Jane Hamill | Podcast

In this episode of the Fashion Brain podcast, I talk about the most common myths about launching a line of apparel or accessories. A lot of us have been Project runway-ized and think starting a business will be different than it really is. Crack these myths and you will become a more successful entrepreneur and designer! 

I’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard to think through the tough questions. Most of us would rather get started designing our awesome product than think through the details of what it means to own a business. On this episode of the Fashion Brain podcast, we talk about what questions you need to ask yourself before you launch a fashion line (or any business, for that matter). It’s a step many of us want to skip. But I warn you… If you launch a fashion biz (and start spending money) without addressing these issues first, you’ll be sorry.

This week we’re talking about pricing your product or service with my awesome guest Tom Buford of Tome Buford marketing. And really, about the FEAR of pricing. And the voices in our heads that say…  Who would pay that for what I do? If I price it like that even I couldn’t afford my own product! I’ll start with this low price and raise my price later after I get a following. What if nobody buys? I better price it low just in case! All of these pricing fears are real – and they can be devastating to your business and your bottom line.

In this episode of the Fashion Brain podcast, we talk about the down-an-dirty reality of running a fashion business. My guest is Maria Boustead, designer and founder of Po Campo. Maria designs bags that are functional and cute and she loves what she does. She shares her story about the things she wasn’t prepared for, her lucky break that turned into her worst nightmare, how her business strategy has changed, and stepping off the cliff. She is SO HONEST in this interview – it is tremendous of her to share the real deal. No BS and no sugar coating. You are going to LOVE it! She is one of my favorite designers on the planet. This is amazing advice for any entrepreneur, maker, or fashion designer who is looking for their lucky break. 

Ever wonder why some creative entrepreneurs succeed and others struggle? On this episode of the Fashion Brain podcast, we talk about ALL creatives, not just fashion designers. We cover ways to sell your work, 3 things that every creative needs to do to be successful, and how to sell your work. My guest is Paul Klein. Paul is an art mentor and he runs a 12 week online for artists to de-mystify the art world. My sister (an artist) took the class and LOVED it. She introduced me to Paul and that was my lucky day. Paul Klein also works with TED Fellows, writes for Huffington Post and ArtLetter and ran his own cutting edge Chicago gallery for 30 years. Basically, he’s the go-to guy in Chicago when it comes to the art world.

Are you having a hard time getting your line in front of boutique buyers? Today is your lucky day. On this episode of the Fashion Brain podcast, we talk all about calling stores, road-tripping, sales strategies, hustle, patience, and retail buyers. I’m so lucky to have the chance to interview Meredith Banzhoff – a designer who’s not afraid to share her story. She even talks about the step-by-step strategies she used to get into her first 10 retail stores. Also check out my training course on how to sell your line to boutiques, a best seller! http://fashionbrainacademy.com/training-courses/sell-boutiques/  

I know when I first started my womenswear line I was very confused about how to get an IDEA from my head turned into an actual viable product that I could sell. There’s a lot to do and you can't just Google that info up! This podcast discuss the steps to starting a successful clothing or accessory line, the biggest mistakes designers make, and what I wish I knew when I started.   For a step by step guide to becoming a successful designer click here: http://fashionbrainacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/white-outfit-Copy-1024x731-1.jpg  

Unfortunately we can't read our buyers minds. As fashion designers and entrepreneurs we need our buyers to survive. In today's podcast you'll learn what keeps a buyer from writing an order for your line, their three pet peeves about working with emerging designers, why buyers are not completely honest with you, and how to overcome buyers' objections. Get inside the buyers mind, and more importantly GET INTO THEIR STORES!  You NEED to hear the truth.   So you can tweak your line.   So you can learn what (if anything) you’re doing wrong.   So you can get the order!

I don’t think I can even count as high as the number of mistakes I made with my clothing line and retail store. I mean, I was GREEN when I started! Trial and error was just a way of life for me back then and it really cost me — in terms of time, money, and energy. Today I discuss three of my biggest mistakes to help you avoid them as a fashion designer, maker, or entrepreneur!   

Behind every business is a story. There’s a big WHY for each and every one of you, wether your a designer, maker, creator, or entrepreneur. Today’s podcast tells some of those stories and peeks behind the curtain of 14 entrepreneurs and their WHY. For help with starting your own business and finding your WHY check out my training courses!  http://fashionbrainacademy.com/training-courses/training-courses-2/  

Did you ever get a comment that left you a little stunned? The more you put yourself out there, the more feedback you’ll get. Sometimes it feels like everyone has an opinion and they’re sure to tell you. Today’s episode is all about ways to handle criticism gracefully – and even learn from it to help your fashion business. 

There is no one-size-fits-all way to sell when it comes to fashion. As makers, designers, and creators there are always obstacles when it comes to selling our products. Should I sell wholesale? Direct to consumer through Etsy of craft shows? My own online store? In this podcast I discuss the different selling avenues as well as the ones I started with- the good and the bad.  Grab the Show Notes here:  http://fashionbrainacademy.com/ways-to-sell/

This episode focuses on finding your target audience as a fashion business owner, entrepreneur, creator, or designer and teaches you how to obtain, and maintain, customers. Learn even more about creating a fashion business and being a new designer at http://fashionbrainacademy.com/training-courses/new-designer-program/      

How to do LESS and get the same- or better -results, a key to running a successful business. In this podcast, I walk you through an exercise to find the “crossover” between what you love to do (and produce) compared to what products people will happily pay you money for. For any maker, creator, or designer if you find the crossover, life will be a whole lot easier…