Just a few words from one who has read the E-book. I'll keep adding reviews either here on on the homepage. 

 

Renato,

I've only scanned your book, initially. But, I have to say: "Thank you. This is great!" I run a pattern & sample room in the Denver metro area. I met with a group of 14 local designers about 2 months ago to tell them I was here and what I did. Several of them, right away, asked if I had advice to sell to local boutiques. Actually, that's all they want to do - short-run manufacturing, selling to local stores in very small quantities.

My recommendation was pretty much in-line with yours: call the boutique buyers, do go-see's Tues-Thur betw 10 & 3, etc. I'm going to refer several people to your website so they can purchase their own copy of your book. I will let them know that it's specific to the UK wholesale trade; but, the advice and business sense are solid and easily adaptable regardless of market.

They will have to integrate what you're saying for themself and understand local law and how they need to write their contracts/policies. But, again, it's all extremely solid information. BTW: I especially like that you are clear about PR, after-the-sales support and the stuff the design company needs to do to encourage prompt payment from their stores. And, the value of hiring a sales rep - if only to insulate the designer's ego. Incidentally, several sales reps that I've spoken to, recently, tell me they won't look at repping a line until the brand has established at least $100K gross sales, each season, for at least 2 years. I can agree with that because I feel the designer should prove the concept viable, burn-in the CMT and supply chain, etc. before asking for a sales rep to help expand their customer base.

I'm also ecstatic that you talk frankly about factors. Some numbers I hear, over-and-over, is that North American factors don't want to look at a company who is not writing at least $400K gross sales each season, for at least 3 consecutive seasons. I use this conjecture to put perspective on getting a factor to underwrite sales in order to fund production. I don't know where some designers got this idea; but, several don't think they need to be solvent and that they can use PO financing or deposits from retailers to fund production.

JC Sprowls

Director - Product development

Studio 9 Apparel

Aurora CO

Denver