In the episode this week, Nicole is joined by Laura Briggs founder of petite clothing wear brand The shortlist. This is a recording of an Instagram live where Laura talked about leaving her recruitment business and starting a new British made clothing brand. Find out about UK manufacture, the high of going viral early on and lows having to change designers half way through the collection.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Laura’s advice for anyone thinking about starting their own business is to decide where you want to get to, decide how you’re going to get there, and tackle each thing one by one. By breaking it down into smaller tasks it makes them more manageable and not overwhelming.
• Your brand is created from your vision. Laura tells us how she changed designer mid-way through the process because the designs were just too far from what she envisaged. It can be helpful to get a second opinion from someone you trust to gain an outside perspective on these potential issues. Remember, what is your brand and what does it stand for.
• Happiness in what you do is so important. Laura left her last role because of this and in setting up her own brand has set herself some descriptive goals for how she’ll be feeling by the end of each period. They are busy, established, and excited. When starting out you won’t hit all your financial goals straight away, so having goals like this can boost your confidence.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Often when you’re at your lowest point, that’s when you know you’re about to turn a corner’

‘Keeping things in small runs is a great way to avoid waste and be more sustainable especially when starting out’

‘You don’t want to run away with the excitement of things. I want to do everything in a really smart way’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

www.shoptheshortlist.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line.

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM)

CONTACT METHOD

Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.com

IG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk

Email [email protected]

Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/

Book a call with me https://thebuyerandretailcoachltd.as.me/discoverycall