Make it British Podcast

Finding a UK manufacturer doesn't have to be a challenge!In this bonus episode, I share the recording of my recent webinar, where I break down the 5 essential steps to finding your perfect manufacturing partner.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why manufacturers don't respond to emails—and how to fix it.The biggest mistakes small businesses make when looking for a factory.How to prepare before reaching out to a manufacturer to save time and money.The 5 steps you need to follow to confidently approach the right manufacturing partner.Why finding a manufacturer isn't just about Googling names—and what to do instead.Resources & Links Mentioned:Join Get Set for Manufacturing: In just 4 weeks, learn exactly how to get your products made in the UK and find your perfect manufacturing partner.

Welcome to episode 300!Celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast I look back at some of the amazing guests that I've had on this show from the world of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Manufacturers that have shared their stories, their challenges, and their successes with us.Episodes / Manufacturers featured in this episode:Episode 102 - David Collinge | John Spencer TextilesEpisode 005 - Keith Hanshaw | The Leather Satchel CompanyEpisode 088 - Chris Woodford | Crown NorthamptonEpisode 193 - Ian Maclean | John Smedley MBEEpisode 55 - Lance Mitchell | Mitchell InterflexEpisode 113 - Ruth Masson | Harris TweedEpisode 290 - Christopher Nieper | David Nieper OBEEpisode 96 - Richard Ince | Ince UmbrellasEpisode 004 - Jo Ashburner-Farr | Red Dragon FlagmakersEpisode 254 - Chris Childs | ContradoEpisode 21 - Jenny Holloway | Fashion EnterEpisode 31 - Mick Cheema | Basic PremierEpisode 299 - A visit to Vagabond bags with Simon MichelsonEpisode 118 - David Williams | Stoll GBEpisode 203 - Saed Saleh | Mars KnitwearEpisode 060 - Diana Kakkar

Join me on a tour round a factory!In this episode I'm chatting with Simon Michelson, owner of Vagabond Bags, a sewing factory in Swindon that makes cosmetic bags, shower caps and hot water bottle covers.Meet some of the people working in the factory, hear about the jobs they do and find out how many shower hats one person can make in a day. Spoiler - it's quite a lot!HANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UKMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

I'm joined today by 3 amazing people that work tirelessly in the UK fashion and textile industry.You may have seen in the press recently that several high profile brands have been affected by the close of Matches, but did you know about the knock on affect that has had on the UK manufacturers?I also heard yesterday the sad news that the Mackintosh factory in Lancashire is closing. What the heck is going on?So I went live on Instagram with 3 special guests to discuss the topic, and this episode is your opportunity to hear the full discussion if you missed the live.My guests are:Tamara Cincik from think tank Fashion RoundtableMustafa Fuat from Gosha LondonDiana Kakkar from Maes LondonWatch the original Instagram live here

The title says it all. Listen to find out what it is!HANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UKMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

Join me on a visit to KC Manufacturing (previously Kalopsia Collective) in Dumferline, Scotland to meet with husband and wife team Adam Robertson and Nina Falk.KC Manufacturing is a social enterprise specialising in small batch manufacturing.Discover:How Adam & Nina met and ended up setting up their business.What it's like to run a factory together as husband and wife.Why 'made in Scotland' is so important.How KC Manufacturing are supporting other UK textile firms.The challenges of working with deadstock materials.Where Adam & Nina got the funding to set up their factory.How they get young people to work in the industry.About KC ManufacturingKC Manufacturing websiteEpisode 51 - Small Batch Manufacturing with Adam Robertson, Kalopsia Collective.HANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on. making in the UKMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

Regular listeners to this podcast will know that I am all about encouraging brands to manufacture locally. But in some cases, it might not make good sense to do so.In this episode I explain the 4 reasons why you might NOT want to make in the UK.Want my advice on whether your product should or could be made here? Reach out to my with a direct message on Instagram @makeitbritish hereHANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on. making in the UKMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

One of the questions that came up on one of our recent British Brand Accelerator group coaching calls was so good, I thought I'd bring it to you on the podcast this week.The question was about whether a small business that makes in the UK should be offering a discount when someone opts in to their newsletter, and whether this strategy works.It opened a whole discussion amongst the group about the pros and cons of discounting and other ideas for getting potential customers to sign up to your newsletter.So if you are wondering the same thing about discounting, this episode is for you!Sign up the the British Brand Accelerator waitlist here - www.makeitbritish.co.uk/waitlist

This week I'm bringing some very sad news - that the UK's only cotton spinning mill, English Fine Cottons, which brought cotton spinning back to Greater Manchester in 2018, has very sadly gone into administration.In case you don't know about the history of English Fine Cottons, it was set up by the technical textile spinners Culimeta-Saveguard, who invested £4.8m of its own money, £2m of which was a loan from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to regenerate a former Victorian cotton mill and install new technology to create luxury yarn. A further £1m was awarded as a grant by the N Brown Textile Growth Programme.English Fine Cottons was the start of something very exciting in UK manufacturing, and for this to have happened is tragic. The collapse into administration is caused by the parent group Culimeta-Saveguard going down, and unfortunately that has taken the cotton spinning down with it. Something needs to be done to save our only cotton spinning mill, otherwise this is history repeating itself.So today's episode is a remastered version of a visit that I did to English Fine Cottons in 2019, along with an interview with Andy Ogden, who was the general manager at the time.

Today's guests are Andrea and David Courtney from Courtney & Co buttonmakersBack in 2012 I was contacted by someone who was trying to save the UK's last remaining horn button maker - Grove & Sons. He was looking for investors to buy up the machinery and pattern books from the business so that the art of natural button making in the UK was not lost.Well it turns out that the investor that this guy eventually found was someone called David Courtney, who saw an ad to buy the machinery and patterns, and decided that he wanted to help.But things are never as easy as the seem, and this initial investment took David Courtney down a very long and winding path to bring button making back to the UK.Over a decade later and David Courtney now has an amazing button-making factory in the Cotswolds, with state of the art machinery, producing buttons from 3 different types of materials. He's also enlisted his lovely wife Andrea to head the factory up, and they now supply the most beautiful buttons to brands and designers wanting an authentic UK-made button, still made using the original patterns that David saved from Grove & Sons.This interview was recorded onsite in their factory in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, and Andrea and David recount the full tale of how Courtney & Co buttons got to where they are today.About Courtney & CoCourtney & Co WebsiteCourtney & Co on InstagramFURTHER RESOURCESQuiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory? HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

This episode celebrates 15 years since I registered the domain makeitbritish.co.uk and busts some of the myths about UK manufacturing.You'll find out:Why I started Make it British and why I'm such a firm believer in UK manufacturing.The current UK manufacturing landscape.How the UK fashion and textile industry is made up of 1,000s of micro factories.How many garment factories there really are in the UK.The benefits of making in the UK.And why supply on demand is best done locally.To see the video recording of this talk, go to makeitbritish.co.uk/microfactoriesWant to work together? Fill in this form so I can find out more about your business goals, and I'll get back to you with ways I can help.FURTHER RESOURCESQuiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory? HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper, a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire. The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK. Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already prints all their own catalogues and produce their own knitwear in house, alongside the garment production.In this episode you can hear about the research Christopher commissioned from Nottingham university looking at the greenhouse gas emissions produced to make clothing at the David Nieper factory in Derbyshire. The study then compared these findings to the emissions produced by making garments in China, Turkey and Bangladesh and then shipping them to the UK. It makes for very interesting insights into how making in the UK can be quantified as more sustainable. A big advocate for slow fashion, Christopher has also found that his customers keep and wear his clothes 10 times longer than average. Listen to this episode to discover: How the David Nieper factory uses 'just-in-time' manufacturing to achieve a 98% sell-through on their garmentsChristopher's plans to make the David Nieper factory the greenest factory in Europe, recovering the heat generated by the factory to use as renewable energyHow he's changing the attitudes of young people in his local town by giving them a taste of what it's like inside a real manufacturing environmentThe charity that the business has set up to help rebuild a local secondary school that was in the bottom 2% of schools in the UK and make it over-subscribed for the first time in 30 yearsChristopher's idea for a labelling scheme for clothing that ranks the environmental sustainability of every garmentThis episode is the recording of a talk that Christopher did at Make it British Live! Online event in October 2020.About David NieperWatch my Instagram reel showing behind the scenes at the David Nieper factory.David Nieper website Stay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brandMake it British website

In this episode of the Make it British podcast, Karen McCluckie, the director of Bealies Adaptive Wear, shares her inspiring journey of creating adaptive clothing for wheelchair users and disabled individuals.Motivated by her son's disability and the lack of suitable clothing options in the market, Karen embarked on a mission to design stylish and functional joggers tailored to the needs of wheelchair users. From the initial idea to overcoming challenges and securing funding, Karen discusses the process of bringing her innovative designs to the market while juggling her role as a social worker.With a commitment to UK manufacturing and a vision for expanding her product range, Karen's story highlights the power of innovation and determination in creating inclusive fashion solutions.About Caron McCluckieCaron on LinkedinBealies Adaptivewear Website

This week I've been in the Midlands visiting factories, which is always one of my favourite things to do.I'd planned to take my podcast mic with me and get an episode to you today with an interview with one of the manufacturers, but sadly I was in such a rush when I set off early Sunday morning that I left my mic behind!So on today's episode instead I'm discussing one of the amazing factories I went to see, and also sharing a recording from the archives - which is to encourage you to get out there and visit factories yourself!

Today's episode is all about selling and sales, and how it's closely linked to product development.A lot of creative business owners say that they aren't any good at selling, so the natural tendency is to drop their prices or default back to making more products.I'm going to give you a different way of looking at sales, so that selling doesn't make you feel like a used car salesman.

Hear from 21 business founders as they give their tips on starting and growing a British-made brand.These snippets were taken from 21 different guest interviews on this podcast.If you want to listen to the full episodes you can find them as follows:Ep.142 Julie Deane, Cambridge Satchel Company Ep.076 Jack Millington, Billy TanneryEp.143 Kath Whitworth, Celtic & CoEp. 41 Paul Smithers, Halycon BlueEp 179 Rebecca J MillsEp 171 Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior, Usual ObjectionsEp 23 Sian Reekie, Hettie CoEp 78 Katie Walker FurnitureEp 27 Matt Booth, Both BarrellsEp 139 Rachael Attwood, BritannicalEp 108 Steff McGrath, Something WickedEp 82 Joel, Chudleigh, Made to LastEp 96 Richard Ince, James Ince & Sons UmbrellasEp 120 Emma WillisEp 39 Genevieve SweeneyEp 129 Samanth Brooke, Waring BrookeEp 88 Chris Woodford, Crown NorthamptonEp 141

On today's episode I'm chatting with Catherine Bedford, founder of Dashel Cycle HelmetsCatherine had the idea for an innovative and stylish cycle helmet whilst watching the London 2012 Olympics. She set about creating her vision, and it took 5 years to develop and launch the Dashel helmet. All Dashel helmets are made in the UK, and in this episode Catherine talks about:How she set about developing a new and innovative product.How she found factories to then make the helmetsSome of the safety testing that bike helmets have to go through. How she got PR and found stockists when she first launched.How she got her first stockists.And how the bike industry has been affected by Brexit.Mentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Welcome to Episode no.284!Circularity is the buzzword on everyone's lips right now. It's no wonder, when you hear that 350,000 tonnes of clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year. Something needs to be done to stop the mass-consumption that the UK in particularly seems to be pretty bad at!The United Repair Centre, a collaboration between outdoor brand Patagonia, social enterprise Makers Unite, and the Amsterdam Economic Board, is a much needed resource for the clothing industry. And they've opened one up in London!On this episode I chat with one of the United Repair Centre co-founders, Thami Schweichler.We chat about how the URC repair process has combined technology with sewing skills to make repair and circularity available to all, and how any brand can get involved in offering a repair service to their customers.ABOUT UNITED REPAIR CENTREUnited Repair Centre WebsiteUnited Repair Centre InstagramThami Schweichler LinkedinHANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - My mentoring programmeKate's Sunday Journal - My newsletterMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramMentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Today's guest is Lydia Bolton, a slow fashion designer tackling textile waste by upcycling unwanted fabrics and garments and turning them into one-off pieces.As well as having her own label, Lydia also teaches others how to upcycle with workshops that she runs and in her partnerships with big brands such as Lidl, Nike, Adidas and Lime bikes.We chat about:How Lydia started out in fashion and textiles and where she learnt to sew.The challenges of upcycling and making one-off pieces.Where she sources her raw materials from and how deadstock can be a misleading term.Her decision to only rent and not sell her garments going forward.How she collaborates with big brands to spread the word about upcycling.How she is teaching people to sew with her upcycling workshops.ABOUT LYDIA BOLTONLydia's WebsiteLydia on InstagramHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagram

How to find fabrics, leathers and other raw materials for your brand, and avoid the most common mistake that many people make when sourcing fabric.FURTHER RESOURCESUK Fabric Mills on the Make it British websiteHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Sampling with UK manufacturers can be quite a different ball game to sampling with manufacturers overseas. Here's why you might not want to sample with lots of different factories.FURTHER RESOURCESQuiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory? HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Tempted to skip this step? Find out why that might be a bad idea, and how having a tech pack can save you money in the long run.FURTHER RESOURCESTech Pack BundleQuiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory? HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

A Non Disclosure Agreement is a legal document you might ask a manufacturer to sign in order to protect your designs. Find out what the pros and cons are of asking a manufacturer to sign an NDA, and what the alternatives are.FURTHER RESOURCESHow to find a UK manufacturerHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

What are the secrets to getting a response from a manufacturer when you reach out to them? I explain how to word your approach and why you might not be getting a response.FURTHER RESOURCESHow to get manufacturers to respond to your emailsHow to find a UK manufacturerWhy manufacturers aren't getting back to your emailsHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

What are the main costs that you will incur to start a brand, and how can you save money by making your product in the UK?FURTHER RESOURCES25 Hidden Costs of Starting a BrandHow Much Does it Cost to Start a UK-Made Fashion Brand?How to Start a UK Made Brand HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Discover the best ways to the ideal UK manufacturers for your brand, and how to ensure that they get back to you every time.FURTHER RESOURCESMake it British Manufacturer Directory5 Steps to Finding a UK ManufacturerHow to Start a UK Made BrandHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

You might think that having the factory source your fabric for you sounds like the easiest option, but that's not always the case.In this episode I explain what your options are when it comes to fabric sourcing, and why many UK clothing manufacturers operate on what is known as a CMT basis.FURTHER RESOURCESCMT or Full Service Manufacturer: What's the difference?5 Steps to Finding a UK ManufacturerHow to Start a UK Made BrandHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Find out how long on average it might take to launch a brand and what the main variables are that will affect it.FURTHER RESOURCES5 Steps to Finding a UK ManufacturerHow to Start a UK Made BrandHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Discover the essential steps to turn your idea into a successful prototype.Get practical advice on how to bring your concept to life efficiently and cost-effectively and how to common pitfalls.FURTHER RESOURCES5 Steps to Finding a UK ManufacturerHow to Start a UK Made BrandHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Welcome to Episode 272 of the Make it British PodcastStarting off the new year with something a bit different. This episode explains everything.Looking out for my special FAQ series, starting on Monday 7th January.HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Hello and Welcome to Episode 271!As 2023 draws to a close, and for my last podcast episode of the year, I reflect back on the 3 biggest lessons that I've learnt this year.I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has listened to this podcast over the last 12 months. I cannot believe I am now at episode 271!The Make it British Podcast will be back on 5th January 2024.See you then!MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEPlan Your Year - My annual planning workshop is the one thing you need to get your vision, goals, projects and tasks mapped out for 2024.British Brand Accelerator - The best way to work with me in 2024. Apply now!Reels Rockstars - The Instagram Reels course that I took that I highly recommend if you want to up your Instagram marketing next year.HANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Welcome to episode 270!In this episode I'm chatting with the fascinating Mark Shayler about all things sustainability.Mark is the author of You Can't Make Money From a Dead Planet, he consults with businesses big and small to help them do better when it comes to their environmental footprint, and he is one of the co founders of Reasons to be Cheerful, a platform for spreading good cheer and hope in a world that can sometimes feel bereft of both. We discuss the environmental cost per wear of a garment; why wool is such a great fibre; which is better - recycled polyester versus cotton ( the answer may surprise you); and what other fibres we could be growing in the UK to be more regenerative.

Hello and welcome to episode 269 of the Make it British podcast!At the time of recording this we are just a month away from the start of 2024, and that can only mean one thing - time to start planning!If that idea fills you with dread, because you are a 'wing it and see' type of person, maybe next year needs to start a little differently.In this episode I give you tips on how to stop winging it and start planning.And if you need someone to hold you accountable to making that plan, I have an offer for you.I am hosting my ever-popular online planning party very soon. It's my Plan Your Year workshop, and you're invited!In this pre-Christmas online workshop, we'll get goals set, projects planned and tasks mapped out for your coming year.I'll be showing you how to make planning easy and fun, and you'll walk away with a completed plan of action for the coming year.Sound good?If you want to join us, you can secure your spot by going to makeitbritish.co.uk/planyouryearEveryone with a ticket will also receive the recording and a special workbook.RESOURCES MENTIONEDPlan Your Year - My Online Planning PartyMentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Welcome to Episode 268 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode, I am joined by Laura Ward, founder of the luxury British tennis brand Exeat.Exeat is the UK's most exported luxury tennis apparel brand, and Laura herself is the winner of many awards, including Global Startup of the Year. She's also one of the government's UK export champions, and the brand has been feature in Vogue, Forbes, The Financial Times, and Vanity Fair.In this episode, she's going to give you tips on how to export your brand globally and how she's managed to get such amazing press in such a short space of time.ABOUT EXEATExeat WebsiteExeat InstagramRESOURCES MENTIONEDUK Export AcademyCiment PleatingMade in the UK, Sold to the World HANDY LINKSBritish Brand Accelerator - Apply now to work with me to launch or grow your British-made brand.UK Manufacturers ListMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This PodcastMentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Welcome to episode 267 of the Make It British Podcast!In this episode, I share my recent experiences at the All Party Parliamentary Group for ethics and sustainability in fashion at the Houses of Parliament, organised by Fashion Roundtable.You can hear the full speech that I gave on the importance of localism, transparency, and ethical practices in the fashion industry. In which I highlighted the challenges faced by UK manufacturers, the need for skilled workers, and the potential for a thriving local manufacturing supply chain.You'll gain insight into the current British manufacturing landscape and discover how small businesses are leading the way in ethical and sustainable production.The meeting was chaired by John McNally MP and the secretariat for the APPG is Fashion Roundtable, led by Tamara Cincik.The other speakers were:Mary Creagh CBE - Chair of the Ethical Trading Initiative, Former MP and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee.Patrick Grant - Founder of Community Clothing and presenter on The Great British Sewing Bee.Professor Dilys Williams - Fashion Roundtable Board Member and Director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion.Sam Ludlow-Taylor - Head of Human Rights at John Lewis.Anna Bryher - Policy Lead at Labour Behind the LabelWatch the Speech on YouTube hereHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This PodcastMentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Welcome to Episode 266 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode I discuss how and why investing in your own personal development can dramatically transform your business. I share insights from my own personal development journey and provide valuable advice on how investing in yourself can make a massive difference to your business growth.We'll explore the risks of not investing in yourself, and the importance of matching your personal development with your business goals. Plus, I'll share some practical tips on how to make time for self-investment, even if you are super-busy.HANDY LINKSWork With MeBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This PodcastMentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Welcome to Episode 265 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode I'm chatting with Pip Chawner, who is the founder of womenswear brand Philippa London. Pip has got some fantastic tips to share about her experiences of setting up her brand; some of the challenges she's had along the way, including a bit of a tricky experience with a manufacturer in India; and how she has had great success selling her products at pop-ups and live events. So if you've ever thought about doing a live event, but you're a little bit nervous about how to do it and how to sell at these events, then Pip has got some great advice for you. ABOUT PIP CHAWNERPip Chawner is the founder of Philippa London, a luxury brand, sustainably and ethically sourced within the UK.Pip previously worked for many years in sourcing and production for Nichole Farhi, French Connection and Gap Inc in London and San Francisco. Philippa London WebsitePhilippa London on InstagramHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This PodcastMentioned in this episode:British Brand Accelerator

Welcome to Episode 264 of the Make it British Podcast!What are the red flags to watch out for when searching for a manufacturer, particularly if you're starting your search on Google or another search engine?From misleading claims of being a UK manufacturer to refusing to sign NDAs and the importance of visiting the factory floor. In this episode I provide valuable tips on how to spot these red flags and avoid potential pitfalls.So join me as I uncover the secrets to finding a reliable manufacturer for your product, here on the Make it British Podcast!RESOURCES MENTIONEDChecklist: 12 Questions to Ask a UK ManufacturerHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Welcome to Episode 263 of the Make it British Podcast!Today I'm chatting to Clare Winton from Grow Wild Outdoorwear, a new brand for women in pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood.Clare had the idea to develop her maternity brand three years ago, and started, as many start-ups do, by searching Google to find a manufacturer. This led her to a frustrating two years trying to develop her collection in China.She then stumbled across Make it British, and I introduced her to factories in the UK who she's been partnering with ever since.Clare provides valuable advice on conducting customer research, navigating the challenges of garment production and the importance of face-to-face interactions with your manufacturer.ABOUT CLARE WINTONClare Winton is the founder of Grow Wild Outdoorwear, a range of outdoor clothing and accessories for pregnancy and early motherhood.After a semi-feral childhood growing up in West Ireland, she now lives in wild West Wales. She has spent 15 years working as a Quality Assurance Auditor, has a PhD in population genetics and is a volunteer trained Samaritans "Listener". Her outdoor passions include exploring local mountains and camping with her family.Grow Wild Outdoorwear websiteGrow Wild Outdoorwear on InstagramHANDY LINKSBritish Brand AcceleratorMake it British WebsiteYouTubeInstagramRate This Podcast

Welcome to episode 262 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode, l explore the factors that go into setting the perfect price, from understanding your customer and competitors to considering the cost of alternatives.Join me as we unravel the secrets behind pricing strategies for product-based businesses that make in the UK. Get ready to gain invaluable insights and advice to help you nail your pricing for once and for all!HANDY LINKS

Welcome to episode 261 of the Make It British Podcast!In this episode, you get the lowdown on why I ended up taking a 6 month break from podcasting. And why I've decided to make some big changes in my business.There's also some valuable advice on knowing when it's time to make changes in your own business, and the questions you need to ask yourself before you do so.HANDY LINKS

Hello and welcome to Series 6 of the Make it British podcast. After a 6 month break the Make it British Podcast is coming back! The first episode will be released on Friday 6th October 2023.I have so much to fill you in on! Thanks to everyone that has requested more podcast episodes. It wasn't until I stopped doing them that I truly realised how much everyone loved and missed them.A lot has changed at Make it British since I last recorded an episode of the podcast. And it's been so long since I recorded one that I almost forgot how to do it! But I've dusted the old mic off and will be bringing you an episode weekly (usually on a Friday) for the foreseeable future.In the new series I'll be sharing tons of tips and advice for making in the UK, and getting into the nitty gritty of running a small business that is made in Britain. With lots of special guests who have been there, done it and are wearing the British-made T-shirt to prove it!You'll also hear from UK manufacturers in the fashion and textile sector and there'll also be a few surprise guests from other sectors sharing useful advice that I think you'll want to hear.Some of the episodes will also be recorded as videos and shared on my YouTube channel.So if you want to make sure that you don't miss an episode, subscribe to the Make it British podcast in your favourite podcast app and also over on YouTube.In the meantime, you can find a whole back catalogue of over 260 episodes of this podcast on my website at makeitbritish.co.uk/podcast or in the app that you are listening to this in now.And if you want to contact me about anything you hear on the podcast please drop me an email to kate@katehills.me that way your message will go into my VIP folder.Thank you so much for listening to this little trailer. And I look forward to bringing you series 6 of the Make it British podcast!www.makeitbritish.co.uk

In this episode I discuss some of the hidden costs of manufacturing, and offer tips on how to avoid them.Whether you're starting a new brand, or growing an existing one, there's typically five common areas where costs can spiral out of control, but the good thing is, they are all easily avoidable.Topics covered in this episode:The five hidden costs in UK manufacturing and how to avoid themHow you can minimise sample costsWhy it's easy to overspend on raw materialsHow to avoid buying too much stockWhy making in the UK eliminates some of your logistics costsResources mentioned in this episode25 Hidden Costs of Starting a BrandEnjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called ‘British Brand Bedrock'.The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock podcast hereStay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator – My group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture clothing, accessories and homeware in the UK.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British – become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube – subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

In this episode I'm joined by Tamara Cincik, founder of think tank Fashion Roundtable to discuss the impact of Brexit on small UK textile businesses. We delve into the challenges of supporting and promoting heritage brands, the need for trade associations to refocus their agendas, and the importance of heritage manufacturing in the textile industry. The conversation includes a discussion of the plight of Cluny Lace, the last manufacturer of Nottingham lace in England, and the negative impact of Brexit on small businesses. Topics covered in this episode:The challenges facing heritage manufacturers like Cluny laceImpact of Brexit on small businesses in the UK textile industryThe role of trade associations in the fashion industry Importance of traditional skills and machineryAbout Tamara Cincik and Fashion RoundtableTamara Cincik is the founder of Fashion Roundtable, an industry think tank established in 2017. With a background in the fashion industry as a stylist and editor, she founded Fashion Roundtable to give the fashion industry a voice in politics. With a British-Turkish background , Tamara has a strong connection to textiles and fashion through her family heritage. Fashion Roundtable is the secretariat for the All Party parliamentary group for ethics and sustainability and fashion and Cincik is an advocate for change in the political landscape to benefit the fashion industry as a whole. Fashion Roundtable WebsiteStay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator – A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British – become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube – subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called ‘British Brand Bedrock'.The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here

We get a lot of people contacting us at Make it British asking if we can put them in touch with a sustainable or ethical factory to make their brand. So in this episode I define ways in which a factory might meet this criteria.I also talk about the launch of Primark's new circular denim collection, which has had mixed reviews in the media, with many thinking it is greenwashing and an insult to small brands that are genuinely doing the right thing.You can read some of the comments about the Primark collection on my Instagram Post here and on the chief exec of Primark's LinkedIn Post here.In this episode you'll learn:Why we need to question whether fast fashion brands like Primark are heading in the right direction or just greenwashing [01:10]How do you define ethical? [04:10]The types of questions you need to ask a manufacturer [04:53]What is an audit and which ones should you check a factory has? [08:16]Should you work with a factory which doesn't have an audit? [10:26]Stay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here

24th April 2023 marks the ten year anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,000 workers and injured 2,500 more.To mark the occasion, I look back on this episode of the podcast with Dominique Muller from Labour Behind the Label, in which we discuss the issues around fast fashion, and what effect it has had on the Leicester textile industry.You'll learn:Who Labour Behind the Label are and how the organisation came about [02:37]Why the organisation is focusing on the UK garment industry in particular [04:16]The reasons why Boohoo has been singled out in the report written by Labour Behind the Label [07:07]What local councils and other authorities can do to stop unethical factories [09:55]The worst discoveries that Labour Behind the Labour made when they looked into how garment workers were treated during the pandemic [13:36]Dominque's thoughts on how the good manufacturers in Leicester would benefit from brands returning to the city [15:58]The work Labour Behind the Label does to educate brands and retailers on how to make sure their production is ethical [18:26]What distinguishes a brand or retailer that is ethical to its workers [20:05]What the consumer can do to make sure they aren't funding unethical practices and companies [24:52]Why brands should be more transparent about where their products are made [27:31]What the government could be doing better in terms of positive changes being made in the fashion industry [30:27]How people can support Labour Behind the Label [38:34]About Labour Behind the LabelLabour behind the LabelBoohoo & Covid 19 – The people behind the profitsClean Clothes Campaign – improving working conditions in the global garment industryFashion Checker – find out if the brands you buy from are paying their factory workers a living wageWhy we need transparent supply chainsStay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock...

Do you know what the no.1 reason is that product businesses fail? It's not legal problems, it's not finance problems, it's not even marketing problems. In this episode, you'll find out what it is, and how to avoid it.You'll learn:Why everything starts with the customer [03:47]The reasons why getting your target customer right will help your business [06:09]How knowing your ideal customer can help to develop a good partnership with a UK manufacturer [08:01]Stay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here

Download my Selling Price > Profit Calculator that goes with this episode here.Recently Bentley Motors announced their financial results for 2022, which revealed they'd had their best year ever. This is a luxury car brand, made in the UK, having a phenomenal year during a cost of living crisis.In this episode I discuss what small business can learn from Bentley's recent success, especially when it comes to price positioning.You'll learn:Why Bentley Motors had a phenomenal year in 2022 [01:48]What you need to calculate before you discount your prices. [03:21]Why profit is vanity and turnover is sanity. [05:37]Two valuable lessons you can learn from Bentley's pricing strategy. [06:28]Read the Bentley Motors financial results for 2022 here.

If you love factories, then today I have a little treat for you, as we are going on a factory tour with Contrado, who are a print on demand company.Contrado are a truly impressive UK manufacturer. They not only print fabric, leather and other surfaces like glass and pottery, in their huge facility in West London, but they also stitch bags, clothing and accessories from their printed fabrics, and even make furniture as well.Listen in on my tour around the factory with Chris Childs, co-founder of Contrado, and then a deep-dive into the story behind the business and where he sees the future of uk manufacturing going.You'll learn:What kind of capabilities the Contrado factory has in order to keep up with customer demand [02:44]How a small business could utilise Contrado's low MOQ's to test out different product types [05:51]How Chris and his wife Fran started the business from humble beginnings [10:05]Why technology plays such a big part in the business [15:14]How Chris manages his skilled workforce to create over 500 different products [18:10] What systems Contrado has in place to guarantee happy customers [22:34]How the business has tapped into multiple international markets [27:11]Where Chris sees the business going in the next 20 years [32:46]More from ContradoContrado on InstagramContrado WebsiteBags of Love WebsiteStay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

When you run a UK-made brand you need to wear a lot of different hats!In this episode we explore all of the different jobs you need to do and the skills you need to have, on top of producing fantastic products.You'll learn:Why being the chief executive officer of your business is your first title [03:08]How managing marketing content plays a vital role in running a business [05:47]Why you need to be in control of your production and why you can't rely on manufacturers to do this for you [07:01]How managing your finances can make or break your business [08:35]What role plays a crucial part in determining your environmental impact [12:25]How to decide which of these jobs you might outsource first [15:22]Stay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

On today's episode I am chatting to Maxine Wells, who is the founder of Intimate Apparel Samples, a small lingerie studio in North West London.Getting lingerie made in the UK can be challenging. Whilst the UK once had thousands of machinists making underwear for the likes of Marks & Spencers, sadly there are only now only a handful of lingerie manufacturers left in the UK.I took a trip to Brent Cross where Intimate Apparel Samples is based to ask Maxine why there aren't more lingerie manufacturers in the UK and the benefits of having a great relationship with your manufacturer.You'll learn:How Maxine set up Intimate Apparel Samples after she had her own lingerie brand [03:14]Why Maxine believes there is such a lack of lingerie and swimwear manufacturers in the UK [05:30]The main pitfalls when it comes to making lingerie, and Maxine's advice for how to avoid them [09:49]Why having a great relationship with your manufacturer is so important [12:43]How Maxine ensures she gets the fit right for her clients [14:49]Why Maxine enjoys meeting the clients she works with to build a working relationship [23:40]More from Intimate Apparel SamplesIntimate Apparel Samples on InstagramIntimate Apparel Samples WebsiteStay in TouchBritish Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.Make it British websiteJoin Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturersMake it British on InstagramMake it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.