Build a bigger audience and get more sales for your product business
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1. Tell me your biggest struggle with marketing, sales, and building an audience
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Jane
Hi guys! I recently did a Facebook LIVE video (I’ve been busy over there on da facebooks and it’s a blast) about what I learned at an FGI retail symposium and wanted to share with you some of my takeaways. Before I drive in, this quote from Gwen Morrison, a retail expert from the conference, really stuck with me because it’s so on point.
“You can’t just put products on shelves and expect people to be happy for very much longer.” – Gwen Morrison
BAM. Having owned a boutique in Chicago for 14 years, I couldn’t agree more. People crave experiences, not just stuff.
Here’s what’s covered in the video:
Mentioned in the video:
Sew Heidi’s new book: The Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelance Fashion Designer: http://successfulfashiondesigner.com/freelance-fashion-designer-ultimate-guide/
The Sell More Products Online (SMPO) program: https://janehamill.com/smpo/
I’d love to know what YOUR takeaways are from this video. Let me know in the comments below. I LOVE hearing from you!
Jane
Do people around you support what you’re doing in your business?
In this video, I tell you the story of a designer who had “issues” with her husband. He feels she needs to “get things going” faster and she’s worried he’ll pull the plug on her business if she doesn’t start creating more income.
The problem is that there’s no clear definition of success between her and her spouse. What exactly does “get things going” mean?
How will you ever know if you’re doing well if you don’t define exactly what that means? You don’t want to have the constant feeling of “not enough-ness”. And yes, that’s the technical term. We all want support from the people around us.
Starting a new clothing or accessories line can cause a strain on any relationship. Check out the video to get some tips to handle this startup stress.
What do you think? Has there been a time when you didn’t feel supported in your business? How did you handle it? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for watching and reading,
Jane
P.S. If you’re looking for support , you should run, not walk, to check out my Momentum Group. It exists to help you connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs, stay accountable, and have a place to turn for questions. Designer feedback has been 100$ positive on this program! Check it out here: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/momentum/
Q: Should my pattern maker and sewing contractor be in the same company?
A: When you launch a fashion product, it’s hard to know where to start. This video gives you some tips about working with your pattern maker and sewing manufacturer – and the tricky relationship they sometimes have with each other.
What’s worked for you? Do you have a story about “best-practices” you could share to help new designers? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
Not sure where to look to find fabric labels for your clothing line? On this video, Jane tells you about how to buy labels for your line and some good companies that can make customer branded labels. Below are the all the sources. enjoy!
Just click the video below to watch now.
Not sure where to look to find fabric labels for your clothing line? In this video, Jane tells you about how to buy labels for your line and shares with you some good companies that can make customer branded labels. Below are the all the sources mentioned in the video. Enjoy!
W and W Inc.
http://www.wnwinc.com/contact.html
Fancy Weaver
http://www.fancyweaver.com/label/
Labeltex
http://www.labeltexusa.com/
Do you have a label to source to recommend? Leave it below in the comments!
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Get our free report “How to Find Fabric in Small Quantities and NOT Get Ripped Off in the Process” as well as our weekly e-zine – just click here to download it.
Have you got about $7 and one hour?
Check out what you can make! Here’s my really cool mannequin made out of packing tape. This would be terrific for a trunk show in a retail store, home party, or for a display if you’re doing a trade show. I learned how to do this from student in my Sustainable Design Class at Columbia College. Check out how we did it…
Your First Step
It’s good to have a helper in this project if you can – at least at the very beginning. You want to cut a few strips of tape about 8 – 10 ” long. Then lay a strip sticky side up on the shoulder of your dolly.
You can pin it to the form to try to keep it in place. This is when it’s handy to have your buddy hold it in place.
Take another strip and lay it right next top the first one overlapping just a but so the tape sticks together.
Step 2: Keep going
Keep adding tape strips sticky side up – even covering the arm area like we’re doing in this picture below. You don’t have to worry about making it all neat and flat – I was worried about that in the beginning until I got the hang of it.
Step 3: Lather, Rinse, Repeat
More and more tape strips sticky side up until you have covered the form to your liking in one big fly paper mess.
Check out this picture below to see how we stopped at the bottom in a straight line so our mannequin could balance nicely on a table for display.
Step 4: Turn your tape around
Now the project starts to pick up speed. Lay more strips on with the sticky side down until you cover the entire area. You can put things between the layers of tape.
You can see in this photo that one designer put lace fabric between the tape strips and it came out great.
I put a little love note to my kids in mine and one of my other students put bottle caps in hers to look like a funky necklace.
We were even thinking it would be really cool to put colored tissue paper in there and use a fake candle inside to light up the mannequin for decoration.
Step 5: Cut it off
So now you gently take your scissors and cut it off the form. After you remove it, just lay it on a table and tape the opening back together.
The Final Result
My students hanging their packing tape mannequins to display their designs in Chicago.
Et Voila, that’s what you get for 1 hour and $7.00
Did you like this post? Then kindly click the LIKE button and pass it on!
What do YOU think? Do you have ideas for ways to improve this project? Do you have a suggestion for simple displays you want to share? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
Thanks!
Jane
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Want to use this article or video in your e-zine or or website?
Sure! Please include this complete blurb with it:
“Jane Hamill teaches apparel and accessories designers how to start and grow a profitable business – even if they flunked math and hate selling. Get her FREE report “How to Find Fabrics in Small Quantities and NOT Get Ripped Off in the Process” at www.fashionbrainacademy.com.”
The first way is the get new customers.
Pop Quiz: What are the other 2 main ways to grow your business? Check out the video where Jane answers a question from a designer. Click the picture below or use this link to watch the video.
What do you think? Do you have tips to share about ways to increase the size of an order? Increase frequency of orders? Please share them here, on facebook, or leave a comment below. And thanks! Jane
If you’re selling to boutiques, I am doing a FREE Webinar about how to create a line sheet that buyers understand and can BUY FROM – with Nicole from Retail Minded
Interested? It’s on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 1 PM EST.
Sign up here: http://linesheets.eventbrite.com/
P.S. Oh, and if you want to learn the full process about how to sell to boutiques, we have a course that teaches you just that! Head on over to this page to check it out.
11/28/11 – UPDATE: No definite dates on another Sales Bootcamp. Based on the good response, I would like to run it again and will update this page with the details as soon as I know! Thanks, Jane
I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the Sales BOOTCAMP that starts November 15th so here’s a quick video explaining how it works.
The SALES bootcamp starts Tuesday, Nov 15 www.fashionbrainacademy.com/bootcamp
1) The bootcamp is all done online and through Webinar and conference call. You will be given access to each week’s session to enjoy at your convenience. The “assignments”, notes, worksheets, templates and scripts will be sent to you via email.
2) You can live anywhere – in any country and still get all the information.
3) There is a full guarantee – if you sign up and don’t feel it’s right for you, just let us know before week 3 starts and you can have a full refund – so there’s no risk to you – and no hassle.
4) As for the LIVE Q & A during week 3, you will submit your questions before the session and I will answer them live on the group conference call. This way you can get your specific questions answered as well as hear other designers’ questions and answers. Often they ask things you didn’t know you should ask and you learn a lot that way! Don’t worry if you don’t listen in live, I’ll still answer your questions and you can listen to recording right away.
5) Thenext bootcamp starts Tuesday, November 15th.
All the info, dates, price etc. and to register: GO HERE
Questions? Email us at brain@fashionbrainacademy.com or call 773.551.2111
Want to see a clip from the actual program? Watch this…
Week 2 video clip from the full program
GO HERE TO SIGN UP
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What is Fashion Brain?
We offer online training courses and private coaching for fashion designers and creative entrepreneurs.
Our primary focus is the business side of things, including startup planning, finding a profitable niche,
finding customers, selling your line, costing and pricing, and getting your product found online.
You love designing. We love business. A perfect match.
