Get out of Your Garage and Into Nordstrom
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Chicago Manufacturing Tour
New Dates!
Wednesday, May 16 SOLD OUT!
Wednesday, May 23
Location: Chicago – tour of 4 factories
Presenters: Jane Hamill and Anna Livermore
How to Use Email Marketing to Get More Business
New Start Time! 12 pm EST
Free Interactive Webinar
Friday, May 18, 2012
12 pm Eastern (9 am Pacific, 11 am Central)
Presenters: Jane Hamill and Boaz David
New Designer Program
for start-up designers
Going On Now
Location: ONLINE Course with live Q & A support
Presenter: Jane Hamill
Past events:
What to Charge: Pricing Your Work
Saturday, March 24, 3 pm
Location: Creative Chicago Expo, 78 E. Washington St. (Chicago Cultural Center)
Presenter: Jane Hamill
Webinar: How to Work With a Sewing Contractor
Friday, April 20 at 1 pm Eastern (10 am Pacific, 12 pm Central
Location: Online FREE Webinar.
Presenter: Boaz David and Jane Hamill
Boost Your Fashion Business Workshop
Friday, April 27, 9 am – 12 pm,
Location: Chicago, 400 W. Erie Street
Presenters: Jane Hamill and Lara Miller
Today’s question is from an accessories designer – should I do a trade show? What if I’m brand new at this? Check out Jane’s answer – click below or watch it here.
Was this helpful to you? Can you share your experience with trade shows in the comment section below?
Thanks! Jane
“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain – and most fools do.” -Dale Carnegie
You’re angry. You’re hurt. You’re embarrassed, even humiliated. Someone has done you wrong – by criticizing you in a hurtful way.
There’s a difference between someone offering constructive criticism – such as how to improve your business or your product – and someone talking trash about you.
Here’s some advice form the Fashion Brain School of Hard Knocks:
Make a distinction between Feedback and Insult
It’s possible that people are not actually criticizing you, they just disagree with you.
In many ways, we are conditioned to think we’re right, so we treat feedback as criticism. I remember pitching a new idea to another consultant – one I like and trust – and she pointed out all the potential problems with my genius idea. I got defensive and rushed to get off the phone with her. It took me a while to realize she was sincerely trying to help but I was to pig-headed to notice.
Consider the Source
Who is criticizing you? What’s going on in his or her life that makes them so critical? There are just some people who are full of negativity and can’t find good in anything. What’s hard to deal with is when you see others are actually listening and maybe even believing the negative person. You just have to trust that anyone “normal” will figure out what Miss Negative’s all about soon enough and take what she says with a grain of salt.
Success = Criticism
I read this one time and found it to be a rather sad statement, however true. When you have a measure of success, or perceived success, people get jealous. Many people have doubt in their ability to do something BIG, and if they see you doing it, that stings. Then they strike back by taking a pot-shot at you so they feel a little better.
Your Mother Was Right
I remember in 3rd grade when I came home from school crying because Nora (yes, I remember her name) said something nasty about me. I was inconsolable. She was a really popular blonde girl, Mom, and my best friend! My Mom looked me in the eye and said, “She’s jealous of you.” While Mom had a hard time convincing my 9 year-old self of that, I see it clearly now. Criticizing others is a classic way to make you feel better.
This is MY Territory
When your competition is critical, it hurts. The reality is that you are a threat to others with your success. They are worried about their business, and too many times they look to how you could hurt them rather than potential ways you could collaborate and SHARE some customers. Their criticism comes from a place of fear and all you can really do is ignore it and do NOT strike back, no matter how badly you want to. It will only make you look bad and unprofessional, I promise.
What if it’s True?
When someone criticizes us, it points out our own insecurities. If you secretly agree that you’re not really all that talented, or whatever the topic of the criticism is, you want to take a look at that. Get to the root of why the criticism bothers you so much. Why do you maybe, sort of, kinda agree with your naysayer? What can you do about it? Find a way to take what’s useful to improve yourself and your business, leave the rest alone, and keep going.
3 Practical Takeaways From Today’s Article
1) Let it Go: You can listen to what “people” say or you can keep your sanity. It’s your choice. Don’t to consider the source. Forgiveness is hard. But staying angry has devastating side effects. I love this quote from Buddha:
“Holding on to your anger is like gripping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else: you are the one that gets burned.”
2) Write a letter. One good way to accomplish “Let it Go” is to write a letter to the “offender”. I mean get it all out – slap down on the truth and the injustice you have been subjected to! Then rip that letter up and take a deep breath. It just feels good to tell your side – in actual black and white – and have your voice heard, albeit in your own head. Begin the letter with, “I’d like to tell my perspective…” I’m serious, though, do NOT mail that letter. And did you notice I say a letter and not an email? That’s because an email is too easy to send. Don’t do it. No good can come from a confrontation.
3) The best way to avoid criticism is to stay home with the phone off, write no emails, stay off social media, be silent, travel nowhere, make no friends, make no decisions, take no action, and have no business. That’s not likely to happen. So just remember, if you’re in the game, really IN it, there will be criticism. It helps to be mentally prepared for the negative feedback, however, so when it happens you don’t let it affect you or slow you down. As Paul Newman said, “If you have no enemies, you don’t have character”. Wouldn’t you rather have character and take the heat?
So what do YOU think?
Now I’d love to hear your take on this topic. Have you been hurt by criticism and how did you handle it? Did it spur you on or paralyze you for a it? Do you have any strategies to share?
Be specific and share your best stories, advice, and experience in the comments below!
Thanks in advance for contributing to the conversation.
“Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” ~Aristotle
Something great is happening in Chicago for Apparel and Accessories Designers. For the first time in YEARS, a new wholesale fabric showroom, called Chicago Wholesale Fabrics, has opened in the the Windy City.
The new space is the brain child of Diana Muzzy (known as the NICEST rep in the city) and Jay Arbetman (aka Mister Zipper). The goal of the showroom is to give independent fashion designers a chance to source professionally. Local designers are thrilled because it’s all in one place and there’s no need to be leavin’ on a jet plane to source fabrics.
A picture from the Grand Opening Party
According to CWF’s website, Diana and Jay’s new showroom is “about giving you choices with continuity, quality and garment center showroom pricing. It is about offering you fabric, zippers, buttons, elastic and labels at world class prices even if you are a start-up or early on in your quest for designer fame and fortune. It is about connecting you with all types of industry professionals and industry resources.”
Here is a list of a few of the fabric and trim companies represented at Chicago Wholesale Fabrics:
Hours and location:
Chicago Wholesale Fabrics
2256 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL , 60612
Mon – Fri: 10 am to 5 pm. Sat: 10 am to 2 pm and by appointment.
If you’re looking for more fabric sources, grab a copy of my FREE report, “How to Find Wholesale Fabrics in Small Quantities and Not Get Ripped Off in the Process”. You can download the free fabric report HERE.
Another pic from the grand opening party…
Before we get down to the nitty gritty of getting and keeping more customers, I think it’s worthwhile to look at the reasons why you DON’T have enough. Let’s start with the 3 reasons you don’t have all the customers you really want…
1) One reason you don’t have all the customers you want is you’re not really sure who you should be targeting. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been in business 5 months or 5 years. I work with entrepreneurs of all kinds and this issue crops up for so many of us – we’re not clear who we should be targeting.
The truth is (and I’ve been through it myself more than once) that if YOU aren’t sure who you should be targeting, you won’t know where to find them, and you won’t know what marketing message to write to them.
If YOU’RE confused, trust me, THEY are too. And they will not buy from you if they don’t really “get” that your product is for them. Customers will think, I’m confused, well maybe I’m not, oh I think I am. And a confused customer just walks away, often not even understanding why they didn’t buy.
2) Another reason you don’t have all the customers you need is you are not standing outin the marketplace. If someone lands on your webpage, for instance, is it really clear what you sell and how they can buy it? Is there a compelling reason customers should buy from you and not from them? It doesn’t matter whether you sell business to business or direct to consumer. There is so much SAME-ness out there. You simply must be willing to take a risk, have a point of view, and have something unique about your product that distinguishes you from the pack.
3) The third reason you don’t have packs of customers at your door is that you don’t spend enough time on your marketing. I’m talking about marketing to your current customers – so you can keep them happy. And I’m also thinking about new customers and how you’re going to get them interested in what you do. It would be nice if customers just found you, right? But that’s not the way it works and you need to go after them — once you’ve defined who it is you need to go after (back to #1). And if your excuse is “I don’t have the time for all the marketing!” then consider this: you have to make time because no customers = no business.
Here’s what you should do now…
Step One: Get clear on who your ideal customer is
Step Two: Be sure you stand out in the marketplace
Step Three: Begin marketing on a consistent basis
What would happen if you had a marketing plan in place and knew what you should do – specifically – every week, every month, every quarter? What difference would that make in your business? Your stress level? Your life? Your bank account?
If you’re not sure how to do these steps on your own, and you want help focusing and staying accountable, maybe it’s time to get some help. There’s a Buddhist Proverb that states, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
If you’re ready, we can work on these steps together. You can contact me at brain@fashionbrainacademy or 773.551.2111.
Wednesday was the debut of a new chapter of my consulting life – helping fashion designers find specific sewing contractors for their apparel and (sewn products) accessories. I was the host along with Anna Livermore of V. Mora. Attendees flew in from New York, Indianapolis, Minnesota, and came from all over Illinois. It was a huge hit and we already have more dates planned to visit 4 different factories.
Here’s how the day went…
8:45 am: The designers arrive at the V. Mora Studio on Chicago’s north side. It was fun to meet everyone as I knew many of the names from my online classes and webinars, but not the faces. The energy in the studio was high.
Anna and I hand out folders for all the attendees with contact details of the factories we will hit as well as a sample cutting tickets, a tech pack, and a few other handy production docs Anna uses in her consulting work.
9:00 am: We head outside for a group pic and we pile into the mini-bus. Spirits are high.
Our mini-bus…
Our fearless driver, Kevin (with Anna from V. Mora)
9:15 am: Our first stop is a large factory on the north side. the owner explains what he can do for designers and what machines he has. This is a pretty huge operation and the owner explains what they can do. It sounds to me like he can do everything which I promptly disregard as B.S. After I talk to Anna, however, she tells me the guy is serious.
She’s worked with his factory with a lot of clients and he really can do everything. And get this…she tells me he’s never missed a deadline.
Never missed a deadline? Is she kidding me? My eyes pretty much pop out of my head because the nature of production is stacked against deadlines in almost every way.
In the 14 years I managed production for my women’s bridge dress and separated line, I’ve honestly never experienced a contractor like that. I start to see Mr. Factory Owner #1 in a new light.
9:45: Back in the van, we head south on the way to Chinatown. The chatter in the van is awesome – the designers are comparing notes, exchanging cards and, well, just connecting. It makes me happy because I know many of them feel isolated with the work they do. I certainly felt that way when I had my line – like there was no one to talk to about my work and certainly no one who would be honest with me.
10:20 am: Chinatown. OK, so my first impression of this factory is that it’s crowded. It has very low ceilings and smells vaguely like mothballs and Asian food. When I see the quality of the work, however, it looks very, very good.
In the pressing room upstairs I see a silk jacket they’re finishing up with a silk cuff. I know for a fact that I NEVER had sewers who would have been able to make that cuff lie flat the way it is. It’s beautiful, flawless even. I fall in love.
2 floors of sewers in Chinatown, Chicago…
11:00 am: Off to Little Village for lunch. Even though it’s early we’re all starving. Lunch has been ordered ahead and the chips, salsa, and coke are good to go. The chips are the BEST I have ever eaten. No lie. The pork taco is mucho bueno – good enough to put this place on the schedule for the next tour (see the schedule here).
The talk at the tables between the entrepreneurs is great – ideas are flowing and the general feeling is creative, fun, and exciting. To be surrounded by like-minded people in a tight group like this is not an everyday thing and we are all appreciating it.
12 pm: Off to the next stop. Once back in the van, we get stuck waiting for a freight train that is about 150 cars long. It is an interminable wait and for the first time the van is almost quiet. We all have a food hangover and designers whip out their phones, check email, and a few take a quick nap.
I have recommended this next factory to many clients in the past. Their prices are reasonable and the work is good. They do a terrific job on handbags and do work for some well-known brands.
1:00 pm. We lost a lot of time on that darn train so I’m getting nervous we’ll run late. I know one of the designers has to fly back to NY tonight and I’m anxious to stick to the schedule. Our driver is, um, shall we say speedy and we get to our next stop a lot faster than if it was me driving.
This last contractor is one I used for my dresses for many, many years. My older son practically grew up on the floor of the factory – which sounds strange unless you’ve seen how spotless and organized this place is. They have to be clean because they make wedding dresses.
In addition to bridal, this contractor specializes in high end, finely crafted apparel and can handle tricky dress fabrics like chiffon and silk charmeuse. We all swoon at a bridal dress they are finishing up with 40 hand-sewn lace pieces – it’s about to be shipped off to Nordstrom and that’s going to be one happy bride.
High end dresses and wedding dresses…
The last stop
1:30 pm: The last pile-in to the mini-bus. I’m starting to get feedback from the attendees including a few I jotted down…
“I am very happy that everyone is so open to sharing about their businesses and their experiences.”
“In addition to the cutting ticket and other forms you gave us, it would be great to get more details about the step-by-step process of getting a garment produced.”
“Seriously it’s really great and just knowing that there is a supportive network out there is helpful!”
“I would have enjoyed seeing one or two bigger operations like the first one we went to in the morning.”
“I will definitely recommend this tour and I’d do it again myself! I would actually take the tour again if there will be different manufacturers on the trip.”
The tours ends with one last ride and promises to keep in touch and share information with each other. The overall vibe is happy and energetic, and the designers seem very motivated to get back to their businesses and crush it. We circle back to Anna’s Studio, hug goodbye, and go back to our “real” lives.
Since the tour went so well, we will definitely be offering more! We already have some designers booking their second tour – going to new factories, yay!
Info on Tour Dates and to Sign Up, CLICK HERE.
If you’re in NY and you want help finding pattern makers, sewing contractors, and product development in general, you can talk to Boaz David, my good friend and co-founder of the Indie Design Association. There are also production forms available for purchase on the IDA website, including a Cutter’s Must, Spec Sheet, Cost Sheet, and more.
What designers are saying about the Tour:
“I wanted an introduction to a few contractors and I definitely got that and more! I am currently sewing everything myself and I had no idea I was so close to having my production sewn elsewhere – it’s a very pleasant realization! Worth every penny.” -Sam Howard, Bobalookids, http://shop.bobalookids.com/
The tour was even better than I expected! It was fantastic to get a chance to talk to so many great people and hear about their businesses and ideas. I like the manufacturer choices – they seem to offer a good variety/offerings.” -M.S., Chicago designer
“LOVING this manufacturing tour w/ @fashbrain TOTALLY worth the $ if you’re moving towards cut/sew!” Twitter Comment from Truem Jaimes (@truenjaimes)
Retail buyers don’t really care too much about your design inspiration, your process, your training etc.. What do they care about? Watch the video now.
Did you like this video? Then pass it on and click the LIKE button below! Pay it forward.
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!
Watch the video for the tips, below are the sources. enjoy! (You can also click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rewo1RdEw0)
W and W Inc.
http://wnwinc.com/
Fancy Weaver
http://www.fancyweaver.com/label/
Labeltex
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 at www.janehamill.com.
This is a guest post from Maggie Keenan, founder of givingadvice, llc.
Q: What should I consider if I am thinking about associating my product/brand with a particular charitable cause (similar to Toms shoes)? What are the legal, cost, marketing, etc strategies and implications, and what are the various ways one can associate with charitable organizations (“1% of each sale is donated”; “add a donation” at check out, etc)? Thank you!
A: Fashion brands that want to give back and support a particular charity by hosting a fund raiser, offer some type of cause marketing campaign (i.e. percentage of sale or ‘round up’ customer sales to the $1) are required to have permission from the charity. This is the legal aspect you need to have in place.
A third-party fundraising agreement, which charities require, is easy to execute. The reason an agreement (contract) needs to be in place is charities often do not allow businesses and brands to use their name or logo to raise funds without their permission, you are engaging customers in the giving aspect, you are promoting it to the public/customers.
Sometimes charities will state how funds cannot be raised as well. Businesses and brands that raise funds must also follow the law with regards to raising charitable dollars for charities. There are legal mandates for cause marketing campaigns. A few states even mandate a business to register to do this as well. Really!
If, however, a brand decides to just write a check or donate goods to a charity, these do not require you to have an agreement because the funds are your own, not on the customers back and you are not promoting it as a fundraiser, simply because it is the act of just charitable giving (just like you write a personal check to any charity at Christmas time.) Cause marketing campaigns are not philanthropy/charitable giving.
It is important for brands to have a giving plan in place, just like a marketing plan or product launch plan. A plan helps leverage different ways to give back without pinching your pocket and develop a message that can resonate with customers and t can resonate with customers and your community.
It is a great way to build customer loyalty and to separate your brand from a competitor. However, a shot gun approach or ‘it’s a nice thing to do’ approach often leads to poorly managed campaigns.
GIVINGADVICE: Brands should have a giving plan in place (simple is fine), know the requirements, and then have fun raising money (without getting into trouble!)
TYPES OF CAUSE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS:
Hope that answers your question.
Maggie
Have you successfully partnered with any charities? Let me know – leave a comment below. What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Maggie Keenan is the owner of givingadvice, llc, a cause marketing and brand philanthropy boutique consultancy to emerging and established fashion, beauty, fitness and health brands. She connects brands with causes to impact the awareness and prosperity for both. An avid runner and former runway model, you can find Maggie on the road or runway when she isn’t in her office. Find her at www.givingadvice.com
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