Tag Archive for: startup advice

How + Why You Need a Unique Selling Position as a Fashion Brand

Unique Selling Position

Can I share something I’ve noticed about fashion startups?

After 10+ years working in this space, there is something different about the startups that succeed and the ones that never really get started.

The fashion brands that launch, make sales and grow those sales, started out with one specific thing:

A clearly defined problem that they solve for their customer.

This could also be described as your “unique selling position” or “competitive advantage.”

When I say this to most aspiring fashion founders, they’ll tell me they can’t find a problem for their customer.

When in reality, a problem can always be found.

The real question is, can you solve it?

And if you can’t, then is there a way to pivot your branding, positioning, design or functionality to fix that?

And this is what I’ll be guiding you through in this week’s Live Show:

I’ll be live on Thursday, August 19th at noon ET / 9am PT to help you define the problem you’re solving for your customer and make sure you have a solution to go with it.

Because truly, in an industry as crowded and competitive as fashion, you must have a unique selling position.

You can’t afford not to.

As always, there are two ways to tune in:

  1. Join our private Facebook group here. (This is also where I send out follow-up resources and continue the discussion online).
  2. You can also stream via YouTube here. (Make sure you’re subscribed to my channel here so you can get notified when we start!)

I’ll make sure to give specific examples of brands that you wouldn’t initially think would solve a problem and how they narrowed it down before launching.

See you on Thursday!

 

P.S. If you missed last week’s Live Show on creating a business plan you’ll actually use, then press play to watch the replay below:

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Create a Business Plan for Your Fashion Brand in 5 Simple Steps

Business Plan

When I was starting my fashion brand do you know one of the first rookie mistakes I made?

I know, it’s hard to narrow it down to one ; ) 

Having no prior experience in entrepreneurship and being very new to the fashion industry, the first mistake I made was writing a 40-page business plan.

Yes, 40 pages!

My then co-founder and I spent months going back and forth writing and rewriting this giant Word document and do you know what happened to it?

Do you know where it ended up?

That’s what I’m sharing during tomorrow’s Live Show…

I’m going to tell you the reasons you don’t need a mega-long business plan to start a fashion brand in 2021 and then, even better:

I’m going to help you write a business plan you’ll actually use.

My goal — by the end of Factory45 Live tomorrow — is for you to have a business plan for your fashion brand that you can use as a jumping off point.

And we’re going to do this with my one-page business plan template that is already created for you and I’m giving away for free. 

Here’s what you need to do before the Live Show starts on Thursday — text me at (760) 274-8577 and I’ll send over a link to your template. 

You can save it and browse through the prompts before we go through everything together on Thursday.

Even if you know you’ll have to wait to watch the replay, go ahead and text me now so you have the template ready when you are.

Sound good?

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

 

P.S. If this is your first time joining my Live Show, you can tune in on Thursday at noon ET via our private Facebook group here or on YouTube here (make sure you’re subscribed so you know when I go live). You can also catch up on last week’s episode below!

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How to Set Goals as a Fashion Entrepreneur & Actually Achieve Them

set goals

Do you know if you’re a ‘starter’ or a ‘finisher?’

I was listening to a podcast the other day with a business coach who was saying that when it comes to projects, goals and the things we set out to accomplish, some people are ‘starters’ and some people are ‘finishers.’

You’re a starter if you find yourself super motivated in the beginning and make lots of progress until about halfway through the project when your motivation fizzles out.

You’re a finisher if it takes you a while to sit down, focus and take that first step on a project, but once you get going you have no problem finishing the project.

No matter which one you identify with more, it’s very common to struggle with the goals we set out to accomplish.

Especially the big ones, like starting a business.

And that’s why I’m focusing this week’s Live Show on nontraditional goal setting and how to actually accomplish what you’ve set out to achieve.

Because the truth is: it’s not the goal that’s important… it’s something else entirely. 

So, if you find yourself struggling to make progress or you just want to create a plan of action for September that you can look forward to, then join me live on Thursday at noon ET.

  • You can watch, ask questions and engage in our free Facebook group here.
  • Or you can simply stream on YouTube here (make sure you Subscribe to the Factory45 channel here so you know when I go live).

If you find yourself in a “summer slump” in building your fashion or accessories brand, then this will be 20 minutes of inspired action-taking you won’t want to miss. 

I’ll see you there : )

 

P.S. If you missed last week, I introduced Factory45 Live: The Live Show for Fashion Entrepreneurs. You can watch the replay of the first episode below and learn more about what it’s all about!

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Introducing Factory45 Live: The Live Show for Fashion Entrepreneurs

live show

Back in May, I hosted our first free 4-day LIVE workshop to help you start your sustainable fashion brand.

And to be honest, the response lit. me. up.

You all are creating some of the most thoughtful, innovative and problem-solving products to truly challenge the fashion industry’s status quo.

And I want to continue to help you.

Because the truth is: You don’t need to go to fashion school or get an MBA to start a fashion brand. You — as you are — can actually start a successful business from your home office or nearest coffee shop.

Every year, I see how possible that is through the brands that launch through Factory45.

So, how can we come together even more — not only to start your brand but to change the fashion industry for the better?

That’s why I’m here, that’s why I do what I do and that’s why I want to help you launch your brand the right way, from the start.

So, as a continuation to our free workshop event, I’m bringing you a new weekly opportunity called:

Factory45 Live: The Live Show for Fashion Entrepreneurs

Every Thursday at noon ET, you can join me (for free) as I teach via livestream to anyone, anywhere with an internet connection.

You’ll be able to learn from me virtually about fashion manufacturing, ecommerce marketing, raising money, fabric sourcing, building an audience and so much more.

Just like the workshop format, I’ll be livestreaming about one specific topic — no fluff, no off-topic Q+A, no bait and switch.

It will just be me giving you the best I’ve got for 20-30 minutes in one value-packed live show.

So, how do you watch? There are two options:

  1. Join our free Facebook group here. This is where the party’s at if you have questions, want feedback or are looking to engage with other fashion entrepreneurs.
  2. Watch on YouTube here. I know Facebook isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so you can also watch the Live Show on YouTube. If you’re choosing this option make sure to go to my channel now and click Subscribe.

Before I go, here’s the last thing I’ll say: when it comes to any free resource, we often don’t make the time for it. It’s human nature to undervalue the things we don’t necessarily “earn.” 

With that said, put this on your calendar and schedule it! If you can make it live at noon ET every Thursday, then it’s always better to show up live… coordinate it with your lunch break!

If you can’t, though, then schedule a more convenient time to watch the replay and commit to it as if it’s live. That’s exactly what I do when I’m on the Pacific Coast and everything happens before my son if off to school : ) 

So, will I see you tomorrow? I really hope so — and I promise to make it worth your while.

 

 

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This is a Required Trait of an Entrepreneur

Required Trait

The other day I was watching my three-year-old play with his train set. 

One piece of track… connected to another piece of track… connected to another… 

And then, uh oh.

The last piece wouldn’t fit.

I watched as he struggled to fit the piece, as it kept hitting up against the wall of the table, as he got more and more frustrated.

“I CAN’T DO IT!” he yelled out, red in the face. “IT DOESN’T WORK!”

How many times as an entrepreneur have you felt this?

The web domain won’t connect to the host!

The file size won’t upload!

The email form won’t populate!

The difference being, you can’t throw your computer across the room like you can a wooden train track.

One of the main messages you hear as a parent is the importance of building resilience in your kids.

It’s why you should resist doing things for them or providing the easy way out.

And honestly, entrepreneurship is very much the same.

“Are you calling me a toddler, Shannon?”

No : ) I would like to think the way we respond is more developmentally appropriate.

This message is about resilience.

How can you build more resilience into the day to day building of your business?

When something isn’t working the way we want it to, how can we be more resourceful in finding a solution?

Because honestly, that’s what it takes.

If you truly want to be an entrepreneur, then it virtually guarantees you will run into problems — in the beginning, it will probably be on a daily basis.

But to reach any level of success, problems require problem solvers.

There’s no way around it.

That’s all to say, be the toddler who picks up the train track even after he throws it… 

And tries again.

 

CTA-Factory45 SHOP

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This Used to Hold Me Back — What About You?

I’ve been in your shoes before.

Ten years ago I wondered if it would be “worth it” to set out on my own, go against the status quo and start something that was no guarantee. 

The truth is, a lot of us lack that one thing that gives us the extra boost to go for it. 

And that thing is confidence. 

As much as we’d like to feel capable and worthy of pursuing the things we want in life, we lack the internal belief to do it.

We believe other people are smarter, more capable and more creative — and that they have this natural fire inside them that we don’t have.

Can I tell you a secret?

Everyone feels this way. 

Yes, even the people who seem to have it all together and exude confidence with every move they make.

The real difference in these people from everyone else is that they have the desire to move forward.

They aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone.

And while stepping out of your comfort zone is difficult, it’s truly the best way to build the confidence you lack.

Confidence comes from surrounding yourself with like-minded people in similar situations with similar goals.

Confidence comes from learning from other people who have already accomplished what you’re setting out to do. 

Why am I telling you this?

Because when you join Factory45 you’re not just starting a clothing or accessories brand.

You’re joining a community of like-minded people who share your goals and aspirations.

People who are curious, who prefer to ask questions and learn from others instead of following the same path leading nowhere.

And do you know what that does?

Besides helping you build your business with nuts and bolts information and skills…

It builds confidence and teaches you that anything is possible with the right mindset, the right support network, and someone to guide you through the process.

I created Factory45 to take you from the idea stage to pre-production to launch.

Along the way, you’ll gain the confidence that you need.

If you’re ready to join me and the hundreds of other entrepreneurs who have graduated from Factory45, then click the link below to submit your application.

Get started on your application here.

The application takes 5-10 minutes to complete and it will give you the chance to get on the phone with of our Mentors for an interview. 

I hope you’ll join me.

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Free Workshop: Start Your Sustainable Fashion Brand

free workshop

Calling all aspiring fashion entrepreneurs! 

This is your last chance to register for my four-day workshop to Start Your Sustainable Fashion Brand…

You can save your seat here.

It’s kicking off on Monday, May 3rd at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT, and I’m asking everyone to block off an hour Monday through Thursday so you can start taking action in building your sustainable fashion brand.

If you can’t make the live sessions, we’ll have Watch Parties every night at 8pm ET to watch the replays (but you can also watch them on your own time).

The goal of this workshop is to arm you with the plan, strategy and action steps to:

  • Create a brand above the rest, so you stand out from the competition
  • Build an audience before you launch so you have customers waiting to buy
  • Raise money for apparel production without risking your own savings
  • And learn the Factory45 framework for going from idea to launching your brand

The format of the workshop will be about 30 minutes of straight teaching (by me) — I’ve polished each day of the workshop, so that every minute is value packed.

(This is not one of those pre-recorded webinars that spends half the time selling something.)

Then the second half of the hour will be blocked off so you can start taking action on everything you’ve learned that day by following the prompts in your Workbook.

Everyone who participates in the workshop will also be matched with a Mentor so that you have additional support and can get your questions answered as we progress through our four days together.

I promise, this four-hour commitment will be worth your while and set you up on a path to start, grow and launch your sustainable fashion brand.

Save your seat before May 3rd here.

Questions? Just reply back to this email!

See you soon,

 

 

 

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How to Create a Fashion Brand that People Will Buy

Create Fashion Brand

In order to build something successful, you have to offer something that people want. 

Pretty straightforward, right?

In my experience, over the last decade of starting my own fashion brand and then helping other people start their own, I’ve noticed two key factors that set apart successful brands from unsuccessful brands. 

And that’s what I’m sharing in today’s video.

I’m also going to be talking about this a lot more during Session 1 of my free 4-day workshop on May 3rd.

To build something truly long-lasting and successful, you have to start with positioning. 

What gap are you fitting into in the market?

What is the hole that you’re filling?

When it comes to fashion, and a massively competitive market, where does your brand fit in?

Spoiler: you can almost always find your place in the market with the right positioning.

If you’re interested in exploring this more on May 3rd you can sign up to the workshop here.

Ready? Click the video below : ) 

Talk soon,

 

 

 

P.S. I’m going live tomorrow in our private group to talk about building relationships with suppliers and factories. Click here to request access so you can join us!

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Fashion Entrepreneurs, Learn from My Mistake

Fashion Entrepreneurs

“Okay, so! We’re going to publish three episodes a week… I mean, they’re less than 10 minutes long… so we need to keep up the frequency… otherwise people won’t be engaged… it won’t be that bad… we can probably keep this up for months…” 

This is what my inner dialogue sounded like as I was getting ready to launch The Clean Living Podcast back in October.

At the beginning of February, when I released the finale of season one, my best friend texted me:

“Only an INFJ would commit to 35 episodes in a single season.”

(She was referencing my personality type on the Meyers-Briggs.) 

But do you want to know a secret?

I never planned to have seasons of the podcast, or a season one finale, or a break in episodes at all…

So, why the change?

I burnt out.

I ignored my own advice, I overcommitted and it came back to bite me.

If I had planned out the podcast like a normal person, I would have 35 weeks of episodes lined up.

And truthfully, my listeners would have probably appreciated the time lapse in between episodes instead of being bombarded with three every week.

I’m constantly telling my entrepreneurs in Factory45 to SIMPLIFY.

Instead of developing a collection of 12 pieces, simplify to five pieces.

Instead of trying to be on every social media platform, start with Instagram and do it really well.

Instead of trying to source fabric for five different colorways, start with two.

Because this is what simplifying does:

  1. It lowers the barrier to entry. That means the likelihood of you actually getting the project off the ground is significantly higher. It also means you’ll do it quicker and more efficiently.
  2. It reduces the chance of decision paralysis — for you and for your customers.
  3. It saves you MONEY and time.

In fact, it’s very rare that simplifying isn’t the right answer.

So, the next time you set out to design a 12-piece collection, or dominate TikTok, Clubhouse, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, or try to meet the MOQs of five different fabric colors…

Think of me.

Think of me sitting on the floor of my dark closet, chugging water and recording my fifth episode of the day…

It’s true that diamonds are made out of pressure but when it comes to entrepreneurship, you really only need a very solid rock.

 

 

 

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The #1 Reason New Fashion Brands Lose Money

New Fashion Brands

Do you know the number one reason that new fashion brands lose money or go out of business in their first year? 

Manufacturing mistakes. 

From over-ordering inventory to garment construction errors, starting production is the most vulnerable time for new fashion brands.

The brand blames the factory…

The factory blames the brand… 

And when all is said and done, only a fraction of the production order is good enough to sell. 

And both parties lose money.

In the case of the new brand, it’s enough of a loss to put them out of business — before they’ve even started. 

The thing is, it doesn’t have to be this way.

And in this episode, I’m going to tell you why it doesn’t have to end up this way for your brand…

New Fashion Brands

I hope this is helpful to you!

 

 

 

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