Indie Source

Starting any business or brand can be a risky endeavor, but it can pay off big time if you plan carefully, work with the right people, and have a little bit of luck (or positive press) on your side. The thing is, far too often people jump in feet first and make common mistakes that can cost them time, money, or even prevent their brand from launching.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common mistakes startup fashion brands make, why they can hurt your brand, and how to avoid them.  Relying Solely on Overseas Suppliers and Manufacturers Many big brands work with companies overseas to produce their goods. The thing is, it takes a lot of time, years even, to create strong relationships with reliable suppliers and to negotiate price points down—which typically involves mass orders of thousands of units. In addition to this, overseas manufacturers don’t have to adhere to the stricter labor and environmental standards that US clothing manufacturers...

A pop-up shop is essentially a short-term retail location where brands and businesses sell a (sometimes exclusive) run of products typically for as long as a week or as short as a day. In recent years, major fashion brands, artists, and others have used pop-up shops to drive attention and sales for their brand with great success.  With that in mind, if you're a smaller clothing brand or are just starting your line, are there benefits to launching your own pop-up shop? The answer: absolutely. Here are a few reasons why emerging and established clothing brands alike should consider it. Reach New Customers Pop-up shops are a fantastic tool for generating buzz and getting people talking about your brand. There are tons of websites and blogs online dedicated to finding pop-ups in major cities, and if you market your pop-up well, you can get the attention of bloggers, journalists, and spark a social media wildfire. This can't happen on its own, so make sure you...