Make it British Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kate Hills
Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing. In this podcast she shines the light on British brands and manufacturers, and goes behind the scenes of their businesses. With tips, hints and tricks to help you manufacture in the UK and buy British. Never has there been a more critical time to get behind 'made in Britain'.
Subscribe to the mailing list to get Make it British Live! event updates.
Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Subscribe to the mailing list to get Make it British Live! event updates.
Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Manufacturers Mentioned:
woolkind.com
caledoniahosiery.com
johnstonsofelgin.com
halleystevensons.co.uk
kcmanufacturing.co.uk
aeroleatherclothing.com
houseofcheviot.com
teviotknitwear.co.uk
wonkywoolies.com
Apply to come to the next free Q&A
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Hello and welcome to episode 323 of the Make it British Podcast. I'm back with another episode in my Women in Wool series, this time chatting to knitwear designer Frankie Davies from Charl Knitwear.
Frankie spent years designing knitwear for Burberry and Benetton and has spent much of her career inside knitwear factories, so it was only ever a matter of time before she founded her own brand. In this episode, Frankie talks about her use of British wool, the benefits of working with UK factories and how that differs from working with manufacturers in Italy, as well as the challenges of running your own business when you have small children, which I'm sure many of you listening can relate to.
In this episode we cover:
About Charl Knitwear
Charl Knitwear is a British knitwear brand founded by Frankie Davies, a designer with over 20 years of experience working for luxury fashion houses including Burberry and Benetton. Inspired by the Norfolk fisherman's Gansey, the brand combines heritage stitch traditions with a contemporary approach to British fibre and manufacturing.
You can find Frankie and Charl Knitwear at:
Website: charlknitwear.co.uk
Instagram: @charlknitwear
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
Apply to come to the next free Q&A
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Read this email
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Read this email
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Read this email
Subscribe to Kate's Sunday Journal 🧡
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Laura Watts, managing director of Marton Mills, 3rd generation family weaving business based in Otley, Yorkshire.
Marton Mills was founded in 1931 and has built its reputation on uniform fabric - supplying school wear, military contracts for the Navy and the RAF, and fabric for the King's Coronation.
Now, alongside its core uniform work, Marton Mills is launching its first fully traceable British wool collection in autumn 2026, with yarn sourced just down the road from Laxton's and fabric finished at Roberts Dyers in Keighley.
In this episode we cover:
- How Laura went from advising heart surgeons at Johnson & Johnson to running a nearly 100-year-old weaving mill.
- Why uniform fabric is the backbone of the business and how the mill weaves 18 to 20,000 metres of fabric a week.
- Why so much British-woven fabric still goes offshore for garment production.
- What a genuine British procurement policy for military uniforms could look like.
- The challenge of recruiting the next generation into textiles.
About Marton Mills
Marton Mills Co Ltd is a family-owned textile mill established in 1931, nestled in the Wharfedale valley in West Yorkshire. The mill produces premium fabrics across a range of end uses, from school and military uniforms to film and television, with a reputation built on consistent quality and traditional Yorkshire values.
Website: martonmills.com
Instagram: @martonmills
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I visited Laxtons Yarns in Baildon, Yorkshire, a fourth generation family spinning mill that is now employee-owned.
I was given a full tour of the mill floor by commercial director Carly Smith and national accounts manager Rochelle Tracey, before sitting down with them to talk about British wool, the future of the business and the exciting relaunch of their hand knitting range.
Laxtons spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving. Their Sheepsoft yarn is a blend of Blue Faced Leicester and Masham British wool and travels less than 50 miles from fleece to finished yarn.
Almost the entire workforce is women.
In this episode we cover:
- Behind the scenes of how the fibre is spun into yarn.
- How Laxtons became employee owned in 2024 and what that means for the future of the business in Yorkshire.
- Why 52% of everything Laxtons spins is now British wool, and how that has grown.
- The relaunch of their hand knitting range as Bramble & Fleece.
- The shift happening across Yorkshire mills, with more women now leading businesses in what has traditionally been a male dominated industry.
About Laxtons
Laxtons Yarns is a fourth generation family spinning mill based in Baildon, Yorkshire. They spin worsted and fancy yarns for hand knitting, machine knitting and weaving, with over 52% of their yarn made from British wool. In July 2024 the business became employee owned, securing its future in Yorkshire. Their hand knitting range is relaunching as Bramble & Fleece in 2026.
Website: laxtons.com | bylaxtons.com
Instagram: @laxtonsyarns
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I take a trip to the beautiful Essex countryside to visit knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney in her micro factory, where she designs, programmes, knits, and finishes her collection in house.
We talk about the realities of owning your own industrial knitting machine - from learning to keep the yarn and machine happy, to breaking needles in tears and coming out the other side.
We also hear about Genevieve's mission to revive the almost forgotten art of hand Intarsia, a knitting technique synonymous with Scottish knitwear.
About Genevieve Sweeney
Genevieve Sweeney is a knitwear designer and maker based in Essex. Known for her distinctive use of colour, texture and geometric patterning, Genevieve works with natural fibres including Lambswool and naturally-dyed Merino.
You can find Genevieve and Genevieve Sweeney at:
Website: genevievesweeney.com
Instagram: @genevievesweeney
Genevieve forst appeared on the Make it British Podcast in Episode 39 in March 2019.
You can listen to that episode here
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
🚀 Ready to create a British-made product business that's built to last? Without faffing about, wasting wads of cash, or struggling with unreliable factories. Apply for the British Brand Accelerator: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode I'm sharing the recording of a recent webinar I ran - 5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer.
- Learn my signature 5 Step Factory Readiness Method™ which has helped hundreds of small business owners to get their products made in the UK.
- Find out why manufacturers don't get back to you (and how to make sure you get a reply).
- Why sampling costs can spiral out of control and how to avoid it.
- What a tech pack is, why you need one and how to create a tech pack quickly and easily without using a designer.
If you are trying to get a product made in the UK and want a clear, practical framework to follow without making costly mistakes, this episode will give you exactly that.
In this episode you will also hear me mention a cost price calculator that I have developed.
Try the Cost Price Calculator
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Harriet Fletcher-Gilhuys from Fashion Roundtable.
Harriet is the project lead for The Great British Wool Revival and is also working with the King's Foundation on an event in May 2026 to promote the use of British wool.
If you're a designer, maker or brand wanting to work with British wool but not sure where to start, the Great British Wool Revival is the resource you need to know about. It maps the entire wool supply chain from sheep to spinning, dyeing, knitting and weaving and Harriet is here to walk us through exactly how to use it.
In this episode we cover:
- What The Great British Wool Revival is and how to use it to find farms, spinners, dyers and manufacturers near you
- How to plan a traceable British wool supply chain from scratch, and why you should allow a full year from first conversation to finished product
- How to get around minimum order quantities by pairing up with other small designers
- Why the website is already being used in 80 countries and what that tells us about the global shift towards homegrown fibres
- The two-day wool summit at Dumfries House in Scotland bringing together farmers, designers, makers and policymakers, and how to get involved
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About the Great British Wool Revival
The Great British Wool Revival is a free online platform built to make British wool more accessible, from farmer through to finished product. Launched in September 2024 in collaboration with the King's Foundation and funded by Yoox Net-a-Porter, it maps the entire wool supply chain and includes a terminology guide, a directory of mills, spinners and dye houses, and step-by-step guidance for designers wanting to work with British wool.
The Great British Wool Revival Website
Fashion Roundtable website
Instagram: @greatbritishwoolrevival
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I'm joined by Isabelle Randall, a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, who has been running her own label for over 21 years.
Isabelle works in British tweeds and wool fabrics, making everything bespoke in her atelier. We talk about the Yorkshire mills she loves working with, her tailoring process, and why her bespoke approach keeps customers coming back again and again.
We also get into what it feels like, as a designer who makes everything herself, to hand over the responsibility of production to a manufacturer for the first time.
In this episode we cover:
- Which Yorkshire mills Isabelle works with and why she chooses British tweeds and wool fabrics
- How her bespoke tailoring process works from initial consultation to finished garment
- Why her made-to-order approach builds long-term customer loyalty
- What it's really like to hand over production to a manufacturer when you've always made everything yourself
- Why holding out for customers who understand and value the work is better than chasing every sale
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About Isabelle Randall
Isabelle Randall is a fashion designer and tailor based in Scarborough, Yorkshire, with over 21 years of experience running her own label. She works exclusively in British tweeds and wool fabrics, creating bespoke garments from her atelier.
You can find Isabelle and her label at:
Website: isabellerandall.com
Instagram: @isabellerandall
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Louisa Knapp, Marketing Executive at British Wool.
Based in Bradford, British Wool operates as a farmers' cooperative that collects, grades, and auctions fleece for around 35,000 sheep farmers across the UK.
Whether you’re a designer wondering how to source British wool or you’re just curious about what happens to a fleece after it’s sheared, you’re going to love this episode.
In this episode we cover:
- How the British Wool cooperative operates and makes it easy for brands to use traceable wool.
- The British wool supply chain and how new digital systems making it easier to track wool back to the farm.
- Why wool is a wonderful fibre and how British Wool are pushing up the price the farmer's receive for their fleece.
- Launching new regional labels to guarantee Scottish and Welsh wool traceability.
About British Wool
British Wool is a member-led organisation that handles the collection, grading, and marketing of UK fleece to support 35,000 farmers. They work with brands and manufacturers to provide traceable supply chains and increase the global demand for British wool.
You can find out more about British Wool at
Website: www.britishwool.org.uk
Instagram: @britishwool
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
In this episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Kate Stalker, founder of OUBAS Knitwear.
Kate runs a knitwear micro factory in the Lake District, where she designs and manufactures fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres, including British wool. After studying knitwear at Winchester School of Art, she returned to Cumbria and started the business with a single hand flat knitting machine in her parents’ utility room.
Today OUBAS produces knitwear on industrial knitting machines, with everything knitted, linked and finished in house by a small team. The business combines design, manufacturing and small batch production all under one roof.
If you’re interested in British wool, knitwear manufacturing or what it takes to run a small clothing factory in the UK, this episode gives a real behind the scenes look at how it works.
In this episode we cover:1. How Kate started OUBAS with one knitting machine and began selling at local markets and craft fairs 2. Why she chose to base the business in the Lake District rather than moving to London 3. What it takes to run a knitwear micro factory with industrial knitting machines 4. What “linking” is and why fully fashioned knitwear is so labour intensive 5. How knitwear is finished after it comes off the knitting machine 6. The reality of pricing knitwear when every garment takes hours to produce 7. How made to order production helps reduce waste and allows a wider size range 8. Why small batch knitwear manufacturing is becoming increasingly important for emerging brands
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About OUBAS KnitwearOUBAS Knitwear is a British knitwear brand and micro factory based in the Lake District. The business produces fully fashioned knitwear using natural fibres including British wool, with garments knitted and finished in house.
Alongside its own collection, OUBAS also works with other brands and designers, offering knitwear sampling, development and small batch production.
You can find Kate and Oubas Knitwear at:
Website: www.oubasknitwear.co.uk
Instagram: @oubasknitwear
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
In this first episode of the Women in Wool series, I’m joined by Dee McGilvray, founder of CLÒ FOLD.
Dee has launched a womenswear brand built entirely around 100 percent British traceable wool. In just five months, alongside a full time job, she has taken an idea rooted in farming and the British countryside and turned it into a finished product made entirely in the UK.
Her first piece is a wool gilet woven in Yorkshire using traceable wool sourced through British Wool. Every part of the supply chain, from farm to finished garment, has been kept in Britain.
This isn’t just a story about launching a fashion brand. It’s about supporting farmers, restoring value to British wool and building a genuinely local supply chain.
In this episode we cover:1. Why so much British wool goes to waste and why farmers are often paid very little for it 2. How Dee built a fully traceable supply chain starting with British Wool 3. What traceable wool actually means and how customers can scan a QR code to see which farms their garment came from 4. Working with UK mills, manufacturers and suppliers 5. Why launching with one product was a smart move 6. The reality of starting a brand quickly and testing demand in small batches 7. Why wool is one of the most underrated fibres in British fashion
If you care about British farming, UK manufacturing and using fibres that actually grow on our hillsides, this episode will give you a practical look at how it can be done.
About CLÒ FOLDCLÒ FOLD is a British womenswear brand built on the principle of land led living. Every garment is made using traceable British wool, with full transparency from farm to finished product.
You can find Dee and CLÒ FOLD at:
Website: www.clofold.com
Instagram: @clofold
Make sure you join her mailing list to hear about upcoming launches including traceable British wool welly socks and future outerwear pieces.
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Follow Kate @makeitbritish on Instagram
Series 8 of the Make it British podcast is here!
After many of you asked, “Where’s the podcast gone?”, it's coming back with a brand-new themed series: Women in Wool.
Over the past few months, I've been recording interviews behind the scenes. As the conversations unfolded, a clear thread emerged. Every guest was a woman. And every one of them was working with the same fibre - Wool.
This new series shines a spotlight on the women driving innovation, craftsmanship and revival across the UK wool supply chain – from farming and spinning to weaving, knitting and manufacturing.
🐑 Why Wool? Why Now?
The UK textile industry was built on wool. Entire towns, trades and skills grew around it, yet over recent decades, wool has been pushed aside by cheaper synthetic fibres.
Now, the tide is starting to turn.
Recent cultural moments have helped bring wool back into the spotlight:
- The 'Traitors effect' with Claudia Winkleman’s tartans, tweeds and knits dominating headlines.
- The Princess of Wales visiting Welsh mill Melin Tregwynt and wearing Welsh wool.
- Growing attention on natural fibres and fully traceable supply chains.
- The launch ofThe Great British Wool Revival, a platform dedicated to strengthening British wool supply chains.
At a time when brands are preparing for Digital Product Passports and increased traceability requirements, wool stands out as one of the very few fibres we can genuinely grow and process here in the UK.
👩🦰 Why Women in Wool?
While the textile industry has historically been male-dominated, more and more women are now leading businesses across every stage of the wool supply chain.
From micro-factories to knitwear brands, from farming to finishing, female founders are shaping the future of British wool. This series celebrates them.
🎙️Be My Guest
If you work in wool, or know a woman who does, and would like to be featured in the Women in Wool series, email kate@makeitbritish.co.uk with the subject line Women in Wool.
🧡 Love the Podcast?
If you’re a regular listener and this show has helped you, please take a moment to leave a review. Reviews help more people discover the amazing prhttps://www.instagram.com/makeitbritish/oducts still being made and manufactured in Britain.
Want to start or grow a British-made brand?
There are several ways that we can work together depending on what stage your business is at.
➡️ Let's Work Together!
Follow Kate on Instagram @makeitbritish
🚀 Want to join British Brand Accelerator? Apply here: makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Got a question before applying?
DM me on Instagram: @makeitbritish
Not all factories are created equal!
And if you’re contacting 20 different manufacturers hoping one will say yes — you're doing it the hard way.
In this episode of MANUFACTURING SOS, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see when people start looking for a UK manufacturer: assuming every factory can make every kind of product.
You’ll learn why factory specialisms matter, how MOQs and capacity make a difference, and what you actually need to look for when shortlisting a manufacturer.
I’ll also share why I took down my free directory of UK manufacturers and the surprising truth about what manufacturers really said about being in it.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
🏭 Why not every factory with a sewing machine is right for your product
🧵 What kind of research you really need to do before reaching out
🛑 The red flag that means a manufacturer isn’t a good fit
🍷 What looking for a factory partner and choosing a wine having in common!
Get a copy of my UK Manufacturers List
▶️ Watch all 5 episodes of MANUFACTURING SOS on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
In this episode in the MANUFACTURING SOS series, I’m breaking down why placing a big order with your manufacturer, especially on your first production run with them, can be a costly mistake.
You’ll learn why it’s always smarter to treat your first production run as a test, how to avoid tying up all your money in stock, and how to respond when a manufacturer insists on high MOQs.
If you’re at the stage of placing your first order with a factory, or wondering how many units to start with, don’t miss this one.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
🎧 Listen now to find out:
📦 Why ordering big on your first run is rarely a good idea
🧪 How to treat your first production like a product test
👚 How to avoid ending up with stock you can’t sell
⭐️ Why less really is more when you're building a UK-made brand
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series
Get my Range Plan Template Here
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Think tech packs are optional? Or that your manufacturer can just "sort it for you"?
Think again.
In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper tech pack, and why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.
You’ll learn why a tech pack is your blueprint, not just a boring admin task, and how trying to wing it will cost you more in sampling, quality control, and wasted materials.
I’m also busting the myth that you need to spend thousands on a designer to create one – and showing you what to include (in plain English).
Whether you’ve been told you don’t need one, or you’ve been avoiding it because it sounds too techy, this episode is your wake-up call.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
🧵 What a tech pack actually is and why it matters
💸 How skipping it costs you money, time, and control
🧠 Why pay £100s to get one made
📋 What to include in a tech pack (and how to keep it simple)
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series
Get my Tech Pack Template Here
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
What UK Manufacturers Really Think When You Ask About Price
If the first thing you ask a factory is “How much?” — you’re not alone.
But it might explain why you’re not getting the response you hoped for.
In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m unpacking what actually happens when you lead with price, and why it’s one of the fastest ways to put off the best manufacturers.
You’ll learn how to work backwards from a realistic retail price, how to spot when your margins just don’t add up, and what to do before you ever ask for a quote.
You’ll also get a reality check on what it really costs to make something in the UK — and why bartering isn’t a strategy.
If you want to be taken seriously by UK factories and avoid wasting everyone’s time (including your own), this episode is for you.
▶️ Watch this video on YouTube
Listen now to find out:
💸 Why asking for price too soon makes you look unprepared
🧮 How to calculate a realistic target cost price
🧵 Why most founders get their garment costings completely wrong
📉 What happens when you treat manufacturing like price shopping
🔁 What to say to a factory instead of “how much is this to make?”
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
If your inbox is full of unanswered emails to factories, it's not personal. It's a sign you're making critical mistakes that scream 'newbie'.
In this first episode in this special series MANUFACTURING SOS I’m diving into one of the most common frustrations I hear from founders - that they've contacted manufacturers and no one got back to them.
Sound familiar?
Before you assume UK manufacturers are just ignoring you, you need to hear this.
I’m sharing the real reasons factories hit delete, including vague enquiries, missing tech packs, and the one thing they’ll always check before replying to you.
You’ll also hear a cautionary tale about what happens when you work with a so-called UK manufacturer that turns out to be a middleman. Spoiler: it nearly cost one founder £30k.
If you want to stop wasting time and make sure you’re actually factory-ready, this episode is for you.
▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube
Listen now to find out:🚩 What red flags instantly tell a manufacturer you're not ready
👻 The mistake that gets your enquiry ghosted 75% of the time
💌 Why your email address and Instagram feed matter more than you think
👬 How to avoid falling for middlemen posing as UK factories
🤓 What to do before you ever send that first email
🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don't miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series.
▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube
🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply
Brand New Mini Series Coming Soon: Manufacturing SOSAfter a year-long hiatus, the Make It British Podcast is coming back!
Series 7 is currently in the works, but while you wait, I’ve got something special for you…
Introducing a brand new mini series called Manufacturing SOS.
This special series is for anyone who’s starting or scaling a clothing, accessories or homeware brand and wants to get their products made in the UK without wasting time, money or losing their mind in the process.
Each episode is short and straight to the point. And in my usual no-nonsense style, I’ll be breaking down the most common manufacturing mistakes I see brands make, and how to avoid them.
These are the things I hear the same mistakes I hear again and again during the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with brand founders over the last few years. They’re also the things I know UK manufacturers wish more brands understood before they reached out.
Some of the mistakes I’ll be sharing might already be painfully familiar. But hopefully by hearing them now, you’ll avoid making the same ones, and potentially save yourself thousands in the process.
Whether you’ve:
- Contacted a factory and not heard back
- Received disappointing samples
- Or you’re doing your homework before you begin…
This Manufacturing SOS series is for you.
🎬 First episode drops very soon.Make sure you're subscribed to the Make It British podcast on your favourite podcast platform and to my YouTube channel if you’d prefer to watch the video version.
🎓 Want my full step-by-step framework?If you're ready to get serious about developing and manufacturing your product in the UK, watch my FREE masterclass:
The 3-Part Framework for Growing a Profitable UK-Made Brand
👉 Get instant access at makeitbritish.co.uk/masterclass
Finding a UK manufacturer doesn’t have to be a challenge!
In this bonus episode, I share the recording of my recent webinar, where I break down the 5 essential steps to finding your perfect manufacturing partner.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:* Why manufacturers don’t respond to emails—and how to fix it. * The biggest mistakes small businesses make when looking for a factory. * How to prepare before reaching out to a manufacturer to save time and money. * The 5 steps you need to follow to confidently approach the right manufacturing partner. * Why finding a manufacturer isn’t just about Googling names—and what to do instead.
Resources & Links Mentioned: Join Get Set for Manufacturing*: In just 4 weeks, learn exactly how to get your products made in the UK and find your perfect manufacturing partner.
Welcome to episode 300!Celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast I look back at some of the amazing guests that I've had on this show from the world of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Manufacturers that have shared their stories, their challenges, and their successes with us.
Episodes / Manufacturers featured in this episode:
Episode 102 - David Collinge | John Spencer Textiles
Episode 005 - Keith Hanshaw | The Leather Satchel Company
Episode 088 - Chris Woodford | Crown Northampton
Episode 193 - Ian Maclean | John Smedley MBE
Episode 55 - Lance Mitchell | Mitchell Interflex
Episode 113 - Ruth Masson | Harris Tweed
Episode 290 - Christopher Nieper | David Nieper OBE
Episode 96 - Richard Ince | Ince Umbrellas
Episode 004 - Jo Ashburner-Farr | Red Dragon Flagmakers
Episode 254 - Chris Childs | Contrado
Episode 21 - Jenny Holloway | Fashion Enter
Episode 31 - Mick Cheema | Basic Premier
Episode 299 - A visit to Vagabond bags with Simon Michelson
Episode 118 - David Williams | Stoll GB
Episode 203 - Saed Saleh | Mars Knitwear
Episode 060 - Diana Kakkar | Maes London
Episode 252 - Maxine Wells | Intimate Apparel Samples
Episode 080 - Mustafa Fuat | Gosha London
Episode 054 - Peter Philips | Abbey England
Episode 292 - David Courtney | Courtney & Co
This episode also marks the final episode of series 6. I'll be taking a break from podcasting for a while. Whilst there won't be making any new episodes for you to listen to, their are over 150 hours of previous episodes to catch up and re-listen to.
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.
Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UK
Make it British Website
YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Join me on a tour round a factory!
In this episode I'm chatting with Simon Michelson, owner of Vagabond Bags, a sewing factory in Swindon that makes cosmetic bags, shower caps and hot water bottle covers.
Meet some of the people working in the factory, hear about the jobs they do and find out how many shower hats one person can make in a day. Spoiler - it's quite a lot!
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.
Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UK
Make it British Website
YouTube
I'm joined today by 3 amazing people that work tirelessly in the UK fashion and textile industry.
You may have seen in the press recently that several high profile brands have been affected by the close of Matches, but did you know about the knock on affect that has had on the UK manufacturers?
I also heard yesterday the sad news that the Mackintosh factory in Lancashire is closing. What the heck is going on?
So I went live on Instagram with 3 special guests to discuss the topic, and this episode is your opportunity to hear the full discussion if you missed the live.
My guests are:
Tamara Cincik from think tank Fashion Roundtable
Mustafa Fuat from Gosha London
Diana Kakkar from Maes London
Watch the original Instagram live here
The title says it all. Listen to find out what it is!
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.
Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UK
Make it British Website
YouTube
Join me on a visit to KC Manufacturing (previously Kalopsia Collective) in Dumferline, Scotland to meet with husband and wife team Adam Robertson and Nina Falk.
KC Manufacturing is a social enterprise specialising in small batch manufacturing.
Discover:
- How Adam & Nina met and ended up setting up their business.
- What it's like to run a factory together as husband and wife.
- Why 'made in Scotland' is so important.
- How KC Manufacturing are supporting other UK textile firms.
- The challenges of working with deadstock materials.
- Where Adam & Nina got the funding to set up their factory.
- How they get young people to work in the industry.
About KC Manufacturing
KC Manufacturing website
Episode 51 - Small Batch Manufacturing with Adam Robertson, Kalopsia Collective.
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.
Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on. making in the UK
Make it British Website
YouTube
Regular listeners to this podcast will know that I am all about encouraging brands to manufacture locally. But in some cases, it might not make good sense to do so.
In this episode I explain the 4 reasons why you might NOT want to make in the UK.
Want my advice on whether your product should or could be made here? Reach out to my with a direct message on Instagram @makeitbritish here
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand.
Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on. making in the UK
Make it British Website
YouTube
One of the questions that came up on one of our recent British Brand Accelerator group coaching calls was so good, I thought I'd bring it to you on the podcast this week.
The question was about whether a small business that makes in the UK should be offering a discount when someone opts in to their newsletter, and whether this strategy works.
It opened a whole discussion amongst the group about the pros and cons of discounting and other ideas for getting potential customers to sign up to your newsletter.
So if you are wondering the same thing about discounting, this episode is for you!
Sign up the the British Brand Accelerator waitlist here - www.makeitbritish.co.uk/waitlist
This week I’m bringing some very sad news - that the UK’s only cotton spinning mill, English Fine Cottons, which brought cotton spinning back to Greater Manchester in 2018, has very sadly gone into administration.
In case you don’t know about the history of English Fine Cottons, it was set up by the technical textile spinners Culimeta-Saveguard, who invested £4.8m of its own money, £2m of which was a loan from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, to regenerate a former Victorian cotton mill and install new technology to create luxury yarn. A further £1m was awarded as a grant by the N Brown Textile Growth Programme.
English Fine Cottons was the start of something very exciting in UK manufacturing, and for this to have happened is tragic. The collapse into administration is caused by the parent group Culimeta-Saveguard going down, and unfortunately that has taken the cotton spinning down with it. Something needs to be done to save our only cotton spinning mill, otherwise this is history repeating itself.
So today's episode is a remastered version of a visit that I did to English Fine Cottons in 2019, along with an interview with Andy Ogden, who was the general manager at the time.
Today's guests are Andrea and David Courtney from Courtney & Co buttonmakersBack in 2012 I was contacted by someone who was trying to save the UK’s last remaining horn button maker - Grove & Sons. He was looking for investors to buy up the machinery and pattern books from the business so that the art of natural button making in the UK was not lost.
Well it turns out that the investor that this guy eventually found was someone called David Courtney, who saw an ad to buy the machinery and patterns, and decided that he wanted to help.
But things are never as easy as the seem, and this initial investment took David Courtney down a very long and winding path to bring button making back to the UK.
Over a decade later and David Courtney now has an amazing button-making factory in the Cotswolds, with state of the art machinery, producing buttons from 3 different types of materials. He’s also enlisted his lovely wife Andrea to head the factory up, and they now supply the most beautiful buttons to brands and designers wanting an authentic UK-made button, still made using the original patterns that David saved from Grove & Sons.
This interview was recorded onsite in their factory in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, and Andrea and David recount the full tale of how Courtney & Co buttons got to where they are today.
About Courtney & Co
Courtney & Co Website
Courtney & Co on Instagram
FURTHER RESOURCES
Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory?
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
This episode celebrates 15 years since I registered the domain makeitbritish.co.uk and busts some of the myths about UK manufacturing.
You'll find out:
- Why I started Make it British and why I'm such a firm believer in UK manufacturing.
- The current UK manufacturing landscape.
- How the UK fashion and textile industry is made up of 1,000s of micro factories.
- How many garment factories there really are in the UK.
- The benefits of making in the UK.
- And why supply on demand is best done locally.
To see the video recording of this talk, go to makeitbritish.co.uk/microfactories
Want to work together? Fill in this form so I can find out more about your business goals, and I'll get back to you with ways I can help.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory?
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper, a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire. The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK. Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already prints all their own catalogues and produce their own knitwear in house, alongside the garment production.
In this episode you can hear about the research Christopher commissioned from Nottingham university looking at the greenhouse gas emissions produced to make clothing at the David Nieper factory in Derbyshire. The study then compared these findings to the emissions produced by making garments in China, Turkey and Bangladesh and then shipping them to the UK. It makes for very interesting insights into how making in the UK can be quantified as more sustainable. A big advocate for slow fashion, Christopher has also found that his customers keep and wear his clothes 10 times longer than average. Listen to this episode to discover:
- How the David Nieper factory uses 'just-in-time' manufacturing to achieve a 98% sell-through on their garments
- Christopher's plans to make the David Nieper factory the greenest factory in Europe, recovering the heat generated by the factory to use as renewable energy
- How he's changing the attitudes of young people in his local town by giving them a taste of what it's like inside a real manufacturing environment
- The charity that the business has set up to help rebuild a local secondary school that was in the bottom 2% of schools in the UK and make it over-subscribed for the first time in 30 years
- Christopher's idea for a labelling scheme for clothing that ranks the environmental sustainability of every garment
This episode is the recording of a talk that Christopher did at Make it British Live! Online event in October 2020.
About David Nieper
Watch my Instagram reel showing behind the scenes at the David Nieper factory.
David Nieper website
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
In this episode of the Make it British podcast, Karen McCluckie, the director of Bealies Adaptive Wear, shares her inspiring journey of creating adaptive clothing for wheelchair users and disabled individuals.
Motivated by her son's disability and the lack of suitable clothing options in the market, Karen embarked on a mission to design stylish and functional joggers tailored to the needs of wheelchair users. From the initial idea to overcoming challenges and securing funding, Karen discusses the process of bringing her innovative designs to the market while juggling her role as a social worker.
With a commitment to UK manufacturing and a vision for expanding her product range, Karen's story highlights the power of innovation and determination in creating inclusive fashion solutions.
About Caron McCluckie
Caron on Linkedin
Bealies Adaptivewear Website
This week I’ve been in the Midlands visiting factories, which is always one of my favourite things to do.
I’d planned to take my podcast mic with me and get an episode to you today with an interview with one of the manufacturers, but sadly I was in such a rush when I set off early Sunday morning that I left my mic behind!
So on today’s episode instead I'm discussing one of the amazing factories I went to see, and also sharing a recording from the archives - which is to encourage you to get out there and visit factories yourself!
Today's episode is all about selling and sales, and how it's closely linked to product development.
A lot of creative business owners say that they aren't any good at selling, so the natural tendency is to drop their prices or default back to making more products.
I'm going to give you a different way of looking at sales, so that selling doesn't make you feel like a used car salesman.
Hear from 21 business founders as they give their tips on starting and growing a British-made brand.
These snippets were taken from 21 different guest interviews on this podcast.
If you want to listen to the full episodes you can find them as follows:
Ep.142 Julie Deane, Cambridge Satchel Company
Ep.076 Jack Millington, Billy Tannery
Ep.143 Kath Whitworth, Celtic & Co
Ep. 41 Paul Smithers, Halycon Blue
Ep 179 Rebecca J Mills
Ep 171 Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior, Usual Objections
Ep 23 Sian Reekie, Hettie Co
Ep 78 Katie Walker Furniture
Ep 27 Matt Booth, Both Barrells
Ep 139 Rachael Attwood, Britannical
Ep 108 Steff McGrath, Something Wicked
Ep 82 Joel, Chudleigh, Made to Last
Ep 96 Richard Ince, James Ince & Sons Umbrellas
Ep 120 Emma Willis
Ep 39 Genevieve Sweeney
Ep 129 Samanth Brooke, Waring Brooke
Ep 88 Chris Woodford, Crown Northampton
Ep 141 Emma Mathews, Socko
Ep 153 Gillian Tusting, Tusting
Ep 86 Pippa Dziubinski, The Little Art Collection
Ep 183 Brant Richards, HebTroCo
Here you will find a list of all of the episodes of this podcast, which you can filter by guest, subject and topic
So I hope that has inspired you to make in the UK if you aren’t already!
If you'd like to launch or grow a British-made brand, I'm here to help. Reach out to me via Instagram DM @makeitbritish or drop me an email and I will get back to you with ways that I can help.
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
On today’s episode I’m chatting with Catherine Bedford, founder of Dashel Cycle Helmets
Catherine had the idea for an innovative and stylish cycle helmet whilst watching the London 2012 Olympics. She set about creating her vision, and it took 5 years to develop and launch the Dashel helmet. All Dashel helmets are made in the UK, and in this episode Catherine talks about:
- How she set about developing a new and innovative product.
- How she found factories to then make the helmets
- Some of the safety testing that bike helmets have to go through.
- How she got PR and found stockists when she first launched.
- How she got her first stockists.
- And how the bike industry has been affected by Brexit.
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to Episode no.284!Circularity is the buzzword on everyone's lips right now. It's no wonder, when you hear that 350,000 tonnes of clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year. Something needs to be done to stop the mass-consumption that the UK in particularly seems to be pretty bad at!
The United Repair Centre, a collaboration between outdoor brand Patagonia, social enterprise Makers Unite, and the Amsterdam Economic Board, is a much needed resource for the clothing industry. And they've opened one up in London!
On this episode I chat with one of the United Repair Centre co-founders, Thami Schweichler.
We chat about how the URC repair process has combined technology with sewing skills to make repair and circularity available to all, and how any brand can get involved in offering a repair service to their customers.
ABOUT UNITED REPAIR CENTRE
United Repair Centre Website
United Repair Centre Instagram
Thami Schweichler Linkedin
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - My mentoring programme
Kate's Sunday Journal - My newsletter
Make it British Website
YouTube
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Today's guest is Lydia Bolton, a slow fashion designer tackling textile waste by upcycling unwanted fabrics and garments and turning them into one-off pieces.
As well as having her own label, Lydia also teaches others how to upcycle with workshops that she runs and in her partnerships with big brands such as Lidl, Nike, Adidas and Lime bikes.
We chat about:
- How Lydia started out in fashion and textiles and where she learnt to sew.
- The challenges of upcycling and making one-off pieces.
- Where she sources her raw materials from and how deadstock can be a misleading term.
- Her decision to only rent and not sell her garments going forward.
- How she collaborates with big brands to spread the word about upcycling.
- How she is teaching people to sew with her upcycling workshops.
ABOUT LYDIA BOLTON
Lydia's Website
Lydia on Instagram
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
How to find fabrics, leathers and other raw materials for your brand, and avoid the most common mistake that many people make when sourcing fabric.
FURTHER RESOURCES
UK Fabric Mills on the Make it British website
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Sampling with UK manufacturers can be quite a different ball game to sampling with manufacturers overseas. Here's why you might not want to sample with lots of different factories.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory?
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Tempted to skip this step? Find out why that might be a bad idea, and how having a tech pack can save you money in the long run.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Tech Pack Bundle
Quiz: Are you ready to work with a UK factory?
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
A Non Disclosure Agreement is a legal document you might ask a manufacturer to sign in order to protect your designs.
Find out what the pros and cons are of asking a manufacturer to sign an NDA, and what the alternatives are.
FURTHER RESOURCES
How to find a UK manufacturer
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
What are the secrets to getting a response from a manufacturer when you reach out to them? I explain how to word your approach and why you might not be getting a response.
FURTHER RESOURCES
How to get manufacturers to respond to your emails
How to find a UK manufacturer
Why manufacturers aren't getting back to your emails
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
What are the main costs that you will incur to start a brand, and how can you save money by making your product in the UK?
FURTHER RESOURCES
25 Hidden Costs of Starting a Brand
How Much Does it Cost to Start a UK-Made Fashion Brand?
How to Start a UK Made Brand
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Discover the best ways to the ideal UK manufacturers for your brand, and how to ensure that they get back to you every time.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Make it British Manufacturer Directory
5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
How to Start a UK Made Brand
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
You might think that having the factory source your fabric for you sounds like the easiest option, but that's not always the case.
In this episode I explain what your options are when it comes to fabric sourcing, and why many UK clothing manufacturers operate on what is known as a CMT basis.
FURTHER RESOURCES
CMT or Full Service Manufacturer: What's the difference?
5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
How to Start a UK Made Brand
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Find out how long on average it might take to launch a brand and what the main variables are that will affect it.
FURTHER RESOURCES
5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
How to Start a UK Made Brand
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Discover the essential steps to turn your idea into a successful prototype.
Get practical advice on how to bring your concept to life efficiently and cost-effectively and how to common pitfalls.
FURTHER RESOURCES
5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer
How to Start a UK Made Brand
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Welcome to Episode 272 of the Make it British PodcastStarting off the new year with something a bit different. This episode explains everything.
Looking out for my special FAQ series, starting on Monday 7th January.
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Hello and Welcome to Episode 271!As 2023 draws to a close, and for my last podcast episode of the year, I reflect back on the 3 biggest lessons that I've learnt this year.
I also want to say a massive thank you to everyone that has listened to this podcast over the last 12 months. I cannot believe I am now at episode 271!
The Make it British Podcast will be back on 5th January 2024.
See you then!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Plan Your Year - My annual planning workshop is the one thing you need to get your vision, goals, projects and tasks mapped out for 2024.
British Brand Accelerator - The best way to work with me in 2024. Apply now!
Reels Rockstars - The Instagram Reels course that I took that I highly recommend if you want to up your Instagram marketing next year.
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Welcome to episode 270!In this episode I'm chatting with the fascinating Mark Shayler about all things sustainability.
Mark is the author of You Can't Make Money From a Dead Planet, he consults with businesses big and small to help them do better when it comes to their environmental footprint, and he is one of the co founders of Reasons to be Cheerful, a platform for spreading good cheer and hope in a world that can sometimes feel bereft of both.
We discuss the environmental cost per wear of a garment; why wool is such a great fibre; which is better - recycled polyester versus cotton ( the answer may surprise you); and what other fibres we could be growing in the UK to be more regenerative.
About Mark ShaylerMark is a sustainability consultant, author of You Can't Make Money From A Dead Plant, and one of the founders of publishing and events company Reasons to be Cheerful.
Mark Shalyer's Website
Buy Mark's Book - You Can't Make Money From A Dead Planet
Mark Shayler on Instagram
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Hello and welcome to episode 269 of the Make it British podcast!At the time of recording this we are just a month away from the start of 2024, and that can only mean one thing - time to start planning!
If that idea fills you with dread, because you are a 'wing it and see' type of person, maybe next year needs to start a little differently.
In this episode I give you tips on how to stop winging it and start planning.
And if you need someone to hold you accountable to making that plan, I have an offer for you.
I am hosting my ever-popular online planning party very soon. It’s my Plan Your Year workshop, and you’re invited!
In this pre-Christmas online workshop, we'll get goals set, projects planned and tasks mapped out for your coming year.
I’ll be showing you how to make planning easy and fun, and you’ll walk away with a completed plan of action for the coming year.
Sound good?
If you want to join us, you can secure your spot by going to makeitbritish.co.uk/planyouryear
Everyone with a ticket will also receive the recording and a special workbook.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Plan Your Year - My Online Planning Party
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to Episode 268 of the Make it British Podcast!
In this episode, I am joined by Laura Ward, founder of the luxury British tennis brand Exeat.
Exeat is the UK's most exported luxury tennis apparel brand, and Laura herself is the winner of many awards, including Global Startup of the Year. She's also one of the government's UK export champions, and the brand has been feature in Vogue, Forbes, The Financial Times, and Vanity Fair.
In this episode, she's going to give you tips on how to export your brand globally and how she's managed to get such amazing press in such a short space of time.
ABOUT EXEAT
Exeat Website
Exeat Instagram
RESOURCES MENTIONED
UK Export Academy
Ciment Pleating
Made in the UK, Sold to the World
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator - Apply now to work with me to launch or grow your British-made brand.
UK Manufacturers List
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to episode 267 of the Make It British Podcast!In this episode, I share my recent experiences at the All Party Parliamentary Group for ethics and sustainability in fashion at the Houses of Parliament, organised by Fashion Roundtable.
You can hear the full speech that I gave on the importance of localism, transparency, and ethical practices in the fashion industry. In which I highlighted the challenges faced by UK manufacturers, the need for skilled workers, and the potential for a thriving local manufacturing supply chain.
You'll gain insight into the current British manufacturing landscape and discover how small businesses are leading the way in ethical and sustainable production.
The meeting was chaired by John McNally MP and the secretariat for the APPG is Fashion Roundtable, led by Tamara Cincik.
The other speakers were:
- Mary Creagh CBE - Chair of the Ethical Trading Initiative, Former MP and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee.
- Patrick Grant - Founder of Community Clothing and presenter on The Great British Sewing Bee.
- Professor Dilys Williams - Fashion Roundtable Board Member and Director of Centre for Sustainable Fashion.
- Sam Ludlow-Taylor - Head of Human Rights at John Lewis.
- Anna Bryher - Policy Lead at Labour Behind the Label
Watch the Speech on YouTube here
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to Episode 266 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode I discuss how and why investing in your own personal development can dramatically transform your business. I share insights from my own personal development journey and provide valuable advice on how investing in yourself can make a massive difference to your business growth.
We'll explore the risks of not investing in yourself, and the importance of matching your personal development with your business goals. Plus, I'll share some practical tips on how to make time for self-investment, even if you are super-busy.
HANDY LINKS
Work With Me
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to Episode 265 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode I'm chatting with Pip Chawner, who is the founder of womenswear brand Philippa London.
Pip has got some fantastic tips to share about her experiences of setting up her brand; some of the challenges she's had along the way, including a bit of a tricky experience with a manufacturer in India; and how she has had great success selling her products at pop-ups and live events.
So if you've ever thought about doing a live event, but you're a little bit nervous about how to do it and how to sell at these events, then Pip has got some great advice for you.
ABOUT PIP CHAWNER
Pip Chawner is the founder of Philippa London, a luxury brand, sustainably and ethically sourced within the UK.
Pip previously worked for many years in sourcing and production for Nichole Farhi, French Connection and Gap Inc in London and San Francisco.
Philippa London Website
Philippa London on Instagram
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to Episode 264 of the Make it British Podcast!What are the red flags to watch out for when searching for a manufacturer, particularly if you're starting your search on Google or another search engine?
From misleading claims of being a UK manufacturer to refusing to sign NDAs and the importance of visiting the factory floor. In this episode I provide valuable tips on how to spot these red flags and avoid potential pitfalls.
So join me as I uncover the secrets to finding a reliable manufacturer for your product, here on the Make it British Podcast!
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Checklist: 12 Questions to Ask a UK Manufacturer
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Welcome to Episode 263 of the Make it British Podcast!Today I'm chatting to Clare Winton from Grow Wild Outdoorwear, a new brand for women in pregnancy and the early stages of motherhood.
Clare had the idea to develop her maternity brand three years ago, and started, as many start-ups do, by searching Google to find a manufacturer. This led her to a frustrating two years trying to develop her collection in China.
She then stumbled across Make it British, and I introduced her to factories in the UK who she's been partnering with ever since.
Clare provides valuable advice on conducting customer research, navigating the challenges of garment production and the importance of face-to-face interactions with your manufacturer.
ABOUT CLARE WINTON
Clare Winton is the founder of Grow Wild Outdoorwear, a range of outdoor clothing and accessories for pregnancy and early motherhood.
After a semi-feral childhood growing up in West Ireland, she now lives in wild West Wales. She has spent 15 years working as a Quality Assurance Auditor, has a PhD in population genetics and is a volunteer trained Samaritans "Listener". Her outdoor passions include exploring local mountains and camping with her family.
Grow Wild Outdoorwear website
Grow Wild Outdoorwear on Instagram
HANDY LINKS
British Brand Accelerator
Make it British Website
YouTube
Rate This Podcast
Welcome to episode 262 of the Make it British Podcast!In this episode, l explore the factors that go into setting the perfect price, from understanding your customer and competitors to considering the cost of alternatives.
Join me as we unravel the secrets behind pricing strategies for product-based businesses that make in the UK. Get ready to gain invaluable insights and advice to help you nail your pricing for once and for all!
HANDY LINKS
🚀 British Brand Accelerator
🕸 Make it British Website
📺 YouTube
⭐️ Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
British Brand Accelerator
Welcome to episode 261 of the Make It British Podcast!In this episode, you get the lowdown on why I ended up taking a 6 month break from podcasting. And why I've decided to make some big changes in my business.
There's also some valuable advice on knowing when it's time to make changes in your own business, and the questions you need to ask yourself before you do so.
HANDY LINKS
🚀 British Brand Accelerator
🕸 Make it British Website
📺 YouTube
⭐️ Rate This Podcast
Mentioned in this episode:
British Brand Accelerator
Hello and welcome to Series 6 of the Make it British podcast. After a 6 month break the Make it British Podcast is coming back! The first episode will be released on Friday 6th October 2023.I have so much to fill you in on! Thanks to everyone that has requested more podcast episodes. It wasn't until I stopped doing them that I truly realised how much everyone loved and missed them.
A lot has changed at Make it British since I last recorded an episode of the podcast. And it's been so long since I recorded one that I almost forgot how to do it! But I've dusted the old mic off and will be bringing you an episode weekly (usually on a Friday) for the foreseeable future.
In the new series I'll be sharing tons of tips and advice for making in the UK, and getting into the nitty gritty of running a small business that is made in Britain. With lots of special guests who have been there, done it and are wearing the British-made T-shirt to prove it!
You'll also hear from UK manufacturers in the fashion and textile sector and there'll also be a few surprise guests from other sectors sharing useful advice that I think you'll want to hear.
Some of the episodes will also be recorded as videos and shared on my YouTube channel.
So if you want to make sure that you don't miss an episode, subscribe to the Make it British podcast in your favourite podcast app and also over on YouTube.
In the meantime, you can find a whole back catalogue of over 260 episodes of this podcast on my website at makeitbritish.co.uk/podcast or in the app that you are listening to this in now.
And if you want to contact me about anything you hear on the podcast please drop me an email to kate@katehills.me that way your message will go into my VIP folder.
Thank you so much for listening to this little trailer. And I look forward to bringing you series 6 of the Make it British podcast!
www.makeitbritish.co.uk
In this episode I discuss some of the hidden costs of manufacturing, and offer tips on how to avoid them.
Whether you're starting a new brand, or growing an existing one, there's typically five common areas where costs can spiral out of control, but the good thing is, they are all easily avoidable.
Topics covered in this episode:
- The five hidden costs in UK manufacturing and how to avoid them
- How you can minimise sample costs
- Why it's easy to overspend on raw materials
- How to avoid buying too much stock
- Why making in the UK eliminates some of your logistics costs
Resources mentioned in this episode
25 Hidden Costs of Starting a Brand
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called ‘British Brand Bedrock’.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock podcast here
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator – My group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture clothing, accessories and homeware in the UK.
Make it British website
Join Make it British – become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube – subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
In this episode I'm joined by Tamara Cincik, founder of think tank Fashion Roundtable to discuss the impact of Brexit on small UK textile businesses.
We delve into the challenges of supporting and promoting heritage brands, the need for trade associations to refocus their agendas, and the importance of heritage manufacturing in the textile industry.
The conversation includes a discussion of the plight of Cluny Lace, the last manufacturer of Nottingham lace in England, and the negative impact of Brexit on small businesses.
Topics covered in this episode:
- The challenges facing heritage manufacturers like Cluny lace
- Impact of Brexit on small businesses in the UK textile industry
- The role of trade associations in the fashion industry
- Importance of traditional skills and machinery
About Tamara Cincik and Fashion Roundtable
Tamara Cincik is the founder of Fashion Roundtable, an industry think tank established in 2017. With a background in the fashion industry as a stylist and editor, she founded Fashion Roundtable to give the fashion industry a voice in politics. With a British-Turkish background , Tamara has a strong connection to textiles and fashion through her family heritage. Fashion Roundtable is the secretariat for the All Party parliamentary group for ethics and sustainability and fashion and Cincik is an advocate for change in the political landscape to benefit the fashion industry as a whole.
Fashion Roundtable Website
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator – A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British – become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube – subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called ‘British Brand Bedrock’.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
We get a lot of people contacting us at Make it British asking if we can put them in touch with a sustainable or ethical factory to make their brand. So in this episode I define ways in which a factory might meet this criteria.
I also talk about the launch of Primark's new circular denim collection, which has had mixed reviews in the media, with many thinking it is greenwashing and an insult to small brands that are genuinely doing the right thing.
You can read some of the comments about the Primark collection on my Instagram Post here and on the chief exec of Primark's LinkedIn Post here.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why we need to question whether fast fashion brands like Primark are heading in the right direction or just greenwashing [01:10]
- How do you define ethical? [04:10]
- The types of questions you need to ask a manufacturer [04:53]
- What is an audit and which ones should you check a factory has? [08:16]
- Should you work with a factory which doesn’t have an audit? [10:26]
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
24th April 2023 marks the ten year anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,000 workers and injured 2,500 more.
To mark the occasion, I look back on this episode of the podcast with Dominique Muller from Labour Behind the Label, in which we discuss the issues around fast fashion, and what effect it has had on the Leicester textile industry.
You'll learn:
- Who Labour Behind the Label are and how the organisation came about [02:37]
- Why the organisation is focusing on the UK garment industry in particular [04:16]
- The reasons why Boohoo has been singled out in the report written by Labour Behind the Label [07:07]
- What local councils and other authorities can do to stop unethical factories [09:55]
- The worst discoveries that Labour Behind the Labour made when they looked into how garment workers were treated during the pandemic [13:36]
- Dominque’s thoughts on how the good manufacturers in Leicester would benefit from brands returning to the city [15:58]
- The work Labour Behind the Label does to educate brands and retailers on how to make sure their production is ethical [18:26]
- What distinguishes a brand or retailer that is ethical to its workers [20:05]
- What the consumer can do to make sure they aren’t funding unethical practices and companies [24:52]
- Why brands should be more transparent about where their products are made [27:31]
- What the government could be doing better in terms of positive changes being made in the fashion industry [30:27]
- How people can support Labour Behind the Label [38:34]
About Labour Behind the Label
Labour behind the Label
Boohoo & Covid 19 – The people behind the profits
Clean Clothes Campaign – improving working conditions in the global garment industry
Fashion Checker – find out if the brands you buy from are paying their factory workers a living wage
Why we need transparent supply chains
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
Do you know what the no.1 reason is that product businesses fail? It's not legal problems, it's not finance problems, it's not even marketing problems. In this episode, you'll find out what it is, and how to avoid it.
You'll learn:
- Why everything starts with the customer [03:47]
- The reasons why getting your target customer right will help your business [06:09]
- How knowing your ideal customer can help to develop a good partnership with a UK manufacturer [08:01]
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
Mentioned in this episode:
Find the Right UK Manufacturer Every Time with our Quick Start Guide
Are you struggling to make UK manufacturing work for you? If so, you need our handy quick start guide to working with a UK manufacturer.
Quick Start Guide
Download my Selling Price > Profit Calculator that goes with this episode here.
Recently Bentley Motors announced their financial results for 2022, which revealed they'd had their year ever. This is a luxury car brand, made in the UK, having a phenomenal year during a cost of living crisis.
In this episode I discuss what small business can learn from Bentley's recent success, especially when it comes to price positioning.
You'll learn:
- Why Bentley Motors had a phenomenal year in 2022 [01:48]
- What you need to calculate before you discount your prices. [03:21]
- Why profit is vanity and turnover is sanity. [05:37]
- Two valuable lessons you can learn from Bentley's pricing strategy. [06:28]
Read the Bentley Motors financial results for 2022 here.
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Enjoyed this podcast? I also have a private podcast called 'British Brand Bedrock'.
The British Brand Bedrock private podcast feed answers more than 30 of your most commonly asked questions on starting and growing a British-made Brand.
Subscribe to British Brand Bedrock here
If you love factories, then today I have a little treat for you, as we are going on a factory tour with Contrado, who are a print on demand company.
Contrado are a truly impressive UK manufacturer. They not only print fabric, leather and other surfaces like glass and pottery, in their huge facility in West London, but they also stitch bags, clothing and accessories from their printed fabrics, and even make furniture as well.
Listen in on my tour around the factory with Chris Childs, co-founder of Contrado, and then a deep-dive into the story behind the business and where he sees the future of uk manufacturing going.
You'll learn:
- What kind of capabilities the Contrado factory has in order to keep up with customer demand [02:44]
- How a small business could utilise Contrado's low MOQ's to test out different product types [05:51]
- How Chris and his wife Fran started the business from humble beginnings [10:05]
- Why technology plays such a big part in the business [15:14]
- How Chris manages his skilled workforce to create over 500 different products [18:10]
- What systems Contrado has in place to guarantee happy customers [22:34]
- How the business has tapped into multiple international markets [27:11]
- Where Chris sees the business going in the next 20 years [32:46]
More from Contrado
Contrado on Instagram
Contrado Website
Bags of Love Website
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Mentioned in this episode:
Find the Right UK Manufacturer Every Time with our Quick Start Guide
Are you struggling to make UK manufacturing work for you? If so, you need our handy quick start guide to working with a UK manufacturer.
Quick Start Guide
When you run a UK-made brand you need to wear a lot of different hats!
In this episode we explore all of the different jobs you need to do and the skills you need to have, on top of producing fantastic products.
You'll learn:
- Why being the chief executive officer of your business is your first title [03:08]
- How managing marketing content plays a vital role in running a business [05:47]
- Why you need to be in control of your production and why you can't rely on manufacturers to do this for you [07:01]
- How managing your finances can make or break your business [08:35]
- What role plays a crucial part in determining your environmental impact [12:25]
- How to decide which of these jobs you might outsource first [15:22]
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
On today’s episode I am chatting to Maxine Wells, who is the founder of Intimate Apparel Samples, a small lingerie studio in North West London.
Getting lingerie made in the UK can be challenging. Whilst the UK once had thousands of machinists making underwear for the likes of Marks & Spencers, sadly there are only now only a handful of lingerie manufacturers left in the UK.
I took a trip to Brent Cross where Intimate Apparel Samples is based to ask Maxine why there aren't more lingerie manufacturers in the UK and the benefits of having a great relationship with your manufacturer.
You'll learn:
- How Maxine set up Intimate Apparel Samples after she had her own lingerie brand [03:14]
- Why Maxine believes there is such a lack of lingerie and swimwear manufacturers in the UK [05:30]
- The main pitfalls when it comes to making lingerie, and Maxine’s advice for how to avoid them [09:49]
- Why having a great relationship with your manufacturer is so important [12:43]
- How Maxine ensures she gets the fit right for her clients [14:49]
- Why Maxine enjoys meeting the clients she works with to build a working relationship [23:40]
More from Intimate Apparel Samples
Intimate Apparel Samples on Instagram
Intimate Apparel Samples Website
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Welcome to Series 5!After taking a couple of months hiatus to focus on writing my book, I'm back with a brand new series.
I'll be answering all of your most commonly asked questions about manufacturing, marketing and selling products that are made in the UK, and have some fantastic guests lined up for this series too.
In this episode you'll hear a snippet from Selling Without Social - a workshop I ran recently, which covers all of the different ways that you can market and sell your UK-made products without using social media.
You'll learn:
- What Make it British has been up to during the podcast break [01:29]
- Why you should look at other forms of marketing, other than social media [04:59]
- How UK brands and businesses are currently feeling about social media [06:26]
- Which other forms of digital marketing offer a higher return on investment [09:48]
- Why it's dangerous to rely on social media to build your business [13:40]
- Which marketing content has the longest lifespan [17:07]
Selling Without SocialAn online workshop covering 140 different ways that you can market and sell your product-based business without using social media!
Sign up at makeitbritish.co.uk/sws and you’ll also get a £10 discount as a podcast listener.
Stay in Touch
British Brand Accelerator - A 6-month group programme for small businesses who want to manufacture and sell profitable UK-made products.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Hello and welcome to Series 5 of the Make it British podcast. The new series is coming very soon. The first episode will be released on Friday 3rd March.In the meantime, I wanted to tell you about a few things we have coming up, that if you are a listener of this podcast you will probably be really interested to hear about.
Selling Without SocialAn online workshop that I will be hosting on Thursday 23rd February.
Covering all of the different ways that you can market and sell your product-based business without using social media!
Go to makeitbritish.co.uk/sws and you’ll also get a £10 discount as a podcast listener.
British Brand Accelerator The doors for our group coaching programme, British Brand Accelerator, are opening at the end of this month (February 2023), but only for a very short time.
If you know you’re serious about launching or growing your business in 2023, then make sure that you sign up to the waitlist. We will then send you all the details ahead of the official launch, so that you can get first dibs on a spot.
Go to makeitbritish.co.uk/apply to save your spot on the waitlist
British Brand Bedrock PodcastBritish Brand Bedrock is a private podcast feed covering over 30 of the most commonly asked questions that we get asked at Make it British.
Want to subscribe to this special, private podcast feed? Go to makeitbritish.co.uk/bedrock and you’ll be able to sign up.
Make it British - The Book!Something really exciting that I wanted to tell you about, is that I am writing a book!
That’s part of the reason why I took a break from recording the podcast for a couple of months, as I wanted to focus on starting on the book.
The book will, of course, be about manufacturing products in the UK. And will include case studies on some of the very best UK manufacturers and British brands.
If you are interested in being one of the first to get hold of a copy of my book go to makeitbritish.co.uk/book to get more details :)
As always, I love getting your feedback about the podcast. Please do keep those comments coming, either as a review in your favourite podcast app. You can find a whole back catalogue of over 250 episodes at makeitbritish.co.uk/podcast
If you want to contact me about anything you hear on the podcast please drop me an email to kate@katehills.me that way your message will go into my VIP folder and won’t get lost in the Make it British inbox, which can be a very busy place at times.
Having worked with hundreds of British brands over the last few years, and speaking to them about what is working for them right now, and what they see working in 2023, here are 11 ideas you can use for growing your British brand in 2023.
Discover:
- 02:31 Why being a small business means you're in a great position right now
- 05:12 The 11 ways that you can grow your brand in 2023
- 29:35 How joining British Brand Accelerator can help to hit your goals in the next year
- 30:27 Why now is a good time to reflect on the past few years of business
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - How to Build a Brand in 2023
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Meet Siwan Oldham, the founder of ByBiology, a business that is giving to scientific research by creating the most beautiful luxury silk scarves. Siwan talks about how her business idea came about, the reason she decided to manufacturer in the UK, and her journey so far in building the brand.
Discover:
- 03:59 What Siwan's background is and how the idea for her business came about
- 05:10 Why Siwan knew she always wanted to print her silk scarves in the UK
- 07:52 The challenges Siwan faced during the process of lauching her business
- 10:58 How Siwan prepared for her launch to ensure it would be successful
- 18:04 Why Siwan believes it's important to invest in the key parts of your business
- 22:20 How working with UK manufacturers means Siwan can test the market with different products
More By Biology
By Biology Website
By Biology on Instagram
Mentioned in this Episode
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Luxury Silk Scarves Celebrating the Art of Science - Watch on YouTube
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
Sarah Turner is the founder of Little Beau Sheep, a brand that celebrates the best of British wool through a unique range of hand-made laundry and body care products.
Flying the flag for British wool, the Yorkshire-based entrepreneur came up with the idea of eco-friendly laundry balls to help families save money on washing. In this interview we chat all about how British wool has influenced Sarah and her brand.
Discover:
04:01 Why Sarah invented her cute wool laundry balls.
07:34 How's she's grown the business from being a maker to employing staff to help with the manufacturing.
08:22 What the benefits are of using British Wool.
More Little Beau Sheep
Little Beau Sheep Website
Mentioned in this Episode
Make it British Christmas Pop-up
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
How do you attract the right peoplt to your brand, and keep them coming back for more?
In this excerpt from one of the sessions at the Make it British Virtual Forum, you'll hear the ways in which three successful business founders are marketing their brands - and some of the tips they share may surprise you!
My guests are Justine Tabak, from womenswear brand Justine Tabak; Jack Millington, from leathergoods brand Billy Tannery and Rosie Macpherson, from dog travel brand Where's Winnie.
Discover:
- 06:10 What forms of marketing are working for these successful British brands right now.
- 11:09 How Rosie built up her audience before even launching her first product.
- 15:38 Why stories help these brands to stand out.
- 19:26 How each of the brands come up with ideas for marketing content.
- 22:50 Their thoughts on TikTok versus Instagram.
- 29:46 What really works with their email marketing.
- 33:15 Thoughts on Black Friday and why should avoid it
Enjoyed this EpisodeGet Access to the full video recording of this session and all of the other sessions from the Make it British Virtual Forum.
Access the Recordings More Justine Tabak
Justine Tabak Website
Justine Tabak on Instagram
More Where's Winnie
Where's Winnie Website
Where's Winnie on Instagram
More Billy Tannery
Billy Tannery Website
Billy Tannery on Instagram
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
There are around 4,000 manufacturers based in Greater London, making everything from bicycles, ballet shoes, military uniforms, neon signs, umbrellas, mannequins and paint.
Photographer Carmel King and factory owner Mark Brearley have produced a stunning book showcasing 50 of the best manufacturers in London.
In this interview I talk to them about London’s rich and diverse manufacturing heritage and how they selected their favourite factories to go into the book.
Discover:
- 02:11 How the idea of the book came about
- 04:12 How the 50 factories and workshops were picked to be featured
- 09:11 How Mark loved one factory so much that he bought it!
- 12:16 Some of Mark and Carmel's favourite London factories.
- 16:01 The biggest challenge facing the inner city's factories and workshops.
- 22:13 Carmel's tips on how to take good quality photographs in factories 📸
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - Made in London - The Capital’s Hidden Factories and Workshops With Carmel King and Mark Brearley
Made in London Book
More Carmel King
Carmel King Website
Carmel King on Instagram
More Mark Brearley
Made in London on Instagram
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
When it comes to manufacturing a product, planning is critical!
In this episode, I cover exactly what you need to have prepared before going ahead with your production.
You’ll also find out what a critical path is, why you need one and most importantly, how to keep it updated.
Discover:
- 01:27 Why you need to plan your production
- 03:46 What is a critical path and why you need one
- 06:41 How to create your own critical path for your product development
- 11:48 How to avoid the common mistakes people make when planning their production
Mentioned in this Episode
Make it British Virtual ForumYouTube Live - How to Plan Your Product Development
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
In this episode, I chat with Oscar Boatfield, who is one of the co-founders of bags and accessory brand BearMade who make all of their bags in the UK.
If ever there was a great example of a business doing the right thing by both the planet and its customers, then BearMade is definitely it.
Discover:
- 02:27 What Oscar was doing before BearMade which led to the launch of his business
- 07:00 How Oscar found BearMade’s niche market
- 09:09 Why Oscar doesn't offer discounts on their products
- 11:20 Why Oscar and his wife Nell set up The Wildish Club
- 14:20 How BearMade sticks by their brand ethics
- 20:14 Why Oscar has been so honest with their customers about raising the prices of their products
- 22:20 How Oscar is able to retain good value on his well-made bags
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - Sharing Wellness Through Well Made Bags with Oscar Boatfield, BearMade
Make it British Virtual Event - A one-day online event for British brand founders
More BearMade
BearMade Website
BearMade on Instagram
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
This episode answers some of your most commonly asked questions about pricing.
Discover:
- 02:12 What markup do retailers add?
- 08:19 Should you raise your prices if the cost of your fabric and manufacturing has increased?
- 13:06 Should you lower your prices if your customers only buy from you when you have a sale on?
- 17:36 How do you set your prices if you're making everything yourself?
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live Q&A: Pricing Your Products
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
In this episode, I chat with childrenswear designer Dawn Clarke, who is a member of Make It British and a part of our British Brand Accelerator programme.
Dawn tells us all about her journey going from making everything in-house and bespoke, to creating ready-to-wear pieces with a UK manufacturer.
Discover:
- 04:03 Why Dawn made the switch from offering bespoke to ready-to-wear children's clothing
- 07:51 How being in the British Brand Accelerator programme helped Dawn to understand her customer
- 11:59 What groundwork Dawn did before she started to reach out to UK manufacturers
- 16:39 How Dawn overcame issues she had with her fabrics
- 18:44 What special, one off features appear on Dawn's child's dresses
- 20:27 How we helped Dawn prioritise marketing her products over making more garments
- 25:16 What advice Dawn would give to someone who is currently making everything themselves and is thinking of outsourcing some of their production
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - How this Chilrenswear Designer Pivoted From Bespoke to Ready-to-Wear
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
More Dawn Clarke Designs
Dawn Clarke Designs Website
Dawn Clarke Designs on Instagram
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
How can you sell a UK-made product, or any high end product, at a time when people may be more cautious about spending their money due to rising inflation and rising bills?
Firstly, don't panic!
I've got 5 tips to help you stay on track with your marketing and mindset during these uncertain times.
Discover:
- 02:06 Why you shouldn't panic and make rash decisions
- 03:55 Why now is a great time to be making your products in the UK
- 04:46 Why you shouldn't feel tempted to take your foot off the pedal on marketing
- 07:21 What you should be doing for your loyal customers rather than blanket sales
- 10:12 How looking at your supply chain can help keep an eye on cash flow
- 13:17 Why offering a unique product sets you apart from your competitors
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - How to Sell UK-Made Products During a Cost of Living Crisis
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Making in the UK Sunday Newsletter - Join Over 30,000 Readers For a Very British Chinwag
In My View by Eric Musgrave: There are more reasons than ever to buy British
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.
UK-made goods have huge value both at home and abroad. Are you doing enough to shout about your own British-made brand?
I'll be sharing my 7 foolproof tips you can action right now to sell your UK-made goods. Discover:
- 03:01 Who will benefit from these tips and why there are no Union Jacks
- 04:13 Why now is a great time to shout about the fact you make your products in the UK
- 08:14 The 7 proven ways to promote your UK-made brand
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - 7 Proven Ways to Promote Your UK-Made Brand
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Want to know how to create a loyal following and keep happy customers coming back for more?
Kate Barker (Lime Tree Design), Sue Longmore (Maude and Fox) and Linda de Ruiter (The Slow Wardrobe) share the customer service secrets that have grown their product businesses.
Discover:
- 04:22 How each of the businesses found out who their ideal customers were
- 08:30 What ways they communicate with their customers in real life and online
- 14:42 What personal touches the brands offer to keep customers coming back for more
- 25:08 How the businesses gather customer feedback in order to develop new products
- 32:53: Their tips on building customer loyalty
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - Customer Service Secrets for British-Made Brands
British Brand Accelerator - Apply now and find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Is it possible to launch a brand with just a few hundred pounds? We surveyed our Make it British members and they gave us the insights into how much it cost them to start-up a brand that is made in the UK, and what they spent their money on.
This episode will be really useful for you not only if you are thinking of launching a clothing brand, but also if you already have an existing business and you want to keep a track of your costs. I give you tips and advice for how to keep those costs down.
Discover:
- 03:43 How much do UK-made brands typically spend to start-up?
- 04:48 A breakdown of the costs you'll likely incur.
- 09:31 Tips on how to keep your costs down.
Mentioned in this Episode
Make it British Forum - An event for British Brand Founders on 8th October 2022YouTube Live - How to Start a Clothing Brand for Less
How to Find a UK Manufacturer
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Joining me this week is Veronica Galbraith from fun, colourful homewares brand Republic of Happy.
Originally from Colombia and now living permanently in Cornwall, Veronica is a graphic designer turned surface pattern designer. She tells me all about how she deals with perfectionism and the things she would have done differently when launching her printed textile business in the UK.
We also discuss the one thing that she did before she launched her business which led to her selling out in the first week! Discover:
- 03:42 How Veronica's design background has influenced how Republic of Happy came about
- 08:05 How Veronica decided what products she wanted to make
- 12:17 Why Veronica puts together inspiring emails to her customers
- 14:50 How Veronica decided on her pricing and why she stuck with them
- 18:00 Why Veronica recommends other small businesses to invest in their marketing
- 26:08 How Veronica won an advertising package for her brand
Mentioned in this Episode
Make it British Forum - An event for British Brand Founders on 8th October 2022YouTube Live - How to Start a Printed Textiles Business with Republic of Happy
More Republic of Happy
Republic of Happy Website
Republic of Happy on Instagram
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Do you want to manufacture in the UK but factories keep giving your efforts the silent treatment? This one's for you.
In this episode, I share five actionable tips for things that you can do before you start to reach out to a manufacturer in the UK to find your perfect manufacturing partner.
Discover:
- 03:30 The reason why manufactures might not be getting back to you
- 07:52 How doing your research makes you look more attractive to UK manufacturers
- 09:54 Why you can't expect manufacturers to source your raw materials
- 12:20 How your cost price will determine how much you can sell your product for
- 16:16 Why having a clear brief is going to save you time and money
- 19:02 Why it's important to visit the factory you're looking to work with
Mentioned in this EpisodeYouTube Live - How to Find a UK Manufacturer
5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer In-Depth Masterclass
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Find out about an exciting recycled cashmere collaboration between three UK businesses.
Dr. John Parkinson from iinouiio, Graham Holbrook from Turtle Doves, and Emma Mathews from Socko, share how the project came about, the importance of making in the UK and the possibilities of UK-made regenerated yarns in the future.
Discover:
- 04:41 How the collaboration came about between the 3 UK businesses
- 10:15 Why it's important for businesses to consider the circular economy of their products
- 12:19 Why British wool was chosen as a component of the socks alongside cashmere
- 15:07 How the socks could be recycled when they become unusable
- 24:25 Where the collaborators see the project going in the future
- 28:34 The manufacturing process behind the making of the socks
- 35:26 The possibilities for UK-made regenerated yarns being used more regularly
**Watch the video interview on YouTube
More Socko**
Socko Website
Socko on Instagram
More Turtle Doves
Turtle Doves Website
Turtle Doves on Instagram
More iinouiio
iinouiio Website
iinouiio on Instagram
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Summer is a time for holidays - not just for you, but also for your manufacturer and suppliers.
The Factory Fortnight - a time when manufacturers traditionally shuttered their doors for a couple of weeks - may be less common in the 21st century, but it is still something to prepare for.
In this episode I talk about the history of the Factory Fortnight, and what you can do to make sure that you are prepared for any lull in production during the summer months.
Discover:
- [02:12] Why Factory Fortnight started in the UK and what that meant for workers at the factory.
- [04:08] How Factory Fortnight differed depending on each region in the UK.
- [05:09] How the summer holidays affect manufacturers in the 21st Century.
- [06:00] How to prepare for factory closures during the summer.
- [09:12] How Factory Fornight can increase productivity.
Mentioned in this Episode
YouTube Live Interview - Spinning a Good Yarn with Dr. John Parkinson from iinouiio, Graham Holbrook from Turtle Doves, and Emma Mathews from Socko.
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
This episode is dedicated to those of you that put sending an email to your mailing list at the bottom of your to-do list!
Discover:
- 02:25 Why email marketing is more important than social media marketing
- 04:24 How to make sure your email content is engaging so that people don’t unsubscribe
- 08:21 What to do if you think you don't have the time to send emails
- 11:15 How to reengage with your email subscribers if they haven't heard from you in a while
- 12:39 How often you should be sending emails to your mailing list
Mentioned in this episode:
Book: Do Open: How a simple email newsletter can transform your business by David Hieatt
Add: podcast@makeitbritish.co.uk to your newsletter list
Subscribe to the Make it British YouTube channel
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
When you get a product manufactured, most of the time everything will go as planned. But what about the odd occasion when it doesn't?
It's always better to have thought about what could go wrong in advance, and make sure that you have a plan in place if it does.
That's when a manufacturing agreement can come in handy.
In this episode I look at what you should agree with a manufacturer before you place that order! Discover:
- 02:24 Why you should have a manufacturing agreement in place.
- 06:39 The 4 things you must include in a manufacturing agreement.
- 09:17 Extra points you may want to include in certain instances.
- 12:07 What you can do if a manufacturer hasn't met your agreement terms.
Mentioned in the Episode
Get your ticket for the Make it British Forum.
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
We're back! After a longer than planned hiatus, the Make it British Podcast has returned. And we'll be back to our regular Friday episodes.
This week I'm discussing what went wrong with the recent rebuild of the Make it British website, and how you can make sure that it doesn't happen to you!
Discover:
- 01:09 Why it's been such a long time since the last episode of the podcast
- 02:19 Why we're relaunching the weekly Make it British live shows
- 06:30 Details about our live, in-person event coming up in October
- 09:37 Why it's important to have a website for your business
- 10:49 The 6 tips we learned from rebuilding the Make it British website
- 27:35 Why you should make sure you test every aspect of your website before launching
Mentioned in the Episode
Get your ticket for the Make it British Forum.
Subscribe to the Make it British YouTube channel
Stay in Touch
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
We're taking a break from new podcast episodes for a while. Back soon!
Stay Connected:
Subscribe to the Make it British Newsletter
Follow on Instagram
Connect with Kate on Linkedin
British Brand Accelerator
In this episode, recorded as an Instagram Live on Made in UK Day, I chat to two British makers: * Joseph Azagury, a high-end women's footwear designer with his own atelier in Wimbledon, London * Nelson and Jenny Were from leather goods brand Nelson Were.
We chat about how the both of them learned their craft and why it's so important to keep these sorts of skills alive in the UK.
Discover:
- 04:44 Joseph's background and how he got into handcrafting high-end footwear in the UK
- 07:17 How Nelson applied the skills he learnt at university to start up his own leather goods business
- 12:08 Why Joseph believes there needs to be more government support for the manufacturing industry
- 13:37 Joseph's thoughts on spreading the awareness of British-made products
- 14:52 Nelson's advice for start-ups looking to make in the UK
- 16:24 Why Jenny believes it's so important to support your local brands
More about Joseph Azagury Joseph Azagury Website
Joseph Azagury on Instagram
More about Nelson Were Nelson Were Website
Joseph Azagury on Instagram
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Linda De Ruiter is the founder of sustainable womenswear brand, The Slow Wardrobe.
In this episode, we talk about Linda's business, The Slow Wardrobe, how she dresses women to feel more confident, and why she's chosen YouTube as the main marketing channel to drive sales for her business.
If you find it difficult to get in front of the camera to market your products, then take a leaf out of Linda's book!
She gives some great tips for how to produce video quickly and simply for YouTube, and how to repurpose those videos into other forms of content.
Discover:
- [3:14] How Linda's clothing collection evolved because of customer demand.
- [6:39] Where Linda's collection is made.
- [9:00] How Linda sells using a pre-order model.
- [10:01] The Slow Wardrobe's pandemic pivot.
- [20:53] How Linda got started on YouTube.
- [22:45] Linda's equipment for creating YouTube content.
- [26:26] Simple prep-work for creating each video.
More about The Slow Wardrobe
The Slow Warddrobe
The Slow Wardrobe on YouTube
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
If you have a limited budget to spend on product development and stock, the worst thing you can do is pick the wrong manufacturing partner.
Here's how to make sure that you don't.
Discover:
- 06:00 The expensive mistakes brands make when it comes to choosing the wrong manufacturer.
- 07:03 The potential pitfalls the can happen when looking for a UK manufacturer.
- 09:53 Why you should always visit a factory before you pay them any money.
- 11:55 Why recommendations are important when it comes to choosing a manufacturing partner.
- 13:04 Why you need to be cautious of the 'too good to be true' manufacturer that approaches you on social media.
- 17:07 The sure-fire way of blowing your start-up budget all in one go.
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make sure that manufacturers are getting back to your emails by avoiding these four common errors. Discover:
- 03:08 The amount of emails that manufacturers are getting and why you need to stand out.
- 04:23 The four reasons why emails to manufacturers don't get answered.
- 07:13 The one topic you should NEVER start you email with.
- 08:16 What you should do BEFORE you first contact a manufacturer.
Register for our masterclass '5 Steps to Finding a UK Manufacturer'
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
In this episode, recorded as an Instagram Live on Made in UK Day, I chat to three UK manufacturers:
- Karen and Neville Clokey from NC Lancaster, who make cushions in Lancashire
- Steff McGrath from Something Wicked, a UK-made lingerie brand and manufacturer.
- Alison Pottie from Wonky Woolies, a knitted accessory manufacturer in Scotland.
We chat about why local manufacturing is important to them. The history of textile manufacturing in their areas, and how they find and retain skilled staff.
Discover:
- 03:44 Alison's thoughts on why it's so important to be supporting local businesses
- 06:54 The challenges Neville and Karen face when looking to recruit skilled machinists and their response to that
- 09:09 How Steff works with a local university to encourage students into manufacturing
- 13:11 What we can do to help educate people about buying products that are made in the UK.
- 14:32 The value of a UK-made product overseas
- 16:36 How UK manufacturers are dealing with rising costs
- 18:03 Why it's better to make in the UK as you can make smaller quantities which is more sustainable.
More NC Lancaster
Cushions.co.uk on Instagram
Cushions.co.uk Website
More Wonky Woolies
Wonky Woolies on Instagram
Wonky Woolies Website
More Something Wicked
Something Wicked on Instagram
Something Wicked Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
In this episode, I chat with Paul Brown, founder of Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, a UK-made brand based in Suffolk.
Paul founded his clothing business back in 2012, knowing nothing about clothing manufacturing, butwent on to set up his own micro-factory.
He shares how much it cost him to get his micro-factory up and running, and what the benefits are of having control of your own production.
We also discuss how the brand has found success exporting to countries like America and Australia.
Discover:
- 03:09 How Paul went from no experience in clothing manufacture to setting up his own micro-factory.
- 10:01 What has led to sales from overseas customers.
- 16:17 How the brand manages to offer hundreds of different options for their 'Create Your Own Trousers' range.
- 19:28 The exciting new relaunch coming up this year for Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
More Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
WISC on Instagram
WISC Website
Paul's Podcast on British Fashion & Style
Information on WISC British Chinos
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Rosie Macpherson is the founder of Where’s Winnie, a luxury dog travel brand.
Rosie came to me when she had an idea to develop an innovative new type of dog car seat. One where a small dog can travel in style and comfort, but which also offered safety and security.
In this episode, Rosie talks us through the journey from the initial idea for her product, to a very successful launch.
Discover:
- 03:55 How the brand Where's Winnie came about
- 07:34 How Rosie handles juggling the new business with her family life and day job
- 09:26 What Rosie found most daunting about developing a new product in the UK
- 13:33 Rosie's experience working with UK manufacturers
- 17:06 How Rosie planned the successful launch day of Where's Winnie's first dog car seats
- 21:49 How Rosie was able to gather invaluable customer feedback through Instagram
More Where's Winnie
Where's Winnie on Instagram
Where's Winnie Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Julie Deane CBE is the founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company, which manufactures all its bags in the UK.
In this episode, recorded as an Instagram Live on Made in UK Day, I chat to Julie about why the Cambridge Satchels are made in the UK, and how important it is to retain craftsmanship here in Britain.
Discover:
- 03:17 Why Julie feels there should be a kitemark to recognise products made in the UK
- 06:04 How Julie thinks we can encourage more people to find out where products are made
- 08:29 Why sustainability is so important to the Cambridge Satchel brand
- 11:43 The reason why Julie decided to set up Cambridge Satchel's own factory
- 15:28 Julie's advice for small businesses looking to get their name out there
Watch the live version from Made in UK Day
Further ListeningEpisode 142 - Julie Deane OBE - Building a Great British Brand
More Cambridge Satchel
Cambridge Satchel Company Instagram
Cambridge Satchel Company Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Do you want to wholesale your UK-made brand, but don't know where to start?
Is this episode we look at some of the potential pitfalls, and I give you my top 8 tips for success when selling to retail buyers.
Discover:
- 02:22 Is wholesale right for your business?
- 04:04 The 8 tips for selling to retail buyers
- 08:22 Why doing your research before reaching out to buyers can save you time and money
- 20:58 How other UK brands have made a success out of wholesailing
*Further listening:*124 - To Wholesale, or Not to Wholesale
062 - Live! – Tori Murphy – How to get noticed by high-end retailers
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
The results of our Made in UK survey are in!
Find out what consumers really think about buying UK-made goods.
Read the full survey results here:
https://makeitbritish.co.uk/buying-british/madeinuk-survey-2022/
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Make it British on YouTube
There are generally 3 main reasons why sales might not be going as expected.
But don't panic!
As well as discussing what those 3 reasons for a sales slump might be, in this episode I also give tips on what you can do if sales aren't going to plan
Discover:
- 03:32 The reasons why your sales might not be going as you expect
- 07:10 The things you could be doing for your business in order to attract more sales
- 17:57 Why reviewing your business can be the key to working out any issues you may have
- 19:03 How giving yourself time to refresh may help your business to bounce back
Made in UK Day - Download your championing pack
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
In this episode, I'm chatting with Graham Holbrook from Turtle Doves, a company that recycles cashmere jumpers into brand new products, including their signature fingerless gloves, which sell over 200,000 pairs a year.
Graham talks about how Turtle Doves manage teams of outworkers in the UK to make their products.
And we also discuss an exciting new project that Turtle Doves are working on, which is reviving the lost manufacturing process of shoddying.
If you don't know what shoddy is you will have to listen to find out!
Discover:
- 03:28 How Turtle Doves started and how they got into making accessories from secondhand cashmere
- 06:05 How the manufacturing process has changed since the business has grown
- 08:40 How the business manages hundreds of outworkers to produce their high-quality accessories
- 17:32 What Graham believes has attributed to the success of Turtle Doves
- 22:47 How Graham ensures a constant supply of cashmere and why the fibre is so important to the business
- 25:04 The charity scheme that Turtle Doves has set up to give back to their customers
- 26:35 How Turtle Doves has been working with a factory to bring back the lost manufacturing process of shoddy
More Turtle Doves
Turtle Doves on Instagram
Turtle Doves Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
In this episode, I invite you to join us for our second Made in UK Day on 9th March 2022.
Following the success of the inaugural Made in UK Day in 2021, the campaign is back this year to raise awareness of the need to buy more locally made products and to showcase all the amazing businesses that make in the UK.
Follow #madeinukday on social media to keep up to date with the campaign.
Go to madeinukday.co.uk to download a championing pack and start getting involved!
Discover:
- 02:01 The impact of our first-ever Made in UK Day back in 2021
- 05:11 What is Made in UK Day?
- 08:54 How you can get involved if you're a business that makes in the UK
- 11:15 How you can get involved if you're a consumer looking to buy UK-made products
Made in UK Day
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
The price of everything is going up at the moment - from fuel prices and taxes, to raw materials and shipping. But what does this mean for you if you have a business that makes in the UK?
In this episode, you'll hear thoughts from our Make it British members, both brands selling UK-made products and UK manufacturers, on what price increases they're seeing. And how that is affecting their businesses. And I give my advice on how you can deal with the cost rises.
Discover:
- 03:05 How other existing UK businesses are feeling about putting up their prices
- 05:13 Whether UK manufacturers will be looking to increase their prices
- 09:05 The difficult decisions businesses are needing to make and how they're being communicated to their customers
- 11:05 How small businesses are seeing the positives out of rising cost prices
- 14:50 The six tips for how you can deal with price increases
Raising Prices Poll on LinkedIn
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Kitty Bruce-Gardyne is the founder of Scottish Textiles Showcase. Originally set up to give people special guided tours around the textile mills in Scotland, Scottish Textile Showcase is now a retail destination in Edinburgh.
The shop represents some of Scotland's best textile businesses and Kitty tells the story of why she so passionately supports the Scottish textile industry.
There's also a video version of this interview. So if you want to see inside Kitty's store, head on over to the Make it British YouTube channel.
Discover:
- 02:55 How Kitty came to run textile tours around Scotland
- 08:09 Why she decided to set up her shop the Scottish Textiles Showcase
- 13:33 How Kitty decides which makers are represented in her shop
- 17:22 Why Kitty believes the Made in Scotland brand is so important
- 21:57 The collection of traditional Scottish textiles that are available both instore and online
- 28:48 How you can book your own tour to visit Scotland’s textile mills
More Scottish Textiles Showcase
Scottish Textiles Showcase on Instagram
Scottish Textiles Showcase Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
One of the biggest mistakes that I see people making when they want to get a product made in the UK is that they think the first step that they need to take is to contact a manufacturer.
But this is actually one of the last things that you want to do.
In this episode I run through the 5 steps you need to take to get a product made in the UK.
Discover:
- 01:45 The biggest mistake people make when trying to get a product made in the UK
- 03:22 What steps you need to take before contacting a manufacturer
- 10:49 Why you need prepared and knowledgeable about your product production
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
In this episode, I chat with Chris Kyriacou, founder of activewear brand Soma Sportswear.
Chris contacted me in 2019, looking for help to find manufacturers to make his very unique athleisurewear.
In this episode, Chris talks through the process of going from idea to fully-fledged product and how we worked together to find the right factories. Discover: * 02:35 Chris' background and why he decided to launch his own athleisure brand * 05:34 How Chris worked with Kate to overcome the challenges of looking for a manufacturer to make his garments * 08:50 What makes the fabric that Chris' uses in his collection so innovative * 10:03 How Chris assures that his supply chain is as sustainable as possible * 15:42 Chris' top tips for anyone looking to launch their own athleisure brand * 18:47 The benefits of using silver in the fabric specifically for athleisurewear
More Soma Sportswear
Soma Sportswear on Instagram
Soma Sportswear Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
One of the biggest problems that many fashion firms face is how they can dispose of their deadstock fabric.
At the same time, designers often have issues with sourcing materials in small quantities.
In this episode, we meet Deborah Lyons and Piarvé Wetshi, the co-founders of Last Yarn, an online fabric marketplace that solves one of the fashion industry's biggest problems.
Discover:
- 4:50 How the idea for Last Yarn came about
- 6:30 How designers can source small quantities of a wide variety of fabrics on the Last Yarn marketplace
- 10:07 How platforms like this can help solve a problem for businesses that have leftover materials, and why it's more sustainable
- 27:03 How Last Yarn will be collaborating with schools and colleges
More Last YarnLast Yarn on Instagram
Last Yarn Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
If you have a business making or selling products that are made in the UK, what are the biggest trends that will impact you in 2022?
Whilst the last 2 years have shown us that it is almost impossible to predict the unpredictable, having worked with hundreds of small businesses that make in the UK over the last ten years, I can see definite patterns emerging.
In this episode, I cover my top 6 business trends for brands that make in the UK for 2022.
Discover:
- 02:45 The reasons why everyone is turning to local
- 05:51 Why you need to be clear about how your brand is sustainable and not just saying it is
- 10:10 How simplicity can be key to running a successful product-based business
- 14:53 Why you need to be aware of rising cost prices and how to plan for them accordingly
- 17:54 Why you may need to shake up your current sales and marketing strategy
- 19:47 How you can take control of your production to get ahead of the competition
References from the episode:
Episode 208– and why you need to when you are working with manufacturers!
Fashion Revolution Fashion Transparency Index
Aja Barber - Consumed: The need for collective change; colonialism, climate change & consumerism
David Hieatt’s Do One Thing Well List Winter 2021
British Brand Blueprint Workshop Bundle - katehills.co.uk/bundle
Apply for my coaching programme
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
In this episode I reflect on how much things have changed over the past couple of years for us at Make it British, as I am sure they have for you.
I also look at which of the 61 episodes of the podcast I've recorded this year were my favourites, and why.
Discover:
- 01:54 How Make it British has adapted since pre-pandemic
- 04:18 Why I set up my coaching programme to help small businesses who make in the UK
- 07:11 The 10 most popular podcast episodes of 2021
Listen to the episodes mentioned in this podcast:
200 - 20 tips for building a great UK-made business
170 - Are you confusing mark-up and margin?
178 - The real reason you aren’t making any money with your UK-made business
152 - Are you charging enough for your UK-made products?
156 - 5 reasons why you might not be able to find a UK manufacturer
183 - It was a stupid idea in the pub and now it’s a million-pound business - Brant Richards, HebTroCo
202 - How I dealt with the copycats and came out on top, Monika Young, Monika the Label
179 - Growing a UK-made lifestyle brand - Rebecca J Mills
153 - Building a family business in post-Brexit Britain - Gillian Tusting
171 - How we set up a micro swimwear factory - Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior, Usual Objections
Apply for my coaching programme - for new and established businesses that make in the UK.
British Brand Blueprint workshop bundle - These video workshops will give you the motivation, confidence and tools you need to grow a thriving UK-made brand!
How to Launch a UK-made brand - mini course for start-ups that want to make in the UK.
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Shanna Bent is the founder of the conscious fashion brand Maison Bent.
Having previously worked with Alexander McQueen, Roland Mouret, Agent Provocateur, in 2019 Shanna set up her own luxury label, with a determination to bust the myth that black designers just do streetwear.
She’s had a lot of success in a short space of time, from showing at London Fashion Week to capturing the attention of the press and featuring in publications such as Vogue Italia.
In this interview, she talks about how to get press for your fashion brand and how her Jamaican grandparents who came to the UK during the Windrush era, have impacted her outlook on life and business.
Discover:
- 04:38 Shanna's industry background working for some of the biggest names in fashion
- 07:29 How Shanna first launched her brand back in 2016
- 10:51 How news trends and making connections gained press and exposure for Maison Bent
- 13:35 How Shanna is breaking down the misconceptions about black-owned fashion brands
- 15:14 The effect Shanna's Jamaican grandparents have on her outlook on life and her business
- 17:12 Why Shanna believes that luxury and sustainability should go hand in hand
- 19:13 Why Shanna is looking to use plant-based fibres for her collection pieces
- 22:01 The rental service that Maison Bent offers directly from their website
- 25:44 How Shanna works directly with her manufactures
- 30:22 Shanna's future goals for Maison Bent and why she believes people should be more educated about how garments are made
More Maison BentMaison Bent on Instagram
Maison Bent Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
When you have a product-based business and you're working with manufacturers, it's important to have a plan in place.
There's no better time to do this than at the start of a new year.
In this episode I give you tips on how to plan for 2022 and why you need to when you're working with manufacturers! Discover:
- 03:22 Why having a manufacturing plan in place is beneficial to both you and your suppliers
- 07:27 How you can start planning for the year ahead by setting goals
- 09:27 Why you should constantly review your plan to make room for the unexpected!
Apply for my coaching programme and plan your year!
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Charlotte Raffo is the founder of The Monkey Puzzle Tree, a homeware business that creates award-winning, artist designed fabrics and wallpapers with a twist and a conscience.
Working with artists and designers to produce the most beautiful collection of products, The Monkey Puzzle Tree makes everything within a hundred mile radius of Leeds.
The business has also recently won two awards for it’s design and innovation - a Guildmark for their cork wallpaper, and ‘Best in British Product Design’ award at the Brit List Awards.
Discover:
- 03:02 Charlotte's background and why she set up her own business.
- 10:20 How The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with local artists.
- 12:01 Why Charlotte chooses to not follow trends and work with artists with unique styles.
- 14:41 How Charlotte goes about deciding on the fabrics, processes and manufacturers to use to make her products.
- 23:37 The trade shows Charlotte attends and why she sees that as an important way to market her business.
- 32:54 Why Charlotte believes you have to invest in your business for the long term.
- 42:05 How the name The Monkey Puzzle Tree came about.
More The Monkey Puzzle TreeThe Monkey Puzzle Tree on Instagram
The Monkey Puzzle Tree Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Of all the social media platforms that small businesses use to promote their business, Instagram seems to be the one that evokes the biggest love/hate reaction. Especially if you’re a creative person, or run a product-based business.
You might be constantly bombarded by a stream of reels and videos from other small businesses who seem much more comfortable in front of the camera than you. And it feels like everyone is winning on Instagram marketing apart from you.
I’m here in this episode to tell you not to worry - there is more to marketing your business than just Instagram!
Discover:
- 02:49 Why the amount of followers a profile has doesn't always mean a successful business
- 06:01 Why you should be thinking about using other forms of marketing than just Instagram
- 10:07 The clever ways you can encourage potential customers to sign up to your mailing list
- 12:08 Why it's important to track your marketing data
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Today we are going on a trip to Leicester to meet the family behind textile firm Shahtex.
The guys at Shahtex are experts in circular knitting. Up until recently, they have been knitting fabrics for big online retailers.
Shahtex have now invested in four state-of-the-art circular knitting machines, the first of their kind in the UK. These machines enable the factory to produce seamless garments, the likes of which you would have had to go to Europe for before to get made.
In this interview, I chat with Tejas and Pramod Shah at their factory in Leicester about why they decided to buy the machines and how they plan to change the reputation of the Leicestershire textile industry.
Discover:
- 03:28 When Tejas and his father set up the business and what's changed since
- 06:20 Why Shatex have invested in new circular seamless knitting machines
- 08:57 Who Shatex are looking to work with to produce better quality garments
- 11:12 Why Shatex have higher minimum order quantities
- 13:58 How Shatex is aiming to run the whole production line under one roof
- 16:33 Where Shatex aims to be in the next 5 years
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Lucy Jones was the founder of a prestigious, luxury lingerie brand back in the 1980s.
Her distinctive silk lingerie was stocked in retailers such as Harvey Nichols and Rigby & Peller.
After two decades working in education, Lucy decided to relaunch her lingerie brand, making the entire collection herself and at a small atelier in the UK.
In this episode, Lucy speaks about some of the differences between running a luxury ingerie brand in the 1980s, compared to today.
Discover:
- 02:18 How Lucy first got into the industry
- 04:09 Launching a lingerie brand in the 1980s
- 09:20 How Lucy wholesaled to prestigious London stores
- 14:21 Why Lucy decided to close her original business
- 20:23 The challenges Lucy faced when she relaunched her business in 2019
- 23:29 How the pandemic has caused Lucy to focus on the online presence of her brand
- 27:28 Lucy's thoughts on today's disposable fashion culture
More Lucy Jones LingerieLucy Jones Lingerie on Instagram
Lucy Jones Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Join me on a trip to Leicester to meet Said Saleh and Keith Cummings from Mars Knitwear.
Based in Wigston, Leicestershire, the chaps at Mars have been making knitwear for over 30 years.
Having been manufacturing thousands of pieces of acrylic knitwear for the big store groups, Mars has now gone back to creating smaller quantities of premium knitwear from British wool, lambswool and merino.
They even now have their own brand.
Mars Knitwear are kindly offering 15% off all of their knitwear for Make it British podcast listeners.
Use the code makeitbritishpodcast at the checkout and bag yourself some quality, British-made knitwear!
Discover:
- 04:08 How Said got into the knitwear industry
- 07:37 Keith's own history within the knitwear industry and how he came to work with Said
- 10:20 Why Said decided that his factory would start making higher quality knitwear
- 14:25 How Mars Knitwear has been able to pivot their business to selling their own branded products online
- 18:11 How Mars decides on what their next products are going to be and how they keep an eye on trends
- 19:52 Keith and Said's thoughts on recycled yarns and natural fibres
- 22:25 Keith and Said's plans for the future of Mars Knitwear and their thought on the future of the UK knitwear industry
- 25:22 Why the biggest problem manufacturers face is getting skilled staff and why Keith and Said believe more young people should work in factories
More Mars KnitwearMars Knitwear on Instagram
Mars Knitwear Website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
British Brand Blueprint virtual event - watch the replays from our virtual conference
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
Monika Young is the founder and creative director of Monika the Label - a sustainable fashion brand inspired by 70s California and made in the UK.
In this episode, Monika tells the story of how she set up and her brand, and what actions she took when she discovered her original designs and prints being copied by fast fashion online retailers.
Discover:
- 04:12 How Monika's experience as a fashion buyer lead her to question the industry and pushed her to start her own clothing brand
- 11.21 How having supplier issues with her fabrics was actually a blessing in disguise
- 19.24 What slow fashion means to Monika
- 24.17 The reasons why Monika believes there are so many more benefits to UK manufacturing that offsets the additional cost
- 26.14 Why Monika makes sure she invests in the quality of her products
- 29:58 How Monika discovered her prints were being copied by large fashion brands
- 38:16 The amount of support Monika received through sharing her experience on social media
- 41.28 How Monika is dealing with the challenge of getting the copies taken down and how her brand has come out on top
- 45.13 Why Monika's opinion changes about whether consumers are more likely to purchase from brands with a purpose
- 50.00 The future plans for Monika the Label in order to work towards being more sustainable
- 52.11 How sticking to your values and staying true to yourself is Monika's one piece of advice to other brand owners
More Monika the LabelMonika the Label on Instagram
Monika the Label website
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
What are some of the things that I see successful British-made brands do consistently?
In the first episode of series 4 of the Make it British podcast I look at what makes for a great British-made brand.
If you enjoy this podcast, you'll love British Brand Blueprint our virtual conference for businesses that make in the UK. Find out more here.
Discover:
- 04:11 Why having a great story to tell can help customers relate to your business
- 06:17 How doing one thing brilliantly is better for building brand loyalty
- 08:40 Why developing close partnerships with your suppliers is so important
- 10:35 Why you should always put your customers first
- 11:47 Why you should pride quality over quantity when it comes to your products
- 13:09 How being driven by purpose, not profit is the right way go to attract the right customers
- 14:39 Why you will need to invest in your business no matter how amazing your product is
More Make it British
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
The new series of the Make it British Podcast is coming very, very soon!
Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss it.
As well as the usual advice and tips for making in the UK, along with interviews with some of my favourite people that manufacture products in Britain, we are doing something a little bit different this series.
Listen in to this trailer to find out what it is!!
About Kate Hills & Make it British
Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing!
With a background in working for several large brands and retailers in design and buying roles, she gave up her corporate career to set up Make it British as a way of supporting UK manufacturers and those companies that wanted to make in the UK.
Make it British acts as a platform to promote UK-made brands and manufacturers and aims to raise awareness of all of the fantastic manufacturing that still takes place in Britain.
Make it British website
Manufacturing Made Easy - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers
Make it British on Instagram
20 TIPS FOR BUILDING A GREAT UK-MADE BRAND
I've interviewed some fantastic guests over the past 3 series of the Make it British podcast.
To celebrate the milestone which is 200 episodes, I'm bringing you a summary from 21 of the Make it British members that I have interviewed over the last few years.
All of them have built great UK-made businesses and have some great advice to impart!
Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory of UK-made brands and manufacturers
British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with Kate to build your British-made brand.
Shownotes - makeitbritish.co.uk/200
www.makeitbritish.co.uk
Starting any business can be tough - especially one that involves making products!
Whether you are just about start a brand, or you've already launched and it's not quite going to plan, here are 11 tips that will help ensure success.
Discover:
- Why you should start with why [01:43]
- One of the first things you need to think about if you want to ensure your product sells [02:49]
- The reason you need to understand the numbers [05:56]
- What you need to prepare in order to reach out to manufacturers [07:11]
- Why you might need more than one manufacturer [08:25]
- How to avoid communication issues [09:41]
- The no.1 thing that new brands don't leave enough time for [12:05]
Mentioned in this episode
Manufacturing Made Easy - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
How to Launch a UK-made Brand - my video course walking you through the steps you need to take
More Make it British
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Probably one of the questions that I get asked more than any other is 'how long will it take me to launch a new product if I make it in the UK?'
The short answer is - 'how long is a piece of string!'
The long answer is more complex, and involves taking into account several different variables. All of which I cover in this episode.
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
London-based designer Maria Grachvogel is renowned for her clever use of cutting to flatter the female figure. In this interview, Maria talks about why she has chosen to use more UK manufacturers for her collection, and how changing her business model has helped her to build closer relationships with her clients. She also discusses the importance of quality, and how buying less, of better quality would solve many of the sustainability issues with clothing and fashion.
Discover:
- How Maria's childhood shaped her fashion career 02:02
- Maria's beliefs on producing garments that are designed to last 04:48
- How Maria is reshoring her production back to the UK 11:59
- The reason why Maria's clients prefer well-made products over fast fashion 22:09
- Maria's thoughts on how we can educate consumers and encourage them to buy quality garments 29:25
- What's next for Maria's brand in terms of sustainability and introducing new technology 37:25
More Maria Grachvogel
Maria Grachvogel on Instagram
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
How do you follow up with a manufacturer (and have a better chance of a response)?
In this episode I give you some great tips on how to make sure that you get a response back from a manufacturer ever time.
This episode will be particularly useful for anyone who wants to follow up with someone that they met at an event or trade show.
Discover:
- How to stay at the top of a manufacturer's mind 01:07
- What you should include in your email to a manufacturer 02:35
- Why it's worth meeting a manufacturer face-to-face! 05:40
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
One of our epidode's from the very first series that is well worth a revisit is this one with Andy Ogden at English Fine Cottons.
Greater Manchester was once known as cottonopolis because it was the home to the world’s cotton yarn and fabric production during the industrial revolution.
At the turn of the Twentieth Century, there were 9,000 people employed in the cotton industry in Ashton-under-Lyne, operating 2 million spindles.
But after years of decline, the last commercial cotton spinning mill in the UK closed.
Three years ago a company called Culimeta-Saveguard, who had been spinning technical fibres in Dunkenfield on the outskirts of Manchester decided to bring cotton spinning back to the UK.
English Fine Cottons now supplies well-known designer brands and high street retailers with cotton yarn that is used in bedding, shirts and outerwear.
I took a tour around the mill back in 2018 and chatted with Andy Ogden, General Manager of English Fine Cottons.
In this interview, you’ll hear all about how English Fine Cottons came about, and how they are closing one of the broken loops in the UK’s fragmented textile supply chain.
More about English Fine Cottons
My visit to Tower Mill when it was still a building site in 2016
Discover:
- The sounds of some of the advanced technology English Fine Cottons use to spin their yarn 02:34
- The story of how English Fine Cottons came about 04:31
- The challenges they met along the way in regards to the cotton industry 08:59
- How English Fine Cottons found and developed a partnership with their trusted cotton supplier 11:43
- The research that went behind sourcing spinning equipment for their factory 14:24
- The reason why machinery efficiency means the business can keep its labour costs lower 15:57
- Why English Fine Cottons also established themselves as a brand 22:17
- Why Andy believes there's been an improvement in the capability of the UK's supply chain 26:44
- How much the business invested into launching and why they decided to restore the original Tower Mill 30:46
- How English Fine Cottons sees there brand developing in the years to come 35:04
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Unfortunately, mistakes can and do, happen in manufacturing, but there are ways to avoid them.
In this episode, we look at the main reasons that manufacturing a product usually goes wrong, how to resolve the situation if it does
and how to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
Discover:
- What are the common problems that can happen when you're manufacturing a product 01:50
- The things you can do to try and fix any issues you may have encountered 06:28
- What you can do if you're not comfortable with talking directly to your manufacturer 09:28
- What to do if all else fails 10:17
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
In this episode, I chat to Ian Maclean, managing director of John Smedley – the oldest operating factory in the world.
John Smedley is one of the finest knitwear manufacturers in the world. The company was established 235 years ago, at the start of the Industrial Revolution, and they still operate out of the same factory in Matlock in Derbyshire.
In the interview, Ian talks about the challenges that come with operating out of such an old mill, and how he is making his manufacturing more sustainable by investing in upgrades to the mill which will save energy and allow the company to survive for another two hundred years.
Discover:
- The history of the John Smedley factory 06:22
- How the company is bringing the factory into the 21st century 07:55
- Why sustainability is important for John Smedley going into the next 200 years 11:50
- The positive reaction John Smedley receives from their customers due to holding a Royal Warrant 13:35
- How Ian plans to increase the exposure of the John Smedley brand 14:41
- Why quality is such an important part of the John Smedley business model 16:12
- How many generations have looked after the business and the challenges they faced through the years 17:17
- Where Ian sees John Smedley heading in the next ten years and the challenges the business will need to face in order to grow 19:14
More about John Smedley
John Smedley Website
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
I think visiting a factory is essential for anyone that is developing a new product.
One of the benefits of making in the UK is that factory visiting is far easier than if you are making your products overseas.
In this episode, I run through my 7 reasons why you should be visiting a factory – and hopefully, if you’re not doing so already, I will have convinced you by the end!
Discover:
- Why face-to-face communication is best when working with a UK manufacturer 01:21
- How you might discover your products aren't actually being made in the UK 02:16
- How you can become more familiar with the production process 04:00
- How you can strengthen your partnership with a UK manufacturer 05:17
- Why knowing how your products are made means you can sell better to your customers 06:14
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Julie Deane CBE, set up the Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with £600 and went on to make it a global, multi-million-pound business.
But behind the success story, there was a lot of hard work, including having to set up her own factory in Leicestershire almost overnight. In this interview, she tells the story behind the brand and talks about how the business has evolved over the last 12 years.
Discover:
- Why Julie ended up setting up her own factory and why she’d recommend that any other brand should do the same 03:21
- What advice she would give to someone setting up a British-made brand 14:18
- Why she decided to manufacture the bags in the UK 16:30
- How Julie holds a world record for listening to business pitches 21:29
- How investment changed the business 25:28
- The lessons Julie learnt on the way as the business began to grow 31:57
- The inspirations behind the other products in the Cambridge Satchel range 38:26
- What the future holds for Cambridge Satchel and why they are proud to wave the flag for UK manufacturing 46:59
More Cambridge Satchel Company About the Cambridge Satchel Company More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Some people think manufacturers should do any initial work for no charge in order to pitch for your business.
But that’s often not the case.
In this episode, I explain why many UK manufacturers charge for sampling – and how that can be a good thing.
Discover:
- The incorrect assumptions people may have about why UK manufacturers don't sample for free 01:02
- Why being charged for samples upfront means a manufacturer is going to be more honest about their pricing 02:39
- Why manufacturers charge for samples so they don't get caught out being used as a 'sampling house' 06:41
- Why it's worth investing to develop a strong relationship with a UK manufacturer 08:16
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Labour Behind the Label is a workers rights organisation that fights for living wages for garment workers.
They have produced a report about the unethical working practices of factories in Leicester making for Boohoo.
The industry has often called into question how Boohoo can sell dresses for £4 and still make them ethically in the UK, and this report by Labour Behind the Label makes for distressing reading. Talking of staff made to work in factories making Boohoo clothes whilst suffering from Covid 19. Dominique Muller is the policy director at Labour Behind the Label, and in this episode, she talks about what needs to be done to ensure workers in Leicester are treated fairly and paid a living wage.
Discover: * Who Labour Behind the Label are and how the organisation came about 04:27
* Why the organisation is focusing on the UK garment industry in particular 06:05
* The reasons why Boohoo has been singled out in the report written by Labour Behind the Label 08:57
* What local councils and other authorities can do to stop unethical factories 11:45
* The worst discoveries that Labour Behind the Labour made when they looked into how garment workers were treated during the pandemic 15:26
* Dominque's thoughts on how the good manufacturers in Leicester would benefit from brands returning to the city 17:47
* The work Labour Behind the Label does to educate brands and retailers on how to make sure their production is ethical 20:15
* What distinguishes a brand or retailer that is ethical to its workers 23:33
* What the consumer can do to make sure they aren't funding unethical practices and companies 26:42
* Why brands should be more transparent about where their products are made 29:21
* What the government could be doing better in terms of positive changes being made in the fashion industry 32:16
* How people can support Labour Behind the Label 40:24
About Labour Behind the Label
About Labour behind the Label
Boohoo & Covid 19 – The people behind the profits
Clean Clothes Campaign – improving working conditions in the global garment industry
Fashion Checker – find out if the brands you buy from are paying their factory workers a living wage
Why we need transparent supply chains
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
In this episode, I look back over the first 100 episodes of this show to find out what makes British-made businesses great.
There are many common themes running through the last 100 episodes and that I’ve heard again and again from those I’ve interviewed.
Here are the 10 things that make British-made businesses great:
UK manufacturers are partners to the businesses they make for
Katya Wildman (Ep 10), Sian Reekie (23), Tom Glover (72)
Transparency is integral to their supply chain
Jenny Holloway (21), Adam Robertson (51), Sophie Slater (94)
Sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do
Ian Maclean (14), Mick Cheema (31)
They are finding different ways to reach the customer
James Eden (2)
Many of them are family businesses
Edward Sexton (12), Martin Lowe (47), Peter Phillips (54), Lance Mitchell (55), Chris Woodford (88)
Authenticity is important to them
Simon Middleton (074)
Craftsmanship is worth preserving
Keith Hanshaw (6), Genevieve Sweeney (39), Kate Dawson (64), Jenny Holloway (21), Barbara Burton (70)
Quality is at their core
Andy Ogden (33), Tony Kelly (77), Joel Chudleigh (82), Richard Ince (96), Elaine Stewart (92)
It’s not about the money
Hebtroco (68), Heraldic Pottery (84)
They wouldn’t manufacture anywhere else!
Katherine Hooker (35), Tori Murphy (61)
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Today I’m chatting to Lindsey James, who is the founder of womenswear brand Violet Flamingo.
Lindsey was making and selling bespoke clothing for her clients from her studio before covid hit. Finding herself with no way to reach customers during lockdown, she started to do regular Facebook live calls from her studio, talking to her customers just as she would do if they were visiting her in person.
She soon found that the calls were a great way for her to continue serving her customers during lockdown.
Lindsey has some great tips for anyone that says they don’t do live video!
Discover:
- The inspiration behind the Violet Flamingo brand 02:18
- Why Lindsey created a Facebook group for fans of Violet Flamingo 10:44
- How Lindsey uses live video to talk to her customers about the making of her clothing 13:22
- The reason why Lindsey offers a more personalised service for her customers 15:03
- How Lindsey has introduced ready to wear pieces within her bespoke collection 16:37
- Why Lindsey is now working with a UK manufacturer 18:35
- The inspiration behind the garments Lindsey designs 24:26
- The tips Lindsey gives for those who may want to give live video a try 35:53
More Lindsey James & Violet Flamingo
Violet Flamingo website
Violet Flamingo Facebook
VF VIP Group on Facebook
Violet Flamingo Instagram
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Just a quick one today, to say that I'm taking a break from recording new episodes after next week.
In the meantime, I have selected 10 of the best episodes from the archive for your enjoyment, which will be episodes no.s 188 - 197
I'll be back on 20th August (not 13th as I said on the audio!) with a brand new solo episode no.198
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Rita Britton is somewhat of a fashion legend.
For 50 years she ran an independent fashion store in Barnsley, Yorkshire called Polyanna, which was an International hub for luxury fashion stocked with Rita's unique style.
When Polyanna closed in 2014, Rita focused on developing her own brand, Nomad, made in the UK with fabrics sourced from Yorkshire mills such as Abraham Moon and Joshua Ellis.
Rita has a very loyal customer base, and she knows a thing or two about retail and fashion. So it was fascinating to hear her thoughts on manufacturing in the UK as part of a panel discussion we held at the Make it British virtual event in 2020.
I’ve picked out some of Rita’s best bits for you to listen to here on the podcast, including her thoughts on educating people to buy better and buy less, why there has never been a better time to bring manufacturing back home, and how the UK makes some of the best textiles in the world, yet we are encouraging young people to work in nail bars and do eyebrows rather than work someone and make clothes!
Literally, every line Rita comes up with is a gem - there are some real pearls of wisdom in here, which are great to hear from someone that has been in the fashion industry for as long as Rita has.
Discover:
- The companies Rita has founded and her mission to reduce waste in the fashion industry 04:17
- Rita's thoughts on how waste could be reduced at the retail and consumer end of the fashion supply chain 06:46
- What Rita's thoughts on young customers and their care for the planet compared to the older generation 08:53
- How Rita believes the fashion industry is totally sales driven and how she's trying to do things differently at Nomad 12:28
More Rita Britton & Nomad Atelier
Nomad Atelier Instagram
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
If you want to develop a range of products but have little manufacturing experience you might be thinking of employing the services of a production consultant.
In this episode, we’re going to look out what services a production consultant might offer, and why you might not want to use one if you want to manufacture in the UK.
I’ve also got advice on how to choose a production consultant if you decide to go down that route, and what the alternatives are if you don’t want to use a third party to manage your production.
Discover:
- What is a production consultant? 02:13
- What services would a production consultant offer? 03:10
- When would you need someone to manage your production? 04:08
- Why you probably shouldn’t use a production consultant if you are making in the UK 06:01
- Questions to ask when looking for someone to manage your production 09:24
- What are your alternatives if you don’t want to use a production consultant? 16:07
Related Episodes
Episode 158 - What is a critical path and why do you need one?
Want my private training on how to master your production and develop profitable UK-made products with ease?
Apply here
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Brant Richards is one of the founders of HebTroCo.
5 years ago, he and his business partner Ed had an idea in the pub - to start making trousers in Hebden Bridge, a town in Yorkshire that was once renowned for its trouser making.
They launched the business on Kickstarter, knowing nothing about making trousers, and within five hours of switching on their crowd-funding campaign they had sold their first 176 pairs. So Brant and Ed quit their jobs and went on a journey that has seen them turnover more than a million pounds.
Since their initial launch they’ve added jeans, shirts, socks and the now pretty much infamous action blanket.
Discover:
- Why making trousers isn't rocket science 06:20
- How HebTroCo invest in advertising to grow their mailing list and increase sales 20:38
- How much it really costs to make jeans in the UK 24:37
- How Brant and Ed met 27:06
- The success of their Kickstarter campaign when they sold 176 pairs in 5 hours 30:50
- The marketing tip that Brant has for other brands 31:40
- How HebTroCo work with their factories 40:04
- The products that HebTroCo are launching next 41:52
More HebTroCoHebTroCo Website
HebTroCo Instagram
Episode 068 - HebTroCo
How to make a million in Brexit Britain - HebTroCo - Make it British Live! 2019
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Do you want a manufacturer in the UK?
On today's episode I discuss the reasons why searching in Google for a manufacturer to make your products could be a very costly mistake to make.
Discover:
- What can happen if you select a manufacturer using a Google search 1:29
- Examples of what you really find on page one of Google when you type in 'UK clothing manufacturer' 5:22
- The misleading phrases that companies use that can make you think their factory is in the UK 7:28
- Some tips for how to find out if they really are genuine UK manufacturer 8:30
Want my private training on how to master your production and develop profitable UK-made products with ease?
Apply here
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Johnstons of Elgin is the largest textile manufacturer in the UK. The 223-year-old company employs over 1,000 people and was the first to bring cashmere weaving to Scotland.
Simon Cotton, the chief executive of Johnstons, describes himself as working for the most exciting company in the UK. Listen to find out how he plans to make the company last long into their next 200 years.
Discover:
- How Johnstons aim to bring new generations into the business [11:12]
- How the business has had to adapt to the Covid situation [14:38]
- Johnstons need to focus on high-value products whilst also staying current [18:37]
- Celebrating 120+ years of supplying Burberry [25:31]
- How the business is making its products more sustainable [26:58]
- Where Simon sees the business heading into the next 200 years [29:53]
More Johnstons of ElginJohnstons of Elgin website
Johnstons of Elgin Instagram
More Make it British
Manufacturing Made Easy™ - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
This episode is a lesson to anyone that wants to make in the UK but is struggling to make their pricing work.
YES, it is possible to have a thriving and sustainable brand that is made in the UK and be profitable.
You just need to change the way you look at things.
Discover:
- Why trying to find a cheaper manufacturer is not the solution 02:05
- Why pricing for small product-based businesses is different to the big retailers 04:53
- The benefits of making in the UK vs overseas 06:33
Want my private training on how to master your production and develop profitable UK-made products with ease?
Apply here
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Rebecca Mills has a background in buying and retail for some big-name brands, yet when it came to running her own business she found it very different.
In this episode, she talks about how different it is running her own brand and some of the common mistakes that it is easy to make when you love designing products!
Discover:
- The challenges of developing a product for your own brand versus doing it for a big, corporate company 08:16
- How to value engineer a product to make your prices work 08:54
- Why Rebecca decided to make in the UK 11:29
- Why Rebecca is using the words 'responsible' and 'transparent' rather than sustainable 13:20
- The benefits of having a bricks and mortar store to gain valuable customer feedback 16:39
- How working with Kate in her coaching programme has helped Rebecca to get clarity on her product range 20:30
- How Rebecca has gained confidence in her brand message and being able to focus more on how she spends her time 23:26
- Rebecca's advice for selling on marketplaces and how she's made it work for her business 31:04
More Rebecca J MillsRebecca J Mills website
Rebecca J Mills Instagram
Design Pop Teddington Store > 141 Stanley Road, Teddington, TW11 8UF
**Apply for my live private training “The 3-part framework for developing profitable UK-made products with ease” – katehills.co.uk/application
More Make it British**
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
I get contacted all the time by people looking for ‘more affordable’ UK manufacturers. They’re not making any money in their business and they believe it’s all the manufacturer’s fault because their prices are too high.
But when I dig a little deeper, often I find that there are other parts of the business that need to be addressed first in order for them to make any money.
So before you decide to jump ship from your current manufacturer, let’s ask a few questions and see what else might need to be changed first...
Apply for my live private training “The 3-part framework for developing profitable UK-made products with ease” - katehills.co.uk/framework
Discover:
- Why you should look at 6 other aspects of your business before you decide to look for a cheaper manufacturer 02:15
- One of the main things that product-based businesses spend too much money on 04:20
- Why you should be tracking the numbers in your business 05:38
- The big mindset issue that can hold a lot of small businesses back 06:38
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Debbie McKeegan has over 30 years experience in textile printing - specifically digital printing. She is the founder of TexIntel, a platform that provides fantastic knowledge and advice to the digital print industry and also the host of the Texintel podcast.
In this episode Debbie answers all your burning questions about digital printing.
So if you find fabric printing, particularly digital fabric printing, confusing and frustrating, this episode will help to address many of your questions.
Discover:
- Debbie's background in printed textiles and how she developed her love for production 02:11
- The reasons why Debbie set up Texintel 08:02
- Where designers should begin in terms of understanding the jargon and technicality of digital textile printing 10:36
- The challenges that a designer may face when looking to print their designs via digital textile printing and the tips Debbie offers to combat them 13:14
- The reasons why Debbie thinks digital printing will replace traditional types of printing over the next 5 to 10 years 21:06
- The innovative technology behind digital textile printing and what the future holds for the industry 27:21
- Why Debbie is passionate about the possibilities print offers to new designers and small brands 32:47
- Why Debbie thinks that clients are asking the wrong question in terms of digital printing costs 38:07
- Why digital printers can't get their hands on sustainable fabrics and why Debbie thinks there should be regulations in the industry 41:52
- The advantages of setting up your own 'micro factory' to print your products 47:14
- Why print will always have a place in Debbie's life 51:08
- The many heroes in the textile industry who Debbie looks up to 53:05
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
There are really four different scenarios in which it's probably better to manufacture overseas than in the UK.
In this episode, I run through what those four different cases are.
Discover:
- How the amount of time that it takes to make something can play a big part in deciding whether it should be made here 01:41
- Which skills we have very little of in the UK when it comes to making fashion and accessories 04:16
- Why it's difficult to find blank white T-Shirts made in the UK 07:28
- Why factories that make childrenswear in the UK are few and far between 08:34
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
James Stewart is an experienced lean practitioner who has worked with Burberry and Fashion Enter to help streamline their manufacturing process.
‘Lean’ is a method for producing products in smaller batches, closer to the customer, rather than making zillions of products overseas that no one wants to buy.
Anyone that manufactures sustainably and locally in the UK, is in fact using some lean principles in their business, even if they aren’t aware that they are.
In this episode James discusses the benefits of lean manufacturing, and how it can give UK manufacturers an advantage.
Book mentioned in this episode: The Lean Turnaround
James Stewart Linkedin
Discover:
- How James worked with Burberry to introduce Lean principles 05:11
- What Lean is and how companies can use it to make their business better for people and planet 06:54
- How Burberry cut its lead-times down by 90% in it's UK factory 11:05
- Why Inditex (owners of Zara) manufacture so much locally 16:22
- Advice James would give to any company for how they can use lean principles in their business to make a rapid change 27:21
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
If your products aren’t selling - don’t get disheartened!
There can be many reasons why products don’t sell, but there are also lots of things you can do to make sure they have the best chance of success.
So before you think about slashing your prices, take a listen to this episode.
Discover:
- The things you can do before you start to develop a product to make sure it has the best chance of selling 01:20
- How to know if your products are actually being seen by enough people that might want to buy them 07:16
- Why images of your products are important 08:27
- Why you should be speaking to the people that aren't buying your stuff 10:12
- Should you lower your prices? 10:47
Book mentioned in this episode: The Lean Start Up
Related Episodes
Ep152 - Are you charging enough for your UK-made products?
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
In an industry that is dominated by big brands, how can you stand out from the crowd and launch something new?
In this episode, I chat to Hannah Lovegrove, co-founder of Lovegrove essentials, about what it takes to launch an organics skincare brand that is made in the UK.
Hannah started her award-winning business in 2015 with her daughter Hayley. She has some great advice for how she has achieved such success by putting the customer first and ensuring the highest standards in everything that the company does.
Discover:
- How Hannah, with her daughter Hayley, began Lovegrove Essentials through their combined experience in the beauty and wellbeing industries 02:02
- Why Lovegrove prefer to manufacture their products themselves and how they launched with just 5 key products 04:31
- How understanding their audience helped Lovegrove to promote and sell their products 07:55
- The high standards that Lovegrove Essentials maintain to ensure accreditation on their products 10:33
- The challenges of starting a beauty brand 13:56
- How Brexit and Covid caused supply chain issues and meant that Lovegrove had to take a pause on distribution 14:56
- The expansion of the Lovegrove Essentials team from the original mother and daughter founders 17:57
- What Hannah would have done differently if she was launching the brand again 19:29
- The one big tip Hannah has for anyone looking to set up their own beauty and wellness brand 26:12
More about Lovegrove EssentialsLovegrove Essentials website
Follow Lovegrove Essentials on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
What are some of the pros and cons of selling your products on an online marketplace?
And how do you know which ones you should be on?
Along with the well-established online marketplaces such as Etsy and Not on the High Street, there are lots of new ones springing up.
Many of these specialise in certain niches, including a few newcomers who sell only UK-made goods.
Discover:
- What is an online marketplace? 01:49
- Why would you consider selling on an online marketplace? 02:41
- The drawbacks to joining a well-known and global marketplace 05:19
- The essential questions you need to ask any marketplace that you join 07:18
- Why a new marketplace charging a low commission may not be the ideal one to sell on 08:04
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Rich and Linda make stunning, digitally printed swimwear under the label Usual Objections. They manufacture all of their products from a micro-factory in their family home in Hackney, which they also share with 2 children and a blind pug!
In this episode, they tell me about what made them decide to manufacture everything themselves, having tried doing so with several UK manufacturers first, and what lessons they’ve learnt along the way.
It’s great advice for anyone who's thinking of launching a brand or setting up their own micro-manufacturing unit.
Discover:
- Linda and Richard's backgrounds and how they ended up starting a swimwear brand 03:03
- How they spent £1,000s on sampling products that weren't right 06:55
- How they bought their first machine and it all grew from there 07:54
- How long it took them to launch the business 09:53
- How they sourced their fabric 10:43
- How they've funded the business 14:32
- The balance of their time that they spend designing and manufacturing, versus selling and marketing, and why they may have got it wrong 20:56
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
When it comes to working out your selling prices, one of the biggest mistakes people make is getting their margin and mark-up all mixed up!
It’s easily done as the two words are pretty similar. But it can be a costly mistake to make if you get it wrong.
In this episode, I explain what the difference is between a margin and a mark-up, and what percentages you should be aiming for depending on how you are selling your products.
Discover:
- How to do the maths to work out your mark-up 00:48
- How to calculate a margin 03:09
- What mark-up should you be aiming for? 04:56
- What your mark-up needs to cover 05:33
- Typical margins that big retailers might work towards 07:37
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
On today’s episode, we’re being joined by make-up artist Phyllis Cohen, who is also the founder of a business called Face Lace.
Phyllis started her career as a make-up artist in the ‘80s during the New Romantic era when her illustrative make-up appeared in magazines such as i-D.
She’s also worked her make-up magic on everyone from David Bowie and Lady Gaga to Zandra Rhodes.
Phyllis is a great example of someone who had an idea for a product that no one had ever made before, and through sheer determination and meeting the right UK manufacturer at the right time she was able to get her idea to market.
Her Face Lace is something to behold. If you have not come across Face Lace before, they are elaborate makeup designs that can be applied in a few seconds, look precise, symmetrical and stay perfect until they came off. The original designs looked like lace had been drawn onto the face, hence the name, but other pieces within the collection are encrusted with crystals, pearls and holographic materials.
Of course, with every novel new product, there always follows the copycats. And Phyllis tells of the trouble she has had with counterfeits of her designs appearing which she has had to overcome.
You can see some of Phyllis iconic work as a make-up artist here:
Phyllis Cohen Make-up Archives
Discover:
- How Phyllis went from being an illustrator to a celebrity make-up artist 02:50
- How Phyllis came up with the idea for her innovative Face Lace product 12:41
- How she first developed the product that later became Face Lace 22:04
- The challenges of finding the right materials and how she overcame them 22:47
- How she found her first manufacturer 23:44
- Why she goes to visit her UK manufacturers regularly 29:26
- How Face Lace was worn by Lady Gaga at the SuperBowl 32:18
- How Face Lace has been copied and how Phyllis has copyrighted her designs 37:40
- The advice she would give to someone else developing a new, innovative product 42:50
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
There are a lot of different costs involved in launching a brand. But in this episode, I break it down into four main segments: prototyping; stock; marketing and admin.
I also advise on what the typical amount is that new businesses spend in getting their brand off the ground, and smart ways that you can reduce those costs.
Discover:
- The new ‘Made in UK’ Award introduced by The Great British Entrepreneur Awards for 2021 in partnership with Make it British 01:14
- The costs you need to account for before you put your products into production 02:49
- An idea on costs you might be charged for sampling 04:27
- Why you shouldn’t invest all of your money in stock 06:37
- The one thing that every new brand forgets to save enough money for 09:05
- The boring but important stuff you may not have thought about 13:44
- How to stop your costs from spiralling out of control 13:59
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Rowena Howie’s Revival Retro store in central London is a destination shop for fans of her flattering dresses and stylish accessories.
In this episode we chat about how Rowena has pivoted her business to online whilst the shop has been closed; how the government could help independent retailers; and how she puts the customer at the heart of everything she does.
She’s also got some great advice for any small business that is thinking of working with influencers.
Revival Retro website
Discover:
- About Rowena's background and why she set up Revival Retro 02:09
- How Revival Retro started as a pop-up shop 06:38
- Why she also decided to launch her own UK-made brand to stock in the shop 09:27
- How Revival Retro has developed the business around customer demand 10:41
- How she has overcome the challenges of Covid on her retail business 13:36
- What can Government do to help support small independent retailers? 15:15
- Adapting a brick and mortar store to online 21:07
- How she has used social media to engage with her customers 23:49
- How she has translated the personal touch that Revival Retro has in store to the online offer 27:30
- Working with influencers to grow the business 31:24
- Advice for other brands wanting to offer an in-person sales experience 33:53
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Choosing a manufacturer is one of the most important decisions you can make in the development of your products, so it’s important to find the right one.
When you are assessing whether a manufacturer is a good fit for you there are certain questions that you should ask them. Some of these questions you may want to ask over the phone initially, in order to narrow down your choice, but others, such as those about price, are best approached in a face to face situation.
In this episode, I cover some of the key questions you should ask a manufacturer to get to know them better.
Discover:
- Why it's important to see the factory floor 03:18
- What you can benefit from seeing a manufacturer face to face 04:40
- What audits you might expect them to have and why they may not have any 05:48
- Why it's important to know who else they manufacture for 06:56
- Why you may not want to ask them to sign an NDA 07:53
- The all-important payment question 11:04
- Why UK manufacturers are likely to charge for samples 16:14
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Today I’m chatting to UK garment manufacturer Jenny Holloway who I first featured on this show on episode 21 back in January 2019.
Jenny runs Fashion Enter, a social enterprise that makes 1,000s of garments every week in their North London factory.
Fashion Enter also runs a training academy teaching people the essential skills needed to work in fashion production and recently set up another factory in Wales which employs over 70 people.
In this episode, we catch up on what Jenny has been up to in the last two years, including making PPE and developing a totally reusable isolation gown.
Jenny offers great insight into how she sees the relationship between the big retailers and UK manufacturers developing, and what the future holds for garment manufacturers as they turn into smart factories making on-demand and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Episode 21 featuring Jenny Holloway
Discover:
- How Fashion Enter rose to the challenge to supply PPE to the NHS 03:13
- Making a reusable gown that can be washed over 70 times 06:03
- How Fashion Enter pivoted during the pandemic 09:30
- How Jenny has built relationships with the online retailers 10:32
- How she has diversified the business to not be so reliant on just one type of customer 13:26
- Opening a new sewing factory in Wales 17:26
- Lessons learnt from setting up their own brand 'B of London' 22:48
- Opening up a retail space for designers 28:24
- How Jenny is helping to clean up garment manufacturing in Leicester 31:27
- Jenny's thoughts on the future of garment manufacturing and how technology will play its part 42:35
More about Fashion Enter
fashionenter.com
The FC Fashion Collective
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
When you go to visit any manufacturer for the first time it’s your opportunity to find out exactly how they operate.
The more factories you visit the more you come to learn what makes a good fit for you and your business.
But there are several key aspects to a well-run factory that you can look out for that should help to inform your decision as to whether you’re in a good place.
Discover:
- Why visiting a factory is like buying a house 01:47
- How unhappy looking staff could be a sign of deeper issues 03:18
- Why you need a factory to be busy 03:51
- The most important area of any factory 07:12
- The final point that might really surprise you 09:00
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Data and digital are drastically changing how we all shop and the way that products are made.
In this conversation recorded at Make it British Live! Online, a panel of digital experts from within the fashion industry discuss the importance of data for businesses both large and small, and how it can initiate much more personalised conversations with customers.
The panel is chaired by Jodi Muter-Hamilton, who is joined by Cathy McCabe from Proximity Insight, Craig Crawford from Crawford IT, Peter Needle from Segura and Chloe Watts from chloédigital.
Watch the video recording of this episode.
Discover:
- Introduction to the panellists 03:03
- What data businesses should be capturing and how it can be used 10:49
- How data can be used to show information on sustainability within supply chains 12:21
- What to do with customer data when you have it? 16:33
- How data can help you make the communication with your customers more personal 18:44
- How you use data to find customers 21:06
- Understanding the numbers when it comes to working with influencers 25:44
- How small brands can produce digital content to attract customers and build a community 30:36
- Using data to map supply chains 34:31
- How brands and retailers can use customer insight to lessen returns 38:29
- Why email is not dead! 44:22
More about the speakers
Jodi Muter-Hamilton, Founder of Black Neon Digital (Now called Other Day)
Cathy McCabe, CEO of Proximity Insight
Craig Crawford, VP & Founder of Crawford IT
Peter Needle, CEO of Segura
Chloe Watts, Founder of chloédigital
Jodi Muter-Hamilton podcast > A vision of a world built with integrity
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
A range plan is an essential tool for any product business. Without it you are setting yourself up for failure.
Yet many of the small businesses that I speak to that are developing products say they don’t have a range plan. Or they don’t even know what it is!
So in this episode, I explain what a range plan is and why it’s a valuable tool for our business.
And if you really feel like geeking out on why you should not offer your customers too much choice, take a look at this study I mention in this episode.
Discover:
- What is a range plan? 01:45
- How a range plan can help you to calculate how much you need to spend on stock 03:08
- When should you create a range plan? 03:28
- How a range plan helps you to assess whether you are offering your customers too much choice 04:28
- What to include in your range plan 05:58
- How to work out how much you need to invest in stock 07:19
- What's the best way of creating a range plan? 10:15
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
John Elliott MBE founded Ebac nearly 50 years ago. The company has also sold 1.5 million dehumidifiers over the years and is the only manufacturer of washing machines in the UK.
John is very passionate about UK manufacturing and his thoughts on the UK Government, the supermarkets and Which? make for entertaining listening.
Discover:
- How John left school at 15 with no qualifications and set up Ebac by making a small order of dehumidifiers 01:35
- How he used the profits to plough back into the business to set up his own manufacturing 05:27
- Why more people should work in manufacturing 05:46
- How you need to play to your strengths when running a business 08:36
- John's thoughts on the Government and how they should prioritise manufacturing 09:27
- John responds to the Which? reviews of Ebac products 14:55
- What do the Ebac customers think of their products being made in the UK? 16:55
- Why aren't more companies making white goods in the UK? 18:05
- How leaving the EU will affect UK trade 19:50
- The difficulty of getting a new white goods brand introduced into the retailers and why no one makes electric kettles in the UK anymore 27:40
- Which other UK manufacturers John admires 31:32
More about John Elliott and Ebac
Ebac website
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
If you want to launch a clothing label should you get your first samples made by a seamstress or should you go straight to working with a factory?
In this episode, I cover the pros and cons of both so that you can make the decision for yourself as to which you think is best for your business.
Discover:
- How a seamstress can translate your ideas into an initial prototype 02:32
- Why you should start with a small production run 04:11
- The price difference between a seamstress and a factory 04:50
- One of the downsides of working with a seamstress is they may not have certain types of machinery that a factory might have 05:47
- The difference in the way a seamstress might make something compared to a factory 07:29
- The advantages of working with a factory when your sales take off 10:33
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
How Rachel Bowditch discovered a gap in the market and turned it into a thriving business with loyal fans.
Alice Bow became an overnight sensation when it was reported that the Duchess of Cambridge was a big fan.
Rachel discusses how she rapidly grew her business overnight by bringing her manufacturing in house.
She also has some great tips about how to protect your brand's IP, as well as how small businesses can trade with the EU post-Brexit.
Discover:
How Rachel spotted a gap in the market for comfortable insoles 01:53
Why you should make a decision from the start to not treat your business like a hobby 05:39
How to get manufacturers to take you seriously when you are a start-up 06:20
Sourcing raw materials from trade shows 08:43
Becoming an overnight sensation when it was announced that the Duchess of Cambridge was a fan of the brand 10:50
How to deal with spikes in demand when you are a small brand 15:10
How they get their leathergoods made in London 19:30
Rachel explains how the UK-EU trade agreement works for businesses that make in the UK but sell to the EU 20:54
Why you need to keep an audit trail 26:06
How to get your paperwork right 27:42
Why it's important to communicate with your EU customers 28:43
How to protect your design IP from competitors 32:37
What the new EU VAT changes mean for small businesses 49:10
More about Rachel Bowditch and Alice Bow
Alice Bow Website
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Does the phrase critical path fill you with dread? Or make you jump for joy?
When it comes to manufacturing a product a critical path is...critical!
In this episode, I cover exactly what a critical path is and when and why you need one.
You’ll also find out how to create one, and most importantly, keep it updated.
Discover:
What is a critical path? 01:23
Examples of when you would need a critical path 03:11
Why you need a critical path if you're working with a factory 06:19
How to create a critical path 08:19
Do you need a critical path if you are making the products yourself? 14:58
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
How can you find deadstock materials for your brand?
In this episode, Dessy from Fashion Insiders & Co and I discuss some of the challenges of starting a fashion brand, including one of the biggest challenges of all, which is how to find raw materials in small quantities.
Dessy has recently launched a platform call My Factori which hosts online pop-up sales selling raw materials that designers may otherwise not have access to.
It also solves a problem for the manufacturers that have cash tied up in raw materials sitting in their factories that they can’t use.
Discover:
The moment Dessy realised she didn't want to work as a fashion designer 02:03
How she launched the manufacturing platform Utelier 03:59
The biggest challenges for people setting up a brand in 2021 05:40
What criteria you shoud look for when trying to find someone to help you with manufacturing. 08:49
The challenge of finding raw materials and how Dessy has set up a platform to help solve the issue 11:56
How manufacturers can sell their deadstock raw materials 24:31
Other places to find stock / small quantities of sustainable raw materials 34:17
More about Dessy Tsolova and Fashion Insiders & CoFashion Insiders & Co website
MyFactori website
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
If you're struggling to find a UK manufacturer there's usually one of five reasons why you can't find one.
In this episode, I explain what those five situations are. And give you suggestions for how to have more success in finding your ideal manufacturing partner.
Discover:
Why more people are looking for UK manufacturers now 00:45
Questions I ask when someone says they can't find a manufacturer 02:14
Why your prices may be unrealistic 02:58
Why you might be looking for a type of manufacturer that doesn't exist 05:15
How to increase you chances of success 10:48
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Lee Akpareva is a fashion designer, tailor and technology consultant.
He's also creative director of Never Fade, a fashion store and creative space on Old Compton Street in London.
We chat about collaborations within the fashion industry, helping new designers get a head start, and how blockchain and technology are impacting the fashion industry and manufacturing.
Discover:
About Lee and his background before becoming a designer 02:40
Having a second-life career 05:34
Why he decided to go to fashion school as a mature student 07:58
How he started working with Never Face 10:27
About the Never Fade store and the designers they work with 12:17
Why Lee is focusing on UK production 15:32
How they select the up-and-coming designers for Never Fade 16:09
How money and funding is a big constraint for new designers 17:43
Why there's not more diversity in fashion colleges 18:21
Why aren't there more black tailors? 21:40
Lee's future plans for his business? 23:23
Why collaboration is the way forward for the industry 25:31
The rise of Blockchain and NFC 26:26
The rise of 'digital' clothing and accessories 29:32
The adoption of technology in fashion manufacturing 32:35
How we can reinvigorate our high streets 37:06
More about Lee Akpareva
Lee Akpareva on Instagram
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Should you use Made in UK or Made in Britain? And what's the difference?
A few people have asked why we chose to call the awareness campaign Made in UK Day and not Made in Britain Day.
United Kingdon, Great Britain, The British Isles...it can be very confusing trying to get your head around all the different ways you can describe the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
In this episode, I break down what each one means.
You'll also get to hear which one gets significantly more internet searches than the other.
Discover:
- A thank you to everyone that got involved with Made in UK Day [00:45]
- The reach of Made in UK Day campaign and the huge demand for products made in the UK [01:18]
- Why Made in UK Day and not Made in Britain Day? [02:36]
- What Great Britain covers [04:26]
- The area known as The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [05:29]
- The British Isles [06:04]
- Ireland [06:19]
- Online searches for ‘made in UK’ compared to ‘made in Britain’ [07:55]
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
What does it mean to be a UK leather bag business in 2021?
Today I’m chatting with Gillian Tusting from English heritage leathergoods brand Tusting.
Gillian shares the story of how the family business, founded in 1875, evolved from a small tannery to a thriving part of the UK's leathergoods industry.
She describes the craftsmanship that goes into the making of their leather bags, and how collaborations with brands such as Aston Martin are an important part of their business.
Like many UK manufacturers, Tusting has adapted to making PPE over the last 12 months, and is now experiencing a growth in sales to the to the domestic market since the UK left the EU.
Gillian also has some brilliant points to make about the sustainability of the leather industry, and how vegan alternatives are perhaps not as great for the environment as people may be led to believe.
Discover
- How Tusting began in the 1870’s [02:43]
- How the business changed when the majority of the UK leather industry went offshore in the 1970s [07:25]
- The happy accident that meant Tusting pivoted to become a bag factory [08:21]
- Which classic styles are Tusting still making after 40 years [11:14]
- How a Tusting bag is built to last [12:45]
- Which components can be sourced from the UK and what has become impossible to find here [15:35]
- How leaving the EU has affected the Tusting business [17:44]
- How the UK customer is now a growing market for Tusting leathergoods [22:36]
- How Tusting helped to make PPE during lockdown in 2020 [24:13]
- Collaborations with other UK heritage brands such as Aston Martin [27:33]
- What sustainability means to the Tusting business [33:32]
- Why ‘vegan leather’ is an oxymoron and how non-leather alternatives may not be that great for the environment [35:31]
- How tanneries in Scotland have gone completely carbon neutral [39:55]
- Bringing children into the family business [45:18]
- What does ‘Made in UK’ mean to Gillian Tusting? [47:13]
Tusting website
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
If you manufacture a product in the UK, selling your product for too low a price could be detrimental to your brand.
And putting your prices up could actually increase your sales!
If you prices are too low, especially if you make in the UK, your customers may think there is something wrong.
This applies not just for brands, but for UK manufacturers too.
In this episode I look at the reasons why this might be the case, and how to know if you are selling your products too cheaply.
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Welcome to series 3 of the Make it British podcast!
On the 10th anniversary of the founding of Make it British I take a look back at some of my milestones over the last decade.
How have perceptions of UK manufacturing changed in that time?
To celebrate 10 years of Make it British we have launched Made in UK Day on 9 March 2021.
Find out more at madeinukday.co.uk
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Made in UK Day is taking place on 9 March 2021.
In this episode, I explain why I've started an awareness day for UK makers, and how you can get involved!
Follow #madeinukday on social media to keep up to date with the campaign.
Find out more at madeinukday.co.uk
What will 2021 hold for businesses that make in the UK? In the last episode of 2020, and the last of series two, I look at some of the trends that I think will impact businesses that make in the UK in the coming 12 months.
Listen to this episode to hear my predictions - and let me know if you think I've missed anything out!
Here are my 11 trends for UK manufacturing and British-made brands in 2021:
- From Global to Local
128, Rob Law MBE, Trunki
122, Maria Grachvogel
2. The Brexit Effect
104, Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable
3. Sustainability
140, Christopher Nieper OBE, David Nieper
106, Nick Morley, Faering
4. A Nation of Online Shopkeepers
147, Catherine Erdly, Resilient Retail Club
5. Micro-factories
129, Samantha Brook, Waring Brook
142, Julie Deane, Cambridge Satchel
6. Make-on-Demand
137, Kornit Digital and Gerber Technology
7. Making Fashion Circular
8. The Decline of Fast Fashion
125, Dominique Muller, Labour Behind the Label
130, Calculating Cost per Wear
9. Make Do and Mend
141, Emma Mathews, Socko
10. Skills
104, Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable
11. AuthenticityBeing authentic is the way to be in 2021 😊
Thinking of launching a brand in 2021 that's made in the UK? Sign up to my How to launch a UK-made brand course.
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Today's episode is part one in a two part series where I'll be looking back on our year in 2020 and then looking forward to 2021.
There is no doubt that 2020 has brought its share of challenges for everyone, but I am not going to dwell too much on the negative today. Instead, I take a look at what positives have come out of this most unusual year.
Discover:
- How virtual events and meet-ups have been a life-line for many small businesses
- The most-used acronym this year
- How the pandemic has brought local manufacturing to the fore
- The power of community and how you can integrate that into your business
Thinking of launching a brand that's made in the UK? Sign up to my How to launch a UK-made brand course.
More Make it British
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
UK-made goods have huge value both at home and abroad. If you have a UK-made brand are you doing enough to shout about it?
In this episode, I share my 7 foolproof tips you can action right now to shine a light on the products that you make.
Discover:
- What you can do to make your brand stand out from the brands that make overseas
- How you can have great provenance without being a heritage brand with years of history
- The one obvious thing you should be doing that you might not be
- Why location is more important than ever
Download the slides that accompany this episode.
Watch the webinar - 7 Proven ways to sell your UK-made brand.
Join Make it British - become a member of our community
Brilliantly British feature on Make it British members in The Express
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Gift Guide 2020 - for UK-made gift inspiration Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Catherine Erdly is the founder of The Resilient Retail Club. She has a background in retail as a merchandiser for some of the best-known High Street retailers but now works exclusively with independent retailers and small businesses.
In this episode, we discuss what went wrong at Debenhams and Arcadia, how the buying model of the big retailers is now becoming less relevant, and how now is a good time for small and independent businesses to thrive.
Discover:
- Why big retailers business models are no longer relevant
- How sourcing from China and endlessly cutting costs is not a strategy for long term success
- How small businesses and independent retailers will be impacted by the big stores closing
- Catherine's advice on how small businesses can grow their sales
- What determines whether a retailer will be profitable
- What the right number to manufacture is when you first start out
- What might happen to the stores left empty on the High Street
More Make it British
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
Make it British website
Make it British Gift Guide 2020 - for UK-made gift inspiration Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Membership - become a member of Make it British
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
This is a recording of an Instagram live that I did on the last Friday in November. A day often referred to in the retail calendar as Black Friday.
I discussed why the heavy discounting from many stores at this time of year are not really deals at all, and why many UK-made brands don't do heavy discounting.
Discover:
-
The tricks big retailers use on Black Friday
-
Why most UK-made brands don't take part in these 'deal days'
-
Some of the other ways that small businesses are 'giving back' instead of doing deals.
I refer to the BBC article 'Most Black Friday products were 'same price or cheaper' beforehand.
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Gift Guide 2020 - for UK-made gift inspiration Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Membership - a member of Make it British
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
How do UK manufacturers and brands compete with huge overseas factories and the likes of Black Friday discounting? In this episode, I revisit an interview I did back in 2018 which is still very relevant today.
It's a ‘no holds barred’ interview with James Eden, owner of Private White V.C. who tells me how he’s turned a clothing factory that solely manufactured for other brands, including Burberry, into one that makes 90% own-brand luxury clothing sold direct to the customer.
Find out how (and why) James took on this challenge and his unique costing policies which have helped his business stand out in the crowd.
It's great advice for any British-made brand or UK manufacturer.
Discover * The history behind the Private White V.C. brand * Why James decided to switch his factories production from solely manufacturing for other brands to launching his own label * Advice he’d give to other manufacturers that want to launch their own brand * The challenges the factory faced when supplying big brands and retailers * The pros and cons of selling wholesale * How he’s flipped his pricing strategy on its head and the reaction that it’s had with their customers * His decision to offer transparent costings * Why good design is so important * His thoughts on Black Friday – “zero discount on everything” * How to build a loyal customer base * His initiatives to recruit and develop staff and skills
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Gift Guide 2020 - for UK-made gift inspiration Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Membership - a member of Make it British
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
This week we've been spending time updating the About page on the Make it British website. It's still not finished yet so please don't look at the old one!
It caused me to revisit the first-ever episode of this podcast when I talked about my background and why I set up Make it British.
So I'm sharing that episode with you again today as it is two years ago since I first started recording this podcast and you may not know the back-story.
Discover:
- How I was the co-founder of one of the UK's original ethical clothing brands in 1991
- What happened at M&S when they stopped working with UK factories
- Why I handed in my notice at my last corporate job without evening telling my husband I was going to leave
- My plans for a marketplace selling British-made goods and why that never happened
Enjoy!
Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Gift Guide 2020 - for UK-made gift inspiration Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Membership - a member of Make it British
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Based in Cornwall in the South West of England, Celtic & Co is the original sheepskin boot company.
Kath Whitworth and her husband Nick bought the business 30 years ago and trademarked the UGG boot in the UK.
In this episode, Kath tells the story of how the brand has evolved over the last three decades.
Discover:
- The history of the Celt boot
- Why Cornwall has such an entrepreneurial spirit
- How the company has navigated Covid*
- Why Celtic & Co have focused on working with natural materials
-
Why it's important that they manufacture locally
-
This episode was recorded before England went into its second lockdown
Looking for UK-made gift inspiration? Browse through 100's of UK-made gifts in The Make it British Gift Guide
makeitbritish.co.uk/giftguide Work with me - find out how we can work together to build your British-made brand
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Membership - a member of Make it British
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Make it British Instagram
Julie Deane OBE, set up the Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with £600 and went on to make it a global, multi-million pound business.
But behind the success story, there was a lot of hard work, including having to set up her own factory in Leicestershire almost overnight.
In this interview, she tells the story behind the brand, and talks about how the business has evolved over the last 12 years.
Discover: * Why she ended up setting up her own factory and why she'd recommend that any other brand should do the same * What advice she would give to someone setting up a British-made brand * Why she decided to manufacture the bags in the UK * How Julie holds a world record for listening to business pitches * Why a new business should never call themselves a brand * How investment changed the business
Shownotes www.makeitbritish.co.uk/142
More Cambridge Satchel Company
Cambridge Satchel website
Looking for UK-made gift inspiration?
Browse through 100's of UK-made gifts in The Make it British Gift Guide
makeitbritish.co.uk/giftguide
Become a member of Make it British
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Instagram
Emma Mathews is the founder of sustainable sock brand Socko and the author of 'How to quit fast fashion; 100 expert tips for a sustainable wardrobe'
In this episode, she talks about how she went from a career in advertising to launching a sock business, and why we should all learn the lost art of darning socks.
Discover:
-
How Emma found her manufacturer and learnt the process of industrial sock manufacturing
-
Why the most sustainable clothes are the ones you already own
-
Why we should all learn the lost art of darning
-
How to darn your socks - it's a lot easier than you think!
-
How socks fit into the circular economy
More about EmmaSocko
Emma's book - How to quit fast fashion: 100 expert tips for a sustainable wardrobe
Darning workshops
Shownotes www.makeitbritish.co.uk/141 Make it British Virtual Pop-up To be in with a chance of winning a prize from the giveaway and the special offer code from Make it British members register here. Make it British virtual pop-up on Instagram @makeitbritishpopup Become a member of Make it British
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper, a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire. The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK.
Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already prints all their own catalogues and produce their own knitwear in house, alongside the garment production.
In this episode you can hear about the research Christopher commissioned from Nottingham university looking at the greenhouse gas emissions produced to make clothing at the David Nieper factory in Derbyshire. The study then compared these findings to the emissions produced by making garments in China, Turkey and Bangladesh and then shipping them to the UK.
It makes for very interesting insights into how making in the UK can be quantified as more sustainable.
A big advocate for slow fashion, Christopher has also found that his customers keep and wear his clothes 10 times longer than average.
Listen to this episode to discover: * How the David Nieper factory uses 'just-in-time' manufacturing to achieve a 98% sell-through on their garments
* Christopher's plans to make the David Nieper factory the greenest factory in Europe, recovering the heat generated by the factory to use as renewable energy
* How he's changing the attitudes of young people in his local town by giving them a taste of what it's like inside a real manufacturing environment
* The charity that the business has set up to help rebuild a local secondary school that was in the bottom 2% of schools in the UK and make it over-subscribed for the first time in 30 years
* Christopher's idea for a labelling scheme for clothing that ranks the environmental sustainability of every garment
Shownotes This episode is the recording of a talk that Christopher did at Make it British Live! Online.
You can watch the talk and see the slides in the shownotes for this podcast at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/140 Make it British Virtual Pop-up To be in with a chance of winning a prize from the giveaway and the special offer code from Make it British members register here. Make it British virtual pop-up on Instagram @makeitbritishpopup Become a member of Make it British
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Rachel Attwood is the founder of luxury childrenswear brand Britannical, and a long-standing member of Make it British. The business started life making outwear for babies and was originally called The Great British Baby Company. The brand is known for its coats, which are now made for children up to 12 years old, and an adults line is in development too. Britannical is an ethical brand with a strong commitment to sustainability, using British wool cloth for their coats. The brand has developed a strong aesthetic which plays with the idea of Britishness but in a way that does not take itself too seriously! Discover: * How Rachael used Make it British to find a good manufacturer who understood the needs of the brand * Why dialogue with a manufacturer is so important * How to get a manufacturer to answer your emails * How trial and error is important when launching a brand * The importance of attention to detail * The digital strategy for the brand and why Pinterest has been a focus for them
More Britannical
Britannical website
Britannical on Make it British
Britannical on Instagram
Make it British Virtual Pop-up To be in with a chance of winning a prize from the giveaway and the special offer code from Make it British members register here. Make it British virtual pop-up on Instagram @makeitbritishpopup Become a member of Make it British
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Elizabeth Stiles is a straight-talking fashion buyer turned small business consultant.
She helps fashion brands with their marketing, manufacturing and mindset, and has worked with clients such as Lucy & Yak and Olivia Rose.
Discover:
- How to find your USP
- Why Elizabeth won't buy from Amazon
- How not to commit your life savings to stock when you launch a business
- Why you should focus your product development on your ideal customer not on yourself
- How to stand out as a small business
Mentioned in this episode:
Film: Greed: Steve Coogan - about a billionaire fashion tycoon who runs a chain of high street stores that use cheap labour in low-cost countries
Book: That will never work: The birth of Netflix by the first CEO and co-founder Mark Randolph
More Elizabeth Stiles
Elizabeth Stiles website
Elizabeth Stiles on Instagram
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
The second in our series of live panel discussions in association with Kornit Digital, manufacturers of advanced digital printing solutions.
‘Sketchpad to Shopping Bag: The Future of Fashion Production and Fulfilment’ continues the important debate around the future of the UK textile industry.
I'm joined by panellists from education, design, manufacturing and retail, as well as the Chief Marketing Officer of Kornit Digital.
We discuss:
- Why more companies are looking to reshore their production to create a faster time to market
- How supply chains are changing and why that's important to the UK fashion industry
- How COVID_19 has affected the industry
- Why big retailers need to change their buying model and re-look at their pricing and margins
- The importance of partnerships between manufacturers and retailers / brands
- Why designers and manufacturers must leverage technology to create on-demand manufacturing as a service
- How e-commerce is replacing brick and mortar stores, giving consumers more choice and the opportunity for more bespoke products
Panellists:
Fiona Lambert
Ex MD New Business Development. River Island
Davinder Madaher
Textile Designer, Madaher
Jenny Holloway
CEO, Fashion Enter
Barbara Shepherd
Head of Business Engagement, Manchester Fashion Institute
Omer KulkaChief Marketing Officer, Kornit
Listen to the previous discussion in this series here.
Make it British Live! Online
All of the talks from MiB Live! Online, our virtual trade show and summit, can be watched here:
MiB.Live/online2020
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Davinder Madaher has been a textile and print designer in the fashion and homeware industry for 30 years.
In this episode, he talks about his career - from working in print studios in New York to high street retailers in the UK.
Davinder clearly loves what he does, and this enthusiasm and passion for the industry clearly comes across in this interview.
His motto is 'Finding the creativity in the every day"
Discover:
- Which print methods are best for which type of designs
- How digital printing has changed the UK textile industry
- Why you should print in the UK rather than overseas
- The digital print companies that he uses in the UK
Watch the video of this episode here.
More about Davinder Madaher
Davinder's print designs
Madaher embroidery kits
Davinder's Instagram
Some of the print companies in the UK:
Prinfab
Fashion Formula
RA Smart
More about our virtual trade show
Make it British Live! Online
24th & 25th September 2020
The virtual version of the Make it British Live! trade show - connecting buyers and designers with UK manufacturers of fashion, textiles and homeware.
Join us from the comfort of your desk, factory or home!
Register for the virtual event here
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Putnams is an award-winning homeware manufacturer based in Plymouth, Devon.
The business was started over 40 years ago by Hedley Putnams' parents, and he and his sister Bubbles now run the business.
Hedley had no intention of working in the family business but found that he loved working in manufacturing and employing people locally.
Discover:
- Why you should listen to customer feedback and how you can use it to grow sales
- The advantages of being a UK manufacturer in difficult times
- Why you shouldn't be afraid of failure if you want your business to succeed
- How to win awards for your company
- Why UK businesses should consider drop-shipping
- How Brexit has grown demand for their products
The book about failure that Hedley talks about is Matthew Syed - Black Box Thinking
About Putnams
Putnams website
Putnams YouTube Channel
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Make it British Live! Online
24th & 25th September 2020
The virtual version of the Make it British Live! trade show - connecting buyers and designers with UK manufacturers of fashion, textiles and homeware.
Join us from the comfort of your desk, factory or home!
Register for the virtual event here
Are you currently making your product overseas but thinking about bringing it back to the UK?
The pandemic has caused ongoing supply chain disruption and many businesses are now looking to make locally.
In this episode, I look at what some of the pros and cons are of moving your manufacturing closer to home.
I also give some tips for how to reshore your production as smoothly as possible if that's something you're looking to do.
Discover:
- The reasons you might want to bring your manufacturing to the UK
- The benefits of making in the UK versus overseas
- What the potential pitfalls might be if you decide to explore manufacturing in the UK
- Why it's important to test a small range rather than moving all of your production in one go
- When it might not be possible to manufacture here
- How to overcome the higher labour costs of making in the UK
- The PR and marketing opportunities of making in the UK
More about our virtual trade show
Make it British Live! Online
24th & 25th September 2020
The virtual version of the Make it British Live! trade show - connecting buyers and designers with UK manufacturers of fashion, textiles and homeware.
Join us from the comfort of your desk, factory or home!
Register for the virtual event here
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
How do you feel about virtual trade shows?
2020 has certainly changed the way the whole world works and does business, but if you are in the business of developing or sourcing products, how does that look for you? I can’t see that long haul buying trips will be happening in the way they used to. Far too risky that the whole team might end up quarantined for weeks after they get back, or worse still stuck somewhere and unable to get back. And what does this mean for trade shows, which have been one of the main ways that ranges were selected, new brands were discovered and suppliers were found? In this episode, I look at how trade shows are changing and how that might affect your business. More about our virtual trade show
Make it British Live! Online
24th & 25th September 2020
The virtual version of the Make it British Live! trade show - connecting buyers and designers with UK manufacturers of fashion, textiles and homeware.
Make it British Live! was due to take place on 17th & 18th March at the Business Design Centre, but like all trade shows and events that were due to take place this year, we sadly had to postpone it.
But connecting with people in the industry is still very important, especially right now when so many businesses that previously sourced from overseas are now moving their production closer to home.
So we wanted to find a way to still bring everyone together.
Join us from the comfort of your desk, factory or home!
Just like the real event, the virtual event will have all of the features of Make it British Live! plus more!
Once you've logged into the event platform it will be just like walking through the doors of the real show - with all the features there for you.
Hear inspiring talks on the main stage, attend intimate workshop sessions, chat with the exhibitors in their expo booths, and join us for some fun speed networking.
Streaming live over two days!
Register for the virtual event here
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Do you find Made in the UK labelling confusing?
Do you have a product and want to find out whether you can label it as 'Made in the UK?'
In this recording of a live masterclass I set the record straight on what can and can't be labelled as made in the UK.
You’ll find out…
- What the law is surrounding made in the UK labelling
- What percentage of a product has to be manufactured here
- Whether the raw materials have to have come from the UK
- What the myths are surrounding what can and can’t be labelled as made in the UK
- What the difference is between made in the UK and made in Britain
This masterclass is perfect for anyone who is selling goods that they want to label as made in the UK.
I'll give you several examples of products and whether they can be called made in the UK – with a clear formula that will help you work out whether your product can be labelled as made in the UK.
Download the slides and the replay video for this webinar here
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
In this episode, I introduce you to Jack Scott, the co-founder of Dash Water, a British brand with great provenance.
Dash water uses only misshapen fruit and veg to flavour its water - produce that would otherwise go to waste because it's not 'perfect' enough for the supermarkets.
Jack talks about how he set up a successful British brand in an over-crowded market, and how they managed to get Dash stocked in some of the UK's top stores.
About Dash Water
Dash Water website
Fancy trying it? Use code getwonky to get 30% off
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
What is the true cost of that cheap coat that you buy on the high street?
Whilst the price of clothing has gone down over the last sixty years, so has the quality.
If you calculate the cost per wear of a cheap coat versus a quality, UK-made one you may be very surprised at what great value the more expensive one is.
Try out our Cost Per Wear Calculator here.
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Wouldn’t it be great if the UK textile industry could create less waste, increase sales and become more profitable?
Local manufacturing is an increasing focus for brands and designers looking for a fast turnaround on products that don’t leave a large carbon footprint.
Textile manufacturers now have the opportunity to capitalise on this by creating ‘just in time’ products that meet the needs of today’s buyers.
This episode is a recording of a live panel discussion recorded on 29th July 2020.
I was joined by Scott Walton from Kornit Digital and Richard Jessup from Gerber Technology to discuss what the factory of the future might look like.
We explored opportunities that exist for UK manufacturers to produce one of a kind products, at speed, and in local, micro factories.
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Samantha Brooke is a knitwear designer who has worked in Italy for Alberta Ferretti, and in China for a mass-produced knitwear brand.
She created her own micro knitting factory in rural Nottinghamshire three years ago producing personalised accessories and knitted dog products.
Samantha is a great example of a small brand that is rapidly growing her business by giving the customer exactly what they want.
What you'll discover:
-
How she found her niche and pivoted her business
-
The joy of running your own micro factory
-
Why making to order is a good business model for small businesses
-
Advice for anyone setting up a product business
-
How she uses Instagram to promote her business
About Waring Brooke
Waring Brooke website
Waring Brooke on Instagram
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
The Trunki needs little introduction; since its invention in 2006 over 4 million of the animal-shaped ride-on suitcases have been sold and it has become a design classic.
What many people don't know is that the majority of the Trunkis have been made in the UK since 2012.
Rob Law MBE is the founder of Trunki. He was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease which killed his twin sister at the age of 15.
Rob’s illness, and the death of his sister, played a large part in his determination to make the absolute most of his life, and it is this determination that I am sure has helped to contribute a lot to the success of Trunki. What you'll discover in this episode:
-
Rob's background and design education
-
How the design of the Trunki came about
-
The false start the company had and how Rob overcame it
-
The challenges that Trunki had with manufacturing in China
-
Why Rob decided to reshore the production of a the Trunki to the UK
-
The Trunki's infamous Dragon's Den appearance
-
The importance of design and understanding your customer
-
Why you should iterate your ideas
-
How a mentor helped him learn essential business and leadership skills
-
The challenges of running your own factory
About Trunki
Trunki Website
65 Roses and a Trunki: Defying the Odds in Life and Business - Rob's Book
I’d highly recommend reading Rob's inspiring book. It’s an amazing story, particularly inspiring if you are interested in UK manufacturing, which I know you are if you are listening to this podcast :) Magma Moulding- The Trunki factory
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Amy Fettis is the founder of fashion-led sportswear brand AIM Athleisure. When she first launched the brand she made all of the mistakes that many new businesses make - including developing a collection that was far too big, which killed her cashflow.
She now uses the lessons she learnt from her own business to help others. Amy supports other brands on a private label basis to go from concept to sample and small batch production.
Some of the points we cover in this interview: * Why an MVP is so important and how it can save you money in the long run * The benefits of working with a production consultant * Where project management fits into the garment lifecycle * How you can start a business on Instagram with very little cash
Register for the Live Podcast recording - How do we future proof the UK textile industry on 29th July 2020
More AIM Athleisure
AIM Athleisure website
AIM Athleisure in the Make it British Directory
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Johnstons of Elgin is the largest textile manufacturer in the UK. The 223 year old company employs over 1,000 people and was the first to bring cashmere weaving to Scotland.
Simon Cotton is the chief executive of Johnstons, and in this interview these are some of the points we cover:
- The history of Scottish cashmere
- How the business is making its products more sustainable
- The need to focus on high value products
- Supplying private label customers
- Changes he anticipates for the business as a result of Covid-19.
Enjoy!
About Johnstons of Elgin
The Johnstons of Elgin Story
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Labour Behind the Label is a workers rights organisation that fights for living wages for garment workers.
They have produced a report about the unethical working practices of factories in Leicester making for Boohoo.
The industry has often called into question how Boohoo can sell dresses for £4 and still make them ethically in the UK, and this report by Labour Behind the Label makes for distressing reading. Talking of staff made to work in factories making Boohoo clothes whilst suffering with Covid 19. Dominique Muller is the policy director at Labour Behind the Label, and on this episode she talks about what needs to be done to ensure workers in Leicester are treated fairly and paid a living wage. Labour Behind the Label
About Labour behind the Label
Boohoo & Covid 19 - The people behind the profits
Tell Boohoo to #gotransparent - sign the petition
Clean Clothes Campaign - improving working conditions in the global garment industry
Fashion Checker - find out if the brands you buy from are paying their factory workers a living wage
Why we need transparent supply chains
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Whether to wholesale is one of the biggest decisions that brands have to make, and it is often much more of a difficult decision for businesses that make in the UK as their cost price is often higher. Wholesale was the route that traditionally most brands went down if they wanted to build their profile quickly. But as retailer mark-ups have been increasing over the years, and more direct-to-consumer selling channels have been opening up, wholesaling is not the only way of increasing a brands reach and selling more products. In this episode I run through the pros and cons of wholesaling a British-made brand, as well as some of the alternatives for reaching new customers. Try out our cost price calculator to see what wholesaling does for your margin.
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
It’s back to business this week for many retailers - but how will shopping change post-lockdown? And what effect will this have on businesses that manufacture locally?
Whilst some people are rushing out hoping to secure a bargain on the seasonal stock that retailers are trying to shift before the summer ends, many others will be slightly more reticent about heading out to busy high streets and shopping centres.
Lockdown has created a sense of community and of supporting local businesses. This presents a great opportunity for small businesses and favours those that manufacture locally as consumers turn their back on imported goods.
I think we’ll start to see high streets change and become much more focused around community and independent shops. It’s an interesting time.
If you're a UK-made business you're in a great position right now as we go through this time of extraordinary change.
In this episode I offer advice for how locally made businesses can make the most of this big change in consumer buying behaviour.
Holly Tucker's Open Letter to British Shoppers
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Brands Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Manufacturers Directory - search for manufacturers that are verified members of Make it British
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
London-based designer Maria Grachvogel is renowned for her clever use of cutting to flatter the female figure. In this interview Maria talks about why she has chosen to use more UK manufacturers for her collection, and how changing her business model has helped her to build closer relationships with her clients. She also discusses the importance of quality, and how buying less, of better quality would solve many of the sustainability issues with clothing and fashion.
More Maria Grachvogel
Maria Grachvogel on Instagram
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
We've had two pieces of good news this week so I thought I'd share them with you in this episode.
The first is that the government has now officially placed orders with UK manufacturers for millions of pieces of PPE.
And the second is that the Fashion Roundtable's campaign to get garment and textile roles onto the Shortage Occupation List has progressed to the next stage.
Further listening
Ep 114 - PPE - Can we make it in the UK?
Ep 116 - Where are we on PPE?
Ep 104 - How can we solve the skills issue post-Brexit with Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable
Ep 002 - Interview with James Eden, Private White VC
Further Reading
**A letter to Boris about PPE
More Make it British**
Make it British website
Make it British Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Emma Willis founded her shirt making business in 1989.
She has had a shop on London's famous Jermyn Street for over twenty years and all of her bespoke and ready to wear shirts are made in England.
The Emma Willis Factory in Gloucestershire has a team of dedicated seamstresses and cutters and she runs a successful apprenticeship programme which is helping to develop the next generation of shirtmakers.
In this interview Emma tells the story of how her shirt business came about, and how she has seen the shirt making industry change over the last two decades.
More about Emma Willis
The Emma Willis Factory
Emma Willis London on Instagram
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
Buying habits are changing and there is definitely a renewed interest in buying made in the UK products.
At Make it British we've seen a 200% increase in enquiries from people looking for things that are made in Britain.
In this episode I look at the reasons why demand has increased, how made in the UK brands can capitalise on that, and what we're doing at Make it British to help make it easier for you to find products that are made in the UK.
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
David Williams has been supplying the UK knitwear industry his entire career.
He is the UK agent for Stoll knitting machines and the founder of the Knit Design Centre - a studio in Leicester where designers can develop their ideas and samples with experienced knitwear technicians.
During the Covid 19 pandemic he has worked with a local knitwear manufacturer to produce face coverings for businesses using a special programme on his machines.
In this episode:
- How many knitwear manufacturers now operate in the UK
- How David has seen the industry change over the last few years
- The renewed interest in locally spun yarns
- The technology that he uses to develop knitted masks
- How knitwear manufacturers can diversify their businesses
More about Stoll GB
The Knit Design Centre
Mars Knitwear - to buy the knitted masks
More info on the Knit Design Centre and the knitted masks, including videos and images can be found in the shownotes at
makeitbritish.co.uk/118
More Make it British
Make it British website
Make it British Directory - search for brands and manufacturers that make in the UK
Find a UK Manufacturer - ways we can help you find your perfect manufacturing partner
Make it British Live! - our trade show
Make it British Instagram
During the Covid_19 crisis many UK manufacturers have adapted their businesses to manufacture PPE.
Specialised Canvas, based in Chesterfield, are one of the companies that very quickly pivoted their business to help alleviate the shortage of available protective equipment.
In this episode, Paul Noble, MD of Specialised Canvas, explains how the firm has risen to the challenge of making PPE.
Specialised is currently making gowns and visors.
More details here: www.flexippe.com
Useful Links
About Specialised Canvas
More Make it British
Kate on BBC Breakfast talking about PPE
British Textile Consortium - list of manufacturers that can help make PPE
Register as a company that can make PPE
Request PPE
In episode 114 I asked 'PPE - can we make it in the UK?' and on today's episode I thought it would be good to update you.
It has been 5 weeks since the Government put a call out for businesses to help manufacturer PPE. Since then hundreds of UK manufacturers have filled in the form on the government website and stepped up to offer their help and support.
Make it British has created the British Textile Consortium to help bring together UK manufacturers that can help.
So where have we got to on UK-made PPE?
This episode gives you an update and where we have got to so far and what one of the biggest challenges is when it comes to providing a long term solution to the problem.
Useful Links
Kate on BBC Breakfast talking about PPE
Toray Textiles Europe - manufacturer of bulk fabric for scrubs and gowns
British Textile Consortium - list of manufacturers that can help make PPE
Register as a company that can make PPE
Request PPE
More Make it British
Make it British Live! - our trade show
In this week's episode I talk to Lucy Blackley who founded technology company BombyxPLM to help fashion business owners manage their product development.
A Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system helps your business have total visibility over the development of your brand from design through to production.
Traditionally these software systems are expensive, but Lucy wanted to make something that was affordable and usable for small businesses too.
More about BombyxPLM
Until a few weeks ago most people probably had no idea what PPE stood for.
But during the Covid_19 outbreak PPE has regularly been in the news because Personal Protective Equipment can mean the difference between staying fit and well or catching the deadly coronavirus.
In this episode I look at why there is such a terrible shortage of PPE in the UK and whether we can make the Personal Protective Equipment that we need locally. * Why is there a worldwide shortage of PPE? * What have UK manufacturers and designers been doing to help? * What is the UK government doing to address the shortage? * How is Make it British getting involved and what is the British Textile Consortium?
More about the British Textile Consortium Shownotes for this episode including links to organisations helping to make PPE in the UK can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/114
Harris Tweed cloth is renowned the world over.
Woven entirely in the Outer Hebrides, using wool from the local sheep, you could say it was the ultimate sustainable fabric.
In this episode Ruth Masson, Marketing Manager at Harris Tweed Hebrides, tells us all about the history of the cloth and what makes it so special.
More about Harris Tweed Hebrides
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
The number one concern for all manufacturers right now is how they are going to pay their staff.
They need help to support the jobs of their workers and retain their skills otherwise they may be gone for ever. We have so few manufacturers that we really can’t afford to lose any more.
What is left of our manufacturing base in the UK needs to be protected at all costs. We cannot afford to lose these skills.
In this episode I look at ways in which you can support local manufacturers at this difficult time.
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/112
This episode was published on the day our Make it British Live! trade show was due to fling its doors open to 1,000s of visitors.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 outbreak we have had to postpone the live show until further notice.
But never has there been a more important time to manufacture locally and support brands that make in the UK.
As much of the world is in lockdown and the UK looks to be following suit, many people are looking to continue life as normally as possible.
Schools and universities are teaching lessons online, and instead of going to the gym people are taking exercise classes virtually.
So why can't finding and working with UK manufacturers be any different?
In this episode I talk about how we plan to take out trade show virtual - and how you can work with manufacturers when you can't get to the factory.
Show notes for this podcast can be found here: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/111
To be notified when our virtual show is available visit www.makeitbritishlive.com
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
The coronavirus (Covid-19) is having a devastating impact on businesses all over the world.
One of the industries likely to be hardest hit is manufacturing, because so many raw materials cross borders.
In this episode I look at we can learn from how the coronavirus is impacting supply chains.
Could it cause drastic changes in the way people work, manufacture and shop?
Our trade show Make it British Live! is taking place on 17 & 18 March.
Register for tickets
On today's episode we're covering a topic that I know bothers a lot of you - how can you protect your designs from being copied.
Dids MacDonald OBE has dedicated the last 20 years of her career in helping designers to protect their design ideas.
Discover in this episode:
- What the myths are around protecting your design ideas.
- How you can make sure that your design ideas are covered.
- The difference between registered and unregistered design rights.
- What a trademark is and why you might need one.
- What to do if you think someone has copied your designs.
If you're interested in finding out more about how ACID can help your business go to acid.uk.com
Our trade show: www.makeitbritishlive.com
In this episode I interview Steff McGrath, managing partner at lingerie brand Something Wicked.
The collection is entirely made in the UK by Steff's team in Leeds, giving the brand the flexibility to make everything to order.
She is now helping other brands to make luxury lingerie in Britain too.
More about Something Wicked
Something Wicked are exhibitors at Make it British Live! 2020
Vanners is one of the oldest textile businesses in the UK.
They've been weaving silk since 1740, and moved their weaving business from London to Suffolk in the late 18th Century.
In this interview I speak to Laura Gore, Vanners managing director, about what makes their business such a special UK manufacturer.
Shownotes at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/107
More Vanners
Vanners will be exhibiting at Make it British Live!
Nick Morley is the MD of Faering, an innovative, UK manufacturer that prints digitally onto wool and other natural fibres.
Using the latest technology and renewable energy they can print direct to garments on-demand and with low minimum order quantities.
In this interview Nick talks about how Faering uses the T-shirt printing model to minimise stock by printing multiple designs onto knitwear.
Shownotes at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/106
More Faering
Well Begun
Our trade show MiB Live!
Register for a ticket: www.makeitbritishlive.com/register
Pantherella was founded in 1937 and has been making high quality, lightweight socks in Leicester ever since.
I took a trip to the Pantherella factory to meet the current MD, Justin Hall and to find out about how the socks are made.
Shownotes with videos and images from my factory tour can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/105
More Pantherella
Our trade show MiB Live!
Tamara Cincik has over 20 years experience in the fashion industry and is the founder of Fashion Roundtable, the secretariat for The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Textiles and Fashion.
Fashion Roundtable supports the diverse voices of the fashion industry, and provides a much needed link between fashion, business, consumers and policy leaders.
In this episode Tamara discusses the challenges that Brexit poses to the fashion industry, particularly to manufacturers looking for skilled staff.
It is estimated that up to 50% of garment workers in the UK come from overseas. If these skilled machinists cannot get visas to come to the UK post-Brexit it will pose a real threat to the ability for UK factories to keep up with the current rise in demand.
Tamara, through her work with the APPG, has set out the case for changes to visa policy which would allow these skilled workers from the EU to work in the textile industry in the UK post-Brexit.
But we need as many people as possible to get behind it and write to their MP to let them know that this is an issue before it's too late.
Please take a moment to write to your local MP - your voice matters, and they have to act on anything you send to them!
Find the details of your local MP to write to
Example letter to write to your MP
More about Fashion Roundtable
Make it British Live! - Our trade show
What does a manufacturer include - and NOT include - in a cost price?
In this episode I breakdown what you can expect a manufacturer to take into account when they quote you a price.
And how to make sure that there a no nasty surprises when you get your final bill.
If you want to work out what your target cost price should be try out my cost price calculator
Follow @makeitbritish on Instagram
David Collinge runs the the Burnley-based weaving business John Spencer Textiles.
He is the sixth generation owner of the mill which, was originally founded by his great great great grandfather 150 years ago.
I love David’s story because it is one of survival. It epitomises why some UK manufacturers have remained and flourished whilst many others fell by the wayside.
John Spencer textiles was once one of a 190 weaving mills in Burnley, Lancashire, which between them had over 100,000 looms at their peak. John Spencer owned 2442 of those - that's a LOT of looms!
They originally wove cotton base cloths which would be used for printing fabrics for womenswear, but it was the fact that when such cotton base cloths ‘or Burnley printers’ as they were known, started to be imported from cheaper sources such as India, John Spencer Textiles looked at other ways to use their looms that were less reliant on fashion and price.
They now weave a huge variety of different fibres and fabrics which go into a diverse range of products from blankets, curtains and cushions, to baby slings, artist canvases, even parachutes and parts for nuclear submarines.
It’s this ability to adapt and move the business with the times that has enabled John Spencer Textiles to thrive into the 21st Century.
In this interview David talks about their plans for the future and how he sees UK textiles evolving in the coming years.
John Spencer Textiles
Ian Mankin
John Spencer textiles will be exhibiting at Make it British Live! on 17 & 18 March 2020
Follow @MakeitBritish on Instagram
Launching a product in 2020? Join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge
What will 2020 hold for UK manufacturing? In the first episode of the year, and the new series, I look at some of the trends that I think will impact manufacturing in the coming 12 months.
What's changed since this time last year?
And what is the single biggest thing that will impact UK manufacturers and brands that make in the UK?
Listen to this episode to hear my predictions - and let me know if you think I've missed anything out!
Make it British Instagram
Mentioned in this episode:
The Manufacturer
Future Fashion Factory
AW Hainsworth
Unmade
Christopher Raeburn
Blackhorse Lane Atelier
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Blackshore
We're back!
Series 2 of the Make it British Podcast begins on Tuesday 7th January.
You can expect to hear loads more tips and tricks for making in the UK, along with interview with UK manufacturers - and a few factory tours thrown in for good measure.
In the meantime, if you're looking to launch a brand made in the UK in 2020 join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge - and be factory-ready in just 5 days!
Sign up for the Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge
Meet UK manufacturers and get your whole supply chain sewn up at Make it British Live! on 17 & 18 March 2020.
Register for a ticket to Make it British Live!
Have you bought your Christmas gifts yet?
Well, if you haven't, stop right there.
Before you get bombarded by all the Black Friday deals, listen to this episode of the Make it British podcast and find out why buying a British made Christmas gift is more sustainable.
This is a bonus Christmas episode.
Series 2 of the Make it British Podcast starts in January.
Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you don't miss it!
Shownotes (including transcript): www.makeitbritish.co.uk/uk-made-gifts-more-sustainable
Make it British Gift Guide: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/christmas
In this episode I look back over the first 100 episodes of this show to find out what makes British-made businesses great.
There are many common themes running running through the last 100 episodes and that I've heard again and again from those I've interviewed.
Here are the 10 things that make British-made businesses great:
- UK manufacturers are partners to the businesses they make for
Katya Wildman (Ep 10), Sian Reekie (23), Tom Glover (72) - Transparency is integral to their supply chainJenny Holloway (21), Adam Robertson (51), Sophie Slater (94)
- Sustainability is at the forefront of everything they doIan Maclean (12), Mick Cheema (31)
- They are finding different ways to reach the customerJames Eden (2)
- *Many of them are family businesses*Edward Sexton (12), Martin Lowe (47), Peter Phillips (54), Lance Mitchell (55), Chris Woodford (88)
- Authenticity is important to themSimon Middleton (074)
- Craftsmanship is worth preservingKeith Hanshaw (6), Genevieve Sweeney (39), Kate Dawson (64), Jenny Holloway (21), Barbara Burton (70)
- Quality is at their coreAndy Ogden (33), Tony Kelly (77), Joel Chudleigh (82), Richard Ince (96), Elaine Stewart (92)
- It's not about the moneyHebtroco (68), Heraldic Pottery (84)
- They wouldn't manufacture anywhere else!Katherine Hooker (35), Tori Murphy (61)
Handy guide to all Make it British podcast episodes - sort by theme to find the best ones for you.
Don't forget to leave a review in iTunes! Take a screenshot and DM it to me on Instagram to be in with a chance of winning a case of my favourite English Sparkling Wine :)
There is a lot of confusion about the labelling of products.
Can we truly call something 'made in the UK' if the raw materials are from overseas?
As the traceability of a product's supply chain is becoming increasingly important more and more people are questioning just how authentic a 'made in Britain' product can be if its raw materials are imported.
Find out how the origin of raw materials affect the provenance of a product and what really determines a truly British product.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/099
📅Our trade show Make it British Live!
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🏭List of UK Manufacturers
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Corinne Lewis-Ward is an artist and designer who is the founder of Powder Butterfly; a design studio that creates a range of British contemporary homeware gifts.
Corinne was trained as a photography and has used her love of British landmarks to create a unique, and very British range of products.
Living in Newcastle she started with a range that celebrated the Angel of the North, which she prints onto products such as tea towels, pottery and coasters.
Since then her range has expanded to include London landmarks as well producing bespoke and corporate gifts.
When she first started the business she knew nothing about manufacturing, and only wanted to make small quantities.
She started with a few manufacturing firms who were willing to make small quantities for her, and who have since become valued and trusted manufacturing partners.
Corinne is a great example of how to start a product business with no previous experience in product development, but with just a great idea and a positive attitude!
More about Powder Butterfly
Shownotes can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/098
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
It's so important to get out there and meet manufacturers if you are developing a product.
In this episode I explain the reasons why you should be visiting factories, especially if you are making in the UK because they are on your doorstep.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/097
📅Our trade show Make it British Live!
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🏭List of UK Manufacturers
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Take a tour round a traditional East End umbrella factory with me as we visit James Ince & Sons. Richard Ince is the sixth generation of a family business which was founded 215 years ago. East London was once the centre for umbrella making in the UK due to its proximity to the City of London where many of them were sold. Find out about the history of umbrella making in the UK and how they are made as we take a walk around a (rather noisy) umbrella factory. More about James Ince & Sons.
Shownotes including photos of the Longthorne Guns and factory www.makeitbritish.co.uk/096
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Lots of people try to launch a business or collection with a huge range of products. They then find they don't have enough funds to manufacture everything they set out to.
They make expensive mistakes and their initial vision may never come to fruition.
Or they try to find cheaper manufacturers in order to squeeze everything into their budget to buy a huge amount of stock
You don't need a perfect collection to launch a product, or a cheaper manufacturer, what you need is to start small and test your idea first.
In this episode I discuss the ways in which you can validate your product idea, without spending a huge amount of money OR buying a whole load of stock.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why it's important to test a product idea before you order bulk production from your manufacturer
- What you need to prepare in order to validate a product idea
- Why something is better than perfect
- The different platforms you can use to test your product idea
- What do you do when sales go well and your idea is validated
- And what to think about if your initial test doesn't go as planned
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/095
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🏭List of UK Manufacturers
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
How can you grow a clothing brand sustainably and ethically?
In this interview I speak to the inspiring Sophie Slater from Birdsong who work with women's organisations and charities to make thoughtful clothes in inclusive sizes.
50% of Birdsong profits go back to the organisations that they work with, including a women's charity in East London that make their clothes.
Find out how Birdsong have used crowdfunding to great success to help grow their business, and are now using it to pre-launch their latest collection.
Win a Birdsong dress here (ends 31 Oct 2019)
Birdsong Crowdfunder Campaign
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/094
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
From 18th October 2019 many UK-made clothing items exported to the US will face tariffs of 25%
In this episode I discuss what items are affected and what this means for British brands that manufacture in the UK.
You can find a list of all of the product categories affected on the shownotes here www.makeitbritish.co.uk/093
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🏭List of UK Manufacturers
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
England used to be one of the biggest manufacturers of shotguns in the world, but sadly, like many manufacturing industries in the UK, it has seen numbers decline.
Longthorne are the only shotgun maker in the UK that manufacturer everything in house - creating bespoke guns for customers all over the world.
In this episode I visit the Longthorne Gun factory to meet husband and wife team Elaine and James Stewart and find out how their beautiful bespoke guns are made.
More about Longthorne Guns
Shownotes including photos of the Longthorne Guns and factory www.makeitbritish.co.uk/092
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
You've probably heard of greenwashing? But how about Britwashing?
This episode tells you everything you need to know about what Britwashing is, and how to spot it.
Sadly becoming all too common amongst brands and retailers trying to sell products for their own commercial gain under false pretences, I also call this 'fake it British'.
There are several ways to spot it, and in this episode I uncover what they are.
If you enjoy this episode you might also like these:
036 - What can be labelled as made in the UK?
043 - Should I use made in Britain or made in the UK?
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/091
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🏭List of UK Manufacturers
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Karen Gerrard launched SEAMS because she spotted a gap in the market for a healing hand cream that could be used by milliners and others working with delicate fabrics. Knowing nothing about making cosmetic products, she found someone to help her develop her initial idea and SEAMS handcream was born. Her product now has a cult following amongst TV and film stars, beauty editors and make-up artists, and she has recently gained her first International stockists. One of the secrets to Karen's success is that she has stuck to her original vision of creating the perfect handcream, and not been distracted by adding other products into the range just yet. She has recently gained her first International stockists and discusses all about how that came about. Find out more about SEAMS Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/090 📇Apply to Work with Me
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Reaching out to manufacturers and struggling to get a response?
Don't be like Mr Vague, Mr Long, Mr Price and Mr Clueless - make sure that your email goes to the top of the inbox by avoiding these 4 common errors.
Find out exactly what they are in this episode.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/089
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🏭List of UK Manufacturers
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Join me on a tour round Crown Northampton's footwear factory
In this episode I chat to Chris Woodford, owner of Chancery Footwear, the factory which makes the Crown Northampton collection, and Mark Higgs, brand manager for Crown Northampton.
Launched only a couple of years ago, Crown Northampton is quite different to the other shoemakers in the famous footwear town. Instead of making the traditional Goodyear-welted shoes which the region is known for, Crown's signature product is a leather sneaker.
Hear how Chris has completely reinvented the family business, which was founded by his great-grandfather in the early 1900s, to create a growing made in England footwear brand for the 21st century.
Already very successful in Japan, Chris and Mark have big plans for the future of the Crown Northampton brand.
More about Crown Northampton
Shownotes for this episode www.makeitbritish.co.uk/088
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
If you've got an idea for a product but you're tearing your hair out because you don't know what the next steps are, this episode is for you.
You may have tried approaching manufacturers to help you and had no response, and wondered what it was that you said!
Launching a new product is a bit like building your dream home; you wouldn't approach a builder before you had a design for your house and the land to put it on. Developing a new product is very much the same.
In this episode you'll learn the key things you need to to prepare in order to be able to approach a manufacturer and get your product idea off the ground.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/087
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
💷How much does it cost to launch a British-made fashion brand?
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
When Pippa Dziubinski started a business making printed bamboo baby muslins 2 years ago one of the most important things was being able to make the product in the UK.
But she faced many of the same struggles that other new businesses face when trying to find a manufacturer - they just weren't that readily available.
Through perseverance and hard work Pippa eventually discovered the ideal manufacturing partners - and The Little Art Collection was born.
In this interview Pippa talks about how she went about finding her manufacturers, as well as sharing some great tips for others launching a UK-made business, including:
- Find your niche
- Focus on one thing and do it well
- Get feedback from customers
- Be persistent, keep going
- Don't be afraid to price how you need to to make it work
- Give products a year to really test them
- Don't doubt yourself
More about The Little Art Collection
The Little Art Collection on Instagram
How to Style Your Brand by Fiona Humberstone
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/086
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Are you making this one big mistake when developing a made in the UK product?
On today's episode I tell you how to make sure you avoid this costly error if you're launching a brand made in the UK.
It will also be helpful to those who have product-based businesses who are finding it difficult to juggle all of their suppliers.
This mistake can cause:
- High sampling costs
- Complex supply chains
- Long development times
If you can avoid making this mistake it will help you avoid having money tied up in stock, shorten your lead times - and save you hours of stress!
📝Shownotes for this episode makeitbritish.co.uk/085
Businesses mentioned in this episode:
HebTroCo
Sarah Haran
Teddy Maximus
The Throw Company
Muggi
📝FREE Online Masterclass: Insider Secrets to Finding a Manufacturer
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
A trip to Stoke-on-Trent this week to visit one of the last remaining potteries.
I meet Andy Tooth and Jason Sims, owners of Heraldic Pottery, a company which bespoke prints fine bone china and glassware for designers and illustrators.
More recently Andy & Jason also bought one of the last remaining potteries in Stoke - Duchess China, which was founded in 1888.
Join me on a trip around the potteries to hear all about the intricate processes that are involved in producing fine bone china in the UK.
More about Duchess China
More about Heraldic Pottery
Shownotes for this episode www.makeitbritish.co.uk/084
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
It’s very difficult to raise your prices for a product after you have launched it or communicated it to your customers.
So how you can make sure that you’ve got them right from the start?
Whilst the common calculation for working out a selling price might be to take the cost price and double it, or triple it if you are planning to wholesale, there are so many other factors that come in to play when decided what your final selling price should be and making sure that you’ve got that cost right.
In this episode discover the three things you can do to make sure you've got your product prices right and you charge what it's really worth.
📝Shownotes for this episode makeitbritish.co.uk/083
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my FREE Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
📇Apply to Work with Me
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Isn't it disappointing when you buy something you love and it then needs replacing?
Joel Chudleigh wants to solve that problem, by helping people to slow down on their purchasing.
His ethos is to buy something that is made to last and enjoy it for a long time.
His online retail store, Made to Last, brings together some of the best and most durable products that are all made in the British Isles.
Find out what drove Joel to launch his business, and how he sources the products for his store.
Discover:
- How a product fits the Made to Last philosophy
- What shoppers think of buying British
- Why British-made products are more sustainable
- The difference between UK consumer mindset and that of the Japanese
More about Made to Last
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/082
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Why do two similar looking items often cost totally different prices, even in the same shop?
A lot of it is to do with the cost price of the product. Yet so many different factors can affect that cost price.
This episode runs through all of the different things that can make the difference to what a product costs - and how that can affect the final retail price.
Here's my checklist of factors that can affect a garment's cost price:
- Country of manufacture
- Raw materials used
- Quantity of fabric used
- Amount of time it takes to make
- The processes involved
- Skill of the person needed to make it
- Cost of any specialist machinery needed
- The quantity ordered
- Packaging costs
Watch the clip from SuperShoppers
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/081
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Join me on a journey around the Gosha London studio to find out what the life of a high-end garment manufacturer is really like.
Mustafa Fuat started his manufacturing studio 23 years ago, knowing nothing about fashion OR manufacturing. He was in fact a pro footballer for Aston Villa!
He’s obviously been doing something right, as he now manufacturers for some of the world's top womenswear brands and celebrities and royals have worn his beautifully made dresses.
In this episode, which was recorded at the Gosha studio, I find out how Mustafa motivates his staff, and the secret trick he has to keep designers on their toes!
Gosha London on Instagram
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/080
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
If you're purchasing something new does seeking out a product that is made in the UK offer sustainability benefits over one made overseas?
There’s a lot of talk about sustainability at the moment when it comes to the products that we buy. And you can’t seem to turn without one brand or another launching something that is supposedly sustainable/green or eco.
The cynic in me would say that a lot of this is greenwash
After all, if you were living a totally sustainable life you wouldn’t buy anything new at all would you?
And it’s certainly why climate protestors Extinction Rebellion have called for London Fashion Week to be cancelled - the hamster wheel of fashion, that implores people to buy new clothing to keep up with the latest trends, is not conducive to saving the earth’s natural resources.
But I would say that it is not the high end garments which you see on the catwalks that are the problem - because they are often produced in small quantities and to a high quality, but it’s the cheap high street copies of these catwalk items that cause the issue, often replicating luxury fabrics such as silk into plastic fibres such as polyester, they are priced so cheaply that consumers don’t think twice about chucking them out.
And it's not just clothing which has become throwaway
Similarly household items like furniture, and digital products are designed for obsolescence.
So if you are making a decision about purchasing something, does seeking out a product that is made in the UK offer sustainability benefits over one made overseas?
In many ways I think it does.
In this episode I run through the 8 reasons why I think buying a product made in the UK is more sustainable.
Can you guess what they might be?
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/078
🛍Shop the Make it British Directory
💌Subscribe to our Newsletter
🇬🇧More Make it British
🌍 Visit our Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
↘️ FOLLOW MAKE IT BRITISH:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
✅Want to manufacture a product in the UK?
Download my Quickstart Guide to Working with a UK Manufacturer Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Katie Walker studied furniture at The Royal College of Art in the mid-90s and has had her own business making furniture in the UK ever since. She has three sides to her business; iconic Katie Walker Furniture pieces which sell directly to the public; made-to-order pieces sold as one-offs; and collaborations with other businesses, such as Heal’s and John Lewis
Katie holds a Design Guild Mark, which is a mark of quality awarded by The Furniture Makers’ Company to recognise design and innovation within the UK furniture industry.
In this interview Katie talks about the challenges faced as a designer in the British furniture industry, and how she has diversified the business to remain competitive over the last two decades. Shownotes including images of Katie Walker Furniture can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/078 More about Katie Walker Furniture Katie Walker in the Make it British Directory Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Join me on a factory tour around the Her Majesty The Queen's button maker. Established in 1655, Firmin & Sons are the oldest, privately-owned manufacturing company in the UK. At their prestigious metalworks in Birmingham they make not only buttons, but also ceremonial armour, helmets and other accoutrements. Firmin & Sons' sales manager, Tony Kelly, takes us on a tour to discover the rich heritage of a manufacturing firm that has held a Royal Warrant since the reign of George II. Discover: * The history behind the UK's oldest, privately-owned manufacturer * How a Royal Warrant is awarded * What it takes to make a 364 year old company relevant for today * How Firmin & Sons is putting sustainability at the forefront of its manufacturing processes
More about Firmin & Sons Show notes, including photos and videos from the factory tour, can be found at makeitbritish.co.uk/077 Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Billy Tannery is the first new goat leather company and tannery in the UK for over 50 years. Despite knowing nothing about leather production when they started, Jack Millington and his co-founder Rory Harker set up their micro tannery in 2016 after discovering the terrible waste of goatskins that are a bi-product of the meat industry. They use the goatskins to make their own leathergoods products for their Billy Tannery brand, as well as for collaborations with other British companies such as Crown Northampton. In this interview Jack talks all about the complexities of setting up the UK's only goat tannery. Discover: * How Billy Tannery came about * The processes involved in tanning goat skin * The difference between the types of leathers from different animals and which is more sustainable * What kid skin is! * How support from others in the UK leather industry has helped them to launch the brand * The collaborations they have planned going forward * Advice he'd give to others thinking of launching a brand made in the UK
About Billy Tannery Billy Tannery on Instagram Shownotes for this episode: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/076 More Make it British Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Made Here, Sold Everywhere The UK imports considerably more fashion and textiles than it exports. But the UK Fashion & Textile Association are aiming to address that. Paul Alger is Director of International Business at the UKFT. Over the last 30 years Paul has helped thousands of fashion and textile designers and brands to export their products. He was recently awarded an MBE for his services to exports in the UK fashion industry. In this talk, which Paul gave at Make it British Live!, he covers everything you need to know about exporting your British-made brand, including: * Who are the champions of UK manufacturing? * Which countries want to buy made in UK products and why? * Why should a British-brand export? * What appeals to overseas buyers when it comes to buying fashion and textiles made in the UK? * What are the pitfalls to avoid?
If you want to learn how to export with success then Paul Alger is the go-to person to help you. More about UKFT Shownotes and slides from Paul's presentation can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/075 More Make it British Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
The Truth About Branding...it's not about a logo and it's not about generating content
Simon Middleton has had a parallel career for the last decade, as a brand strategy adviser, speaker, and author of books including the bestseller Build A Brand In 30 Days.
He is also an award-winning manufacturer and creator of made-in-Britain menswear brands Shackleton and now Blackshore Clothing.
In 2019 Simon was voted No.13 in the World Top 30 Branding Professionals and appears regularly on national media commenting on brand topics.
Simon is a master of storytelling, and in this talk, which he presented at Make it British Live!, Simon explains what building a brand really means...and it might not be what you think!
More about Blackshore Clothing
More about Simon Middleton
Shownotes for this episode (including slides from Simon's presentation): www.makeitbritish.co.uk/074
More Make it British Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Government figures say that manufacturing is only worth 9% to the UK economy - is this correct?
A report by Cambridge University says that the Government has got it wrong when it comes to calculating the value of manufacturing to the UK economy.
What is causing the error?
And how should they be working it out?
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/073 Cambridge University Report Craft's Council 'Measuring the Craft Economy' More Make it British Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
Tom Glover is from a family manufacturing business originally founded in Wigston in Leicester in 1796. He graduated with a degree in product design, and used his design skills to create the Peregrine clothing brand. He knew that the way forward for the family knitwear manufacturing business was to not have to rely on orders from other brands, but instead create their own. Within 10 years of creating Peregrine the brand was stocked in over 100 well-known retailers around the world. Discover: * How Tom has grown the Peregrine brand using the knowledge that his family had gained from centuries of manufacturing * How he makes the 100% made in England brand affordable * Why he recently invested in a knitwear factory in Manchester. * What he sees the future holding for UK garment manufacturing.
This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. More about Peregrine Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/072 Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
This week I was at the Houses of Parliament for a meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group for textiles and fashion to discuss the issue of the lack of skilled garment machinists in the UK.
The meeting was organised by Tamara Cincik of Fashion Roundtable, who is the secretariat for the group.
There were several UK garment manufacturers in the room, along with representatives from the British Retail Consortium and The UK in a Changing Europe - an independent research body that gives advice on all of the possible outcomes with Brexit.
The reason that we were all there was to ask the Government with help to ease the issue of the lack of skilled garment workers in the UK, and to impress upon them WHY this is important
The UK textile industry is worth over £9bn to the economy currently - but it could double if supply could keep up with demand. The only thing holding it back is the lack of staff.
If you care about the lack of skills in UK garment manufacturing, there are a couple of things that you can do:
- Write to your local MP and state you case as to why you think garment machinists and textile workers should be put on the shortage occupation list.
- Complete the APPG survey if you are a manufacturer, or pass it on to any manufacturers that you know, who employ garment machinists.
If you have any thoughts on this I would love to hear from you. Please leave me a review on iTunes - and help spread the word about UK manufacturing.
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/071
More about Fashion Roundtable
More aboutThe UK in a Changing Europe
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
There are around 3,800 women in UK prisons at any one time and only one in ten are able to get a job when they leave.
It costs £46,000 a year to put women in prison in the UK - why not put this money to good use by training them essential skills while they are there?
Barbara Burton is a woman on a mission to do something about this. Her business, Behind Bras, which she wrote the business plan for whilst in prison herself, aims to teach women sewing skills to help them work in fashion manufacturing when they leave prison.
In this heartfelt story, which Barbara told at Make it British Live!, she goes into detail about how Behind Bras came about.
Behind Bras
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/070 This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
What's the best way of successfully manufacturing small quantities in the UK?
In this episode, recorded at Make it British Live!, UK garment and textile manufacturers discuss how designers can work with UK manufacturers.
Panellists are:
David Williams (Stoll GB & Knit Design Centre)
Diana Kakkar (MAES London)
Adam Robertson (Kalopsia Collective)
This episode was recorded at Make it British Live! This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/069 Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Brant Richards and Ed Oxley tell the story of how they launched British menswear brand HebTroCo.
In this audio recording of the talk they did at Make it British Live! 2019, Brant and Ed recount the tale of how an idea in the pub turned into a million pound business in just 3 years.
Hear how they:
- Launched with a Kickstarter campaign that sold 176 pairs of trousers in just 6 hours
- Used Facebook advertising to reach their target audience
- Made storytelling integral to everything they do
- Opened a shop to support their online business
- Use local suppliers wherever possible, and how they found them
Shownotes and slides: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/068
More about HebTroCo
This podcast episode is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
How can technology help UK textile manufacturing become more viable?
Our panellists discuss what innovations and technology are helping make UK textile manufacturing relevant for the 21st Century.
Panellists are:
Nick Keyte (Gieves & Hawkes)
Professor Steven Russell (Future Fashion Factory)
Mark Randle (Galaxius Systems)
Andy Ogden (English Fine Cottons)
This episode was recorded at Make it British Live! Some of the points discussed: – What technology is being used to make UK textile manufacturing more efficient – The importance of craftsmanship and skills – What modern garment manufacturing is (and isn't) – How we can attract more young people into the industry This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. For shownotes and images for this episode got to www.makeitbritish.co.uk/067 Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Want to understand more about protecting your designs?
Potter Clarkson are Intellectual Property (IP) specialists, and in this talk, which was presented at Make it British Live!, Dave Holt and Sarah Talland present loads of really helpful information about protecting your design rights.
If you develop any sort of brand or product and want to ensure that your designs are protected, this episode is for you!
Discover:
- The different the types of IP
- Why you need to protect your designs
- What a patent is and when you should apply for one
- How Brexit will affect patents
- What type of designs you can register and how to do so
- How to trademark your brand
- How to copyright a design
For show notes and slides associated with this episode go to www.makeitbritish.co.uk/066 More about Potter Clarkson
This podcast episode is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Join me as I walk you round the trade show floor at Make it British Live!
Following on from the Review of Make it British Live! 2019 on Episode 061, this episode gives you the chance to meet some of the wonderful UK-made brands and manufacturers that were at our yearly event.
Hear from fabric weavers, machinery suppliers, umbrella makers and carpet manufacturers.
Many of our exhibitors are family businesses. Husband and wife. Sons and daughters. Fifth or sixth generation family businesses.
If you missed the event you can catch up on it with the following episodes:
061 - Review of Make it British Live!
062 - Tori Murphy - How to get noticed by High-End retailers 063 - Fast or Slow Fashion - Which does the UK do best? 064 - Kate Dawson - How mass-customisation and Innovation are keeping skills alive 065 - Meet the Exhibitors from Make it British Live! + More to coming soon!
Next Make it British Live! - 17 & 18 March 2020
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Kate Dawson is the founder of the All in One Company which celebrates its 10th year in 2019.
In this inspiring and moving talk Kate tells of the highs and lows of founding the UK's original onesie company. Made entirely in the UK, in Kate's own factory in Northumberland, the customisable all-in-ones can be created by the customer using an online 3D builder, making each one unique. For show notes, slides and videos associated with this episode go to www.makeitbritish.co.uk/064 The All in One Company This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Fast or Slow fashion...can we have both when it comes to making in the UK?
Find out what our panellists had to say, when they were questioned by environmental journalist and broadcaster Lucy Siegle at Make it British live!
Panellists are: Caroline Ash (Fashion Enter), Julia Redman (M&Co), Genevieve Sweeney (Genevieve Sweeney Knitwear) and Henrietta Adams (Henri London). This episode was recorded at Make it British Live! Some of the points discussed: - Why it's important to know where a garment comes from - The advantages of making in the UK if you're a volume retailer - The difference between fast fashion and fast response - The barriers to growing a UK supply base - Why a factory needs continuity Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/063 This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Tori Murphy trained in textiles at the Royal College of Art and established her home textiles brands in 2012. Starting with just 12 metres of fabrics to produce a few cushions, she now manufactures 8,000m of fabric a year, with a growing reputation for quality, modern fabrics and homeware, manufactured in a traditional way and all 100% woven and made in England. Her brand is stocked worldwide, including in Harrods and Heals in the UK. She has also collaborated with global brands such as Jo Malone and Estee Lauder. Tori's advice in this podcast includes: * How to use trade shows to promote your brand * Where and how to find the buyers for your brand * How to get a 'yes' from buyers * How to negotiate with buyers
Tori Murphy Website Tori Murphy on Instagram This podcast is part of a series of talks which took place at Make it British Live! 2019. Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Inspiring talks about UK manufacturing took place over the two days of Make it British Live! 2019 at The Business Design Centre, London.
In this episode hear a round-up of what the important topics were, and what was discussed by the speakers, who included:
- Hareesh Kallambella, senior product manager, Burberry
- Kate Dawson, owner and director, The All in One Company
- Knitwear designer Genevieve Sweeney
- Julia Redman, head of buying, M&Co
- Henrietta Adams, Henri London
- Mark Randle, founder, Galaxius Systems
- Professor Stephen Russell, director, Future Fashion Factory
- Andy Ogden, director and general manager, English Fine Cottons
- Nick Keyte, managing director, Gieves and Hawkes
- Barbara Burton, executive creative founder, Behind Bras
- Brant Richards and Ed Oxley, HebTroCo
- Tom Glover, managing director, Peregrine Clothing
- Diana Kakkar, founder and garment manufacturer, MAES London
- Adam Robertson, managing director, Kalopsia Collective
David Williams, managing director, Knit Design Centre & Stoll GB - Simon Middleton, brand advisor, Simon Middleton Company
- Tori Murphy, designer and founder, Tori Murphy Ltd
- Sarah Talland and Dave Holt, Potter Clarkson
- Paul Alger, director of international affairs, UKFT
You can hear the full talks from some of these speakers in future podcast episodes - so make sure to subscribe if you don't want to miss them!
Shownotes for this episode including a full transcription can be found at: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/061
Diana Kakkar runs a high end, small batch manufacturing unit in East London. She works with some well-known fashion designers as well as start-ups, helping them to produce their collections.
Diana has some great tips for anyone wanting to understand about fashion manufacturing in small quantities.
In this episode discover:
- How Diana transitioned into fashion from a completely different career
- The process from sketch to sample
- How pattern-cutters work and why their work is so important
- How to communicate with a manufacturer to get samples made
- How to find the right manufacturer
- Why Diana offers business advice for designers
MAES London website
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/060
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
How do you follow up with a manufacturer (and have a better chance of a response)?
I get contacted by people all the time who say that manufacturers have not got back to them. When I dig a little deeper it is usually because the email that they've sent is unclear or tells their life history.
My tips for that follow-up email are:
-
Follow up promptly
-
Let the know how you discovered them
-
Keep your communication short and to the point
-
Give one clear call to action
-
Go and visit them!
This episode will be particularly useful for anyone who wants to follow up with someone that they met at an event or trade show.
Thanks for listening to this podcast!
If you have found it useful I'd love it if you left me a review in iTunes :)
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/059
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Peter Grey is new business manager for Just Elegant - a garment manufacturer in Leicester.
In this episode he gives an interesting insight from a manufacturer's perspective into how the garment industry in Leicester has changed over the last few decades, and how it is closely linked to the UK high street.
In this episode discover:
- Why his company doesn't have a website
- The truth about the relationships garment manufacturers have with the High Street
- How he develops products for his ideal customers
- The downsides to working with digital print
- How the supermarkets have affected the high street
In this episode Peter talks about a fabric called ITY - this stands for Interlock Twist Yarn
Just Elegant will be exhibiting at Make it British Live! on 29 & 30 May.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/058
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing!
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Natalie Riachi has a real passion for slow fashion, and good quality luxury clothing that is well made.
She grew up in Scotland and studied knitwear in Galashiels, where the knitwear industry was once a large part of the local area.
Having worked in luxury fashion ateliers in Paris for the last few years, Natalie was concerned about how the knitting industry had left Galashiels, so she set up her knitwear brand Riachi Studio to create something that people would value and cherish for years to come, as support an industry that was once dying but is now being revived again
More about Natalie Riachi
Riachi Studio
Natalie's blog Living in Clips
Ricahi Studio will be exhibiting at Make it British Live! on 29 & 30 May at Business Design Centre, London.
Shownotes for this episode: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/057
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
As we celebrate 6 months of the Make it British podcast what have been your favourite episodes so far?
This episode recaps what you may have missed, and gives you the low-down on the most popular topics and interviews.
If you want to listen back to some of the best episodes of the first six months, these at the ones to go for:
1. Episode 02 - James Ede, Private White V.C.
2. Episode 01 - The Making of Make it British
3. Episode 13 - 10 Mistake People Make When Starting a Brand Making in the UK
4. Episode 21 - Jenny Holloway, What I've Learnt from Running a Clothing Factory
5. Episode 16 - Get Set For Manufacturing Challenge
6. Episode 15 - The top 9 Manufacturing Trends of 2019
7. Episode 31 - Life as an Ethical Clothing Manufacturer in Leicester - Mick Cheema, Basic Premier
8. Episode 24 - Is the UK manufacturing revival over?
9. Episode 3 - Why is UK manufacturing so important?
10. Episode 33 - Made in Britain Starts Here - Andy Ogden, English Fine Cottons
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/056
Lance Mitchell from weavers Mitchell Interflex discusses the promising future of the UK woven textile industry.
Lance’s family business was established in 1907, and now has a fifth general family member working for them. From a picturesque mill dating back to 1786 in the Lancashire/Yorkshire borders, Mitchell Interflex were once weavers of striped deckchair fabric. They now weave a multitude of fabrics from all kinds of raw materials. As Lance says “If you’ve got a loom, you can weave anything.”
The UK textile industry produces £9 million of textiles every year. Lance shares his knowledge of the industry and his thoughts on its future.
In this episode Lance discusses:
- The size and vast nature of the modern woven textile industry, including technical fibres from carbon fibre to artificial turf
- The importance of investment for the future
- The need to change the perception of careers in the textile industry
- How the industry is progressing by diversifying into new yarns, raw materials and final products
- Where the next opportunities may come from
More about Mitchell Interflex
Mitchell Interflex will be exhibiting at Make it British Live!
Meet them there on 29 & 30 May at Business Design Centre, London.
Shownotes for this episode: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/055
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
In this episode I interview Peter Philips of Abbey England about his family business based in Walsall - the heart of the saddlery industry. Peter gives some great insights, not just into the leather and saddlery industry, but into the UK manufacturing and supply industry in general.
There's no other company quite like Abbey England. Originally set-up to supply the equestrian industry they have diversified over the years by taking on manufacturing businesses, who may otherwise have ceased trading or moved offshore; including a foundry, rubber moulding plant and leather finishers. Abbey England are now a one-stop shop for all things involved in leather goods, supplying a diverse range of markets from fashion to the marine industry.
In this interview Peter discusses:
- Being a family business
- The manufacturing businesses they have taken on to retain skills in the UK
- How they've diversified to serve a variety of industries and extend their customer base
- How craftsmanship and processes are used to produce high quality products
- The strength of the leather and saddlery industry in Walsall
More about Abbey England
Abbey England have exhibiting Make it British Live! since its inception, and this year is no exception.
Meet them there on 29 & 30 May at Business Design Centre, London.
Shownotes for this episode: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/054
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Starting a British-made brand is a big undertaking. Isabella Ugochukwu has done just that, and in this episode shares her advice on launching, and growing, a premium British-made leather goods brand.
I've known Isabelle for several years now and I've watched her business grow and blossom. She always has fantastic advice to offer those that are also making in the UK, or wishing to start out so this episode is well worth listening to if you're someone who wants to launch a product-based business and wants to make in the UK. She also talks about how she has developed a fantastic relationship with her manufacturer and how that's allowed her to pivot the direction in which her business is taking her.
In this interview Isabelle discusses:
- The costs of launching a premium leathergoods brands
- The importance of finding the right manufacture for you and your product
- Where to source UK manufacturers
- How and where to market a British-made brand
- Finding buyers for premium products
- The challenges Isabelle has faced on her journey
- How much it cost her to launch her brand
More about ISABELLA QUEEN
ISABELLA QUEEN is exhibiting at Make it British Live! where they'll be showcasing the new interior range.
Meet them there on 29 & 30 May at Business Design Centre, London.
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/053
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Simple tips for how UK manufacturers can attract the right clients by just a few changes to their websites. In the latest episode of the podcast I give some simple tips for how UK manufacturers can attract the right clients by just a few changes to their websites.
Sorry manufacturers, but you don't always have the clearest websites, so is it any wonder that you're getting loads of calls from the WRONG type of customer?
Maybe it's because you are busy fulfilling orders? or because your work is so tangible they don't feel the need to enter the digital world? or maybe you just don't know where to start?
It is essential for any business to have a great online presence to continue to attract the right new clients.
Whether you like it or not everyone uses the internet, and not just for buying products and watching video, but also to research and source services, and that includes manufacturing services.
In this episode I discuss:
-
Why you need to have a good website
-
Why you need to attract the right type of client
-
The importance of being clear about what you do and make
-
What you should and shouldn’t include on your website
-
How you can have an effective website on just a single page
Are you a manufacturer who is proud of their website? Or perhaps you found a manufacturer whose website you think is clear and a great example to others?
I'm looking for good examples of manufacturers websites for an upcoming workshop I'll be running.
Pop a link to any you think are great in the comments below.
**In this episode I discuss:**
-
Why you need to have a good website
-
Why you need to attract the right type of client
-
The importance of being clear about what you do and make
-
What you should and shouldn’t include on your website
-
How you can have an effective website on just a single page
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/052
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Kalopsia Collective is a social enterprise run by Adam Robertson and his wife Nina Falk. They do small batch manufacturing for designers and printmakers and in a simple and transparent way.
Their aim is to create a sustainable alternative to traditional production systems using their assemble manufacturing method, thereby minimising waste and environmental impact with the added benefits of small minimum orders orders and lower materials costs.
Kalopsia Collective are finalists in this year’s Made in Scotland awards.
In this interview Adam discusses:
- Why his business helps make manufacturing simple for fabric designers
- Why he made Kalopsia Collective a social enterprise
- What he's doing to make the fashion and textile industry more sustainable.
- His advice for designers looking for small batch manufacturing
- Why manufacturers charge upfront for sampling
- Advice for others wanting to set up a small batch manufacturing unit
More about Kalopsia Collective
Kalopsia Collective are exhibiting at Make it British Live!
Meet them there on 29 & 30 May at Business Design Centre, London.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Registering as a Community Interest Company
Scottish Leather Group
School for Social Entrepreneurs
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/051
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
With the rise in demand for ethical goods how do you find an ethical factory to produce them?
The 50th episode of The Make it British Podcast is published during Fashion Revolution week. Fashion Revolution is a campaign that was set up as a reaction to the Rana Plaza disaster, which saw the collapse of a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which housed five garment factories causing significant loss of life.
The campaign encourages people to ask 'Who made my clothes?' and question the condition and standards involved in garment manufacturing.
If you're looking to have your products manufactured, whether clothing or something else, this episode will help you decide if the factory is working in an ethical manner.
Some of the topics discussed:
-
How do you define ethical?
-
What should you look for and what questions should you ask?
-
What is an audit and which ones should you check a factory has?
-
Should you work with a factory which doesn't have an audit?
Mentioned on the show:
Fashion Revolution
SMETA/SEDEX
Fast Forward
ISO 14001
Shownotes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/050
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Bianca Elgar is a print designer, and founder and creative director of the Bianca Elgar brand.
I first met Bianca not long after I founded Make it British, when she came to me looking with help to develop her first fashion collection using her prints.
Her business has now evolved from a capsule collection of clothing to a lifestyle brand, using her designs to create statement pieces for interiors and lifestyle.
In this interview Bianca talks about how when a good design and great manufacturing come together it creates alchemy - which is a great way of looking at it!
She explains why it's so important to find the right manufacturer, and advice on how to choose the perfect one.
Some of the topics discussed:
-
Transitioning from screen print to digital print
-
Evolving a business from one product area to a new one
-
Tips on how to choose the right manufacturer
-
Creating heirloom pieces
Bianca Elgar
Bianca's Scarf Styling Guide
Bianca Elgar Lifestyle Products
Show notes: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/049
Bianca Elgar will be exhibiting at Make it British Live on 29 & 30 May 2019.
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Did you know that 2019 marks 200 years since the landmark Factories Act of 1819?
Otherwise known as the Cotton Mills Act, the act was passed to regulate work practices in textile factories.
It stated that no children under 9 could be employed in the factories, and that children aged 9 to 16 were to be employed no more than 12 hours a day.
Before that the mills could employ whoever they wanted, of whatever age, and get them to work very long hours.
Seems crazy now when you think about it?
Oh how UK textile mills have changed these days!
It was certainly the early innovation in these UK factories which kick started the international prominence of the UK fashion and textile industry and established ‘British made’ as a hallmark of quality in home and international markets.
The industry has weathered many storms since then, not least the offshoring of mass manufacturing and the subsequent closure of many UK factories.
Today, there is still incredible craftsmanship and products coming out of the UK, and the industry is experiencing unprecedented demand. Far from being a dying industry, like many people may still think, it is thriving.
With 200 years of heritage and experience behind them today the UK textile mills are very different to the ones that were operating at the beginning of the 19th century. They run on the latest technology and are able to produce everything much faster and with a lot less staff. The minimum order quantities are lower too.
Most of the mill owners I speak to at the moment are super busy, struggling to keep up with demand.
The same goes for the garment and knitwear manufacturers, who also have overflowing order books. If it weren’t for the lack of availability of skilled staff, the industry would be growing even faster.
Exciting times lie ahead for the UK textile industry, and in this episode I make an announcement about what the future might hold for Make it British too!
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Register to attend Make it British Live as a Podcast VIP
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Show notes: makeitbritish.co.uk/048
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Martin Lowe describes himself as 'The Bald Headed Sock Seller' - but he's much more than that.
His family business - Roy Lowe & Sons, which he runs with his brother Tim - produces socks for some of the most well known names on the high street.
In its heyday Roy Lowe & Sons produced up to 640,000 pairs of socks a week from their factory in Nottingham.
By introducing new technology and innovation, and launching their own brands alongside the contract work, they've stayed ahead of the competition and are growing their UK sock manufacturing business.
Some of the topics discussed:
-
The challenges of making socks in the UK versus overseas.
-
The differences between marketing and selling socks as a contract manufacturer compared to selling your own brand.
-
What makes a quality pair of socks and why it matters.
-
Why making things that last longer is so important.
"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten"
Show notes: makeitbritish.co.uk/047
Roy Lowe & Sons
Sock Mine - technical socks
Roy's Boys - character & quirky socks
Roy Lowe & Son will be exhibiting at Make it British Live on 29 & 30 May 2019.
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
What's the best way of maximising your attendance at an event?
As an event organiser I get lots of questions from exhibitors (and visitors) that are unsure of how to make the most of attending an event.
In this episode I give tips and advice for what to do before, during and after an event to maximise your time there.
Grab a copy of the checklist of tips here.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/046
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Register to attend Make it British Live as a Podcast VIP
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
With a background brand management and a family history in manufacturing, Finella Devitt is the founder of luxury accessory brand Firehorse.
Working with talented designers, Devitt turns their artwork into beautiful silk scarves which are all made in the UK
Having worked as a business advisor to the creative industries, Finella has some great tips in this interview for others that are launching new brands. Most notably, 'don't expect to become an overnight success - developing a new product and a new business is a marathon not a sprint'
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/045
The Firehorse Collection
Firehorse on Instagram
Become a member of Make it British
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Unfortunately, mistakes can, and do, happen in manufacturing, but there are ways to avoid it.
In this episode we look at:
- the main reasons that manufacturing a product usually goes wrong
- how to resolve the situation if it does
- how to make sure that it doesn't happen again
If you are struggling to find and work with UK manufacturers I can help. Sign up for my Get Set for Manufacturing course here
Show notes for this podcast can be found here: www.makeitbritish.co.uk/044
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
What makes a great British brand?
In this episode I chat to brand guru Simon Middleton about what makes an average brand stand out from an extraordinary one.
Simon is my go-to authority on anything to do with creating a brand and telling brand stories - he's been voted one of the world's Top 30 branding professionals, and his book How to Build a Brand in 30 Days is a must-read for anyone who is launching a new business.
Simon was the founder of British-made clothing brand Shackleton clothing, which he launched on Kickstarter and grew into a successful business stocked in stores worldwide.
He has also advised the Harris Tweed Authority, and many other household names, on brand strategy.
In this interview we discuss what makes a great British brand, and why he has coined the phrase 'contributive business' when referring to organisations that operate with authentic meaning and purpose.
More about Simon Middleton
Simon Middleton on Linkedin
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/043
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Why is swimwear so difficult to make when the products look so simple?
This is one of the questions that I put to guest Paul Smithers from Halcyon Blue, a swimwear manufacturer based in Hampshire, UK.
Paul fell into manufacturing by accident after acquiring the small factory that was making his swimwear brand for him. He now makes 3,000 garments a week for both his own brand and other clients.
In this interview he discusses some of the challenges of making a product that looks deceptively simple, but which is actually quite difficult to make in volume in the UK.
Halcyon Blue will be one of the exhibitors at our Make it British Live! trade show on 29 & 30 May 2019 - register for your special podcast vip ticket here.
More about Halcyon Blue
Factory website
Sensory toys
Swimwear
Shownotes from this podcast, including additional tips and advice from Paul Smithers if you're looking to make swimwear in the UK, or want to set up your own swimwear factory here - www.makeitbritish.co.uk/041
In 2014 I had the idea to set up a trade show for UK manufacturers.
This episode tells the story of why the event came about - and how it nearly went very horribly wrong!
For the first time, I share the behind the scenes story of what triggered the event happening in the first place, and why that nearly led to its downfall.
Hear the real reason behind why we ended up with queues around the block at that first show, and a warning as to why you should never hold a big event in a venue with no toilets!!
Thankfully, I can look back on our first event and laugh now, and I hope by sharing the story it gives inspiration to anyone else thinking of taking the leap to do something they've never done before.
If you'd like to attend this year's trade show (which will be much better organised and will have proper toilets) go to www.makeitbritishlive.com/register
Show notes for this podcast can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/040
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
In this episode of the Make it British podcast I discuss a love of knitwear, in particular the lost art of hand-intarsia, with Genevieve Sweeney.
Genevieve trained as a knitwear designer, and after working for several well-known brands, she took the plunge and set up her own label - Genevieve Sweeney - which she describes as 'Premium British Knitwear'.
To find out more about Genevieve and to see her fantastic knitwear, go to genevievesweeney.com
Genevieve Sweeney on Instagram
To see the hand-intarsia video discussed on this podcast go to the shownotes at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/039
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
I think visiting a factory is essential for anyone that is developing a new product
One of the benefits of making in the UK is that factory visiting is far easier than if you are making your products overseas.
In this episode I run through my 7 reasons why you should be visiting a factory - and hopefully, if you're not doing so already, I will have convinced you by the end!
Show notes for this podcast can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/038
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best
Debbie Humphreys stumbled across her business idea when she took ownership of a whippet called Bruno and had trouble finding things to keep him warm.
With a background in dressmaking and a successful wedding dress business, Debbie started to turn her hand to making clothes for her whippet.
When other dog owners started to ask where she got them, Debbie realised that she was on to something.
Fast forward nine years and Debbie has a thriving business selling a very British collection of knitwear and coats for whippets (with the occasional Daschund coat).
The secret to her success? She's stuck to a very specific product area for one type of customer - and nearly everything is made within 20 miles of where she is based in the Kent countryside.
Redhound for Dogs
Redhound for Dogs on Instagram
Shownotes for this podcast www.makeitbritish.co.uk/037
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
What are the rules surrounding whether you can label a product as made in the UK?
"Can I label my product as made in the UK?' is one of the questions that I get asked the most.
The answer to this question is not completely cut and dry, but in this episode I try and clear up some of the confusion surrounding country of origin labelling, and give advice on what 'made in the UK' really means.
Rules of Origin Brexit Briefing from EEF
Show notes for this podcast can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/036
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Katherine Hooker started her business with one garment and has been perfecting it ever since
In this episode designer Katherine Hooker tells the story of how she took a garment from her wardrobe that she loved, and turned it into a successful business.
Part of that success has been due to Katherine's dedication to craftsmanship and creating a perfect fit. In this interview she talks about how she found her manufacturer and what that partnership means to her today.
Katherine Hooker London
Katherine Hooker on Instagram
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
When it comes to labelling your products what is the best term to use? Made in Britain, made in the UK, or something else?
In this episode I explore the different 'Made in..' labels that brands use to signify where their products are made.
Find out which is best...
Show notes for this podcast can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/034
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Cotton spinning has returned to the UK!
Greater Manchester was once known as cottonopolis because it was the home to the world's cotton yarn and fabric production during the industrial revolution.
At the turn of the Twentieth Century there were 9,000 people employed in the cotton industry in Ashton-under-Lyne, operating 2 million spindles.
But after years of decline the last commercial cotton spinning mill in the UK closed.
Three years ago a company called Culimeta-Saveguard, who had been spinning technical fibres in Dunkenfield on the outskirts of Manchester decided to bring cotton spinning back to the UK.
English Fine Cottons now supplies well known designer brands and high street retailers with cotton yarn that is used in bedding, shirts and outerwear.
I took a tour round the mill and chatted with Andy Ogden, General Manager of English Fine Cottons.
In this interview you'll hear all about how English Fine Cottons came about, and how they are closing one of the broken loops in the UK's fragmented textile supply chain.
Show notes for this podcast - makeitbritish.co.uk/033
More about English Fine Cottons
My visit to Tower Mill when it was still a building site in 2016
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
This week the Government released the Ethical Audit Committee's report into sustainability of the UK fashion industry.
The report raised the issue of the unethical practices of some manufacturers in Leicester that are giving ‘made in UK’ a bad name.
The report has recommended that there is a more proactive approach to HMRC's enforcement of the national minimum wage in UK garment factories - this action cannot come quickly enough.
Those that are operating under the law need to be stopped so that the ethical manufacturers in the UK can be given the opportunity to shine.
You can view the full report here:
Fixing Fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability (the part relating to UK manufacturing starts on page 15)
You may also be interested in Episode 031 when I interviewed Mick Cheema, from Basic Premier, a garment manufacturer in Leicester.
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/032
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
What's it really like being a clothing manufacturer in Leicester?
In this episode we hear from Mick Cheema, who runs garment factory Basic Premier in Leicester.
Mick set up Basic Premier in 2012, to manufacture up to 70,000 garments a week for high street retailers.
Once described as Leicester's greenest factory, in this frank interview Mick sets the record straight about what it's really like to run an ethical clothing manufacturing business in Leicester.
More about Basic Premier
Government interim report into the sustainability of UK fashion industry – where were the manufacturers?
Show notes for this podcast: makeitbritish.co.uk/031
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
You may have heard of English shoemakers such as Church's, Cheaneys and Tricker's, but there are quite a few other footwear brands that manufacture in the UK too.
In this episode I pick my ten favourite British-made footwear brands - from heels, to boots; ballet shoes to slippers.
For details of all of the shoe brands featured go to www.makeitbritish.co.uk/030
Make it British Directory - companies that manufacture in the UK
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
In this episode I catch up with Adam Mansell, CEO of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT)
UKFT is a membership network for fashion and textile companies and Adam is a keen supporter of UK manufacturing.
In this interview Adam talks about how Brexit is affecting the fashion industry, and also talks about some of the work the UKFT is doing to create apprenticeships for the UK textile industry.
If you are a brand manufacturing in the UK he explains what you should be doing now to prepare yourself for exporting post-Brexit in a stress-free way.
Adam often represents the textile industry in discussions with Parliament and has some interesting things to say about the knowledge that UK Government has about supply chains.
He also talks about some of his factory visits with the UKFT's president - Princess Anne.
And find out what his favourite UK-made brands are too
More about UKFT
UKFT Brexit Checklist
Skills & Apprenticeships at UKFT
Show notes for this podcast: makeitbritish.co.uk/029
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Last week the UK Government released its interim report into the sustainability of the fashion industry. One of the issues that they addressed was concerns over fast fashion and how it might be leading to poor working conditions in UK garment factories where workers were being paid below the minimum wage and why this was happening.
In particular the finger was being pointed at Leicester, where there are over 700 textile companies predominantly manufacturing for the UK fashion retailers.
Fifteen of the biggest UK fashion retailers were called in to give evidence, including ASOS, M&S, Primark, Boohoo and MissGuided.
Many of these retailers manufacture in the garment factories in Leicester in order to deliver ‘fast fashion’ i.e. product that can be made to reach the customer in the shortest possible space of time.
In this episode I give my thoughts on the interim report, and suggest ways that some of the issues could be addressed.
Government interim report into the sustainability of UK fashion industry – where were the manufacturers?
Show notes for this podcast: makeitbritish.co.uk/028
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
In this episode I chat to product designer Mat Booth, founder of accessory and luggage brand Both Barrels.
Mat founded Both Barrels a few years ago when he realised that there was a gap in the market for a travel brand that was stylish, beautifully crafted and functional.
He talks about his design and development process, and how he translated that to something that would work with his UK manufacturer.
Mat has some very interesting points to make about how UK-made brands can collaborate to bring innovation, creativity and manufacturing together.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/027
Both Barrels website
Both Barrels Instagram
Altrincham Market
Become a member of Make it British
If you want to manufacture a product made in the UK and want help and guidance in doing so check out Our Get Set for Manufacturing Online Course
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Should manufacturers make samples for free?
Some people think manufacturers should do any initial work for no charge in order to pitch for your business.
But that's often not the case.
In this episode I explain why many UK manufacturers charge for sampling - and how that can be a good thing.
Show notes for this podcast: makeitbritish.co.uk/026
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Is the news that Clark's may close its brand new footwear factory in Somerset a sign that the UK manufacturing revival is over?
Up to 300,000 pairs a year of the footwear firm's iconic desert boots were to be made at the semi-automated facility, creating up to 80 technical and managerial jobs.
But Clark's have recently announced that it may have to close only a few months after it opened.
Clark's started making shoes in Somerset in 1825 but production was moved from to the Far East in 2005.
The last remaining Clarks factory in the UK - Millom in Cumbria - closed in 2006.
In this episode I look at why this may have happened, and what it means for the future of UK manufacturing.
www.makeitbritish.co.uk/024
BBC News article about the closure of Clarks Factory
Our Get Set for Manufacturing Online Course
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
I'm delighted to welcome long-standing Make it British member Sian Reekie of The Hettie Trading Company to this podcast.
Sian is a chemist by trade, but has set up a lifestyle business making accessories for both humans and dogs which she runs with other members of her family.
In this interview Sian talks about her experience as someone who set up a UK-made brand without any previous experience in the manufacturing industry.
She has some great advice for anyone else thinking of doing the same, including what the biggest challenge was when launching a British-made product business.
Shownotes for this episode can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/023
More about Hettie:
The Hettie Trading Co
Become a member of Make it British
If you want to manufacture a product made in the UK and want help and guidance in doing so check out Our Get Set for Manufacturing Online Course
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing 😊
Is it really more expensive to make in the UK? Or is there a reason that some of the most profitable retailers are using more local manufacturing?
In this episode I dive deeper into prices. More specifically - how you can sell a garment made in the UK and still make as much profit as you would do by making the same product overseas.
It all comes down to gross versus the net margin, something that is rarely taken into consideration.
I break down what some of the hidden costs are with manufacturing overseas, and explain why buying product made locally can drastically increase profitability.
If you'd like to see the breakdown of the calculation that I discuss on the podcast you can read it in the show notes at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/022
Cost Price Calculation of a T-Shirt made in the UK Vs Overseas
Our Get Set for Manufacturing Online Course
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Meet Jenny Holloway, owner of Fashion Enter, a social enterprise garment factory based in North London.
Jenny not only manufactures for small brands and start-ups, helping create samples and small production runs, but she's also manufactured for some of the UK's most well-known retailers - such as ASOS and M&S.
In this very frank interview, Jenny discusses how tough it was to set up a clothing factory having previously come from a background in buying. She also discusses the principles that she believes make an efficient and ethical factory.
Anyone interested in understanding more about garment making in the UK will find this interview fascinating as Jenny is truly one of the trailblazers when it comes to reshoring textile manufacturing back to the UK.
I hope you enjoy the interview.
As always, any links mentioned are in the show notes for this episode which are available by going to makeitbritish.co.uk/021
Our Get Set for Manufacturing Online Course
Jenny Holloway - Fashion Enter
Belles of London
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Putting it all together
Over the last 4 episodes we've looked at products, materials, prices and MOQS.
Today's show covers how to put it all together - and make sure that everything is delivered on time
This episode is the fifth in a series of 5 podcasts that accompany my Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge.
Each episode tackles one of the 5 key things that you need to consider if you want to start working with a a UK manufacturer.
To take part in the challenge go to makeitbritish.co.uk/getset and I’ll send you all the details.
The show notes for this podcast along with a full transcript can be found at makeitbritish.co.uk/020
Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
What is an MOQ and why do manufacturers have them?
A minimum order quantity (or MOQ) is the lowest amount that a manufacturer is able to make of a certain product.
The manufacturer generally sets their MOQ based on how many of a production run they need to make in order for it to be viable for them.
MOQs can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer - and there is always a way to negotiate them, as you'll discover in this episode.
This episode is the third in a series of 5 podcasts that accompany my Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge.
Each episode tackles one of the 5 key things that you need to consider if you want to start working with a a UK manufacturer.
To take part in the challenge go to makeitbritish.co.uk/getset and I’ll send you all the details.
The show notes for this podcast along with a full transcript can be found at makeitbritish.co.uk/019
Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Welcome to Day 3 of the Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge!
This episode tackles how to price a product.
There are a few little calculations you’re need to make, and in this episode I explain how to make them. As well as a sanity check to make sure that you've got your prices right.
I also refer to our handy tool to help you work out your target cost price. You can try out the cost price calculator here.
This episode is the third in a series of 5 podcasts that accompany my Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge.
Each episode will tackle one of the 5 key things that you need to consider if you want to start working with a a UK manufacturer.
To take part in the challenge go to makeitbritish.co.uk/getset and I’ll send you all the details.
The show notes for this podcast along with a full transcript can be found at makeitbritish.co.uk/018
Get Set for manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Can a manufacturer source materials for you?
Whilst some manufacturers may be able to source raw materials for you, depending on the product, in reality most UK manufacturers won’t have the time or the resources to do so.
On this episode I look at why this might be - and what you can do to overcome it.
This episode is the second in a series of 5 podcasts that accompany my Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge.
Each episode will tackle one of the 5 key things that you need to consider if you want to start working with a a UK manufacturer.
To take part in the challenge go to makeitbritish.co.uk/getset and I'll send you all the details.
The show notes for this podcast along with a full transcript can be found at makeitbritish.co.uk/017
Get Set for manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Ever wondered why a manufacturer didn't get back to your emails?
Listen to this episode of the podcast to find out the top 3 reasons why you may not be getting a response when you reach out to a manufacturer.
This episode is the first in a series of 5 podcasts that accompany my Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge.
Each episode will tackle one of the 5 key things that you need to consider if you want to start working with a a UK manufacturer.
To take part in the challenge go to makeitbritish.co.uk/getset and I'll send you all the details.
The show notes for this podcast along with a full transcript can be found at makeitbritish.co.uk/016
Get Set for manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
What will the next year hold for UK manufacturing?
In this episode I look at some of the trends that I think will impact manufacturing in the coming 12 months.
With Brexit on the cards in March, 2019 is sure to be an interesting year for the UK - but how will it affect our manufacturers?
Listen to this episode to hear my predictions - and let me know if you think I've missed anything out!
Get Set for manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/015
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
In this episode I chat to Ian Maclean, managing director of John Smedley - the oldest operating factory in the world.
John Smedley are one of the finest knitwear manufacturers in the world. The company was established 235 years ago, at the start of the Industrial Revolution, and they still operate out of the same factory in Matlock in Derbyshire.
In the interview Ian talks about the challenges that come with operating out of such an old mill, and how he is making his manufacturing more sustainable by investing in upgrades to the mill which will save energy and allow the company to survive for another two hundred years.
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More about John Smedley
John Smedley Website
More Make it British
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/014
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Are you thinking of starting a brand that is made in the UK, or developing a new product?
In this episode I cover the 10 mistakes that people make when launching a new product, and give tips on how to avoid them.
Get Set for manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/013
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Today I am interviewing Edward Sexton from Glencroft Countrywear, a company that have been members of Make it British from the very early days.
Glencroft is a family business selling British wool and sheepskin products, as well as traditional country wear such as tweed hats.
The business was started by Edward’s father, Richard Sexton, who still to this day trims all of the sheepskin rugs himself by hand.
Discover
-
Why it's important to support local independent stores.
-
Why testing a product before it is launched is so important
-
Advice on how to source manufacturers
Glencroft Countrywear Trustworthy British Clothing established North Yorkshire 1987 Retail: www.glencroftcountrywear.co.uk Trade: www.glencroftwholesale.co.uk Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/012 More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
In this episode I look at how UK textile manufacturing fared in 2018, and what I think the future holds for 2019 and beyond.
-
Was it a good year for the industry?
-
Who were the winners and losers?
-
And what are the challenges going into 2019?
UK Manufacturing Review
This podcast is a summary of an article that I've written for the UK Manufacturing Review, a publication covering the key events, achievements and challenges across Britain's biggest manufacturing sectors.
Get Set for manufacturing Challenge
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/011
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
What are the benefits of manufacturing locally if you are a small clothing brand?
In this interview with Katya Wildman, founder of Bombshell, I talk to her about why she chose to reshore the production of her dresses back to the U.K. and the impact that's had on her business.
Recorded inside the busy factory in North London where Katya's garments are made, you'll get a glimpse behind the scenes as I also speak to Raif Ali, the owner of the factory.
4 years ago Katya was making most of her dresses outside of the U.K.
Plagued by late deliveries, which can cripple cash flow for designers, Katya wanted to move her production back to the U.K. I introduced her to this manufacturer in North London...and she hasn’t looked back.
She visits the factory almost weekly, often popping in at weekends to chat to the staff. It’s clear that there’s a great bond between designer and manufacturer.
Because of this close partnership she has with her factory she can literally turn around dresses in a few days. And the factory are happy to make small quantities for her because they know that she is committed to them.
It’s the perfect partnership.
Discover
-
The advantages of making locally
-
How to build a good relationship with a manufacturer
-
The one most important thing that a designer can do to become a manufacturer’s favourite client
-
The biggest challenge facing London garment manufacturers right now
-
Why she brought her production back from Romania to the UK
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don’t know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/010
bombshellhq.com
Bombshell on Instagram
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Do you think that manufacturing in the UK is more expensive?
In this episode I dispel some of the myths around making in the UK being more pricey. Quite often it's down to not WHERE you manufacture, but WHAT you manufacture.
Yes, the price of labour in the U.K. is higher than it is in many other countries, so products which are very labour intensive will have a higher cost price.
But when you compare the cost price of a product made overseas, are you comparing eggs with eggs?
There are lots of other factors to take into consideration, and if you do it right, making in the U.K. can be very cost effective.
You also have to ask yourself - if a manufacturer is TOO cheap, then why is that?
If you are looking to manufacture in the UK but don't know where to start, join our Get Set for Manufacturing Challenge and be factory-ready in 5 days!
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/009
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing :)
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
In this interview I chat with Bhavik Master, director at Leicester knitwear manufacturers Jackmasters and producers of British Christmas Jumpers Did you know that £220 million of Christmas jumpers are sold every year? Many of them are produced in Leicester thanks to the ability of local factories such as Jackmasters to turn around seasonal product in as little as two weeks.
Discover * What it takes to make a successful seasonal product * How UK-made knitwear can be turned round for idea to finished product in just two weeks * What goes into manufacturer a Christmas jumper * How a Christmas jumper went viral!
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/008
British Christmas Jumpers
Jackmasters knitwear manufacturing
Christmas Jumper Day Friday 14th December 2018
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Want to know the best place to find a UK Manufacturer? In this episode I discuss how you can find a UK manufacturer. I believe the best way to find a manufacturer that’s right for you, and your specific product, is at a trade show.
Discover: * Why a UK manufacturer might not be responding to your emails * The reason why I set up Make it British Live! * The importance of meeting a manufacturer face-to-face * The benefits of being able to see a manufacturer’s product in the flesh * Why attending a trade show can dramatically reduce your search time * The amazing networking opportunities that a trade show can offer * How to prepare for a trade show
Details of the shows mentioned can be found at: makeitbritish.co.uk/007
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing 😊
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/007
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
There’s a misconception that manufacturing is unpleasant and unwanted work. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Producing physical product can be incredibly satisfying and fulfilling. Listen to my interview with Keith Hanshaw from The Leather Satchel Co. to find out more about the joy of manufacturing I had the pleasure of interviewing Keith Hanshaw, who works in his family's leather satchel business. Keith discusses the joy he finds in manufacturing - in creating something of value with skill and intelligence, and the pride that goes with that. And, how that joy and pride in the manufacturing process can form the foundation of a successful commercial business.
Discover * How his family business started * Why craftsmanship is at the heart of everything his business does * How the business survived the downturn in UK manufacturing in the 1990s and what turned it around * How he connects with his customers by sharing the processes and craft that goes into his products * The benefits of selling direct to the customer * Why value is much more important than price
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/006
About Keith Hanshaw and The Leather Satchel Co.
Website: leathersatchel.com
More about the Leather Satchel Co. Story
Leather Satchel Co. shop at Albert Dock:19, Albert Dock
Liverpool
L3 4AD
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
There are so many benefits to having your product made in the UK. But, once you’ve made the decision to make here, how do you find the right manufacturer for you? Whether you’re starting out with a new brand, or you’ve been making overseas and want to bring your production back to the UK, it can be difficult to know how to find the perfect UK manufacturer for your business.
In this episode I help you with some advice if you’re just starting out on your journey to look for a UK factory to work with. Chances are you’ve been looking in the wrong place.
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/005
Discover: * Why you shouldn’t start with Google * How to spot if a ‘UK-based’ manufacture actually have their production facilities in Britain * The importance of using the phone in your search to find a UK manufacturer * The questions that you need to ask a potential manufacturer * Where you can get your hands on a comprehensive list of vetted UK manufacturers and suppliers
UK Manufacturers List
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing 😊
More Make it British
Make it British UK Manufacturers List: makeitbritish.co.uk/guide
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Can running a social enterprise and manufacturing a world-class product go hand in hand? I talk to the inspiring Jo Ashburner-Farr, who has reinstated her family's flag making business as an ethical manufacturing business, focusing on social profit.
Run as a social enterprise, Red Dragon Flagmakers take on staff regardless of their background. They give them the skills and training required to make world-class flags, offering the opportunity of a job for life.
All profits go back into the personal and professional development of the staff.
Discover * The history of manufacturing in the Welsh Valleys * How manufacturing can help build communities and be used for social good * The necessity to invest in people to maintain skills which would otherwise be lost with the ageing population * Her thoughts on being a female factory boss * How to run a successful factory by working collaboratively with your staff * How she builds relationships with her clients * Why engaging with social media is critical to promote your business * The importance of having a world-class product
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/004
About Red Dragon Flagmakers
Jo Ashburner-Farr's story
Website: reddragonflagakers.co.uk
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
What difference does it really make if you choose to manufacture in the U.K. rather than overseas?
You may wonder why I think it is so important that we support our U.K. manufacturers and continue to make here in Britain. In this episode I talk through some of the reasons why I bang the drum for U.K. manufacturing.
Discover how UK manufacturing can: * Make the most of the exchange rate, especially with Brexit looming * Support the U.K. economy * Provide well paid and highly skilled jobs * Create communities * Be sustainable and environmentally responsible * Offer short lead times for your product * Give a sense of pride in what we are able to produce in the U.K.
Subscribe to this podcast – and support U.K. manufacturing 😃
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/003
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
How do UK manufacturers and brands compete with huge overseas factories and the likes of Black Friday discounting? In this episode I conduct a 'no holds barred' interview with James Eden, owner of Private White V.C.
James tells me how he's turned a clothing factory that solely manufactured for other brands, into one that makes 9o% own-brand luxury clothing sold direct to the customer.
Find out how (and why) James took on this challenge, and his unique costing policies which have helped his business stand out in the crowd.
Discover * The history behind the Private White V.C. brand * Why James decided to switch his factories production from solely manufacturing for other brands to launching his own label * Advice he’d give to other manufacturers that want to launch their own brand * The challenges the factory faced when supplying big brands and retailers * The pros and cons of selling wholesale * How he’s flipped his pricing strategy on its head and the reaction that it’s had with their customers * His decision to offer transparent costings * Why good design is so important * His thoughts on Black Friday - “zero discount on everything” * How to build a loyal customer base * His initiatives to recruit and develop staff and skills
Subscribe to this podcast – and support UK manufacturing :)
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/002
About James Eden and Private White V.C.
Website: privatewhitevc.com
Factory & Shop:
Cottenham House
1 Cottenham Lane
Manchester
M3 7LJ
Factory Tour
James Eden's Linkedin Post about Black Friday
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Who is Kate Hills? And why is she so passionate about UK manufacturing?
In this first full-length episode I give you the behind the scenes of who I am, why I do what I do and who Make it British is for.
Discover
- Why I set up my own factory after I graduated
- The role that the model Kate Moss played in my career success
- The role UK factories played in the early part of my career
- The meeting at M&S that I never forgave myself for
- How retailers work out their margins and why it doesn't work for local manufacturers
- The time I jacked in my job without a plan and without telling my husband
- Why I set up Make it British and who I aim to help
Shownotes: makeitbritish.co.uk/001
More Make it British
Website: makeitbritish.co.uk
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/katehills
Instagram: @makeitbritish
Twitter: @makeitbritish
Facebook: facebook.com/makeitbritish
Our Trade Show
Business Design Centre, London N1
makeitbritishlive.com
Want to find out how your business can benefit from being at the show? Apply here
Subscribe to this podcast - and support UK manufacturing :)
This is the first ever episode of the Make it British podcast!
In this trailer you'll hear why Kate Hills set up the show, who the show's for and what you can expect from this twice-weekly podcast.
More Make it British
Website: www.makeitbritish.co.uk
Trade Show: www.makeitbritishlive.com
Subscribe to this podcast - and support UK manufacturing :)