The Designer CEO Podcast

So you want to sell your fashion brand online, do you?You've got the brand vision, your designs are in the works, and now it's time to build that website so you can start selling online. Just add your logo, a quick About page, a few images of your soon to be styles, and watch the sales start rolling in. It's that easy, right?Wrong!There's so much to think about before you even start building your website or selling your fashion brand and designs online. If you want to reach your dream customers and maximize your sales potential there are a few key elements to consider before you take any additional steps (or any further financial investment) forward. Whether you decide to DIY your website yourself or with the help of a professional, you won't want to miss this episode. I'm chatting with Laura Huebner - Founder of Dotted Design, a brand and website graphic design studio for small businesses and creative entrepreneurs. Passionate about helping brands create branding & web design to make their businesses thrive, Laura believes in simplicity, sophistication, and storytelling to help her client's connect with their ideal audience. She has been designing for more than ten years and has worked with many fashion businesses, helping them to create e-commerce sites that both share their brand stories and always with the end customer and experience in mind. Laura is talking about a few of her absolute must do's that every Designer CEO & fashion brand needs to consider before launching your very own e-commerce site. She's sharing her expertise and tons of tips and recommendations just for Designer CEOS to make the most of your site before you even begin to build it. Join us for today's episode, "5 Things You Must Do Before Selling Online with Laura Huebner".

Is your fashion brand ready to not just survive this holiday season, but thrive? Is your inventory prepped to drive those sales while still maintaining a healthy profit margin?    We are quickly approaching the holiday timeframe and all the craziness that comes with it. You've been planning your marketing and advertising strategies for weeks, have got your e-commerce site all ready to go, and are laser focused on delivering the best customer service to drive those sales. You've got a full plan in place and are ready for those fantastic seasonal sales lifts... fast forward to the first week of December and you suddenly realize that you are running out of stock on some of your best selling styles and won't be able to get back into them until after the holidays. Now you have to quickly revamp your marketing over the next few weeks bc you featured the styles you are running out of, you have a handful of orders you can't fulfill and a bunch of disappointed customers, AND you just realized that you probably won't make your holiday sales goals. Sounds like a nightmare doesn't it?Well the good news is that this scenario is all absolutely avoidable with a bit of inventory strategy. It may not be the sexiest topic but it is definitely one of the most important and relevant topics for your fashion business as we approach the holiday season. So I'm talking all about inventory management - sharing why inventory management is so important to your business, exactly what you need to do to prep your inventory to ensure you have what you need for the upcoming holiday season, tips for finding that “sweet spot” with your inventory, and how to make sure that your inventory is ready to both drive sales AND maintain a healthy profit margin in this episode, “How To Prep Your Fashion Brand's Inventory For The Holiday Season”.

Are you blogging yet for your fashion brand?A blog strategy is one of the best ways to create brand awareness and in time will generate sales for your fashion business. Blogging increases your search engine optimization, improves conversion rates, and supports content through additional channels like your social media or email strategy. Not to mention it also humanizes your fashion brand, is a fantastic strategy to niche down and reach your dream customer, and strengthens your relationships with new and returning customers.In fact did you know??Companies who blog receive 97% more links to their website.95.9% of bloggers promote their blog posts via social media.57% of marketers say they've gained customers specifically through blogging.60% of consumers feel engaged/positive with a brand or company after reading custom content on their blogOften the hesitancy to commit to “another” thing as a Designer CEO and independent brand owner can feel overwhelming but it doesn't have to be. This week's episode I'm chatting with Kristin George - Founder of Dotted Comma, a copywriting and content specializing in creating connections and co founder of The Edit Effect, tools to help small businesses simplify content, copy planning, and creation. She is a professional copywriter whose niche is working with female owned small businesses and is a big believer in the power of blogging for fashion businesses. We are talking all about all things blogging including why it's one of the best marketing strategies out there for fashion brands, why you should consider blogging for your fashion business, how to create a blog strategy that will resonate with your dream customers, where to promote your blog to create brand awareness, and tons of tips for getting your blog started. Join us for this episode, “Blogging for Beginners - For Fashion Brands, with Kristin George”.

It may seem like the fall season is just getting started, but that means the holidays are quickly approaching.  Are you and your fashion brand ready for the holidays? Do you have a strategy and plan in place to fully maximize all your sales and profits? Have you created a product, merchandising, and marketing strategy that will make your brand standout amongst ALL the competition? How will you make this holiday your best yet?The upcoming months are very significant for many fashion brands and are often the difference between making or breaking annual numbers and sales goals. In fact, depending on your brand niche, the holiday timeframe could represent approximately 20-30% of sales for many brand owners, and this year will be no exception. With so much at stake, it's no surprise that the holidays are often a very stressful time for many Designer CEOs. But the holidays don't have to be overwhelming or anxiety inducing -- IF you begin before things get too crazy and hectic. Instead of missing out on potential sales because you're scrambling to keep up, set yourself up for success by getting your brand in order and ready for the holiday timeframe NOW. It's time to make sure you have strategies in place to not just survive the holiday but THRIVE during this crucial time of year. With a bit of planning and strategy, you'll be organized and ready just in time to start seeing those orders rolling in and make this holiday your best season yet. I'm sharing a holiday roundup or my final must-do's, along with a few creative ideas that you can still implement before the holidays are here to make sure you are primed and ready for your best season yet in today's episode, “How to be Holiday Ready - For Fashion Brands”.

Not sure how to get started with your fashion brand's business plan? Or scarier yet securing that financing or a business loan? (gulp)On today's episode I'm chatting with Bako Rambini  - former finance expert turned fashion brand strategist and Founder of Fashion Cross Functional. She's an entrepreneur, an author, a lecturer, and truly passionate about fashion and brands. Bako and I met on where else but Instagram and quickly connected. We planned our first international chat (from Milwaukee to Paris -- thank you Zoom!), during which we quickly realized our many common business philosophies as well as our shared love of helping entrepreneurs successfully launch and grow their fashion brands. After working in the finance and banking industries, Bako knows what it takes to write a strong business plan for your fashion brand and the significance it has on your business's future partnerships and success. Her experience offers a unique perspective and understanding of what bankers and investors are looking for when they consider funding and loans for fashion brand and she has in-depth knowledge of what you can expect as you prepare for your upcoming meeting. Between her expertise of the banking industry and her passion for fashion she knows how to bridge the gap between Designer CEOs and financiers. Join Bako and I as we break down the “myth of numbers” for Designer CEOs and how to overcome those fears that often come with “facts and figures”, share the importance of having a business plan and how to get started creating your very own, and pull back the curtain on what you need to know about securing financing for your fashion business in this episode, “Business Loan Basics for Fashion Brands”.

Do you trust yourself to make good decisions for your fashion business? Are you confident in all the decisions you make each and every day? Yes, of course you are trying to make the best decision possible for your fashion business and its growth. You've been dreaming about your business since what feels like forever, you've invested time and money into your fashion brand, and you want it to work. You believe in your brand and know that you are doing your very best to make great decisions for your business, but every so often you hear THAT voice. You know what I mean...that nagging voice in your head that challenges the decisions you are making for your brand. From the designs of your upcoming collections, you next big marketing campaign, or future business investments that you JUST KNOW will lead to more sales growth - you hear it. Sometimes it's a faint murmur and other times it seems like it's shouting at you - double guessing your decisions and causing endless self-doubt.  It's a constant struggle to know if you've made the right decision for your fashion brand and business and why wouldn't it be? As a startup fashion brand, and often a one person show, the expectation to know - and perfect - every area of your business is a lot of pressure for anyone to take on and it often feels overwhelmingSo what do you do when that self-doubt really starts taking its toll and makes it difficult to manage your fashion brand effectively like the Designer CEO you know you are? How do you get back to leading like a boss when it breaks down your confidence and your ability to trust yourself?Join me today for a little real talk about what it means to trust yourself, why so many fashionpreneurs struggle with self-doubt, and tips to get back on track to lead with confidence in today's episode, “Trusting Yourself To Know What's Right For Your Fashion Business”.  

I'm so excited to be chatting with Sara Meadows - Founder of Match Point Consultants, a copywriting and content strategy boutique and co founder of The Edit Effect, which are tools to help small businesses simplify content, copy planning, and creation. For 17 years, Sara has teamed up with businesses to create copy that drives action and awareness. From marketing to internal communications to public relations, she has tons of experience to turn ideas into words that make an impact. She's worked with large Fortune 500 businesses, helping them cut through the clutter as well as small businesses make their debut. She is passionate about helping other female entrepreneurs grow their businesses and after working with small business owners, and being one herself, she was inspired her to launch her newest business partnership - The Edit Effect. Entrepreneurs have limited resources and busy family lives and The Edit Effect offers tools to help you plan, create and simplify your content and copy, with the foundational belief that less can actually be more and quality is always better than quantity.Sara and I met over the summer and quickly realized that not only do we share a name and live in the same neighborhood but we both love helping small business owners bring their visions to life. Sara's robust experience in communications, marketing, and social media is bar none and I was absolutely delighted when she agreed to be a guest on The Designer CEO Podcast and share her perspective and business tips specifically for Designer CEOs. Join us as Sara shares advice for creating your content strategy, the most common mistakes she sees fashion brands making as they are just getting started, time management tips so content planning doesn't take over your life, and the important role YOU play in sharing the story of your brand in this episode “Getting Started With Your Content Strategy with Sara Meadows".

This episode I am chatting with fellow ladypreneur, nature lover, and spirited soul - Katherine Gramann - Designer CEO of Lake Effect Co.Katherine and I met about a year and a half ago and we quickly connected over our mutual love of retail and the great outdoors. As she told me Lake Effect Co. and her own entrepreneurial journey of where the brand has been and where she hopes to take it I was struck by how she weaves her passion for lake living into her brand, creating a community and authentic customer connections. After growing up in the Lake Country area, just 30 miles west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Katherine successfully launched her very own lifestyle brand Lake Effect Co. - a retail brand and blog that encourages you to connect with the beauty and adventure of nature, through time by the water. Lake Effect Co. is not only where to buy items that embody your lake life love, it's also a community to connect with others who feel similarly through their blog, social channels, and in-person events.Katherine is the epitome and manifestation of her brand. She lives and breathes for lake living and has created a brand where she is often her own core customer. She follows her intuition and own experiences to develop creative and relevant brand strategies including seasonal pop up shops and other curated events that will not only resonate with her customer base but also continue to deepen her connection to her customers. Join Katherine and I as she shares her journey and experiences as an entrepreneur, how she listens to her intuition to make strategic decisions, and fearlessly forges new opportunities as she leads her brand like a boss in today's episode: “Building A Fashion Brand Based in Passion & Intuition with Katherine Gramann, Designer CEO of Lake Effect Co.”

Imagine with me for a moment...You are surrounded by complete strangers in a room where everyone seems to know everyone else, chatting merrily and exchanging business cards. You however, are clinging to the bar taking in your surroundings and people watching, studying each of the different cliques starting to form and hedging your bets on where you may best fit in. As time ticks by (and all your networking opportunities) you find yourself hoping that some kind extraverted soul takes pity on you and comes over to chat while simultaneously wishing you were ANYWHERE else but here. You've finally worked up the nerve and unclench your hands from the bar as you walk over and attempt to introduce yourself to the group of strangers you've been watching for the past 20 minutes. As you stand there barely eking out your name, business, and short elevator pitch, you suddenly feel all those sets of eyes staring at you and go red in the face. You fall silent as you begin to worry about your next attempt at the perfect professional, engaging, or witty comment. You listen to the group as they chat with each other for a few minutes and end up silently ghosting the discussion, heading back to the bar for a bit of recovery. The process repeats 3 or 4 more times (on a good day) as networking slowly sucks the life out of you and every single interaction leads zaps energy until you've had enough and head home. If you are an introvert, you know the unspeakable horror of of networking. What seems like an innocent evening of meeting new people and simple conversation suddenly becomes a painful and torturous ordeal. There's a different set of rules for introverts if you want to make the most of networking. I've gotten much better at playing the game but it's taken me a long time to learn how to effectively network as an introvert. Much of my own networking success was from fantastic advice and tips from my podcast producer Doug Howard. He is a master of networking, genuinely loves people, and is a true extrovert in every sense of the word…but his advice to introverts isn't what you'd expect. Join us as we discuss the differences between networking styles, tips specifically for introverts, and how you can use your strengths to make the most of your networking experiences. So stay tuned for my interview with “introvert whisperer” Doug Howard on this episode - Networking For Introverts: Expert Tips from An Extrovert.

Have you ever received unsolicited feedback or criticism about your fashion brand or collection?….  Maybe it was from a customer sharing how the style they purchased wasn't exactly what they were hoping for and that they wished X,Y, & Z could be incorporated because THAT would make it absolutely perfect.Or it was a wholesale or retail buyer comparing your line to another brand's and commenting that if you would just make all these few changes to your recent collection, it would definitely sell better. It could be your best friend talking about their favorite styles for the upcoming season and encouraging you to create a few trendier pieces in next collection drop. After you received feedback from them what were you left thinking? Did it make you question your most recent strategy or upcoming collection? Or even worse - your overall design direction or brand itself? Being the head decision maker as a Designer CEO isn't always the easiest and working alone can lead to questioning and self doubt. You've got lots of opinions coming from every direction and it's your responsibility to determine which ones are valid and will benefit your business versus those that are unmerited and may actually damage your brand or business. Knowing when to listen to your commentators and how to find balance for your future strategies and business will ensure that you are making the BEST decisions for you and your brand. In this episode I'm sharing my own personal experiences and challenges with managing unsolicited feedback, the key contention points you need to be considering before making any significant business decisions, and what to always keep in mind when determining your next strategic move to determine if you should listen to your commentators or stay the course in this episode, “When to Take Customer Feedback”. 

Are you struggling to “do all the things” and get everything done on the daily that it takes to run your fashion business? Or you are so passionate about designing and creating that it feels like you can't quite get ahead of all the OTHER things you have to do to run your fashion business? Maybe you feel like you know that you need to get your business in order but don't know how or where to get started.  Getting your business organized and keeping it that way is often a challenge for many Designer CEOs and your creative brains. It can be hard to motivate oneself to do “all the things”, including the tasks that aren't your favorite that come along with running your business and get out of the weeds of the everyday minutia to effectively lead your business forward and create sales driving strategies. Creating organizational strategies and processes for your business is often the needed game changer for businesses to go from spinning in circles to laser focused on your next big sales driving opportunity. By taking the time to create organizational systems for your business you'll free up mental capacity to let your creative energy blossom, no longer spending precious time on thinking about what you need to do, and eliminating chaos so you can spend more time dedicated to looking forward and building your business. Organizing your business will bring clarity to your vision and strategy and over time, streamline and up-level your business, letting you get back to what you are truly passionate about – DESIGNING. I'm sharing a few of my favorite organizational strategies, how to develop a customized organizational process that works JUST for you, mindset tweaks to guarantee success, and my very own favorite organizational tools. So join me for this episode, “How to Get You & Your Fashion Business Organized”.

Since I launched The Designer CEO Podcast, I've been sharing advice on the business of retail and fashion and offering how-to's, strategy ideas, and interviews for fashion brands and Designer CEOs but I haven't told you too much about myself or my own journey. And I'm so excited to share this week's episode with you because I'm the one being interviewed! My friend Beth Ridley recently made the move to entrepreneurship and launched her own content and consulting company The Brimful Life and her podcast “The Brimful Life Podcast”, where she shares stories and advice from people who will inspire you to never settle in your pursuit to live fully. When Beth invited me to be a guest on her podcast I was absolutely thrilled to chat with her about my very own entrepreneurial adventure in this very special crossover episode. I'm finally sharing MY entrepreneurial origin story so if you've ever been curious about why and how I started Mod. Merchant, now's your chance to hear it. I'm telling Beth all about the lessons I've learned and practical tips that have helped me embrace and thrive in my new entrepreneurial life. I'm sharing my “why” for quitting my corporate job on a Monday to become an entrepreneur, the challenges that I've faced and how I'm achieving success by learning to maintain a positive mental mindset, letting go of perfection, and pushing myself to try new things and meet new people.  Join Beth and I on this special crossover episode of The Brimful Life Podcast's Interview with yours truly, Sarah Ferrence.

What to do with your extra and old inventory is an issue that EVERY fashion brand has to figure out. It doesn't matter if you are just starting out or are an established brand, inventory management is always an issue. So many fashion brands struggle to know how much to buy, when to deliver, and what to do if their inventory doesn't move quite as fast as they had planned. So they end up with too much inventory and in a cycle of never ending promotions and even deeper markdowns, eroding their sales and profit margin. Or they just ignore it, often creating an even BIGGER problem to deal with later. But relying constantly on a markdown cycle is not a relevant or sustainable model anymore because at some point your customer's expectations will adapt and you, your fashion brand, and your bottom line will suffer for it.  Inventory management doesn't have to be tedious and difficult but not having a strategy to get rid of those old, slow sellers is seriously detrimental to your brand and it's future. Inventory management is a critical strategy to ensure the future success of your brand so you can maximize your profit margin and ultimately your bottom line. Effectively managing your inventory means creating a strategy that starts way before it's time to address the slow sellers. It's about creating a proactive plan and system to move your inventory from product conception to when it finally reaches that sales rack.In this episode I'm sharing why effective inventory management leads to more cash for your business, strategies for tackling inventory management at every stage of the game, and what to do with that inventory that just won't go away. So join me for this episode, “How to Manage Your Fashion Brand's Inventory AND Maximize Your Profits”.

Laura Bavlnka and I met recently at a local fashion event in Milwaukee and I absolutely loved the story of her and her brand.  She is a fashion designer and textile artist and until very recently was designing girls' clothing for the brand Jumping Beans at Kohl's. In June of 2017, despite being terrified, she left her job at Kohl's to pursue her passions head on.  Now she is the Designer CEO of Bavlnka Brand, a lifestyle brand of clothing, accessories, and home decor designed and crafted by in Milwaukee, WI. Laura's love of natural fibers and one-of-a kind textiles inspired her to launch her sustainable line and are featured throughout her clothing line. She dyes, paints, and embroiders her materials and turns them into wearables and special wall art pieces. Bavlnka Brand is designed for the free spirited, socially conscious woman who intends for clothing to not only tell a story of who she is but also where her clothing has come from.Join us as Laura shares the journey of Bavlnka Brand, her unconventional path to entrepreneurship, the need for sustainability in fashion today and how that impacts her brand, the sacrifices she's made to bring her vision to life and of course words of wisdom specifically for Designer CEOs in today's episode, “Sacrificing for Sustainability with Laura Bavlnka, Designer CEO of Bavlnka Brand”.

It's something you do every single day and you probably don't even realize it. It affects every one of your partnerships including those between you and your employees, 3rd party business partners, and even the one you have with yourself. However many Designer CEOs hate the idea of it and often find themselves a bit intimidated by the mere mention of the word. So what is it that I'm talking about that strikes fear in the heart of many Designer CEOs?  ---- NEGOTATION. Negotiation so often gets a bad wrap, especially for many creative business owners, because it is a struggle to feel comfortable being so direct and asking for what you want. In fact, many Designer CEOs come to think of it as a dirty word and will do just about anything to avoid it. But pretending that negotiation doesn't exist can have very real repercussions for your business, sales, and profitability.Negotiating effectively for your fashion brand can mean lower costs, improved margins, and better bottom line numbers AND it doesn't have to be the bane of your existence. With a thoughtful negotiation strategy and a little practice you can even dare I say, start to find it fun. So on this episode of The Designer CEO Podcast, I'm sharing exactly what Designer CEOs need to know about negotiation sharing some of my very own tried and true negotiation tactics so you start getting what you NEED for your business. You'll learn how negotiation benefits your business, why Designer CEOs often struggle with the idea of asking for what they want, the one BIG mindset change you need to make to ensure successful negotiations, and plenty of how-to's, tips, and techniques to ensure you are prepared before, during, and after your next big negotiation.  Join me for today's episode, “Negotiation 101 for Designer CEOs”.

If you've started reaching out to fashion buyers you probably are realizing they can be a bit hot & cold.  One day you've seemingly got your foot in the door, are furiously emailing back and forth, and maybe even working on scheduling that first big appointment and the next day...nothing - absolute silence. It's like it never even happened and now you have no idea where you (& your fantastic fashion line) stand. So what gives? Many Designer CEOs who are new to pitching their fashion brands and scoring that first appointment get stuck because they don't know understand the buying process for boutique stores and what retail buyers are looking when they are scouting for new brands. Knowing the ins and outs of a retail buyer's process can make all the difference between landing that first appointment and radio silence. It's critical for Designer CEOs of fashion brands to understand how buyers plan their buys and purchase their merchandise, what fashion buyers are looking for when they are deciding on their next collaboration, what you can be doing to make your fashion brand standout against the competition, and how to entice them to purchase your line. By understanding the buying process, you'll be able to develop an unstoppable pitch strategy that makes you and your fashion brand absolutely irresistible.This episode is all about just that - what you need to know to make your line standout in the eyes of a retail buyer. I'm covering a typical boutique's buying process so you know what to expect, what buyers are looking for from new designers and fashion brands, how buyers determine what they will buy, what you can do to impress them, and my secret pro tip that will maximize your line's best chances of getting purchased.So join me for, “How to make your fashion brand irresistible to retail buyers and get your line BOUGHT”

How much time are you spending shopping? I know that question may be a little unexpected and maybe even ridiculous. You've got a lot going on - creating a brand, designing a line, building your empire - you don't have time to go shopping even if you wanted to! Well I'm here to tell you that as a fashion brand business owner, shopping is an absolute must do, but I mean competitive shopping - researching and studying up on your competitors to ensure that you are continuously positioning and repositioning your brand to stand out. Wouldn't it feel great to:Confidently know that your brand is well positioned and relevant in the marketplace Discover a non stop flow of fresh ideas for your fashion brand and products, developing new product niches that consistently set your product line apart Uncover exciting new product and strategies that lead to incremental sales and strong profit marginsLead the market with your brand and always be a few steps ahead of your competitors By dedicating time to creating a competitive shopping strategy you'll discover: You are totally in tune with what's going on in the market (and what the next BIG thing will be)! Effective strategies that will keep your fashion brand not just relevant but laser focused on your competition so you can beat them to market Your fashion brand's whitespace or gaps in the market that carves out new money making opportunities for your brandA constant flow of creativity and inspiration for your fashion brandDeveloping a competitive shopping strategy takes a little bit of time and dedication but I'm going to break it all down for you - you'll hear the why, what, and how of competitive shopping and I'll even share my 4 competitive shopping hacks to make it as simple as possible. So join me for, “Competitive Shopping 101 for Designer CEOs”.

If you've been dreaming about quitting your 9 to 5 to start you own fashion brand but feeling hopelessly frustrated that your dream may never become a reality - then listen up. I'm thrilled to be chatting with a good friend of mine, Amanda Ergen-Jennings, Designer CEO of Love Lives Here Bridal.Amanda and I met over a decade ago when we were both grinding our way up the corporate ladder at The Bon-Ton Store Group. We were learning the ropes in product development and finding our footing but quickly bonded over our mutual dreams of entrepreneurship. But as I put my dream on the back burner until “later” and spent my evenings and weekends hanging out with my friends and generally avoiding too much responsibility (as 22 year olds do), Amanda was moving forward with making her dream come true. She started her first brand 15 years ago as side hustle and worked day and night to quit her corporate design job and make it a full time reality.  Today, Amanda Ergen-Jennings is the Designer & Owner of Love Lives Here, a bridal gown design and production studio based in Milwaukee, WI.She has combined her life-long passion for creating garments from scratch and 15 years of corporate product development and technical design experience with her genuine love for her hometown to build a bridal brand focused on bringing a high-quality, artisan-focused approach to local manufacturing. Join Amanda and I as we discuss her journey - from design school to quitting her corporate design role to now owner of her very own bridal gown brand. You'll also hear tons of entrepreneurial advice, her take on balancing work life and family life, and a few words of wisdom and motivation specifically for new Designer CEOs. 

I recently had the opportunity to lead a panel surrounding strategy, merchandising, and marketing with a room full of attendees just like you - Designer CEOs. I was asked so many amazing questions that I noticed got a lot of attention, head nodding, and discussion surrounding fashion brand startups. So on this episode I'm sharing these question and of course answers, that I know you've been wondering about including, How do you create an authentic connection with your customer through social media and what are the steps you need to take to develop your customer relationships?What is whitespace for your business, why does it matter so much, and how to discover your fashion business's biggest opportunities. What does the future of marketing look like for brick & mortar retailers especially as it pertains to competing with ecommerce?You'll hear my advice specifically for Designer CEOs so you can launch, grow, or scale your fashion brand.  And if YOU have a question for The Designer CEO Podcast? I want to hear from you! Is there something you've been struggling with as you launch or grow your fashion brand? Ask your questions about fashion and retail including strategies, merchandising, assortment and financial planning, manufacturing, market trends, entrepreneurship or anything business related that you feel like you may need a little help to solve or guidance to find your way.  Submit your question at www.thedesignerceo.com and you may just hear your answer in a future episode.

Does that idea of reaching out to a retail buyer and pitching your line sound overwhelming to you? Or maybe even a little scary?“How do I approach retail stores to sell my products?”, is hands down one of the questions I get asked most frequently by Designer CEOs because there's a lot of unknowns and even more on the line. They are unsure of where to begin and what what to include and left wondering:“How do I reach out to a retail buyer?”“What should I include in my pitch?”“How do I get my fashion brand noticed and actually bought?”Designer CEOs aren't sure about how to pitch retail buyers and so often end up going through a lot of trial and error before they reach any success or even worse - put it off completely. Not to mention, your initial pitch is your first impression with a retail buyer and a well executed pitch can mean the difference between booking your first wholesale order OR simply hearing crickets. (#nopressure)So this episode of The Designer CEO Podcast is dedicated to helping you overcome your fear by sharing exactly how to reach out to buyers and what to communicate to ensure that your fashion brand gets that buyer's attention. These recommendations are coming straight from the source. During my days as a product manager and licensing manager, I received countless pitches, from Designer CEOs just like you - brand new and eager to get their fashion line in retailers. I often made the decision between yay or nay so I know exactly what buyers' are looking for when they are considering a new brand.You'll hear the best tried and true methods for first contact including:My recommendation for the best channel to approach retail buyers Exactly how to structure and what to include in your pitch to get that buyer's attentionAnd even included a few “BONUS” recommendations for you to try to make sure your brand stands out.  

We've all been there.Every creative person knows that some days you are cruising through your work, ideas are coming from every direction, your vision is just popping and clicking right along, and you are feeling so excited and passionate about what you are creating. Those days make you love the work you are doing, feel confident that you can take on any project with ease, and generally on top of the world! And then there's those OTHER days…Those days where you stare at your project all day long, put in tons of hours and focus, and just can't get your creative mojo flowing. You end up doing and redoing the simplest of tasks in search of perfection, questioning every decision you've made, and ultimately make pretty minimal progress on it. Eventually you reach that final frustrating point. You know what I mean - that feeling of being creatively STUCK - leaving you bored, tired, and generally just apathetic about getting it finished. It's creative burnout - that “meh” feeling that leaves you without any inspiration or motivation to keep you on task. It's a miserable feeling and happens to the best of us. But that's just not going to work Designer CEOs -- your creativity is your money maker and is what makes you and your brand well….YOU! And there's no time for this nonsense, you need to get back to it - fostering inspiration through your business and vision, brainstorming next season's collection, and designing the line you've always dreamed of. So we need to get those creative juices flowing again STAT!In this episode I'm sharing my favorite ways to boost your creativity and covering 16 different ideas that you can do RIGHT NOW to re-energize yourself and help you when you are feeling creatively stuck so you can move past your burnout, start creating again, and get back to business.

Finding a manufacturer and handing off your fashion line to a 3rd party can be one of the most exciting and terrifying parts of the evolution of your fashion business. You are trusting another to bring your brand vision and designs to life and it's a huge step in your business's growth. There are many benefits to a good manufacturer and partner - they can add value to your brand, provide recommendations to reduce your cost, and offer future design insights. But a bad supplier can burn through your budget and even worse - damage your brand.So it's a big decision and not one you should take lightly. Knowing what to expect will ensure that you are discovering and developing the best partner for you and your brand. Do you know:How to find a manufacturer for your fashion brand?What to prepare before your very first meeting?What questions to anticipate from a manufacturer?What hidden costs to expect when you are just getting started?If you are thinking about beginning to work with a manufacturer you are not going to miss this episode. I'm chatting with Kelly Mutsch, Creative Director at Ram Group Inc, a US based, dye sublimation micro-factory. She is a former Tech Designer, Product Manager, QA specialist, and teacher who after working in design and product development and partnered with countless overseas manufacturers during her +10 years on the retail side, has now made the transition to manufacturing.She knows the in's and out's of the apparel manufacturing process and will be sharing exactly what you need to think about and prepare before you begin a relationship with a 3rd party manufacturer. We'll cover finding the right manufacturer, what services you can expect from a manufacturer, some of the biggest mistakes to avoid, and how to manage expectations of your new partnership.

It's impossible to successfully launch, manage, and grow your fashion business alone. There will be things that you need to learn and people you need to meet in order to start and scale your fashion brand. So it's pretty safe to say that tackling your fashion business without support is not realistic and it's not sustainable. I know that it can be really tough to find like minded people, that are both creatively charged and entrepreneurial motivated, people that you would consider your “tribe”. However surrounding yourself with a tribe is incredibly important for the overall success of your business because it will give you the opportunity to fill in some of your own gaps that you are sure to encounter as an entrepreneur. Building strong and effective business relationships is one of the best strategies for any fashion startup or fashion brand and will be critical to the success of your business. It really does take a village to get your business up and running and the earlier you begin developing business relationships, the better off you'll be.And the best part?? --- It is low hanging fruit for Designer CEOs and their fashion brand because it is a strategy that you can start doing TODAY for FREE and it will have a dramatic impact on your business. Your success will compound over time -- and just like planting a seed, your business relationships will grow and blossom over time.So if you just beginning to think about launching your fashion brand or if you are are more established and ready to grow, developing your business relationships is a fantastic way to accelerate your success. In this episode, I'm sharing how to build strong and effective business relationships including finding your tribe, what to do to get the dialogue flowing, who your greatest partners will be, and how to maintain your current relationships to create and develop those meaningful business connections that will help you and your business flourish.   

I recently co-hosted a “How To Start A Line” speaking event including a Q&A session. We had so many fantastic questions from Designer CEOs that I had to share.  On this episode, you'll hear answers to the questions that you've been wondering about including…As a designer is it worth it to open a brick and mortar store?How do I get started with Instagram? I know that I need to be posting but don't know what to be posting for my fashion brand.I plan to launch my fashion brand with an online presence only. When researching my competitors should I only be thinking about other designers with similar products online? Should I be concerned with my competitors locally or on a national level?I'll share my advice and get you Designer CEOs the answers you've been looking for so you can launch, grow, or scale your fashion brand. And if YOU have a question for The Designer CEO Podcast - I want to hear from you! Is there something you've been struggling with as you launch or grow your fashion brand? Submit your question at www.thedesignerceo.com and you may just hear your answer in a future episode.

What would it feel like to design a fashion brand that is not only a manifestation of your design talent and vision but will also sell and increase your profit margin? Today's topic is one that I'm so excited to share because it will help so many Designer CEO's out there with the “how-to” of planning your design strategy and get you super focused on developing a salable line and successful fashion brand. I'm sharing how to develop a design strategy for your line that your customers WANT and will generate SALES. I'm laying the process of exactly what I used to do to plan my assortment strategy as a corporate product manager. You'll hear what you need to do to get started and step by step how you should break down your design strategy. I'll keep it nice and simple so you can plan EXACTLY what you need to do design your way into your customer's hearts and maximize your sales and profits.If you are a Designer CEO just starting to plan your first line launch, working through your first year of your fashion brand, or if you are an established brand looking to improve your current design strategy process, this episode is for you!

For this episode, I'm going to share what's becoming a common and devastating problem that I see more and more frequently in today's retail marketplace.  Its effects have lead to huge retailers and brands declaring bankruptcy and closing down and even fostered the phrase, “retail apocalypse”, or the end of retail as we know it!So what's creating all this chaos? - Brands that have lost the pulse on their customer. If you are a new Designer CEO's that hasn't clearly defined their customer or perhaps are a bit more established but have lost sight of who their customer and how to serve than then this is for you.You'll hear the most common warning signs that you have lost touch with your customer, the main reasons it happens (even to the best of brands), and what you can do about it TODAY to get your fashion brand back on track and generating consistent sales.  

Welcome to The Designer CEO Podcast!If you are:Thinking about launching your own brandFeeling confused about how to get started and what to do firstWondering how the fashion and retail industries actually workWishing you had a partner to take care of all the “business and strategy stuff”Or ready to scale your line and take it next level?Then get ready to listen up and tune in!Each week The Designer CEO Podcast will bring you brand and retail strategies, merchandising how-to's, organization and productivity tips, and business and professional advice simplified for Designer CEOs who are ready to make their dream of launching their own line a reality. Along the way you'll hear insider tips from those who have “made it” in the fashion industry, including industry execs, entrepreneurs, and fellow designers who've successfully launched their lines.Your host is Sarah Ferrence, the founder and CEO of Mod. Merchant - a coaching and consulting company that helps designers, creatives, & brands launch and grow their line from startup to mega-brand status. She'll share business and professional advice just for YOU! --- Designer CEOs who are ready to launch the line they've always dreamed of.The goal of The Designer CEO Podcast is to help you connect all the dots to see the big picture of what it takes to for your fashion brand to thrive. Sarah is here to be your go-to resource for navigating the retail business, help you master all that "business stuff", and support you as you launch the line of your dreams.