A few weeks ago I got an email from Jane Hamill of Fashion Brain Academy: “I’m wondering if you’d like to be a guest on my podcast to discuss raising money for a product-based business. Walk us through the way to do it RIGHT including what to do and what NOT to do.” I could […]
“You know what I just realized?” I say to my husband as we’re cruising down I-95. “What’s that?” “A minivan and an SUV are, like, the same thing… they’re just different shapes.” “Uh huh…” he replies in his best ‘where are you going with this?’ voice. “They’re pretty much the same size, they provide the […]
If you know anything about me (and what I teach) it’s that I unapologetically love crowdfunding. Kickstarter, Indiegogo, iFund Women, pre-sales on your own website, whatever the platform you use I truly believe that launching your brand through crowdfunding is the smartest and most efficient way to go to market. Why? Because you can test […]
This is a guest post by Factory45’er Dina Chavez who launched a Kickstarter campaign this spring for her womenswear line SixChel. Dina raised over $17,000, exceeding her goal amount, and learned a lot along the way. Today she’s sharing her “do’s and don’ts” for launching a sustainable fashion brand through crowdfunding. Here’s Dina: It’s been […]
A couple of weeks ago, this question came up in our private Factory45 Facebook group: “Does anyone have tips for communicating your ‘side hustle’ to your current employer? I want to start talking about my business online, but my bosses follow me and I am worried about their perception…” If you’ve started a business or […]
This is an interview with Factory45’er Blakely Wickstrom about the launch of her brand Gala Maar, contemporary swimwear for the modern muse. Blakely took a pre-sales strategy to launch her first collection through her online store. Read on to learn more about her company and hear her advice for new brands. Tell us about your […]
“I’ve decided to run a marathon,” my friend told me last week. “Oh, uh, you are? I didn’t realize you were, like, a runner now,” I not-so-subtly replied. “I’m not, but I bought this book,” she says as she hands me a paperback copy of The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer. I open it up to Chapter […]
If you’ve been in the fashion industry for a while or if you’re thinking about launching your own brand, you’ve likely heard advice, or maybe even rumors, that have stopped you in your tracks. What’s true, what’s outdated and what’s simply false? Today I’m going to touch on five of the big myths that I […]
Here is an email I get at least once a week: “I’m so excited about Factory45 and really want to join this year! The only thing is, I don’t have a background in fashion – will this affect my chances of being accepted into the program?” And every time, my answer is… “Absolutely not!” Going […]
This is an interview with Factory45er Nicki Patel about the launch of her brand milo+nicki, a cruelty-free, ethically designed fashion line derived from Indian & Zambian roots. With the help of a Kickstarter campaign, Nicki is raising money for the production run of her first collection. Please give us a brief overview of your brand […]
