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How do you launch a sustainable fashion brand? Where do you even begin? What expenses should you avoid? How do you stand out in all of the social media noise? These are all questions we’re going to explore in the newest podcast to hit the fashion scene. I’m Shannon Lohr, your host and the founder of Factory45, the online business school that takes sustainable fashion brands from idea to launch. Named the “#1 business program to launch your fashion brand” by Maker’s Row, this podcast will exp ...
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What’s really in the products we use and buy every day? Is it possible to change our own health by becoming more thoughtful consumers? I’m your host Shannon Lohr and I’m an entrepreneur, mother and clean living advocate who thinks a lot about what I buy -- especially when it comes to home, food and beauty. For most people, it’s overwhelming to sift through research about parabens and sulfates when you’re just trying to make it through the day, put dinner on the table and get the kids to bed. ...
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From engineer to entrepreneur, my name is Vincent. I love marketing but was fed up with companies that care more about profits than their customers. So I created a podcast that allows me to dive into the stories behind the most inspiring brands in the world. Ecommerce Speak is for purpose-driven brands, entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow their brand online and increase their social and environmental impact.
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This is not the episode that I thought I would be writing when I restarted this podcast back in August. I told you in the Season 02 teaser that I had big plans for what I would share, what we would learn and how we would better our lives with small changes in our homes. But what do they say about the best laid plans? PRODUCT RECS & SOURCES: http://…
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Here’s a picture I never thought I’d paint for you: Imagine you’re in Ancient Rome. You’re a wealthy citizen of the city so you have access to running water and public baths – the first of their kind. You’re bathing – washing your skin and hair – and on the other side of the city someone else, with less wealth and lower on the hierarchy than you, i…
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‘Tis the season… to talk about candy. With Halloween less than a week away, I wanted to use this episode to share some alternative, better-for-you candy brands and to give you the heads-up on some others that you may want to swap out. I don’t know what the Halloween equivalent of a scrooge is, but I’m not it – I’m just here to clean up the holiday …
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This episode started with an Instagram DM from a friend. Her message linked to an article with a note that said: “This would be a good topic for the podcast.” To which I replied, “Do you think? I feel like people already know this…” It was her response back that really blew me away. So in this episode, we’re talking about plastic. PRODUCT RECS & SO…
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Let me tell you about one of the biggest pain points within my family… it’s the thing that causes the most screaming (by my kids), the most avoiding (by my husband) and the most nagging (by me). It also happens to be an extremely expensive habit (file it under preventative health care, I guess) and is just, well, a general necessary nuisance of my …
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Raise your hand if you saw the title of this week’s podcast episode and low-key panicked that I was going to tell you to stop drinking coffee. No, no, no, no… Don’t worry… I’m not here to destroy lives – there are just a few things I want you to consider the next time you buy a new bag of beans or box of tea. PRODUCT RECS & SOURCES: http://cleanliv…
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Let’s face it, we’re all talking about... And if you’re not talking about it, then you’re wondering about it. And if you’re not wondering about it, and you’re over the age of 35, then you’re just a very evolved human. Botox: Who’s getting it? Who’s gotten too much of it? And you, thinking you have crow’s feet and elevens and want to start getting i…
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This was the most requested topic after last season, so I wanted to get it right. But to be honest, the research left me with more questions than answers (I know, how can something like moisturizer be so puzzling?) Let’s break it down, shall we? PRODUCT RECS & SOURCES: https://cleanlivingpodcast.com/moisturizer/…
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I was recently at my annual dermatology appointment – I come from a long line of skin cancer history, so I get a full body scan once a year to make sure there aren’t any unusual marks – and at the end of the appointment, the doctor asked if I have any questions. So I asked the thing that’s on every mid-thirties, closer to 40-year-old, woman… In thi…
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In this teaser episode for Season 02, I want to illustrate a bigger point. And it’s one that I’ve been thinking about a lot in the two years since pausing this podcast, since having a second baby and since having conversations with friends. And it’s what I call “The Wellness Burden.” PRODUCT RECS & SOURCES: https://cleanlivingpodcast.com/teaser/…
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What brand of sunscreen should you buy? Is flavored yogurt actually toxic? What’s the deal with seed oils? Should you really wash rice multiple times before cooking? There are questions you’ve been wondering about and there are questions you’ve never thought to ask – and that’s why, after a two and a half year hiatus, I’m so excited to finally brin…
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This month, we’re releasing “Best of” episodes that will feature some of our most popular episodes of Season 2. This series will highlight important first steps when starting a fashion brand, and how to raise funds for your first production run. In today’s episode, we’ve pulled together the most popular episodes on all things money while building y…
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For the rest of February we’re releasing “Best of” episodes that will feature some of our most popular episodes of Season 2. This series will highlight important first steps when starting a fashion brand, and how to raise funds for your first production run. In today’s episode, we’ve pulled together the 3 most popular episodes on how to get started…
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Ten years ago I co-created the highest funded fashion project in Kickstarter history at the time. What happened over those 30 days far surpassed our wildest dreams. Despite the lack of internet marketing tactics, an advertising budget or a team of employees, my co-founder and I did have one thing on our side: A compelling story. And it’s how to sha…
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Are they even “secrets?” Well, they were definitely secrets to me when I was first starting out. Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with “teamwork makes the dreamwork” cliches. I’m going to teach you the real, tactical advice with the personal stories and proof behind them. After a decade of entrepreneurship and mentoring hundreds of fashion entrepreneu…
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As any parent knows, the word “balance” is a loose term. Whether you’re working a full-time job, starting a business or working as a stay-at-home parent, you always sort of feel like you’re on a see-saw that literally goes up and down all day. Sometimes you’re on top, doing all the things, feeling like you’re conquering life… but more often than no…
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Are you thinking about taking the leap from a more traditional career to the world of entrepreneurship? Have you thought about how your daily life will change? Have you talked it through with your partner or spouse? And also, where do you even start? In this episode, I’m going to give you some questions to ask yourself and some things to think abou…
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Are you deciding between joining a fashion program or hiring a consultant to start your brand? We’re asked about this a lot by people starting their own fashion brands. So, in this episode, I’m going through the pros and cons of joining a fashion program like Factory45 vs hiring a consultant, so that you can weigh the options and decide for yoursel…
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If you’re building a sustainable fashion brand, you’re probably in the thick of it. As a fashion entrepreneur, you’ll be tackling new skills and challenges that you’ve never encountered before. Tech issues, design challenges, writing, negotiating, creating and organizing… most of it will push you out of your comfort zone. But as entrepreneurs, that…
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It wasn’t so long ago that if you wanted to start a fashion brand, or really any business for that matter, you had to take on a lot of risk. That included financial risk – from taking out a loan, borrowing from a family member or accumulating credit card debt. Thankfully, that’s not so much the case anymore – there is a way to launch a fashion bran…
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If you’re thinking about starting a fashion brand, chances are you’re doing a lot of research. And when you’re bombarded with advice, opinions, facts, stats, experts, gurus, advertisements… It’s enough to cause decision paralysis for even the most confident, decisive and organized of people. So how do you do your research and avoid information over…
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Everyone loves the hero’s journey and I’m sure you can recount a dozen other failure-to-success, rags-to-riches stories of celebrities and athletes. But what about your own? As an entrepreneur, regardless of whether you’re established or aspiring, what is your relationship to failure? To thrive in this industry, you have to be okay with mistakes, f…
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How many times have you wanted to give up? Whether it was entrepreneurship, a job, your education, a relationship or something else… If you ever faced feelings of wanting to throw it all away, what stopped you from doing it? What kept you going and invested in the long game? Perhaps you already know the answer, but the next time you face these same…
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In times of economic downturn, do you know which fashion sector tends to do better than the rest? Luxury fashion. The sole reason being that the primary customer base is high-income consumers who generally aren’t affected by a recession. So if you’re looking to start a fashion brand and want to jump into the luxury market, this episode is for you.…
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If, right now, you Googled “How much does it cost to start a fashion brand” a bunch of articles would pop up giving you a range between $500 and $50,000. Which isn’t all that helpful if you’re trying to put a budget together or plan ahead. While yes, it’s true that startup costs vary greatly depending on what type of garments you’re making, how muc…
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When you think about starting your own sustainable fashion brand there’s one thing you may be considering that traditional fashion brands aren’t thinking anything about… and it’s the end-life of the clothing you sell. In other words, when your customer is done wearing the garment they purchased from you, where will it end up? There are several diff…
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It should come as no surprise that consumers use social media to discover and shop brands they love. I do it, you probably do it, and your next customer is doing it right now. So how do you get your own brand to stand out in the social commerce game? In today’s episode, I’m sharing some of my best strategies for leveraging social media so you can m…
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I am so excited to talk about this topic today because it’s a question that I have strong opinions on and many thoughts to share. Should you quit your day job to start your fashion brand? And taking it one step further – if you stay – should you tell your boss that you’re starting a business? That’s what we’re talking about on today’s episode!…
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Should You Start a Sustainable Fashion Brand During a Recession? I’m not an economist and I’m obviously biased in how I would answer this. So, I’m crediting all of the info from this episode to the Business of Fashion and leaving my opinion out. In today’s episode, I’m walking you through some things to think about so you can decide for yourself. R…
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I hear it all the time, “How do I know if I have a good business idea?” “How do I know if something is going to stick?” “What ideas are worth pursuing?” Of course no one wants to invest time and money into a bad idea. So what can you do before you start your business to give you a little boost of confidence? That’s what I’m sharing in today’s episo…
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So you’re thinking about starting a fashion or accessories brand, but you want to make sure you’ve dotted all of your i’s and crossed all of your t’s before going down that road. Well, you’re in luck, because this episode will help you do that. Here are 9 questions to ask yourself before starting a fashion brand. Resources mentioned in this episode…
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Maybe you’ve had an idea for a clothing brand or an apparel product or an innovative accessory and you keep thinking the timing isn’t right. You’re dabbling in research, listening to podcasts like this one or Googling on your phone when you can’t fall asleep, but you haven't taken any tangible action yet… well, in today’s episode, I’m going to help…
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This is the final episode in our Summer Series, where we’re featuring our best and most popular episodes of the Start Your Sustainable Fashion Brand Podcast. We’re wrapping it up with an episode all about my best entrepreneurship advice. You’ll hear all about dealing with copycats & critics, facing the competition, and what it really takes to be an…
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This week is part three of our Summer Series, where we’re featuring our best and most popular episodes of the Start Your Sustainable Fashion Brand Podcast. This episode is all about building a supply chain for your fashion brand as a new entrepreneur. You’ll hear about how to find the perfect fabric, mistakes to avoid when sourcing, and finding a m…
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We’ve introduced a new format to the podcast that we’re calling our “Summer Series.” We’re releasing four episodes in June, July, and August that will feature some of our best and most popular episodes since releasing this podcast in January. This week’s episode features our 3 best episodes about marketing and how to build an audience for your fash…
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We’re introducing a new format to the podcast that we’re calling our “Summer Series.” We’ll be releasing four episodes in June, July, and August that will feature some of our best and most popular episodes since releasing this podcast in January. From business planning to marketing to supply chains, our Best Of Summer Series kicks off now. This epi…
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Having worked with over 500 entrepreneurs since 2014, it’s been fascinating to watch the highs and lows that we all go through when starting a new business. It’s cliche to say, but going out on your own is certainly not for the faint of heart. So if you’re one of those people who is starting a new brand, a new venture or even just a new project, th…
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It should come as no surprise that because of the internet, the entire landscape of selling a physical product has changed and will continue to change. The subtle ways that a business communicates with a potential customer will ultimately result in them clicking the purchase button. So, how do you start communicating and making those connections wi…
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We all have moments in life when we set a goal, and for whatever reason, it feels like an impossibility to achieve. At first, we’re amped up, we feel motivated and then time goes on and we don’t make much progress. Wherever you are in the process of starting your fashion brand, there will be things that come up that stop you in your tracks. How do …
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In your fabric sourcing journey, you will be faced with high minimums. You find the perfect fabric for your product, but the supplier says that fabric has an MOQ of 1,000 yards. Even if you haven’t worked out your exact quantities yet, you know that for your first collection 1000 yards is probably too high. Does that mean the dream of using this fa…
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Today's topic is going to be short and sweet, but hopefully, pack a lot of punch in your marketing efforts. It's something that's actually fun. It's a chance to get creative to put your marketing hat on and when done right, it will help you grow your audience for your fashion brand much faster because that's our goal: to make sure you have an audie…
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When you think about choosing a business model -- your thoughts may immediately go to the question of how you’re going to sell. Will you sell direct to consumer? Will you sell wholesale to stores and boutiques? And while those are all important decisions to think about and make, the business model I want to talk about today is one that is *actually…
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This is the last week we’re going to talk about clothing manufacturing, and while I know, manufacturing isn’t necessarily the most glamorous topic I want to make sure you’re armed for success so that you not only know how to be an ideal client to potential production partners, but you also know how to protect yourself before signing any contracts.T…
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Finding a manufacturing partner is so important to your success as a business owner and as a reputable brand in this industry. If you can’t find a clothing manufacturer to sew your garments in the correct way, then you’ll lack the ability to sell and scale. I always tell my students to look at your clothing manufacturer as your partner -- in fact, …
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Finding the right manufacturing partner for your fashion startup is one of the most important decisions you can make for your brand. You don’t want to take this choice lightly and you do want to make sure you complete plenty of due diligence before signing a contract or hiring. If you’re looking for a clothing manufacturer for your fashion brand bu…
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Has this happened to you before? Maybe at your job or when you’re working on a hobby you love or when you get really into a project with your kid. You get so caught up in “the work” that you look up and realize the work didn’t actually feel like work. It doesn’t happen every day. Sometimes it doesn’t even happen every week. But when it does happen,…
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You know that whatever you’re doing isn’t working, but you don’t exactly know why. Maybe your inquiry email is unclear. Maybe you’re not asking for the right thing… in the right way. Maybe the supplier simply overlooked your email. Whatever the reason, I do know this: The vast majority of new designers are making four very common fabric sourcing mi…
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Your email list is your most valuable marketing asset. There are so many different methods and angles to look at when it comes to an email marketing strategy. In today’s episode, I’m going to teach you one specific strategy that you can implement today that averages 70.5% higher open rates and 152% higher click-through rates than traditional email …
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One of my favorite ways for fashion startups to launch is by pre-selling. This means you’re selling your product before you create any inventory. It also means your customers are paying for the product upfront so you have money in the bank to pay for production. One of the most popular pre-selling platforms for fashion brands is Kickstarter. And it…
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As someone who works with and mentors new entrepreneurs on a regular basis, I’m no stranger to panicked emails popping up in my inbox about the discovery of a competitor. As soon as we discover potential competition, our cortisol levels shoot through the roof and we imagine the worst-case scenario. In today’s episode, I’m talking about why competit…
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