“I have my designs on paper, but I have no idea what type of fabric I need.” The world of fabric sourcing can feel like a black hole. Maybe you’ve started searching for fabric suppliers on Google. Maybe you’re lucky enough to live in a design hub like NYC or Paris where you can see […]
“I don’t even know where to start,” I thought to myself. It was three weeks before my maternity leave was ending, and I was looking at a calendar next to my to-do list. Pack for Cape Town, finish the baby’s daycare applications, schedule a photoshoot, hire someone to run digital ads, get a haircut for […]
December is one of my favorite months of the year as a business owner. And it’s not because of the holiday shopping or smells of pine and cinnamon or waking up to the first snowfall. We’re getting to that time of year when many of us stop to reflect on how we’re running our businesses, […]
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 […]
