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Writer's pictureThe Fashion Expert®
Apr 8, 20193 min read

How to get the most out of my fashion start-up consultations.


So what exactly goes on in a Consultation with The Fashion Expert®, and how will it help you and your fashion start-up business?





How does it work?


We can condust the consultation via Skype, FaceTime, Whatsapp or just good old fashioned telephone. A lot of clients like a video call because they get to "meet" me a little more, they feel it helps them get to know me and enhances the whole experience.

On the other hand some clients are quite shy to appear in front of a stranger online, so if audio is more your thing then that is perfectly fine.

I always check in with a client on purchase to find out their preferred method of consultation, so we can work that out in the beginning.


Takeaway 1

Choose a consultation method you feel comfortable with - this will help out you at ease if you're feeling nervous.





How long will it last?


A consultation usually last for around 1 hour and that's the time you're booked in for. I'm based in the UK therefore work on London time. I have calls with clients in USA and Australia most weeks, so plan in advance when you can fit in an early morning or late evening call and we can tie up our diaries. It's a good idea to be on time as the hour you've booked starts without you if you're late.


Takeaway 2

Maximise the time you've paid for by turning up as agreed and making sure you have little or no interruptions. It's always a good idea to clear your diary of commitments to focus on you for the hour.



What will I ask you?


In advance of our call I'll request you to send me a brief outline of your business idea, your brand and the types of products you are hoping to launch. This gives me a background into which direction you are hoping to take, and which information might be specialist to you.


It's also great to learn how far you've gotten on your journey into the fashion industry even if that's not far at all.


Don't worry if you're just setting out - most clients are. If you've perhaps gotten further and have hit a stumbling block such as unresponsive factories or poor samples, these are things we can review and make a plan as to how we can get you moving again.


Takeaway 3

A little introduction to your start-up clothing line will go a long way to help me help you. Spend ten minutes putting together some info prior to the call.





What should you ask me?


My approach with clients is professional but very friendly. I want you to feel relaxed with me to discuss your ideas, and also flag which areas you need help with most. It's a good idea to make a list of things you hope to cover in the session, or indeed questions you want to remember to ask me. You can even send this to me before the call if you wish.


Sometimes clients worry they may ask silly questions. In my experience most start-ups want to know the same core information, with some specifics for their business. You've contacted an industry professional to tap into my experience and knowledge, so all questions are both relevant and important. I don't expect you to know much about the whole process and that's completely usual.


Takeaway 4

Ask me all the little things that are troubling you, worrying you or you're just not sure of. Having a list always helps as during calls your mind can go blank. You might also want to remember to take notes - there will be a lot to learn!



What's next?


During the call we will talk about designs, after-all you can't create a clothing line without them. I'll walk you through the design process and explain to you what will happen if you choose to have your range designed by myself. You're under no obligation to do so, and it's certainly not a hard sales pitch, but some of the questions involved will include design and development so it's good to be in the know.


If you'd like to book an initial consultation with me to talk about your ideas, my services and how we can make a plan together to get your fashion brand launched this year then you can do so here.


You can also email me at any time info@thefashionexpert.co.uk



Writer's pictureThe Fashion Expert®
Mar 6, 20194 min read

A day in the life of The Fashion Expert®

Updated: Mar 28, 2019


One of my main goals in 2019 is to share more about myself. Who is The Fashion Expert and why should you work with me?

I'm not an avid a selfie taker, or one to publish my whole life online, however I realise that clients like to get to know me before working with me so I'll be sharing more of this type of content with you.

One question I'm always asked is what my day looks like, so I've written a blog post about a typical day in my UK studio. My days really vary, and are often dictated by what work I have on that week or how quickly clients get back to me about projects. Some days are intensive design and others are very interactive with different clients. But what never fails is the variety of exciting projects and passionate clients. I wouldn't change it for the world.


Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert®
Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert®

6AM

I set my alarm early as I'm definitely a morning person, and getting a head start on the day seems to set me up well. I've never been a night owl and wake up early even at weekends. Even if I'm working from home or not seeing clients I'm up early and dressed for the day ahead. PJs work for some people but I need to be in my work mode to feel professional.


6.30AM

Breakfast with my other half. From our dining room we can see out over some local stables, and we are often visited at the bottom of our garden by a horse looking for carrots. It's a relaxing start listening to the birds and discussing our day ahead.


7AM

Admin in the studio with Radio 6. I like to set the early morning aside to answer emails and queries from new clients. I find a lot come in overnight due to clients using their evening for their startup brand side hustle. If I answer them early in the morning they can reply during their commute or morning break.

I check my diary and wall planner to see which clients are booked in that day, schedule the calls and consultations and of course the design work for current ranges and projects. I always need to check timezones to make sure I can speak to clients at appropriate times of day depending where they are in the world.

Finally I check financial tasks such as invoices, and if time permits, head over to see what is happening on social media and read any interesting newsletters.


Notebooks
Getting organised

8.30AM

Design work. Today I am working on a range of mens activewear for a new client so I am taking a few hours this morning to get a good run at designing.


11.30AM

I usually get deliveries around this time, which are often samples from clients, samples for sizing, fabric swatches or anything else related to their design project. I'll receive new fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle and any new books I may have ordered.


12.00PM

At lunchtime I like to multi-task so often combine my "lunch break" with a podcast or training event. If its a nice day I'll take a walk around the lake in our local park which is very pretty in the sunshine. Today I'm taking part in a social media webinar, as I feel it's always good to keep learning, developing my business skills and staying up to date with improvements I can make.


12.30PM

I have a video consultation with a new client who is launching a luxury womenswear range of dresses and jumpsuits. Having bought my E-Book she's now ready to discuss her ideas and gain some one to one guidance. Working in a completely different sector she is new to the fashion industry. I talk her through a range of things from how to gather her inspiration ideas, how we will work together to plan her range, the design process, the sampling process and how to work with a manufacturer. I love these sessions as every client is different. The best part is the end, when clients feel energised with confidence to take their idea forward and work with me as on their clothing line.





1.30PM

I have a catch up call with one of my clients to go over the designs I created for his mens urbanwear brand. All is good and the designs are approved to take forward to tech packs and sizing specs.


2PM

Deign work continues for my menswear activewear client.


4.30PM

Pilates class. Sitting at a computer all day is awful for posture so I try to schedule in some yoga and pilates into the week to undo the hunch and stretch out. It's also an incredible way to switch off as you can't balance on one leg and think about your to-do list!


5.30PM

I do an hours research on trends, catwalk shows and colour in preparation for some trend reports and childrenswear mood boards I'm curating for a regular client.


Moodboards
Moodboards

7.30PM

After dinner I do a little admin or social media but this evening I write this blog post and book tickets for a forthcoming tradeshow in London.


8.30PM

The rest of the evening will be spent relaxing with my other half, some chilled music and perhaps a small Malbec.


If you'd like to connect with me on social media you can do so via the links at the top of this page.


Michelle - The Fashion Expert®

Writer's pictureThe Fashion Expert®
Dec 27, 20183 min read

Fashion Startup Plan For 2019

January signals new beginnings and fresh starts. Its a great window of opportunity to reflect upon last year, what you achieved and perhaps consider what you didn't. But more importantly, it's the perfect time to plan and set goals.


If you're considering launching a new fashion startup brand then this blog post should help you plan a strategy by giving you some pointers of what to bear in mind. You can also download my free Launch Plan For Fashion Startups here.






Have a plan

It may sound obvious but you'd be amazed at how many people don't form a plan. A haphazard approach can hinder your progress, so start mapping out how you will launch your fashion collection. In very basic terms, you should think about what you want to achieve, when you want to achieve it and form a strategy of how you are going to get there. These key stages of the strategy should have a rough timeline, so you can breakdown what you will do and when.



Do your research


Most of my clients are new to the fashion industry, with a day job in a non related sector. Setting up a clothing line is their side hustle, and finding out how to launch a clothing range can be a steep learning curve. You'll need to know how to design your raw ideas into cads, tech packs and size specs. You will also need to consider what happens in sampling and production and how to source factories, fabrics and trims. If you'd like to know the in depth stages involved in setting up a fashion brand there is a wealth of information in my e-book Fashion Startup's Guide To Manufacture.


Invest in experts


We all have skills and talents in particular areas and we play to these strengths in our careers. Launching a fashion brand requires a plethora of skills, and if you don't have them you need to find someone who is an expert in that field. You'll need an experienced designer who can translate your raw ideas into professional fashion drawings, in addition to having the knowledge that can make or break your fashion collection's launch.



Stay realistic


When having consultations with clients I aways say it's better to have too many ideas which you can expand into later than having very little in the beginning. You can't do everything all at once so it makes good business sense to concentrate on one road to begin with. Perhaps you wish to launch a fitness apparel brand for both men and women. In this example it might be good to start with one gender first EG menswear. Once the clothing line is established then you'll be in a better position to expand into womenswear.



Be a tortoise not a hare


In today's world we expect everything instantly. Launching a fashion brand is not a quick process so let's just be clear on that straight away. Although enthusiasm and determination are qualities required in bucketloads, rushing into snap decisions will cost money and time in the long-run. Take your time, do your research and you'll do it correctly.


Hopefully this information has given you food for thought and a starting point for launching your fashion brand.


I'd love to hear about your idea for a fashion start-up! If you would like to talk over your ideas with The Fashion Expert® then you can book in for a consultation here.


Michelle Ramsay

The Fashion Expert®


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