How to Start a Niche Clothing Brand with Miranda Sam

How to Start a Niche Clothing Brand with Miranda Sam

My guest today is Miranda Sam, founder of Shortlisted, a niche clothing brand dedicated to making life easier for short women (5'4 and under).

How? Through petite proportions, functional design, and foolproof styling versatility. This means no more spending extra time, money or emotional energy on alterations, online returns, size guides, dry cleaning, or shamefully shopping the kids section!

She’s worked as a Fashion Marketer, Retail Manager, Fashion Journalist and Blogger in a career spanning 15 years. Miranda has also been a guest speaker at VCC, JCI, UBC, and Apparel Camp.

Miranda talks to us about why she decided to start a clothing brand for short women. She walks us through some of the steps she's had to go through to get her clothes sampled and manufactured.

She shares openly about some of the biggest lessons she's learned with the launch of her brand. As well as the hard truth she's had to face when it comes to pricing her products for the market.

You can find out more about Miranda Sam on her website: https://theshortlisted.co/ Her Instagram is instagram.com/shortlistedco/

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Preparing Your Clothing Brand for Wholesale Success with Misty-Dawn Paulson

Preparing Your Clothing Brand for Wholesale Success with Misty-Dawn Paulson

My guest today is fashion wholesale agent Misty-Dawn Paulson, owner of Mstydon Group Fashion Wholesale Agency in Vancouver BC.

Misty-Dawn has made it a mission to make sure they only work with brands who’s first priority is to make sure their footprint is as minimal as possible. Some focus on eco textiles, some focus on fair production, some manufacturer in Canada, some use upcycled fabrics… the list goes on!

Having worked with a range of successful clothing brands, Misty-Dawn shares insights about preparing a brand for the wholesale market.

In this episode, Misty-Dawn explains the significance of wholesale in the fashion industry and why it's an important distribution channel for clothing brands. She outlines the essential criteria and characteristics a brand needs to be considered "wholesale-ready." This includes factors like product line development, pricing strategies, and production capacity.

She delves into the intricacies of pricing strategies for wholesale, offering practical advice on how brands can set competitive prices while maintaining healthy profit margins.

You will learn how a brand's production capacity and lead times factor into their readiness for wholesale. She discusses the importance of meeting quality control standards for successful wholesale operation.

Lastly, she discusses how brands can stay ahead of market trends and adapt their product line to meet changing demands in the wholesale market.

You can find out more about Misty-Dawn Paulson on her website: https://www.mstydon.com/ Her Instagram is instagram.com/mstydon/

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

How to Source Fabrics Sustainably with Ruth Kelly

How to Source Fabrics Sustainably with Ruth Kelly

My guest today is materials expert Ruth Kelly who's here to talk about how to source fabrics sustainably.

Listen to this insightful episode to learn about:

- How does one assess the sustainability of a fabric?

- How can businesses strike a balance between sourcing sustainable fabrics and managing their budget effectively?

- What are some effective ways for individuals or small businesses to find and purchase sustainable fabrics?

- Exciting technological advancements or innovations in the field of sustainable fabric production

- Why no fabric is sustainable if we aren't respecting our resources

Ruth is an accomplished materials expert, entrepreneur, and innovator with more than 30 years of global success spanning brands, manufacturing, global supply chain, media, and higher education. Through her consulting and advisory work she supports businesses (ranging from start-ups to global brands) achieve their material goals, whilst pursuing her love of learning, research and connecting others.

She has experience with multiple products / fabric types, and living and traveling across the world has provided Ruth with an international network of connections. With practical in-depth knowledge of the fabric development, sourcing, validation, and production processes from fiber to garment, she makes ideas come alive.

Ruth has a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Textile Technology from the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology, UK, and holds her designation as an Associate of the Textile Institute (ATI).

Links mentioned in this episode:

Fashion For Good

Weft X Warp

Ruth Kelly Contact info:

Emails : ruthkelly@weftxwarp.com and ruth@sseams.co

Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-kelly-weftxwarp/

Websites: www.weftxwarp.com www.sseams.co

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

The Benefits of Having an Email List for Your Fashion E-commerce Brand

The Benefits of Having an Email List for Your Fashion E-commerce Brand

In today's episode, we'll be diving into a crucial aspect of online marketing – building an email list for your fashion e-commerce brand. So, whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your existing business, this episode is packed with valuable tips to help you succeed.

Here are 9 benefits to having an email list:

1. Building a Direct Line of Communication

Unlike social media, emails land directly in your subscribers' inboxes, ensuring your message gets through. This direct connection fosters a stronger bond with your audience.

2. Building Brand Loyalty and Trust

Consistent, valuable content builds trust and loyalty over time. Trust leads to repeat purchases and enthusiastic brand advocates.

3. Driving Repeat Business and Customer Retention

Keep subscribers in the loop about new collections and offers to encourage regular visits. Re-engage past customers with enticing incentives.

4. High Conversion Rates and ROI

Email marketing boasts impressive conversion rates and ROI. Engaged subscribers are more likely to become paying customers.

5. Data-driven Insights and Market Research

Your email list offers invaluable insights into customer behavior. Analyze metrics for informed decisions and better results.

6. Less Reliance on External Platforms

Reduce dependence on unpredictable platforms by owning your communication channels.

7. Personalized Marketing Campaigns

Segment your list for targeted content. Personalization elevates the customer experience and drives conversions.

8. Promoting New Product Launches and Exclusive Offers

Make subscribers feel special with exclusive access to product launches and deals.

9. Adapting to Evolving Marketing Trends

Email marketing remains adaptable. Utilize automation, segmentation, and responsive design to stay current.

In conclusion, building an email list is a cornerstone of your fashion e-commerce brand's marketing strategy. Join us in the next episode, where we'll dive into strategies for attracting subscribers. See you there!

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

5 Ways to Grow Your Fashion E-commerce Store

5 Ways to Grow Your Fashion E-commerce Store

In this episode, we'll be discussing five essential strategies to boost your fashion e-commerce store's growth and success. From optimizing your website to analyzing sales data, these actionable tips will help you elevate your online presence and increase sales.

1. Optimize Your Website

- Ensure user-friendliness, easy navigation, and SEO optimization.

- Use high-quality images and detailed product descriptions.

- Verify mobile-friendliness and speed using Google's tools.

Why it matters:

Optimizing your website boosts visibility on search engine results, driving more traffic and potential sales. It also builds trust and credibility with customers.

2. Offer Promotions and Incentives

- Discounts, free shipping, loyalty programs, referral rewards, and seasonal promotions.

- Promote special offers on social media platforms for wider reach.

Why it matters:

Promotions and incentives attract new customers and retain existing ones. They create a sense of value and encourage purchases.

3. Utilize Email Marketing

- Build and maintain an email list for direct, personalized communication.

- Deliver tailored messages, updates, and promotions to foster customer loyalty and trust.

Why it matters:

Email marketing establishes a strong, ongoing connection with your audience, leading to repeat purchases and brand advocacy.

4. Focus on Customer Service

- Provide excellent service, respond promptly to inquiries, and resolve issues efficiently.

- Consider implementing a chatbot for seamless and convenient shopping experiences.

Why it matters:

Outstanding customer service encourages repeat business, positive reviews, and enhances the overall shopping experience.

5. Analyzing and Interpreting Sales Data

- Collect and organize sales data.

- Identify key metrics (e.g., revenue, conversion rate, customer demographics).

- Analyze trends and patterns in the data.

- Interpret findings to make informed decisions.

- Take action based on insights gained.

Why it matters:

Analyzing sales data helps you make data-driven decisions to improve your e-commerce business continuously.

By implementing these five strategies will help you elevate your fashion e-commerce store's performance and drive growth. Remember, success in e-commerce is an ongoing journey of refinement and adaptation.

Thank you for tuning in to today's episode on 5 Ways to Grow Your Fashion E-Commerce Store. If you found this information valuable, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. Stay tuned for more tips and insights to help you succeed in the world of online fashion retail.

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts