In product-based businesses, the issue of excess stock is often a problem that is overlooked. It is, in fact, one of the silent killers known to the fashion business. Being aware of it and actively managing “it” is imperative for the health of any fashion business. Keeping it as low as possible is the ultimate solution, but dealing with reality and having a clear overstock clearance plan is the most effective solution.

[embed]https://youtu.be/G4muR5Cf7cY[/embed]

Excess stock is a silent business killer because it creeps up on brands without them noticing. Season after season it is normal for some stock to be left unsold. But as it piles up, few realise that these leftover unsold products are effectively cash tied up that cannot be put back into work in the business. Worse, it sits on the financial balance sheet as carrying overstock.

Depending at the rate at which overstock accumulates, it can come to a point when if the business begins to struggle financially and wishes to raise in...

Every day, the average person creates enough waste to fill a trash truck. That means that you're responsible for producing around 4 pounds of garbage per day! As more people turn to their computers or smartphones for purchases, now is the right time to shop sustainably. Choosing to purchase clothes online without increasing your eco-footprint involves knowing your measurements before buying anything. Find out how you can save time and money while still getting what your heart desires with these tips.

In the following article, you will learn about carbon footprint and why size matters when shopping online. You can reduce your carbon footprint by learning how waste is created and how it can be reduced or eliminated.

What is your carbon footprint?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colourless and odourless gas that contributes to the carbon cycle and is a natural component of our air. Your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases produced by your activities. Each of us contributes to ...

There is a fine line between inspiration and plagiarism. It’s a line that many companies, well established or otherwise, are happy to cross, if they think they can get away with it.

https://youtu.be/N4TnhhL6GjA

Read on to find out what you can do to stop getting plagiarised and protect your designs.

“Imitation is the highest form of flattery” Coco Chanel.

In the pursuit of the next big thing and when your own reserves of originality may be on the wane, temporarily, it’s easy to jump onto someone else’s bandwagon and pass their work off as your own.

This type of behaviour is rife in all creative industries including but not limited to music, art and fashion. It’s really difficult not to be influenced by the things we see or hear every day.

This overexposure to imagery seeps into one's subconscious so perhaps some designers could be forgiven for thinking that their ideas are their own.

Read more on Design & Development in the BECOME A FASHION INSIDER Book

Why is it so Easy fo...

Fashion trade shows are almost a rite of passage in the fashion industry, and they can be a great place to start if you are looking for suppliers. They can also be a great source of confusion and overwhelm if you go unprepared. 

I’ve attended Premiere Vision Paris a couple of times while developing my handbag collection.  My experience from the first to the second time I visited was like comparing chalk with cheese. Let me tell you why, and share my tips for getting the most out of attending fashion trade shows.

The first time I attended PV, I was in the very early stages of my business. At that point, I didn’t have any contacts and didn’t even have a fully-formed idea of my designs yet, or even the type of leather or material I wanted to use – so this trip was very much about finding inspiration, seeing the scope of the industry, and gaining experience with sourcing.

Walking into the show for the first time, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by the amount there was to se...

Creatives are famous for being "perfectionists." They are never satisfied with the end result. Always trying to improve on a product, they often overlook the effects this has on the business. Deadlines often come and go and products remain on hold because of small detailing not being "just so." But when you run a business and your business is product-based, you cannot afford to chase perfection. Commercial thinking must be exercised, deadlines respected and the business needs put first.

New entrepreneurs often focus on wanting to create the "perfect" product or service for their customers. Most seasoned businessmen will quickly tell you if you asked, that this focus on perfection is rather misplaced.

While you may compare yourself to your competitors who have been in business for a number of years, and feel that there are few more improvements to be made to an already good product; this strive for perfection could hold you back and prove to be a big mistake for a number of reasons.

Having a website is no longer a choice for a business. Regardless of the size, industry, or location – a company not having a website online is like not having a name.

Gosia Radkiewicz, co-founder at BB E-commerce and Bike Belle, takes a look at the possibilities open to start-ups who are in need of an online presence but are on a shoestring budget.

With ever more people leaving the comfort of the 9-5 job and starting their own businesses or side projects, getting exposure and reaching a wider audience is imperative. Imagine going to a business meeting without business cards: new clients and opportunities would simply bypass you, heading directly to your competitor. Sometimes the first thing we need is to test a market or get a web presence and determine what kind of customer base we will have once we get off the ground. Either way, in today's day and age most entrepreneurs operate on a tight budget.

Do it now

We are all busy people and sometimes it feels impossible to spare this e...

Ask any consumer what brand value is and most will mumble something or other but rarely answer. But ask them why they purchased a luxury branded bag and they may respond with “the quality is good,” or “the designs and fabrics attracted me.” However, the true reason why people buy most products – especially luxury goods – lies in the power of branding and creating brand value.

Brand value. This simple two-word phrase is absolutely vital for your fashion business.

What is branding?

Branding is the process of creating a particular design, symbol or name that is immediately identifiable to consumers and sets that brand apart from their competitors with a consistent theme that builds a loyal customer base.

Successful branding means that an opinion or emotional thought comes to the consumers’ minds when they recall a certain brand. These opinions and emotions are often formed through personal memory with a product, the functional benefits that the product provides to them, or the way the...

Attending a fashion trade show is a great opportunity for a new designer brand to announce its arrival on the fashion scene. For those more established, exhibiting at trade shows is just another way to access new national and international buyers.

You’ll expose your work to new stockists that we're unaware of you and build brand awareness. It is also a great opportunity to find agents or distributors, source new trade buyers, meet the press, stylists and bloggers; see what your competitors are doing and get inspiration and new ideas.

However, you’ll need to be very clear about what you hope to gain from attending as some events are more a PR exercise than the event of a sale.

Don’t be disheartened if you fail to recoup your expenses or even place orders the first time around, as buyers prefer to see you for a couple of seasons before stocking you.

Preparation before a fashion trade show

Carefully plan the sample collection that you intend to show at the fashion trade show. It shou...

As anyone who’s whiled away an evening 'pinning' can confirm, Pinterest is something of an addiction. Millions of users can’t seem to get enough of the social scrapbooking site. For anyone in the fashion business, this social platform is one of the best ones out there, especially for sharing what inspires your brand. So if you are not 'pinning' already, you are missing out and here is why.

If you’ve never visited the site, here’s how it works: Pinterest is a highly visual platform to put images that are highly appealing and are relevant to your audience. Let's go over terminologies that pinners use and how you can grow your business with Pinterest.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a search engine tool that people use to discover ideas they are interested in.

Pin - every visual in the form of an image, GIF, or a video, that people use, is a 'pin'. It works in the same way as you'd pin a newspaper cutout of your favourite dress to aboard. Each pin has a URL and a description of it. Th...

Many fashion brand owners and entrepreneurs I speak to often complain about lack of sales and ask "how do you increase sales for your fashion brand"? They blame the economy, social media and everything under the sun. Their brands and businesses suffer, struggle and often close because of no sales. The reality is somewhat different. Never before have we had so many opportunities to sell our products. If you believe this and still not selling, the harsh truth is that you are simply not doing enough to bring the sales home.

Now there are many reasons why you may not sell a product. It could be that the product price is wrong or the product/market fit is not good.

It could be that your brand marketing communication is lacklustre and not clear enough who you are communicating to.

While we see this daily and help many entrepreneurs get back on track, the act of selling products is really a numbers game.

There is no magic formula.

How much you sell and how you sell really depends on yo

...