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.

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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).