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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.)
Heidi [00:00:00]:
Do you know that you can work with factories to do product development and sourcing as a freelancer? This is exactly what Amanda Russo does. She lives in Brazil, and she helps factories source new fashion brands and then manages the product development process. If it sounds interesting, it is. I had never heard of this sort of backward sourcing arrangement before, but it is a really fascinating way of building your freelance career in fashion. In just 3 months after kick starting her freelance career and joining Fast, Amanda is already out earning her previous full time salary. She shares exactly how she got her clients, how she put together contracts and retainers to earn consistent income, and about her amazing experience inside Fast. Full disclaimer, I did not prompt her on giving so many shout outs to my program. You're going to love this episode of fashion designers get paid.
Heidi [00:00:44]:
Let's get to it. Amanda, tell me a little bit about your, well, your journey in the fashion industry. I think you've been in the industry for quite a while. What's a little bit about your background?
Amanda Russo [00:00:53]:
Okay. So I graduated in 2013 in one of our top design schools here in Brazil. I'm Brazilian. I grew up in the States. So I went to, a design school in Rio, And I started working with a few small not so small. Like, a few fashion brands back during my, like, What's it called again? Like, intern like, as an intern.
Heidi [00:01:21]:
Okay. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:01:22]:
Yeah. With an internship, like, as an intern. And then I I joined Soma Group, right after I left college, which is a very big group. You probably know it from Farm Rio. Yeah. I've heard it. Yeah. Farm is, like, the biggest internationally known brand, and they're one of the biggest, if not the biggest fashion groups here in Brazil.
Amanda Russo [00:01:43]:
So that was, like, really, really important for me as a amazing school. And and education wise and work wise, it was very important. And, well, since I graduated, it's been roughly 10 years. I've always worked with here what we call, international product development, Because it's it's different from the American and and other industries because It's a smaller part of our products that are developed abroad and not the majority. So in the States, Almost every product is developed abroad. And here, we have, like, a very big industry where products are made nationally. Okay. So, I always worked with international product development.
Amanda Russo [00:02:29]:
So I always worked with developing products abroad with, Indian suppliers, for example, Chinese suppliers, and so many other factories throughout the world.
Heidi [00:02:39]:
Okay. So we were chatting a little bit before we formally started the the episode, and you mentioned that, you did some freelancing Dean before. You called it entrepreneurialship or something? Tell talk to us a little bit about that.
Amanda Russo [00:02:57]:
So what I did was what what what I'm doing now, that's sourcing and product development for, major fashion clients here in Brazil. K. I did that back then. A few companies, got in touch with me and wanted to know if I could grow their business, a few factories, like, factories abroad. Wanted to know if I could grow their businesses here in Brazil, and I did that in the past. It's sort really, like, sort of what I'm doing now. But I didn't know anything about, like, costs and charging And how exactly I would schedule the work exactly and how I would charge for that, and I didn't have any sort of support. So I was a bit lost doing that.
Amanda Russo [00:03:39]:
It it was it went out very well, but I didn't have what I have today, with Fast. So I worked developing products at that time for, like, major clients here in Brazil. Most of the fashion companies and even a few, other retail clients like Sephora, for example, was a client, some banks and and malls. Okay. And because of that that different background where you can, develop products internationally, And it it sort of has this similar format to it. I developed all sorts of products, not only fashion garments. And naturally, brands, require that I develop other products and not only fashion products such as, like, marketing products or maybe, like, headphones or rugs or even, like, home decor stuff. Oh, wow.
Amanda Russo [00:04:33]:
I've developed all sorts of products. Yeah.
Heidi [00:04:36]:
Okay. But you said that you if I heard this right, the factories and the suppliers got in touch with you and said, we wanna grow our business in Brazil. So you were you actually, like, work working them for the factory and then finding them new clients? Yes. Okay. Yes.
Amanda Russo [00:04:53]:
I I was actually working for a few factories abroad, and finding them new clients in Brazil
Heidi [00:05:00]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:05:00]:
And developing products with these clients and fall and following along the process. So it's like inter it it really is the product development. Uh-huh. But There's also this commercial part to it where you find other, clients for these factories. Yeah. So it's like backward sourcing.
Heidi [00:05:18]:
Yeah. Totally. Right? Yeah. Oh, interesting. Okay. So that was your original venture into freelancing. Well, you were calling it freelancing at the time.
Amanda Russo [00:05:28]:
I wasn't. I was just calling, like, I was calling it, like, entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship. Because it really it it really was like that. Like, I was alone doing this, and nobody else did it. And, I'd like, I didn't know any other people that I found to be, like, colleagues or something.
Heidi [00:05:43]:
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you did that for I think it was, like, 3 or 4 years. Is that about right?
Amanda Russo [00:05:49]:
Yeah. Yeah. That's right.
Heidi [00:05:51]:
And then then what happens?
Amanda Russo [00:05:54]:
Oh, and then I just wanted to start my own brand, and I started a home decor brand, that I eventually closed as well. K. And then I went back to working with product development, and I worked for a beauty company developing beauty accessories and beauty products.
Heidi [00:06:10]:
Okay. And now you're freelancing. Talk talk to us a little bit about where you're at now in terms of freelancing in the fashion space.
Amanda Russo [00:06:20]:
Okay. So I was I was in beauty. I wasn't exactly developing fashion products. There was some sort of fashion to it because, like, you wanted, like, trendy accessories, like, claw clips and scrunchies and, like, some sort of trend following to that. Sure. But I really missed being in the fashion industry, and I didn't I didn't find a fit for me, here in the Brazilian industry because of, like, salaries and payment in general. It was always below what I was willing, to work for. Not only willing to work for, but what, my actual earning was, like so so I decided to search for other things.
Amanda Russo [00:07:04]:
And, Well, fast was a way to still get my income and be in the fashion industry and and do it all at the same time.
Heidi [00:07:16]:
Okay. So you in the email you sent to me, you said you're working with 3 clients right now. I think they're all Brazilian. No. Oh, they're not. Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:07:26]:
They're not. So I found Fast through the podcast, so that's why I'm so So happy to join.
Heidi [00:07:32]:
Welcome to the show of of listener. It's always exciting to have you on. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:07:36]:
Yeah. So I found you through the podcast, and, I decided to join. It was, like, 3 months ago. You did you did the shorter version of fast where, what do you call it? Some like, you call it an event. Right?
Heidi [00:07:50]:
Yeah. It depends on when you did it. We at some point, we were calling it freelance week. Yeah. So I did one
Amanda Russo [00:07:55]:
of the smaller fast events, and then after that, I joined. And I wasn't really sure about freelancing because of the experience I've had in the past. Mhmm. And Well, I started the program, and the most important thing for me outside of the program, which was already, like, so important to me was the community and the group. And I actually, got these 3 clients, like, 2 2 out of 3 clients from the group, from referrals from the group. So this was really important. And in these last 3 months, I've hit my normal industry salary. I've actually, like, Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:08:34]:
Just, just earned a a little bit more than my previous industry salary. So
Heidi [00:08:40]:
Okay. Is that when you were working after you did your in beauty. Okay. Right. After you did your entrepreneurship and then you had a couple years in beauty.
Amanda Russo [00:08:48]:
No. My last salary. Yeah.
Heidi [00:08:50]:
Your last salary. Okay. Yeah. Amazing in what, like, your 1st 3, 4 months of freelancing being your past full time salary.
Amanda Russo [00:08:58]:
Yeah. Exactly. My 1st 3 months.
Heidi [00:09:00]:
Okay. So talk to us about these 3 clients. So you got 2 of them through the Fast community. How'd you get the third one? So,
Amanda Russo [00:09:09]:
I got the third one out of an old contact that I reached out, and, she is now in another factory, another, developing another sort of product. And I told her that I'm now freelancing and working in this model that I am since fast and yeah. Well, she's my 3rd client now.
Heidi [00:09:31]:
Okay. So what talk to us a little bit about you're now working, with the brands as opposed to working with the factories, but you're still helping them do international product development. Or am I am
Amanda Russo [00:09:44]:
I wrong on that? I actually, here's the thing. So when I started, based on on what you thought of us having to have a niche and everything, I started with, high end embroidered garments.
Heidi [00:09:56]:
Okay. And
Amanda Russo [00:09:57]:
that was my niche that I was, like, look looking for referrals and and jobs and anything. But, so I started with that, and then it ended up going to back to the previous thing that I did, Which is sort of backward sourcing. So sourcing for factories Okay. And not for clients. Right.
Heidi [00:10:16]:
Finding brands for the factories. Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:10:18]:
Finding the brands for the factories. So 2 of my clients are these international, like, sourcing product development, and one is a Canadian start up brand that's just, like, now starting in the fashion business and had this really particular high end embroidered garment that I started out with.
Heidi [00:10:39]:
Okay. Gotcha. And the other 2, you said, international sourcing and product developments. But but you're working for the brands, not the factories?
Amanda Russo [00:10:49]:
I'm working for the factories in that case.
Heidi [00:10:51]:
Working for the factories in that case. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:10:52]:
So the okay. Brand the startup brand I'm working for, the brand, the client 2. And the other 2 are factories that I'm working before it because I started with 1 niche, and it ended up, like, naturally growing to another niche, I think.
Heidi [00:11:07]:
Okay. I wanna hear about this. Like, how So you now have these relationships with these factories. They want more clients. They want more brands. They wanna do more development. Yeah. How do you, like, go out and find the brands for them? Like, what does that process look like? I'm so fascinated.
Amanda Russo [00:11:22]:
It it's really exactly like you teach, like, cold pitching and and exactly like you teach, when you're looking for,
Heidi [00:11:33]:
A brand.
Amanda Russo [00:11:33]:
A a job as a freelancer with a a fashion brand. It's the same thing. But instead of just offering your product as, like, either a tech pack developer or either designer or you also offer 1 supplier that you already work with. Okay.
Heidi [00:11:52]:
Yeah. So you're you're basically just going out and pitching brands saying, I have this great supplier. Here's all the great things they can do. Exactly. A great match. Exactly.
Amanda Russo [00:12:04]:
Ah. And on the other side, like, I I I have to have good suppliers to do that. I can't do that with, like, any random supplier. Yeah. So I find, like, trusted, reliable suppliers
Heidi [00:12:15]:
k.
Amanda Russo [00:12:15]:
With particular needs that I know that the industry might have.
Heidi [00:12:19]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:12:19]:
So for example, right now it's big here. I I think it's big every I I know it's big everywhere, but right now it's big here. Like, Cloe, especially Cloe product development, especially for athleisure and athletic garments in general. So I go out looking for a good supplier that will develop in the quantities that the brands need here. Everything very fitted to the brands here
Heidi [00:12:44]:
k.
Amanda Russo [00:12:44]:
With a particular delivery. Like, for example, either sustainable high end garments or either CLO development, athleisure garments. And then I do the exact process that you teach in FAST, which is called pitching in and reaching out to brands and offering my services.
Heidi [00:13:03]:
Now when you say offering my services, then are you like a middle woman representative, like a broker?
Amanda Russo [00:13:11]:
It's more than a broker. It's still a designer because I work through the the entire product development process. And And there's something different to it because, like I said, most of our brands here, they don't work In majority with international developments?
Heidi [00:13:30]:
Right. They work nationally with international majority nationally.
Amanda Russo [00:13:33]:
K. So I also have this expertise of not only the English, but the international, like, industry standard. So I always I also help them and guide guide them out through this process.
Heidi [00:13:50]:
Okay. So not only are you there to say, like, hey. I can connect you with this great supplier, which is what a broker would do. Yeah. But then you take it further and you help us
Amanda Russo [00:14:01]:
developed the pro. I developed it with them.
Heidi [00:14:04]:
Okay. Yeah. So this is fascinating. I have so many questions. Yeah. So how are you compensated?
Amanda Russo [00:14:18]:
Through the factory only. Through the factory. Okay. With the factories with a retainer K. Which is something that I learned, talking to other people that work in the same way in the fast community. Uh-huh. So I understood what were the rates and how people were charging. So I work with the factories on a retainer and then on a commission based on any orders placed.
Heidi [00:14:43]:
Okay. So you get client. Gotcha. Okay. So it's specifically based on production orders. Yes. Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:14:50]:
But but, like, before any production orders while I'm pitching and while I'm finding viable clients. I'm paid on a retainer.
Heidi [00:14:58]:
Okay. And what are you, like, what are your deliverables inside of that retainer? Like, what do you have
Amanda Russo [00:15:06]:
to do? I have to introduce, clients to them, arrange meetings, eventually, start developing products and sampling with clients here in Brazil.
Heidi [00:15:19]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:15:19]:
So it's it's actually like I work for the factory in some way.
Heidi [00:15:23]:
Yeah. And are are you, like, having to meet quotas or something of, like, how many pitches you're sending out or how many brands you're ultimately bringing to them. Like, how or is it just like, I'm just gonna like, how did you kinda figure out that retainer?
Amanda Russo [00:15:40]:
I work on a one day a week, retainer.
Heidi [00:15:43]:
Ah, it's time based.
Amanda Russo [00:15:44]:
Okay. So it's it's time based, but it's still a retainer and not hourly like, not not hourly charged. Okay. But, yeah, I don't have an exact number of clients that I have to reach out unless they're coming to Brazil for meetings. Okay. Like, unless, like, the Indian Person or in the factory is coming to Brazil. I don't have, like, a specific number of clients that I have to reach out. I guess it's just in reason and and And out of trust that you will be doing your work Yeah.
Heidi [00:16:17]:
And that you're doing your job. As well. Yeah. Yeah. So you are compensated at a on a base retainer by the factory as well as a commission once the brand places a production order. Yeah. And when you find a brand that wants to work with that factory, you then also guide them through the whole product development process. Is that part of the pro is the work that you put in to manage production also included in that retainer?
Amanda Russo [00:16:48]:
I I
Heidi [00:16:49]:
guess, it's as soon as this starts to get beyond one day a week okay. And so you're able to you're able to
Amanda Russo [00:16:54]:
I have contract I have contracts that I no. I have contracts that I can review. And if I have any additional days to be charged, like, for example, again, If the factory is coming to Brazil for it, like, in person introductions to the clients in Brazil, then I will be charging Extra days, and those extra days have have a a different rate set in contract. Okay. So Yeah. To have you So if I have any extra days and and I need to review this, I can I can change this at some point?
Heidi [00:17:29]:
Or if you land, like, 5 brands all at once and then you're managing all the product development, like, that's gonna be a lot. So you have close the
Amanda Russo [00:17:36]:
door to the door. We can always, yeah, we can always adjust that. Yeah.
Heidi [00:17:39]:
Okay. So and but then you work with 2 factories. Is there, like, make any sort of collision there just with, like, competition and stuff?
Amanda Russo [00:17:52]:
No. There there isn't because of the different product they're very different product types that they develop.
Heidi [00:17:57]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:17:58]:
So one is in the athletic, athleisure, equestrian garment side, and the other is high end, more embroidered and eyelet and, like, English embroidery.
Heidi [00:18:10]:
Very different.
Amanda Russo [00:18:11]:
Very different, but still, and and even different different brands as clients. So, Yeah. There are no conflicts there.
Heidi [00:18:21]:
Okay. Okay. And you got introduced to both of these factories through the FAST community?
Amanda Russo [00:18:28]:
One was, an old contact that I had that she's now working at a new new factory.
Heidi [00:18:34]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:18:35]:
And the other was through Fast. So Sarah Parrenvolk, I don't know if you've seen her post. So she works with one of those factories that I'm working now, and she was, asking if anyone wanted to be referred.
Heidi [00:18:49]:
Okay. And so the factory was proactively looking for someone like you to expand their growth in the Brazil market.
Amanda Russo [00:18:57]:
Yes. Not Okay. Exact when Sarah posted in the group, she actually posted for the American in market, but I said, oh, hey. I have experience doing this. Do you think they would be willing to do this for the Brazilian market? And then from then, we we started They are doing it. Okay. Yeah.
Heidi [00:19:14]:
How what's the like, I imagine you write a pretty personalized pitch for the brand. It's not just like these mass pitches that we see of, like, here's this factory that can do a, b, and c. Contact us.
Amanda Russo [00:19:26]:
Oh, no. It's totally personalized. And since I've worked so many years in the industry and I studied here and everything, I have a lot of personal contacts. So sometimes it's someone I already know, I've already worked with in the past. So it it it is a lot more personal than just, like, Random cold pitching, I think. Yeah. But it still is a cold pitch. Yeah.
Heidi [00:19:51]:
How do, like, brands typically react? Like, what's the response rate with something like that.
Amanda Russo [00:19:56]:
Well, at at least for a 1st meeting to get to see the products and get to see what you have, It's a very, very good response rate because I think that I mean, if you're developing, you always need new suppliers, and you always want to see what other other clients and what other brands are seeing as well. So, I feel that for 1st meetings, there's a very good acceptance rate. And then from then on, there's more of a fit to it because, the product they're developing has to have a fit. That collection is, in particular, has to have, like, garments That will need that. You have to have, a good timing for when you reach them because you want to reach them at the point where they're looking for suppliers and not at the point where They're already, like, in the middle of the collection and developing with already, suppliers. So, so they're like, the rate gets a fee like, a little bit lower, but still there's a good acceptance rate, especially because I am a Brazilian person in the middle of this conversation. Because There's always a cultural issue to it, like, as I said, the international industry standard is not as common here as, For the rest of the world. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:21:09]:
So to have me in the process is important for the brands as well.
Heidi [00:21:13]:
You're doing this backward sourcing. You've also got this client in Canada. What does your arrangement with him look like? Or I shouldn't say him, them. I I think you said it was a guy.
Amanda Russo [00:21:21]:
It's a girl.
Heidi [00:21:22]:
It's a girl. Okay. I miss her. Woman.
Amanda Russo [00:21:24]:
She is a start up brand, and she is working with Alison, and Alison referred me Alison, I think cone. Heinis. Pain us. Yeah. Yeah. So she referred me to the product this project, and she is developing, like, really new and really different products, and she needed this product that had particular embroidery expertise. Like So So you have an expertise? Yeah. So it's more of of It's not only product development with her.
Amanda Russo [00:22:01]:
She it's also like a consultation since she's a start up brand. And so It's a it's a larger project. I was just listening to one of your podcasts before we started. You you you interviewed a person, And this might not come to your mind right now, but you interviewed a person that has an agency that works with start up brands, and she offers them packages with specific pricings for each package.
Heidi [00:22:29]:
I've interviewed a handful of agency owners. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:22:33]:
Well, still, with Anyways. With this client in Canada. She needed more than just, like, a tech pack or more than just sourcing. So I do a sort of package where I have, like, consultation and guidance throughout the process, as well as the tech pack and sourcing, for her until we have a delivered sample that she can present and then place orders based on that sample.
Heidi [00:22:59]:
Okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. So you've got that, which is a package project based client, and then you've got the 2 factories that you're working with on retainer one day a week each?
Amanda Russo [00:23:11]:
One day a week each. So I now have 16 hours booked a week.
Heidi [00:23:16]:
But you're making more than you were working full time?
Amanda Russo [00:23:20]:
Yeah. But I do, like, I do work full time. Okay. But Okay. But yeah.
Heidi [00:23:25]:
What are you doing the other 24 hours?
Amanda Russo [00:23:28]:
I I I am working
Heidi [00:23:33]:
because, because
Amanda Russo [00:23:34]:
I guess well, I'm going through fast
Heidi [00:23:37]:
I That's personal development.
Amanda Russo [00:23:40]:
Yeah. Yeah.
Heidi [00:23:41]:
Learning. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:23:42]:
Like like, I count that as working. But, I'm going through fast. I'm connecting with other people, in the community. Like Mhmm. We have, we've mentioned it a few time and a few times in other calls. But we have mini coffee chats where we get together once a week. Yeah. And these are so amazing.
Amanda Russo [00:24:00]:
But still, that's like half an hour each week. But, but, yeah, the rest of the time, I'm doing stuff like that. I'm, like, looking for clients that I could reach out to, understanding Brazilian brands and what they might need as in sourcing and product development and, catching up with the industry and knowing what like, what's going on. And so, yeah, so I am working full time, but I guess I could still fit in a few more clients.
Heidi [00:24:30]:
Right. But and and all that stuff is great. I think you're building a lot of, like, the foundation of your freelance career, right, so that it does continue to grow on autopilot. But still, even in those 16 hours a week booked that you're doing right now of paid work. You're making more than you were making in, like, a 40 hour week job.
Amanda Russo [00:24:55]:
Yes. More than 40 hour week job.
Heidi [00:24:58]:
More than 40 hour week job. Right. Probably 50, 60, who knows what. Right?
Amanda Russo [00:25:01]:
Yeah.
Heidi [00:25:01]:
And you mentioned in the email that does not include any potential commissions that you from these Exactly. Production orders.
Amanda Russo [00:25:07]:
Exactly. That is based on, like, my monthly income only.
Heidi [00:25:11]:
Base rate. Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:25:12]:
Yeah. My basic
Heidi [00:25:13]:
That's amazing. How does it feel to be there?
Amanda Russo [00:25:17]:
Like I said, I was a bit, like, unsure of going back into into sure of going back into into freelancing. But then when I hit, like, this record, I was like, oh, my God. This is it. I'm completely diving in. So, so I've just I guess I feel safer doing what I what I am doing, and And, yeah, it's amazing.
Heidi [00:25:40]:
What why did you feel unsure from your previous experiences?
Amanda Russo [00:25:45]:
So in my previous ex in my previous experiences, I was paid only commission based, and I didn't have any sort of retainer or, like billable hours in any sort. So that was the first thing. And the second thing was I didn't have the community and people to reach out to and to even understand the rates. Like, Do you do this? How much are you charging? How does this work? What's in your contract? So this is really important. And I I guess, like, this is one of the most important things, Like, from Fast 4 Me.
Heidi [00:26:21]:
Mhmm.
Amanda Russo [00:26:21]:
Because, having other people to talk to and to understand their background And and understand what you can do in your background, is so very important to me. And even the smaller like I said, the mini coffee chats, Those weekly calls where we get together and we just say, like, oh, this week is rough or this is amazing. I just landed a new client or we just, like, freely talk about anything. These are, like, so amazing, and I feel that I have coworkers and that I'm not doing this on my own.
Heidi [00:26:51]:
Yeah. So yeah. That makes me so happy. I always, like, talk about how amazing the FAST community is, but it's really hard to put into words until you're actually in there.
Amanda Russo [00:27:01]:
Oh, no. It's it's extremely amazing. Like, you did one of your smaller events now, and I was almost opening my mic to say, it is amazing. Please join because
Heidi [00:27:10]:
Do it next time.
Amanda Russo [00:27:13]:
Yeah, because I mean, the community really changed everything for me, because like I said, I was doing a very similar work before, and I had very good results, but I was not earning enough. So and that was mainly because I didn't have a retainer, for example. I didn't have any other friends doing the same thing or colleagues doing the same thing. So, yeah, FAST has really changed the experience for me.
Heidi [00:27:39]:
Okay. Would you be open to talking a little bit? I mean, you explained earlier how in the contracts that you have with the factories. There's things such as, like, you know, if I'm doing this extra amount of work, there's this additional day rate or whatever, something like that. But would you be willing to talk a little bit more about how you put together that contract, how you came up with your pricing? I always love hearing numbers if you're open. I know some people don't wanna you know, if you're not comfortable sharing the actual pricing and the day rate that you're charging, that's fine. Yeah. But but your process for coming up with all that and figuring that out, that guy that can feel really hard.
Amanda Russo [00:28:15]:
Yeah. So this time around, it It's really easy because, like I said, I found other people that are doing the same thing in the community. Mhmm. And I, talked to them to see how much they were charging and and how this was working out for them. In my contract, to be more specific, I have the responsibility of finding new clients for the factories and sampling and developing with these up until the point where we place orders. So the main Intention of our project together is to have orders placed from
Heidi [00:28:51]:
Brazil. Goal. Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:28:52]:
Yeah. The main goal is, like, to have orders placed. From the factory. I can require, like, if I need any specific sample that I know would work here in the industry, anything that I might need to help throughout this presentation. Even having them fly over for meetings, I can require anything of that sort Mhmm. To smooth out the process. And and, yeah, and there's also my commitment of working one day a week, one full day a week every week. And we based our contracts in shorter time slots like, 3 months or 6 months, for example, depending on how fast I think this might go with each factory and how fast they might be fitted in in the market.
Amanda Russo [00:29:43]:
Mhmm. So from that point on, we can always revise the contract and see, how much I need to be charging. Okay. And I do have in the contract additional additional days. Like I mentioned previously, like, if they're coming to Brazil for meetings, then if we have 3 full days of meetings, like,
Heidi [00:30:05]:
You get compensated. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:30:07]:
Yeah. I get compensated for those days because I won't be working on any other projects. I'm working exclusively
Heidi [00:30:13]:
Yeah. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:30:14]:
For them. So and if I have any other, like, billable fees, like, for example, if I have to fly to somewhere else for a meeting to present their product to a client in a different state. Mhmm. I can always fill that out to the factory as well.
Heidi [00:30:29]:
Okay. Gotcha. So are there's other people in FAST doing this exact thing, this reverse sourcing where they're working with the factories?
Amanda Russo [00:30:37]:
Yeah.
Heidi [00:30:38]:
There are? Why have I not heard about this? This is the first first time I've heard about this.
Amanda Russo [00:30:42]:
Yeah. I actually, I actually discussed with, like, the girls in our mini coffee chat, and I actually I was I said, like, I don't know what to call my niche now. Yeah. Because I don't, Like, I don't know what to call this because it's changed. And
Heidi [00:30:56]:
Yeah. What are you calling it?
Amanda Russo [00:30:58]:
I'm calling it just, like, either, like, project product management or just sourcing and product development.
Heidi [00:31:05]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:31:06]:
But I don't like it. I don't like calling it product management that much because I feel that, I feel that it gets, like, confused with other buzzwords in other industries.
Heidi [00:31:20]:
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:31:21]:
Yeah. Like a tech industry thing, like Yeah. Like product management. Totally. So I just I just like calling it product development and sourcing. The company. If that's the best name, so I'm opening I'm I'm open to to hearing out new names.
Heidi [00:31:37]:
Yeah. Because it's interesting because you're doing it from the factory side. So Yeah. That's where I'm like, it gets it's, like, reversed.
Amanda Russo [00:31:45]:
Yep. But I could I could always do that for a client, in either ways. Like, I could always do that. I could always do this, the regular sourcing for a client either a Brazilian brand or an American brand or anything.
Heidi [00:31:58]:
True.
Amanda Russo [00:31:59]:
It's it it would still be the same process.
Heidi [00:32:02]:
K. Do you is there any legalities or maybe legality or just ethically or something with any type of disclosure about the commission component. And I asked this based on some personal experiences when I was freelancing in terms of, like, do you disclose to the brand that you're getting a commission once their order gets placed and or, like, let's say if you were starting off with a brand new client and you were doing sourcing on their side, that, like, you have a vested interest in placing them with this Pacific factory. And you have great ethics and morals, I know, but, right, that can get into a tricky situation where someone could make a bad match just so that they get the commission or something. And so I'm just curious what type of disclosure do you work with on that?
Amanda Russo [00:32:56]:
You can never be a 100% safe, on that. Yeah. You always have to, trust the factory that you're working with and shows that they will pay you your commission based on what you deliver. Sure. But But if I do it the other way around, if I do it for a client, I'm obviously not gonna charge a commission from the factory. I might not even charge a commission from the client. I must I might just charge them for a project. It wouldn't make sense to charge a commission.
Amanda Russo [00:33:28]:
I guess the commission is more for the factory because you are, like, I could do sourcing, 4 Brazilian clients, just freelance sourcing
Heidi [00:33:40]:
Right.
Amanda Russo [00:33:40]:
To any factory, like, not a specific factory. But since I do have contracts with specific factories, then I charge them commission because, like, I'm specifically taking these developments to these factories and not anywhere else.
Heidi [00:33:59]:
Right. So, like, if a active athleisure outerwear brand approaches you and says, hey. We wanna do product development internationally. Can you help us? You obviously have a factory that you represent in that capacity that does ultimately pay you commission for production. So I imagine go ahead.
Amanda Russo [00:34:26]:
So what I would do is first thing, I would say, I work with this factory. Would you be willing to Okay. Would you be willing to work with this factory? And then if not, Then I might not work with that client because I already work with the fact
Heidi [00:34:41]:
that they develop Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So you just disclose that right away, and then it's a nonissue?
Amanda Russo [00:34:47]:
Yeah. I guess so. I guess so. I I I was never put in that situation, but I guess I would disclose it right away.
Heidi [00:34:53]:
Okay. Alright. Just curious how you handle all these things. Because with with commission, I think it can just get a little bit tricky. You have a vested interest.
Amanda Russo [00:35:02]:
Yeah. But, but I don't I'd I normally just, like, work with the factories that I have commission for, and I don't do it, like, with other other factories, for example.
Heidi [00:35:15]:
Right. I mean, unless a product came that wasn't a match for either of those factories, then perhaps you could you would work with somebody else.
Amanda Russo [00:35:22]:
Yeah. Then perhaps so, but then but then, yeah, it would have to be completely different from the factories that I work with.
Heidi [00:35:28]:
Right. Like, denim or something?
Amanda Russo [00:35:30]:
Yeah, like them, for example.
Heidi [00:35:32]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:35:32]:
But there would have to be a noncompete of some sort between the product and the factories that I already work with. Yeah. I wouldn't, I wouldn't do that, I guess. I I guess I wouldn't even feel comfortable.
Heidi [00:35:43]:
Yeah. And I imagine probably in your contract with them. There's something that, like, you don't take product to another activewear factory. There's some type of non
Amanda Russo [00:35:53]:
Actually, it's nice that you mentioned that because there's not. Oh. But, but, yeah, like I said, out of reason, I just wouldn't do it.
Heidi [00:36:01]:
Sure. Okay. Okay. Wow. This is so amazing. I'm really impressed what you've built for yourself, Amanda.
Amanda Russo [00:36:08]:
Yeah. Thanks.
Heidi [00:36:09]:
It it must feel great.
Amanda Russo [00:36:11]:
It does.
Heidi [00:36:12]:
Congratulations. Any last parting words that you would share with someone who is thinking about freelancing and maybe is on the fence, whether they tried it before or not.
Amanda Russo [00:36:24]:
Oh, I would say completely go for it. I I wouldn't imagine how big the market is. I had no idea. There are a lot more clients is a a lot more clients needing freelancers than I would imagine before. So I would completely say go for it, and I would completely say join the community, and you will definitely feel safe doing so. Like, find your mini coffee chat group, find smaller groups of people that you would be willing to interact with,
Heidi [00:36:56]:
Mhmm.
Amanda Russo [00:36:56]:
That could help you out throughout the process because, like, me and the girls, for example, and just a shout out to them, Courtney and Jacqueline.
Heidi [00:37:05]:
Close Amanda. Okay. Courtney sent me an email and mentioned she goes, I've made what I am already determining as lifelong friends. And she mentioned you and Jacqueline. Amazing. Yeah.
Amanda Russo [00:37:18]:
So we have this coffee chat and just to shout out to them. It's Jacqueline, Courtney, and Amanda Amanda Tomea. I don't know the pronunciation in English.
Heidi [00:37:27]:
Okay.
Amanda Russo [00:37:27]:
But she, Like, she's all also from a Brazilian family. Oh, okay. And yeah. And, like, It's amazing. And we are in completely different niches. Each one of us has a completely different background. And we don't even, like, work in similar projects, but just being together throughout the process is just so important. And and like Courtney said, I'm so happy that she did.
Amanda Russo [00:37:57]:
I I really feel that I have friends in this process. Like yeah. It's amazing. And I feel that I have coworkers as well. Like, I feel that I have other people that are in this with me That I can rely on if I have any questions that I might need to ask or that I can, like, ask if they're joining any events, either in FAST or any other, community and just spend some time with them while working.
Heidi [00:38:24]:
Yeah. Rather than trying to do it on a vacuum by yourself.
Amanda Russo [00:38:28]:
Oh, yeah. That's so much harder. I've I've been there. I've done that. It's so much harder.
Heidi [00:38:34]:
It's tough. Right? Nobody to ask questions too. Nobody get moral support when you're, like, having a terrible week or just celebrate when you're having a great week.
Amanda Russo [00:38:41]:
Yeah. Yeah. And I actually in this process, like like I said, let Sarah like, Sarah referred me to one of the factories. She's like an actual colleague because we work for the same factory. She's just doing it in the UK, and I'm doing it in Brazil. So, like, so we're doing the same thing. So throughout the process, it's just so it's it's really, like, safer, and it's really it's a better experience in general Yeah. Having someone else there.
Amanda Russo [00:39:11]:
And I've also introduced her to another factory that I work with, and hopefully, they'll be working together soon. So Amazing. Yeah. So it it's nice to have coworkers even though we're all working on our own and freelancing.
Heidi [00:39:25]:
Yeah. It makes my heart melt. I'm so excited, to hear all of this and to hear about your amazing success. Where can everybody connect with you and find you online?
Amanda Russo [00:39:35]:
I can be found online almost everywhere, Instagram, LinkedIn, the FAST community, and My FAST students. Yeah. Yeah.
Heidi [00:39:44]:
Okay. Awesome. We'll put all that in the show notes. And I would love to end with the question we ask everybody at the the end of the interview. What is one thing people never ask you about financing in fashion that you wish they would?
Amanda Russo [00:40:01]:
I guess, like, as a marketing moment here, I could say how did you get into it? Because and then I would introduce them to Fast because like I said yeah. Because like I said, I guess that's, like, the biggest question to be asked. How do you do this exactly? Play, like, so many of the formats that you show in the program and so many of, like, the prompt pitches that you have and already proven, working contracts and pitches and formats, and all of that is so helpful throughout the process. So I guess, like, that was That would be the important advice that I would had I would have to give out.
Heidi [00:40:37]:
Yeah. Get started on a good foot rather than just kinda diving out into the ether and trying to do it on your own and having no idea.
Amanda Russo [00:40:44]:
Yeah.
Heidi [00:40:44]:
Yeah. I appreciate that shout out for fast. All your shout out for fast. Thank you so much, Amanda. It was lovely to have you on.
Amanda Russo [00:40:51]:
It was. Thank you so much.