Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
This is a show for burnt-out fashion designers (and TDs, PDs, patternmakers and beyond) who want more flexibility while still doing work they love. As a freelance fashion designer, you can build your fashion career on your own terms. Freelancing in fashion is the only way to get freedom in your day (instead of being tied to a desk). Whether you want to earn extra money on the side, fund your fashion brand, or replace your salary, the FDGP podcast will help you get there. Listen in for actionable tips and strategies to kickstart or grow your career as a freelance fashion designer, build your confidence, and create the life you want. Hosted by $100k+ fashion freelancer Sew Heidi, the show features interviews and strategy sessions with successful freelance fashion designers from around the world who've ditched toxic fashion jobs and taken control of their own destinies. This is the only place to get REAL insights from REAL freelancers who have built REAL careers on their own terms. (Formerly the Successful Fashion Freelancer podcast.)
Sourcing. What does that mean to you? Like
Heidi:That means finding manufacturers, finding fabrics, finding trims, finding suppliers, any type of thing, like, any type of supplier that's either gonna deliver a heart that's gonna help you, like, source a physical hard good, like, something from your BOM, or who's going to provide the service that you need to get this thing done. Meaning, like, make trim. Right? The actual, like, factory component. And that means it doesn't necessarily mean, like, finding them from scratch, but it means it could mean finding them from scratch based off of the client's needs, or it could mean I have spent a lot of time, and because of all the work that I've done in the industry, I have this whole network and like Rolodex of these people, and I can connect you with the exact right people you need to be connected with.
Heidi:So it's like matchmaking. Right? Okay. And whether you have the resource or not, doesn't really matter to me. So it's the value that it is for that person, your client, to be connected with the exact right person.
Courtney:And so, like, if I don't have a relationship with them, but I know of them, so, like, person who's asking for help, I have information, but I don't have a relationship. But I can give this person this person's information.
Heidi:Mhmm.
Courtney:Is that sufficient? Like, just making that introduction? It can
Heidi:be with first. I think it's like how you wanna go about it. So and it all comes down to like being really transparent and communicative and setting expectations. Like, hey, I just connected with this factory and I think they would be perfect for you. Full transparency.
Heidi:I haven't worked with them before. I met them at Revision, what have you, DG Expo. And I was able to chat with so and so, who's the owner or whatever their role is. And we had a nice talk about, you know, their capabilities and their ethics and their certification. Like, da da da da da.
Heidi:Like, these are you talked about. These are their MOQs. This is sort of, like, what their pricing looks like within reason. And so they very much line up with what you're looking for. So here's the introduction.
Heidi:Again, like, I haven't worked with them, so I can't speak from personal experience based on what I already know. Like, I would move forward with this if it were me, and I would continue to do some additional vetting. So that can be option number 1. Option number 2 could be, like, just doing some more vetting, Which is really hard when you're not like actually pushing a product through. Mhmm.
Heidi:You know? But could just be like some deeper due diligence. Could be asking them for, you know, do you have any testimonials or case studies or any brands that have had great success with you? Anybody I can, you know, chat with and sort of getting to know if, if you can get in touch with someone that's done development with them or something like that. Right?
Heidi:If it's like a a supplier like fabrics or trims or something, you know, maybe it's you yourself taking the initiative to, like, order some sample swatches and, like, see how that experience feels. Like, are they on it? Are they easy to work with? Like, did they ship it quickly? Do they, like, make it, like, a seamless experience?
Heidi:Or is it, like, pulling teeth out to just get a few samples? And then at that point, you might be, like, maybe this isn't the greatest supplier. So you just kinda have to get a little bit creative with and then and then at that point, you can share that with your client and say, this is what I've done and this is how I've done my due diligence. I haven't pushed a product through here. Right?
Heidi:I haven't pushed a design through production or through sampling, but this is the due diligence that due diligence that I did. And this is how it went. I didn't have any red flags come up. So as far as I'm concerned, I would feel comfortable moving forward with sampling or production with, you know, well, starting with sampling, of course. So that's how I would pitch it.
Heidi:Okay. Super honest and doing some further research and due diligence on your side, if you'd like to go if you feel more comfortable going in with that angle. Not always required or necessary. Right? And then same if, like, the client comes to you and is like, hey, I need a manufacturer for swim or lingerie.
Heidi:I know you're doing sleepwear. Right? But, like, some some maybe, like, some more specialty construction or something. Or even, like, we need the factory needs to be I don't know all the all the certifications and stuff. But, like, they need to, like, make these certifications, and they need to have low MOQ.
Heidi:Like, they're, like, the client kinda gives you their criteria. They're, like, oh, and then we need it to be, like, $15 or less and MOQ is, like, 100. Then you can go out and, like, do your own research on that, and then you come back and you're like, here's what I found. Obviously, I haven't worked with any of these factories, but here's what I found. Here's some of the here's what I have done to find these.
Heidi:I've I had a Zoom call, and this is what they said. And this factory felt good. And just presenting the options and presenting like how that experience felt to you. Like good or bad versus, well, I talked to this one and, I don't know, they said this thing and it didn't really sit well with me, or, you know, whatever red flag might have come up. And at that point, you're just sort of parlaying the information and doing the research for them and and you're going in, like, kind of knowing what are the right questions to ask, and how can I dig a little bit deeper into this to vet them without actually pushing a product through?
Heidi:And then at that point, as long as you've been super honest and transparent, which obviously you will, is ultimately up to your client to take that and run with it, and maybe do a little bit more of their own due diligence, whether they're doing that on their own or they're doing that with you. And then if any if they're doing it with you, like, if any more red flags or something come up, like, you kind of maybe they didn't see the red flag because they won't know what to look out for, but then you could get off the Zoom and you're like, I didn't really love what they said about this. So, like, we can go forward, but I just wanna point this out. Like, it's at that point, it's just your responsibility to point things out that they should maybe be noticing that they might not be and asking the right questions. Right?
Heidi:And then, you know, ultimately like it's their decision to proceed or not. And you know, you can have this in your contract and stuff, but like you can't be liable if something goes wrong. Like, it's their decision to ultimately proceed with that factory, with that supplier. And arguably, that's true for even factories and suppliers that you have worked with before. This has been my experience in the past, but like things change, right?
Heidi:So this has been my experience in the past, and I worked with them with this brand and we did this and everything went smooth and all sorts of stuff. So I'd love to make an introduction to you. It has been like 2 years since I've worked with them. So, you know, we should still go through the the vetting process and ask the right questions, etcetera. So it's really comes down to, like, being super transparent, setting expectation, expectations, being communicative, asking the right questions, doing your due diligence, presenting that accordingly, and then, like, helping the client spot red flags or green flags that they might not see otherwise.
Heidi:Oh. How'd that feel? I just feel like I was like, gave a whole lecture on sourcing.
Courtney:It was it was incredible. It was I was sitting here thinking, like, god. How does she just, like, roll this off her tongue? Like, you just, like Oh,
Heidi:it's just practiced over the years of, like yeah. I mean, doing the podcast has helped me, like, talk better. Yeah. And answer question questions and, like, really think about the nuances, like, on my toes. That muscle?
Heidi:Yeah. Yeah. It's a muscle. Totally. It's a muscle for sure.
Heidi:Right? And, like, showing up to the fast coaching calls. Like, I don't look at the questions in advance. I don't. And I'm totally comfortable, like, answering any question on the fly.
Heidi:Yeah. It wasn't always that way. Yeah. I didn't always feel that good. But now I've I've had so much practice.
Heidi:I I know all the questions that I'm gonna get. And and if I don't, I know how to answer that too.
Courtney:Yeah. That's something that, like, I am pushing myself to get more practice in for sure. Like, kind of apply.
Heidi:Yeah. So how does that feel in sourcing? Do you have any other questions?
Courtney:Pricing for that, is that in some of your content? Because I'm sure I could find it.
Heidi:It's a really tricky one. Like, it's a really tricky one. So I think that if you're going out and sourcing from scratch, it's, I mean, arguably, it's the value that you're providing. Right? And whether or not you're sourcing from scratch, it's a whole different thing.
Heidi:But I do think that, like, if someone explicitly is like asking you for this very specific thing and you're having to go like hunt that, I do think there is a higher price tag attached to that because, arguably, the value is even higher than someone you already have in your back pocket because now you're, like, finding this needle on a haystack for somebody. Right? So, like, sourcing a fact sourcing and vetting a factory for low MOQ and all the sustainability qualifications and stuff. I mean, and specialty with certain types of fabrication or construction, and maybe located in a specific region, like, if they wanna stay stateside versus, you know, I mean, that should be, in my opinion, like, well over $1,000. Like, just based off of, like, the research and the time that you're gonna have to do.
Heidi:And that could be something that, like, maybe it's, like, $1500, and I'm gonna present you with 3 of the best options I can find. And maybe they don't all meet they all may maybe each of them doesn't meet all of the criteria perfectly, but you present it to the client and maybe you've got, like, a little chart. And you're like, okay. Well, here's here's the 5 criteria you wanted. Here's the 3 factories I found.
Heidi:And, like, here's how they all match up. And so at that point, and you might just be like, it's gonna be really hard to, like, check all these boxes across the board. Until we just get out into the network a little bit more, and, like, you get deeper into your brand, but, like, maybe for whatever. So so then at that point, it might be up to the client to say, like, okay, well, great. Look at they meet all these expectations, but their price point's a little high.
Heidi:And they might say, you know what? I'm willing to pay a little bit more because these other things are that valuable to me. Or maybe they're willing to, like, budge on like, then at that point, they just have to decide where they do or don't wanna budge. Right? So you could, I mean, arguably, I think that could even be, like, a $2,000 package, Versus like just connecting them with someone you have in your back pocket.
Heidi:It's always tricky.
Courtney:Yeah. I know that sourcing was gonna be, like, something that I took pardon, but it just kind of keeps organically happening. Happening.
Heidi:Yeah. And
Courtney:then I was just like, I'm just because I don't it wasn't something that I thought of. It's just like, I've just been giving it away, essentially.
Heidi:Yeah. I don't wanna see you do that. Especially when you're, like, proactively going to trade shows where you're connecting with people and, like, you're you're taking the initiative to invest your time and your money and your career into finding these sources, they're not things you can just give away. It's just not. Right?
Heidi:So, you know, you can also, like, oh, you know what? Let me put together a proposal for you. And I do think I've got some sources that would match up really well for what you're wanting, and you could put together a proposal. And then I would, you know, I think it's a little bit about the delivery too. It's not like, well, here's their email.
Heidi:You know? So, like, maybe you're like, oh, you know what? Yeah. I, I don't know. Like, 495.
Heidi:My my sourcing package my MLE for sourcing, did you read my post on MLE, minimum level engagement? Yeah.
Courtney:I think it was all the time.
Heidi:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, like, my MLE for sourcing is 495 and goes upwards to, you know, over a couple $1,000 depending on what exactly you need. And then you can kind of fill out, like, what they need and I mean, and you maybe don't even have to say, like, oh, I have this person in my back pocket.
Heidi:I think you can say, like, yeah, you know, I need to do some research on that. I don't have those sources. And if you do have them, you can just say, yep, I can pull that together for you. And it's 495 for this base. Like, I can connect you with this, I can connect you with a great factory.
Heidi:And then as far as, like, the presentation, it's not just, like, right here is their email. You can, like, maybe put together, like, a one sheeter with, like, here's a factory, and, like, here's how they meet all your qualifications. And, like, here's this person, and they're in charge of this, and this person's in charge of that. And then, like, maybe some pictures of, like, some work they've done for other brands, even if it's just, like, stuff you're kind of pulling off their website. Like, I would I would put it together and deliver it as, like, a little bit of a package.
Heidi:And so you can sort of deliver that, And so they've got it all right there. They're like, oh, great. Everything's here. I can see what they've done. I can see all their certifications.
Heidi:I know their MOQs and, like, their price points, etcetera. And then, so you can kind of send that over in one email. And then you can say, I wanted to give you everything on the factory. And and then and maybe in there too, you kind of, like, include a little bit about, like, your relationship with them and you're really transparent on, like, you know, this is what I've run through them and this is where they've done really well. Maybe these are some of the challenges I've had, so things to look out for.
Heidi:Or, like, you maybe are gonna have to you're gonna have to bug them a little bit to, you know, stay on time. We always know that's with factories. Right? You always have to bug them. But just setting them up for success and, like, setting the expectation of, like, here's what to expect working with this factory or this supplier or whatever.
Heidi:Right? So you can kind of set that up in one email, and then another email can be, or at the end of that, I would say, like, you know, here's the one sheeter, and maybe it's a couple pages. Right? But like, here's everything for the factory, And next I'm gonna send an email making an introduction so that you're looped in. And then you send a really nice email and you sort of present the client to them.
Heidi:Maybe not, like, you don't think you need to do this to, like, one sheet thing. But I I would say, like, meet so and so, and they're looking to do this and this and that. Like, outline it in a way that you know the factory wants to see it. Like, here's all the details. Right?
Heidi:And sort of like and I'm gonna let you guys take it from here. Right? And then you're like, I am stepping out. That was the end of the sourcing. Like, I made the connection.
Heidi:I made the introduction. You have, you know, all the information about them. So I think that that's really how you can position it as it's not just like you sending an email or sharing the email address. Right?
Courtney:Mhmm.
Heidi:Like, really presenting it in a valuable way that feels good to both sides.
Courtney:Mhmm. That all feels very, very good. Good.