Under the "Incubator" the bureau helps emerging fashion brands and designers in early stages to scale up.
For general purpose and as broad checklist: take a look at the below four sections:
✦ Communicate a collection narrative within the wider brand identity.
✦ Set up a realistic collection development budget.
✦ Merchandise collections with the right product mix across differentiated target price points and categories.
✦ Project production volumes and set up a dynamic collection plan.
✦ Set up a clear product coding system.
✦ Develop a clear product development calendar by identifying and implementing the key deadlines and delays: from storyboard to final sample.
✦ Create technical drawings.
✦ Source fabric mills, trim and hardware suppliers, and sample manufacturers.
✦ Organise your tech-packs and communicate with third-party ateliers and sample manufacturers.
✦ Organise your fittings.
✦ Negotiate MOQ and cost price for production.
✦ Normalise the sample for production.
✦ Order the final samples for show, showroom and/or PR and campaigning.
✦ Determine final product price for different product categories, taking brand positioning and target margins into account.
materials & material sourcing
✦ Set up and manage a cross-seasonal but dynamic material book and a coding system: across fabrics, trims, hardware, transformations, packaging, labels, hangtags, etc.
✦ Organise and optimise materials stock management.
✦ Budget correctly for raw material buying.
✦ Upcycle: how to start, where to source, and how to organise and scale the transformation process.
✦ Start certification processes (GOTS, bluesign, OEKO-TEX, in-house, etc.) where needed or wanted.
production, supply chain & logistics
✦ Normalise initial samples for manufacturing.
✦ Manage and monitor key deadlines in production with manufacturing partners.
✦ Create templates for tracking production status, controlling production budgets, and ensuring timely delivery.
✦ Set up and expand supplier and manufacturer networks in Europe and beyond.
✦ Organise quality control and manufacturing visits.
✦ Organise transport and freight: optimise logistics from raw material suppliers to manufacturers to warehouse.
✦ Warehouse management.
ERP & PLM
For emerging brands, it is key to start off with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and/or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software sooner rather than later. Most of these solutions are cloud-based, allowing you to integrate, manage and optimise processes all the way from design to delivery: improving time to market, product quality, reducing prototype costs, reducing waste, as well as simplifying invoicing, product analysis, and accountancy.
Wholesale & Retail Development
✦ Find the right balance between wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales.
✦ Strategize your wholesale: finding the right stores for your brand, and the right balance between third party e-commerce, department stores, and independent boutiques.
✦ Merchandise from show to showroom: collection editing, final pricing, margin optimisation.
✦ Organise the showroom: merch, invites, and other practical details.
✦ Integrate wholesale into the PLM and/or ERP systems (see above).
✦ Set up the digital showroom: LeNewBlack, Joor, Ordre.
✦ Optimise showroom results: set Open-To-Buy (OTB) criteria, Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) requirements, and other terms of sale.
✦ Manage sales orders and sales administration: moving smoothly from order confirmation, to deposit, to delivery and final invoice.
✦ Communicate your brand identity, audience and collection narratives to your retail partners with a brand deck.
✦ Manage wholesale replenishment, Sell-Through (ST), and define retail performance KPIs.
✦ Control and patrol your recommended retail price (RRP) and markdowns.
✦ Organise retail visits, in-store events and installations, and new boutique openings.
Webstore development
✦ Design and develop a website: domain registration, hosting, choosing the right CMS (Joomla, Wordpress, Webflow, etc.), and other key start-up elements.
✦ Develop a webstore with Shopify.
✦ Get your digital merchandising in order: what to do and what to avoid.
✦ Review your logistical solutions for e-commerce: warehousing, shipping, packaging and return policies.
✦ Mobilise Google Analytics, Google Search, and other key metrics in reporting (conversation rates, traffic sources, engagement, etc.).
✦ Set up an effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
✦ Drive traffic by focusing on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), and/or Marketing (SEM).
✦ Drive traffic by optimising and integrating your newsletter, Instagram/Facebook and other social channels (SMO).
Campaign, PR, and Communication
✦ Design and develop seasonal storytelling – including inspirational boards and visual anchors – that is coherent with the brand’s broader DNA, codes, and wider cultural references.
✦ Create a 360° content creation plan and content launch plan, integrating social channels, shootings, events, digital marketing, runway shows, newsletter, in-store marketing and installations, etc.
✦ Coordinate and monitor fashion shows and events.
✦ Identify and work with the right photographers, graphic designers, visual artists, or other creative collaborators.
✦ Organise the PR: create press kits and press releases, finding and communicating with press offices, sample management, VIP strategy, gifting, and guest lists.
✦ Ensure a clear campaign budget management.
✦ Ensure the right KPIs, feedback mechanisms, ROI metrics, and reporting on campaign efficiency are in place.
✦ Set up brand collaborations: identifying partners, reaching out, collaboration agreements, and execution of the program.
Accounting
✦ Set up and execute your daily bookkeeping: stamping, categorizing, bank card management, administering VAT, cash account, and payments.
✦ Manage accounts payable and receivable.
✦ Closing the accounts on a monthly or quarterly basis.
✦ Establish an analytical accountancy for sound internal management.
✦ General accountancy: your accountant’s P&L and yearly reporting.
✦ Managing corporate taxes, social taxes and VAT.
Business Strategy & Financial Planning
✦ Build a multi-year Business Plan, outlining market positioning, product strategy, organizational development, and projected growth of revenue and turnover.
✦ Define strategies to build brand awareness, increase sales and market share, and the launch of new services or products.
✦ Define, register and present key measures of success to banks, financial institutions, or investors.
✦ Implement budget control mechanisms.
✦ Set up a Treasury for internal management, securing cashflow, and communication with financial institutions.
✦ Define and monitor primary KPI’s: EBITDA, gross margin, net margin.
✦ Define and monitor secondary KPI’s: target percentages for payroll, campaign expenses, production budgets, and revenue differentiation.
Business Operations & Human Resource
✦ HR acquisition: finding the right people, conducting job interviews, and negotiating labour contracts.
✦ Onboarding and offboarding: what to do and what to avoid.
✦ Internal HR: URSAFF, mutuelle, prévision and other key HR institutions and arrangements in France.
✦ Set up a clear organisational chart and layering that is right for your stage of development.
✦ Set up and manage basic communication infrastructure and IT: GSuite, MS Teams, an internal server, and other tools.
✦ Take care of your studio and office: equipment, pantry, and stationary management.
✦ Start with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): agenda-setting and implementation.
✦ Corporate entity establishment and administration: starting a company in France (SARL, EURL, SAS, SASU, etc.).
✦ Intellectual Property management: INPI, WIPO, trademark registration, protecting your IP, and the importance of China (CTO).