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

🚩 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

After 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

Mentioned in this episode:

British Brand Accelerator

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, there 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

Instagram

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

Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

British Brand Accelerator

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

Some of the keys points we discussed:

• How the Matches collapse has impacted local manufacturers.
• The financial instability of fashion brands.
• Why the industry needs to be regulated.
• How other countries support their local production.
• How public procurement buying British could help the entire industry.
• The grants and tax credits needed to make local production more affordable.
• Why lobbying for changes in government policies is essential.
• The need for STEAM education, putting creativity back on the curriculum.

Watch the original Instagram live here

Mentioned in this episode:

British Brand Accelerator