old problem was the answer.As the founder of Phoenxt fabric technology company,  she turns waste fabrics into beautiful new fabrics.  Episode Notes:Discover how her passion for a more sustainable fashion future led her to think differently and how she started her business.The way in which you can recycle fashion waste and how they are different from each other;What is better - mechanical fabric recycling, chemical recycling, or biodegradable fabrics?What is Open and Closed Loop recycling and the impact it has on the newly created fabrics;Why "biodegradable" fabric is not so easy to create;What are the various types of waste generated in the fashion industry;Who is better at being sustainable - the BIG brands or the small independent fashion brands?Practical tips and Do's and Don'ts for small brands and how to be more sustainable.Mentioned Resources:Connect with Edwina at:email: Edwina.hoang@vivifytextiles.comWebsite: www.phoenxt.comInstagram: @phoenxtrecyclingFollow Phoenxt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phoenxt/Fashion for Good Platform for Fashion Sustainable InnovationAquaFill Producer of recycled nylon for sports and swimwear fashion brandsEllen Macarthur Foundation: Make fashion circularKey takeaways:Why doesn't the fashion industry recycles its own waste, like other industries? Why is incineration and sending waste to landfill or third world countries the only options available?More than 80% of used fabrics in fashion are made out of blended fibers. They cannot be handled in recycling.There are three types of waste - pre-industrial, post-industrial, and post-consumer waste.If we want to turn waste into raw material again, we need to understand what we want to make and use this material after.Brands and innovation need to find the sweet spot in order to work together.Big brands have the power to push the agenda and to influence the supply chain, but it takes them longer to implement change compared to small brands. Every brand should ask themselves: what impact do you want to create as a brand? If you want to create a BIG impact, then you need to ensure your process is scalable.About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

If you want to do a great fashion marketing job for your brand and generate more sales, no matter the economic climate - you need to know what purpose your brand and products are servicing. Why should people buy your brands' products and not a competitor? Why should they buy your brand or product right now? How would making such an unlikely choice relate to more sales for your fashion business?This and more fashion marketing tips are explained in this latest installment of the fashion Insiders & Co podcast. Mentioned Resources:Make Merry a purpose-driven brand or listen to the full interview with the founder Katie Deming MD here.Sarah Haran bag brandImprove your brand's marketing and position on the market by joining the  Strategic Brand Positioning Program created and led by Dessy (Founder of Fashion Insiders & Co) and Karolina Barnes (Editor at Estila Magazine) Key Takeaways:When you know your target audience well, as well as your product's features and benefits, marketing becomes easy and effortless. Knowing how to appeal to your buyers' needs and desires is crucial in being able to connect to them on an emotional level and compel them to take an action - aka make a purchase.People make buying choices on the basis of need or desire, price or functionality, and buy from someone they like as a person or from a brand they trust. About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

"Sometimes we are positioned to see a need that no one else is seeing" - these are the words of oncologist Katie Deming MD who turned her hand at fashion entrepreneurship in order to solve an unmet need of her clients.After years of advising her patients to not wear a bra after radiation treatment for breast cancer, she started coming up with bra hacks to help them feel comfortable post-treatment and still feel and look well. But there is only so long you can jump from hack to hack until you reach the point where you think you can find a long-er term fix. This is what prompted Katie to design and manufacture her own sensitive skin bra. Episode Notes:Listen to this riveting conversation and discover:How Katie discovered a gap in the market and found herself in the perfect place to launch her own product range?What were the first steps she took to get started?The unusual route to market she took and how that worked out for her;How she runs her brand while continuing to be a full-time practicing oncologist consultant;Her manufacturing ups and downs and lessons she's learned so far.Key Takeaways:"The whole process of bra shopping left me sick." There is a whole segment of men and women who are ignored by both the fashion and medical industries.  "It's important to have things that function well, but it is important to have things be aesthetically pleasing as well.""Your brand is everything" No matter how great your product is and even if patented, anything can be copied and there is little to no recourse for small brands. Building a solid recognizable brand is what ensures long-term business success. "If you don't have problems, you don't have production" No matter how small or large, how financially stable and secure a business can be - manufacturing is a delicate balancing act where anything at any point can go wrong. Employing commercial thinking and remaining firm but practical is the only way to keep going forward. Running out of stock is a good problem to have unless you have a time-sensitive problem. In which case, your customers, no matter how loyal, move their business to where there is product availability. Resources:Shop Katie's brand MakeMerry Connect with Katie on InstagramBusiness Tools & Resources:Fashion Manufacturing Mastery online courseStrategic Brand Positioning ProgramAbout the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

What sets successful businesses apart from the not-so-successful ones is not the money they had to begin with or the quality and the ideas they built a business upon, but their ability to identify and recover from mistakes.Episode Notes In this episode, Dessy shares the three biggest mistakes she has identified that she's made (repeatedly) over the years. They are mistakes many entrepreneurs make too and not even realize these small actions and thoughts are standing in their way.Listen to this episode and discover:- why is it important to charge for your products and services for day one of your business;- why FOCUS is the name of the game if you want to succeed;- why you should be careful of accepting "favours"and more....Key Takeaways:If you are not charging for products and services, you are not collecting valuable data.You can't ride two horses with one arse;Surround yourself with the right people, on the right operational terms. Don't major the minors. Doing business is really simple and if you are struggling then you are most likely over-complicating on every level of being and doing. About the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co

Meet Catherine Erdly - a fashion retail specialist passionate about helping creatives get comfortable with numbers. because let's face it - numbers don't lie and if you don't know your numbers - you won't be in business for the long term. Episode Notes:In the course of the conversation, the following is discussed:Why the traditional retail model was outdated and due for disruption?Are Bricks & Mortar and physical shops finished? How has the pandemic changed the retail landscape?What are the most common problems Catherine sees small independent brands struggle with?What does "success" look like for a small independent fashion brand and what KPIs should you track if you want to achieve success?What is stopping small businesses and brand owners to pay themselves? Catherine shares 4 actions you can take today in order to begin to pay yourself a salary from your business. Key Takeaways:Before you create a direction for your business, you need to choose the destination.Most people don't dream of having a business that doesn't pay them. "It's not about the price, it's about the value" - the emergence of the conscious consumer.Resources:Contact Catherine at:The Resilient Retail Club WebsiteLearn how to price your products properly, with profit in mind - Pricing for Profit MasterclassLaunch & Grow Your Fashion Brand Masterclass BundleAbout the host:Dessy is the founder of Fashion Insiders & Co - an online platform supporting fashion and creative entrepreneurs who are in the process of launching and growing purpose-driven brands. Contact Method: Fashion Insiders & Co official website: http://fashioninsiders.co/ Instagram: @fashioninsidersco Clubhouse: @fashioninsiders If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a *star* rating and a review on iTunes - it helps us get this podcast discovered by more listeners just like yourself. Thank you. To submit any questions or get in touch with topic suggestions, write to us at podcast@fashioninsiders.co