“I mean, I was ready to close it down” - Nicole Giordano from Startup Fashion tells us in today’s episode. Have you felt like this before? When you’re just tired of it all and need something to change

Today you’ll learn about where to start when reinventing your business. You’ll also hear about the importance of being the face of your brand, and what that really looks like. 

Our best-selling course to learn how to set up a profitable clothing or accessories business: 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/launch/

Show Notes & More Information Links Here:

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/reinventing-your-business/

You can find Nicole’s Startup Fashion community on Substack at startupfashion.substack.com

First, you can grab our Costing & Pricing Template + Workshop for only $10 with code: PODCAST. 

LINK: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/costsheet

In this episode, you'll learn the top costing and pricing mistakes many fashion designers make -- and yup, I've made them all. We talk about undercharging due to pricing fear, misconceptions about what we think people will pay, lack of understanding what proper margins are for fashion products, and believeing the Shopify bro marketers who teach you can 3x your COGS and actually make money. 

We also touch on how your production location effects pricing, minimum order quantity, and how the manufacturing world is shiftting (and it's a good thing). 

Enjoy, 

Jane 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/

(This is a clip from our List Buiilding for Fashion & Jewelry Designers class.)

Why will people buy from you instead of somebody else? 

It's important in your business to know what you're selling and to have words for it. If you know EXACTLY what you're selling, you can say it in every video, and in all of your copy and marketing messages. 

Most of us worry that if we get narrow with our marketing message, we won't have a big enough audience to sell to. We tend to worry that a tight niche could be too narrow, but the opposite is true.

Going narrow nelps your sales!

And the thing is, it's hard. It's actually super hard to know what you're selling and be able to say it so people "get it" right away.

The goal is to define a unique selling point (USP) for your products (or even start with just a category of your products) that people understand.

This episode is a clip from a recent online class and my guest is jewelry designer, Magdalena, from MNOP Jewelry.

To grab the full "List Building for Fashion & Jewelry Designers" online class, go to this link: 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tester/

product category section of your business

There’s a kick-a&& way to grow your email list AND get sales that’s been working great for my clients. 

I'm teaching it LIVE in a Bootcamp coming up. https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tester/

Adding a bunch of freebie-seekers to your Klaviyo is soul-crushing. This Bootycamp will show you another way.

In today's episode you'll learn the missing link in your marketinig strategy that will help you sell anything. ANYTHING. 

This is a "Frank Kern tip" for direct response marketing. You can use this for any type sellingg content - email, viideos, social posts, all of it. 

xo -Jane

There's a cheatsheet download for this episode: Grab it now:

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/framework/

Let's talk business growth. What you did to go from startup to "real" business is not the same as what you need to do when your biz is in growth mode. 

There are 5 sections of the biz and each one feeds into the other. Tpday I break them down so it's easier to understand what to work on next. 

xo - Jane

Is your websute clear> Is it converting the way you want it to? Yo ucan do your own site audit quickly and for free. In this episode...  
1. The 3-Second Rule: Is it clear what you sell and who it's for within the first three seconds of someone landing on your site?
2. DIY User Testing: How to get a volunteer to test your site -- without you interrupting - to understand the average user's questions, issues, and any friction they experience while browsing.
3. Three Clicks to Buy: Can someone land on your site and make a purchase with 3 clicks? Review your site's navigation to eliminate unnecessary steps.
4. Opt-In Pop-Up: Check if your email opt-in pop-up appears within 3 to 7 seconds. Ensure it's clear, simple, and not too intrusive for first-time visitors.
5. How to get a FREE website mini-review: I'm offering 5 free spots! You can apply for a chance to get professional insights and improvements for your website.


Apply here: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/review xo - Jane

I've had it up to HERE with my clients' frustrations about how sick of social media they are. I hear you!! And I agree 100%. My mission this year is to help you get evergreen marketing strategie in place so you get your life back.

In this episode:

• How to create marketing strategies that run in the background, freeing up your time and energy 
• The power of evergreen marketing and the 4 ways you can implement it
• Client wins this week for inventory clearance, cash flow issues, a killer productivity hack, and an amazing result one jewelry designer had with a charity collab.

If you want a business "personal trainer" to keep you focused & accountable - so you get sales online with ease - check out our coaching and courses: 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/

Hey entrepreneurs! Hae you noticed lately that you're bombarded by strategies and shiny new tactics? There are a gazillion gurus teaching the next! big! thing! that will transform your business in the next 17 hours. 😂 

It's harder than ever to stay focused as a business owner. So many things to do and so many things you COULD do.

Let's simplify things. There are a lot of skills you could develop to make money with ease. But there's ONE thing that's more important than ever. 

In this episode:

• the #1 skill to work on this year that will make a difference in your business and life
• your own simple sales system based -- on four key questions
• how to stay in your own lane with marketing so it actually works
• avoiding BSOS (bright shiny object syndrome) and the constant temptation of new ideas

If you want a business "personal trainer" to keep you focused & accountable - so you get sales online with ease - check out our coaching and courses: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/

How many times have you been told what you want to do is "not realistic"? HOW MANY TIMES? 

Let's break down what actually IS realistic for you. Because it's probably more than you think. 

I'll give you specific examples of what's possible -- what my students and clients have actually accomplished. 

Then I'll share 3 things that are probably NOT realistic and you should watch out for.

Show Notes and Links: 

• Website: https://fashionbrainacademy.com/
• more links coming soon...

Today's episode includes a little end-of-year challenge for you. 

1) A questiton that could shake things up for ya... DO IT.

2) The quick & easy way to track monthly metrics to know what marketing to focus on for the new year - and what you can stop doing.

MONTHLY METRICS TRACKING SHEET: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tracking

BRAND VIDEO BOOTCAMP w/ SUSAN (aff link):  https://classroom.thesocialsalesgirls.com/a/2147750940/XP22SCtE

List Building with Product Testers (Workshop): 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tester/

Our Website: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com

The #1 thing that's working for online store owners right now is this -- a simple brand video. Whaaaaa?!? Really?

Not gonna lie, as a fan of direct response marketing, I'm very skeptical of anything that smacks of "branding" and "building awareness". Can't pay the bills with awareness...just sayin'.

But the simple video strategy that my guest Susan Bradley from The Social Sales Girls shows us today is working like crazy for her Inner Circle members and I'm now convinced it can work for my e-commerce brand too - and yours. This interview gives you the exact strategy and real-life example of how to do it.

I'M GOING TO DO IT - LIVE - in Susan's Bootcamp. Join me! 

It's only $15 and she'll teach us everything.

Let's do it together.

To sign up for the brand video bootcamp, use this link (it's my affiliate link):

https://classroom.thesocialsalesgirls.com/a/2147750940/XP22SCtE

To see the example from this episode, click here: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/brandsusan/

 

Want to sell more gift cards ruight now? i've been testing a few things with our native gardening website, and wowza! Here's what I learned...

Your gift card conversions will go up if you do these 4 things:

1. Tell them the "right" amount to buy (so they don't have to think)
2. Tell them exactly what the cards can be used for (cuz grandma isn't your ideal customer and won't understand your brand or what you sell)
3. Give them immediate gratification (like an instant PDF download to wrap up as a present)
4. Offer a Gift Card bonus (this is optional, but we know not everyone will redeem their gift, so it won't really hurt margins)

This will only take about 20 minutes and it works. You can watch the vide with EXAMPLES and  SCREENSHOTS AT THIS LINK: https://youtu.be/DzKoK7JpOwI?si=mJnH1s6_EMUaY6e5

LMK what happens after you try it.

xo - Jane  https://fashionbrainacademy.com/

It's the most wonderful time of the year, l right? Ha!! I think 90% of my clients are already feeling DONE with the holiday season. 

NOTE: There are VISUALS for this episode! Grab them at fashionbrainacademy.com/giftwrap. 

Heck, many of you started planning Black Friday in August, for godssake. 

You might be sick of worrying that you should doing ALL THE THINGS to get sales for This! mportant! Season! for E-Commerce! Store! Owners! You probably want to sit on the couch, decorate a bit, drink some egggnog, and have some damn fun. I totally understand. 

So let me make it EASIER for you to do the rest of your holiday marketing with these 3 specific emails you can send for your online store. 

Examples of the email and show notes:

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/giftwrap

Our Website: 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/

If you need a last-minute plan for BFCM, this is it! Keep it very simple and do what we lay out in this episode. Quick & dirty for the win. And the sales. 

See the screenshot with the email cadence at this link:
www.fashionbrainacademy.com/dirty

What's it like to have a business coach? Get a BTS look as I answer 3 questions from a Canadian fashion designer, Angela Johnson from Ang Hill.

What's it like to have a business coach? Get a BTS look as I answer 3 questions from a Canadian fashion designer, Angela Johnson from Ang Hill. 

We discuss: 

• When you know which products have the best margins but aren't sure what to do with other products
• if some product categories have decent profit margin but they don't sell as quickly as other product categories, is it still worth selling them?
• how to handle being emotionally attached to old inventory you can't sell
• the best way to run a clearance sale for your online store as taught by Cathy Wagner of Retail Mavens
  
  

Ang Hill: https://www.anghill.com/

The mini-course we mention, "Email List Building" for product-based business owners: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tester/

Today you'll learn how Magdalena from MNOP Jewelry uses one 60-second video to get her ideal customers' attention (for free) and gets them to happily sign up on her email list. 

It's brilliant. DO NOT MISS THIS because it works and it can work for any business at any stage. I'm serious. We've been testing it -- apparel, pet products, gardening, activewear, gift items. It can work for you too. 

Get the "Email List Building with Product Testers" workshop here: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tester/

Watch the video clip on our YouTube channel, Fashion Brain Academy: 
https://youtu.be/_nctbJZJexo?si=5tXFlFMIyjvmpmSR

"Q4 is freaking me out. There’s so much to do and I don’t want work myself to death like I did last year at this time. Advice?”

Many of my clients are getting a little freaked out right now so I put together 3 main things to focus on for 4th quarter.

To goal is to help you get those sales for the Holiday season WITHOUT hustling yourself into exhaustion. 

We'll cover: 

• the 2 email flows to "fix" quickly that will make you steady money 
• email list building to do now - before the Holiday rush
• making more money without working harder in Q4
• evergreen marketing strategies that you can set up once and work on autopilot
• product planning for next year - how to make sure things will sell
• the "Super Strategy" that will get you email subscribers, product testing, UGC, customer reviews, anad testimonials - AMAZEBALLS

I will be teaching you the Super Strategy in a new workshop coming soon! It works better than anything I have ever seen & you can get notified by signing up here: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/workshopseb

Show Notes and Links: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/Q4

Not sure what to offer for Black Friday? If you're stressing about what to offer for BFCM, today's your lucky day.

You’ve probably tried the usual things – take 25% off site wide blah blah blah. Nothing wrong with that - especially if it's worked for you in the past. But - site wide offers usually do NOT convert as well as soecific offers. 

ANd let's face it, your customers are seeing MAJOR deals from everry other company and a site wide discount is kind of a snore to them.

There's a strategy that works better. 

Mystery bundles. Mystery packs, Mystery bafs - whatever you want to call it. They ate working like crazy!

Today's episode includes a video with a ton of examples of EXACTLY what I'm teaching my private clients this week. If you can, hop over to this link to see the vudeo version and see the step-by=step strategy. 

WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE THE EXAMPLES:
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/bfcm

In this episode we first do a rapid-fire Q&A answering listeners' business questions. 

1) Product Drops for the holiday season: "Should I drop all the products at the same time & do one big drop? Or space them out into smaller chunks or 2 - 3 products at a time?"

2) Costing and Pricing for wholesale sales: "How do I add in my sales rep's commission without cutting into the retailler's profit margin?"

3) "How do I know if my new products will sell?" This is especially tricky for entrepreneurs who design the product and are responsible for selling it. In fact, it's a total mindf**k. I lived this for many, many years and give you some simple advice to help keep you sane. :)

Mentioned in this episode:
WORKSHOP - Costing & Pricing Your Product for Profit
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/online-workshop-costing-and-pricing-your-work/

Get on the Early Bird list for new workshops: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/workshopsEB/

"Through basketball, I learned discipline, perseverance, teamwork, failure, success. These are lessons that can be applied to any field." - Kobe Bryant

Today I share a Kobe Bryant clip that absolutely blows me away. It's like the holy grail of success mindset and it's EXACTLY the way I'd love to approach my business.

Fear of failure is part of owning a business, right? And It's not like we're spending 8 hours a day acting like "I hope I don't fail", right?

Or is it. I hope this Kobe mindset shift helps you as much as it's helping me.

Announcing!!! Brand-new business workshops are coming! Email list building, Content & Promotions planning, 10-Minute Weekly metrics system, and more... To unlock early access, go to: 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/workshopsEB

The Fashion Brain Website:

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/

Today is about what you can STOP doing. There's a some questionable marketing going on out there and I'll share what's really working for my clients and what's not. If you sell physical products - clothing, accessories, jewelry, home goods, pet products - this is for you. There's so much misinformation out there  and I'd like you to know what to do and what to skip.

We cover:

• posting on social media and the "old school" (and unprofitable) way people are still doing it
• the mistake of "us too" branding even though it seems safer
• Calvin Klein vs. Ralph Lauren and which one's kicking arse with engagement
• the product photography that looks outdated right now
• SEO - the slow and steady success of search engine optimization for ALL OF MY CLIENTS! Every single dang one (who bothers to do it)
• can small fashion & jewelry brands just ignore Facebook altogether? (I know you want to...)
• the highly curated Instagram feed -- good or bad?

Show Notes & Links: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/outdated-marketing/

Private Coaching with Jane - clarity, ccountability, action
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/calendar/

What products should I drop when? How much inventory will I need? What's a logical way to set sales goals? We cover all of this and more. 

You'll get a deeper understanding of the top product planning and inventory mistakes I see with my clients (and I've made them all myself) plus how to fix them. 

This is for fashion products, accessories, jewelry, home goods, CPG...

1: Setting Sales Goals Based on Nothing

- Pop quiz: What's the #1 predictor of sales for a DTC market, craft show, or retail store?

2: Not Understanding How Much Inventory You Will Need

- Stock to Sales ratio, sell-thru percentages, POD vs. in-stock vs. pre-order vs. made to order...

3: Dropping Seasonal Products Too Late

- your "too early" is my "way too late", seasonal vs. evergreen products

We also cover markdowns and how to actually PLAN for them and deal with markeitng things down. 

xo - Jane

www.fashionbrainacademy.com 
brain@fashionbrainacademy.com

What if you spent 30 minutes planning your Holiday sales and emails? 

As in...right now. Today. 

Without overthinking, over analyzing, or fancy planning tools.

This episode breaks down 4 simple steps to crushing your BFCM and Holiday season sales. This is phase One of planning and I promise you, it can be done quickly.

Let me know how it goes, OK? Hit me at brain@fashionbrainacademy.com. 

Show Notes: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/holiday30/

If you’ve been slogging away at your business for a while & still thinking:

• “I’m working way too hard to be making this little money.”
• “My business looks good on paper but it’s killing me.”
• “I’ve totally lost track of my ideal customer and how to speak to them.”

Maybe it's time to consider some coaching. Check it out here: 
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/calendar/

"You're a Ferrari with a flat tire." 

The doctor stared straight into my eyes with almost creepy iontensity as he said these exact words. This is how he let me know I was actually diagnosed with ADHD. 

Hmmmmm... I'm a Ferrari.

Shiny, red, and fast,

With a flat tire. Hmmmmmm...

That explains a lot.

This episode gives you the 3 main things that help me get more done and not feel stupid. 

I hope it helps. 

Note: Huge shoutout to jewelry designer Trisha Flanagan who inspired this episode with her AMAZING fidget rings & morse code jewelry. 

You should buy her stuff. She's amazing and so is her product.

https://www.trishaflanagan.com/

Show Notes and Links: 

https://fashionbrainacademy.com/adhd/

We hear about the magic of multiple streams of income. But how does a fashion designer actually pull this off? 

Tommie Hernández is a Puerto-Rican fashion designer who has figured it out and she tells us her secrets today.

For 17 years she had a boutique-atelier where she made custom clothing and swimwear. She pivoted to owning an online fashion academy and the only Puerto-Rican sewing pattern company and sewing club: Sirena Patterns. She has over 2,000 students in her academy and sells the patterns to over 50 countries.

I learned a lot from Tommie in this episode and I think you will too.

Show notes and links:
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/tommie/

Our courses and business coaching programs for fashion & jewelry designers:
https://fashionbrainacademy.com/programs2/