Your Top Model

Coordinating your first photoshoot can be a nerve-wrecking and costly experience.

Here’s a few tricks to help save you some time…money and mistakes…

1. Go With a Pro: While you may be tempted to use your cutest friend as your brand model keep in mind a highly experienced model can drastically improve the flow and timing of your shoot. At the minimum look for a semi-pro that may not be signed with an agency but has clocked some hours in front of a camera.

2. Work with an Agency: If you’re a savvy negotiator don’t be afraid to call on the top agencies like Ford and Elite. They have different levels of models and many times will negotiate costs based on the model’s need for experience/photos, timing and the notoriety of the photographer you use. Sites like modelmayhem.com are also a good resource for finding someone on a more minimal budget.

3. Get some Raw Pics: Not like that… But, you want to see your model in their current hair and no makeup…as they would appear on the set. Before the shoot date share these pics with your photographer as well as your hair and makeup person so they come prepared with everything they’ll need to turn her into a glamazon on shoot-day.

Fashion Start Up 101

Interestingly enough few fashion programs have entrepreneurship style courses that teach designers how to handle all the in’s and outs of starting their own label.

So what are some of the first steps to get started?

1. Make a Plan–Business planning can make the difference between a thriving company and a company that goes nowhere. You can either take low-cost classes at organizations like FBI or the Small Business Administration or you can go it alone with business planning books from your local library or bookstore. In your plan you’ll define things like your business structure, finances and your sales and marketing strategy.

2. Determine Your Budget–Depending on the type of product you’re selling, your personal skills and launch strategy you could be looking at 100K or more to get your line off the ground. Don’t let this number scare you, it could be much less or much more…but again that depends on your circumstance. What’s important is that your budget makes sense with your goals. It would be fruitless to think you could create a sample line of cashmere sweaters, hire an assistant, attend a trade show and support your first sales orders on a $25,000 start up budget. You’d be surprised at how many business owners are working towards a grand plan they simply don’t have the funds to support.

3. Make a Sample Line–If you’re a wholesale company you should only produce samples to start…….NO Inventory. The last thing you want to do is tie up your precious startup dollars with inventory that buyers could or could not want to buy. Of course you’ll have samples from development but don’t get over-excited and start ordering spare samples just for fun, which is an easy temptation when you first get started. Sample costs add up quick, and at the end of the season if the product is still left hanging around you might just be left thinking where your starup dollars could have been better spent…PR? Marketing? An inspiration trip to the Carribean? Now that sounds like some serious buyers remorse…..

Made in the USA

In the past many fashion companies seemed to inadvertently associate profitability and growth with off-shore manufacturing. China…Vietnam…The Philippines, anywhere but here. Unfortunately other than being good patriots, too many brands have found it financially difficult to rationalize being “Made in the USA.”

Interestingly enough in these challenging economic times, there appears to be an emerging sea change in the “off-shore is better,” mentality. Some design companies are starting to pay closer attention to the quality, cost and time benefits that can come with domestic manufacturing.

Here are some things to consider when you decide on your on or off shore production strategy:

1. Speed to Market–Working closely with a local manufacturer can add up to significant cost savings when it comes to translating you developed product into final production. If you’re serious about speeding up your product life-cycle make sure you’ve established a good relationship with a local manufacturer that can help get your product out of your head and on the shelves as soon as humanly possible.

2. The Hidden Costs of Importing: The new 10+2 importing compliance rule is the latest example of the hidden cost and logistical hassles that can result from importing product from overseas. Make sure that you are keeping track of the costs and time involved as well as how they affect your bottom line.

3. Quality Control–Although the U.S. is known for the quality of the goods it is able to produce, especially in the higher end and conemporary market, domestic manufacturing can also afford designers the ability to overse their production preimpting any issues before they become real problems.