Today I am excited to share a little gem of a women's line that I found on Etsy, MISSKARRET
Miskarret's designs are colorful, unique but most of all wearable!!!! Just take a look and click any photo to visit her shop:
This month I am celebrating 30 days of independent design by sharing some of my favorite independent designers with you! (I may not get in all 30 days but I will do as many as possible.) Today I am excited to share a little gem of a women's line that I found on Etsy, MISSKARRET Miskarret's designs are colorful, unique but most of all wearable!!!! Just take a look and click any photo to visit her shop: Don't miss out on my post on Independent Designer Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen
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I wanted to take a minute to share a bit about my experience with showrooms and why I decided to cancel my contracts for the time being. It all comes down to numbers. I recently read an article by Fashion Brain Academy called Sales Do Not Equal Profits and this could not ring more true to my decision to pull out of my showroom contract.
First I will say my showroom rep was very nice and most likely well intentioned but as she grew to take on 3 locations expanding from LA, to Dallas, to Atlanta and she had some other big names in her room that required special attention and that she traveled to other shows for, (just their line) I think my line took a bit of a backburner. Even so she wrote a little over 40k in orders for me last year. That sounds like a nice number to some but here is the math: $40k sales 50% material and production expenses 2% samples and marketing material We are down to $19.2K Showroom Fees $400/mo for 3 rooms LA, Dallas, Atlanta (actually not a bad deal) $4800 12% commissions $4800 My profit at the end of the year $9600 While it is a profit it is not one that was worth it to me. I spent 80% of my time on the wholesale side of my business. I was dealing with production and production issues, working on fabric sourcing and getting prices down, sometimes sewing myself if my production team wouldn't take on a small run, dealing with customers not taking orders and no pays, the list goes on. I spent 20% of my time on the retail side of my business(Online sales on FB or my Etsy Shop) and on obtaining my own wholesale accounts. In this area I almost doubled what my showroom made me plus I kept 24% more of my profit! (24% is what I ended up paying my showroom after sales and commissions, it makes me throw up in my mouth a little.) While I was in it I had a hard time cancelling my showroom contract and I should have done it sooner. I was getting burnt out working so hard for so little and my designs started suffering and my attitude sucked. My family suffered due to my stress level. But I was dumb and determined. When I finally sat back and took a look I was able to think clearly. If I took that 20% of my time and turned it into 50% of my time focusing on retail sales and managing a small portfolio of wholesale accounts then I would be working part time and making more money. I could work full time and make much more but I now had that option. I feel in control again. I do want to take on that wholesale beast again eventually but next time it will be with a much more educated approach. For now I am taking things back in my hands and enjoying the ride. Inspired by the Handmade Success Blog I am going to celebrate August with 30 days of sharing my some of my favorite independent designer finds. Today I am going to kick it off with Rose Hill Design Studio. I happened upon her page a couple months ago and I am so in love!!!! Every illustration she makes just makes my heart happy! Today she introduced new snail mail cards. How cute are these? She also makes fabulous prints for your walls and notepads and all other sorts of goodies! Be sure to stop by her SHOP to pick up a little inspiration for your life and stop by her Facebook page to say hello from TFBM!
"If you can dream it, then you can do it." ~Walt Disney
"You will fail because you didn't follow your passion." Larry Smith on TEDTALKS, Economist. What do these 2 quotes have in common? They both insinuate that there is a greater destiny to your life. One shaped by the dreams in your mind and the passion in your heart. They both are also a call to action. "DO IT." "FOLLOW IT." I have never shied away from a challenge. It is part of my bloodstream to find things people tell me I can't do and then do it. For a long time I made that my passion. And that passion has taken me a long way. Sailing the sea working on a cruise ship, teaching geometry to a class of ADD students, working my way to Vice President of a recruiting firm with 20 reports, starting my own fashion business, and starting this blog. It has been this journey that has taught me lessons to grow, lessons to understand, lessons to teach. It has been this journey that has taught me my true passion. I am passionate about people. I am passionate about learning about them and learning from them. I am passionate about connecting with them. I am passionate about teaching them to connect with others. I am passionate to help them pursue their dreams, their passions. When I started this blog, and my Facebook page (because just as much if not more action happens there for TFBM and my followers), I did it with a purpose of connecting with other small business owners to teach then what I know and learn from them, but mostly to encourage them-to empower them. It has been a year and a half now and I am humbled and amazed at the shape it is taking. On a daily basis I interact with business owners. I give them insight to my experiences of what they are challenged with, I point them to resources to help them on their path, I vent or let them vent and then we pick ourselves up and move on to the next challenge. TFBM has not only been a source of information for my followers but it is becoming a place where business owners can connect and learn from each other. This month I started adding designer interviews to the blog and I am amazed at the talent and experience out there and how much people are willing to share in the name of helping others succeed. The next level of teaching connection was for me to start an online magazine. The magazine will launch in September. The purpose of the magazine is simple: 1. Connect independent designers with an audience that will buy their products. 2. Inspire shoppers by telling the story of the designers behind the product and showing their product in a beautiful way. 3. Inspire and educate designers with articles relevant to helping them grow their business. The editorials for this magazine are really coming together! The talent involved in sending product, styling the shoots, and photographing are awe inspiring and I cannot wait to share it with you all! Thank you for letting me share my passion with you and I look forward to interacting with you more so you can share your passions with me! This designer interview is a real treat! Have you ever considered going to wholesale market on your own but you are not sure where to start or what to expect? I am excited to bring you this exclusive TFBM interview with Becky from Hucklebuckles to bring you some insight! TFBM: Tell me how you got started in fashion? Becky: When I was a freshman in high school, I went to a summer sewing school taught by my Great Aunt. We learned the basics and made our own clothes and had a fashion show to show off our creations. Honestly, mine was bad! haha. I remember thinking, I will not use this again, and I kind of put it away. I think I have always had a "style" that I leaned towards, the clean and simple lines of Jcrew, etc, but I have never considered myself a fashionista. Fast forward to 8 years ago, I had the first of 2 daughters and knew that I wanted to dress them differently than what I could find locally. I wanted them dressed in my clean simple style, so I borrowed a neighbor's sewing machine to try a few patterns that I liked online and was confident I could make. I almost hung it up though when I couldn't even thread the machine, I had to bring it to my day job to a co worker to show me how to thread the machine. Its been going ever since! TFBM: How long did you retail online before you decided to wholesale? Becky: Honestly, not long, about a year and a half. One reason for going into wholesale is because I do work a full time job and it was becoming too much to work, stay up all night making custom clothing, and keep up with my family. I knew I wanted to do this full time, so I decided to explore the option of designing my own garments, hire someone to make them, and to sell to stores. I am not at the point where I can leave my day time job yet. It was been a slow pace, but I will get there one day and I feel like I am on the right track. TFBM: How did you decide wholesale was the right next step for your business? Becky: I am still figuring this out! But so far(I am really in the beginning of this journey) it has been an awesome, humbling experience. I have learned so much about my goals and where I ultimately want my line to go. If I hadn't gone this direction, I don't think I would have stayed in business at least at the time. A photo of Becky's first trade show. TFBM: You have a brave story of hitting the trade shows on your own instead of hiring a rep! Tell us the top 3 things you learned doing it on your own. Becky: Thank you!! My reason for not hiring a rep and doing it myself is that I am so new, I wanted to learn all of the process and go through several production runs with my sewing contractor before taking on hopefully large orders. And I was able to see for myself what the buyers were buying! It is such an invaluable experience to interact with them and to get feedback on your line. I do hope to one day hire a rep, I just don't feel that I am quite ready for one yet. 1. Find a smaller show where you don't pay tooo much and sign up if you can, just to get a feel of the market and to learn how it all works. Walk the floors and learn as much as you can about the market you are attending before going. I had read this several times and I can't stress how important it is to know where you are going. 2. Pay attention to what the more experienced reps/designers are doing! Network and try to meet as many people as you can! See how the reps/exhibitors interact with the buyers, how they show the coordinating lines, take orders etc. I also met the coolest people! I made invaluable friendships and contacts. The networking is just tremendous and has opened the doors for possible collaborations in the future. Also, pay attention to the setup of the other vendors! Almost NO one saw my little booth or my romper displayed on a mannequin on the front table. Everyone's eyes went over my setup to the top of the booth where the signs were. Most vendors had items hanging there for buyers to get a quick view of what they had. I didn't know this! 3. Try to make appointments if you can before you go! The busy reps had appointments already booked for most of the time they were there. Ask for a buyer's guide if you aren't given one. I think the larger shows, you can purchase labels with their buyers' addresses on them. At the smaller show, we were given a buyer's guide with all of the registered buyers' contact info, very valuable!!! TFBM: How did you find out about the markets you wanted to attend? Becky: I had spoken to a local children's boutique consultant who had recommended going to a small local market as my first market. She said it was a good one because even though it was a smaller market, however reps and buyers from the bigger markets in Dallas and Atlanta were all there. It also cost a fraction of what the bigger markets cost to exhibit. Since then, I have tried to research market calendars to see when/where they were going to be and tried to plan from there. Also, I checked out the sites of popular children's lines and saw which markets they would be represented. I knew that I wanted to be at the bigger markets, but I wanted to have market experience before I ventured there. TFBM: What will you do differently at the next market?
Becky: My next market is my first big market. I will be debuting my Spring 2014 line in Atlanta in Aug. I prepared by attending the market back in June and walking the floor. I am in the process of taking pictures to make a postcard to send/email out to boutiques to let them know that I will be at the Market and trying to book appointments before I go. Also, I have several samples of each style to show where as in my first market, I had a TOTAL of 7 items. This way it will look like I am offering more. And my line is more diverse. In my first market, my 7 items were styles that I totally loved and thought so chic, but they were all gray, black and white. One thing I learned at the very end of market (literally right before the close), typically, their buyers don't buy black or gray! So I am offering a more diverse color/pattern selection that will accommodate most. I will also better prepare my booth! TFBM: What's next for Hucklebuckles? Becky: I am still trying to decide, haha. Its been a slow journey, but a fascinating one. My goal is to build my line into a sustainable business and to provide an example for my daughters that any dream is possible with hard work. I am adding boys garments to my line and an addition of Men's button down shirts specifically for Mardi Gras in collaboration with my cousin that will branch out to Saints, LSU etc, but all with the same Hucklebuckles styling. I am really excited about this! Really, I am just working hard to get my line noticed and in stores and to boost web sales. I do want to venture into the New York markets in the next couple of years. Also, I have applied for the Etsy Wholesale Beta program. I am still waiting on that, but thought it would be a useful venue. TFBM: And to close. Give me 3 words to describe a successful designer. Becky: hmmm, a learner, flexible, persistent Want to learn more about Hucklebuckles? WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM @hucklebuckles I am so honored to be sponsoring the "Talk of the Town" Giveaway hosted by Frills N Fluff | Custom Children's Boutique. Not only is the prize package awesome but the hostess is one of the nicest people ever! I have put just a sampling of the prizes below but there are 5 great prize packages in this giveaway! Head over to go see them all and enter! Click any of the photos below to go enter!
We are so excited to sponsor this giveaway over on the Crafty Texas Girls Blog! The prize packages are wonderful and I have been introduced to some amazing new designers! Go check it out and enter here: http://www.craftytexasgirls.com/2013/07/the-really-big-giveaway-16-prizes-5.html Dear TFBM,
I am in the children's wholesale business. I have several stores place orders with us. We make the garments. Then, we call up the stores to get credit card information and the store owners inform us they forgot to call and cancel their order. What is the right way to handle this? What do you recommend we do differently? What actions can we take at the beginning of the order being placed? Sincerely, Frustrated with overstock Dear FWO, This is a sad reality of this fashion wholesale businesses. The designer fronts money for supplies, fronts money for production, and then get stuck with stores that won't take their orders. Mentors to me have said, "You should expect this in the industry and you should expect it anywhere from 5-20%." Not only that, but showroom sales reps absorb none of this loss. They still want their fees and won't offset commissions on delivered orders with non deliverable orders. This can leave you with a profit margin so low that you are practically working for free. Start up costs are already so high that once you take these hits as a small business it can crush you! Here are some things you can do to gain a bit more control over your orders. These are lessons I learned the hard way.
Katie, TFBM In the past month I have done a lot of thinking about this blog and how it has evolved and where I want to take it. In this process I went back to see where it all started. What did I say a year and a half ago when I launched this blog? Well here it is: And that’s what this blog is. A fashion business mentorship of sorts. An My ultimate purpose was to bring resources to designers because I was struggling to find them myself. I also knew that if I opened a dialog great things would follow. I now see on my Facebook page designers working together to share information. I held a workshop to facilitate collaborations to show designers how working together can help them grow their business. I am hosting a giveaway workshop to teach designers an effective way to grow their fan base with the right demographic that will buy from them. And I plan to teach more.
BUT! The blog is taking a new turn. It is just as important to me to showcase the amazing design out there as it is for me to share tips to help your business succeed. I will accomplish this in 2 parts: 1. I know I don't have all the tips and advice you need so I am compiling a list of resources and I am following some other blogs that I plan to collaborate with to bring you amazing content. I plan to build a community of resources to share with you. 2. I am working on ways to help your product get seen. I am launching an online magazine this fall that will feature only small independent designers in really beautiful ways. I will be working on ways to use my fan base to build exposure for brands that follow me. Through designer spotlight, flash deals on products and giveaways. So those that have been with me the whole way. Thank you. And to those that are new, welcome to my community. A community of designers and mentors and a sharing of resources to help you succeed. ~Katie, TFBM Nobody tells this to people who are beginners… It's gonna take awhile. It's I have to add my two cents to Ira's quote... photo by JT Pro Imaging I don't need to tell you the fashion business is not an easy one. Especially if it is your sole source of income or an income you rely on to support your family. Overnight success is rare and usually has another story behind it, a lucky connection, years in the industry for another company, an amazing marketing opportunity or other fortunate advantages. It's because of this that I felt the need to encourage you this morning. You are doing a great job! You have taken the steps to start a business and you have a product that people want! I know. I know... "But Katie my sales are low. But Katie I made the most amazing garment and nobody bought it. But Katie that other store won't quit copying my product. But Katie....." Look we all have set backs. Success comes in knowing that you have to "fight your way through" as Ira suggests. And then you have to fight your way back. Back to your "center", back to why you started this in the first place. Don't lose that center! It is what will carry you through. It is that center that the idea sparked to start your business. The passion behind your designs is in this center. Your love for the business is in this center. This center sees obstacles and ways around them. It has not doubt, but hope. Not resign, but the fervor to push on! Push on my friends. And email me when you need a little help or encouragement. Katie [email protected] Nobody tells this to people who are beginners… It's gonna take awhile. It's normal to take awhile. You just gotta fight your way through. |