I’ve had a great career as a fashion buyer for nearly 30 years.  I studied fashion design and pattern making at college, then became a fashion buyer and product developer.  I have worked for large retailers, travelling overseas several times a year looking for the latest trends, buying samples and developing ranges and importing it from China. 

My design/pattern making background proved invaluable as a buyer.  It helped me with:

• Knowing what the most commercial way was of designing a garment (cheapest/quickest/easiest)
• Knowing exactly how garments were constructed helped with cost negotiations (redevelop)
• I could easily work out how to re-design a garment to fit into a retail price point, or identify any issues in QA

I’ve bought all apparel categories for all types of retailers.  The biggest volume retailer in Australia is Kmart, I was buying vast units per style per colour, and this was a fast fashion retailer in every sense of the term.

I worked for The Iconic in the first 2 years of business, when they were a start-up. I was buying very small units per garment and this requires a totally different strategy.  I helped develop guidelines, benchmarks, buying processes and best practice.  I trained assistant buyers, and launched the very successful curvy category – the first curvy hub of designer brands in Australia.

I loved working for The Iconic – the fast pace of online was incredible, and I learnt so much about how to sell fashion when the customer can’t feel the fabric or try them on!  eCommerce stores were pretty new back then, even though it’s only been 8 years so much has changed.  They were the masters of test and learn and not afraid of taking a risk as long as you understood and remembered the lessons.

For over 15 years, alongside buying I’ve had a side hustle of one kind or another all to do with retail and the fashion industry.  I love business and brainstorming and trying out new ideas.  I really wanted to work full time in my own business.

Around 5 years ago I was asked to develop and deliver fashion business to Advance Diploma and Diploma students at a private fashion college in Melbourne.

To my surprise it was a natural fit.  I found my calling/career for a second time in my life!  I adore teaching, my students have a great experience and most importantly, through my networks I am able to help them find jobs in the industry.  It’s incredibly satisfying training a student, helping them find a job, and watching them grow and develop in their roles, getting promoted and loving what they’re doing.  

Eventually, with changes to the formal accredited training packages, I found writing the A-Dip and Dip in Fashion Business was becoming restrictive and sometimes irrelevant.  In my opinion it became more about ticking off the required criteria, and less about being relevant and teaching up to date curriculum. 

With my experience, I know what’s relevant information for a buyer, product developer, retailer, manufacturer and brand.  And it was frustrating that I had to teach not only the required criteria for accreditation, but additional industry topics that I knew was vital for student knowledge. 

Earlier this year I helped a student start her career in one of Australia’s biggest retail chain as an admin processing orders etc. It was very cool for me to hear her come into the night class I was teaching and tell me she was doing exactly what she was learning in class at work.  It made her feel empowered and confident. She has been promoted twice since then and on her way to a very exciting career. It made me feel my thinking was on the right track. 

I’ve realised when teaching over the past 5 years, everyone has their own learning style, the way they learn best.  This is why it’s really important for me to offer customised courses. No one is offering this style of teaching yet I know it works.  I get to know you, understand how you like to learn – for example your eyes might glaze over looking at numbers on an Excel spreadsheet, or block of text, or you’d rather talk it out, or research by yourself and get back to me – whatever it takes for you to learn is fine with me.

Australia is experiencing a particularly tough retail climate right now.  There’s been a massive influx of international brands and it’s tough for our homegrown brands to compete.  Rents have increased by up to 30%. 

This is why developing business acumen is so vital. 

You need to know what is driving profitability and cash flow, how to trade in-season, be market focused, know your customer like he/she is your best friend, who are your direct competitors, and have an overall big picture and understanding of the retail business in Australia.  Develop a strategic mindset.  Think laterally. Identify opportunities.

I’m so excited to be able to teach you what I love – and I do love the business side of fashion.  I’ll teach you online, in real time, with me.  I’m also offering small classes of maximum 4 people.  Classes are small enough so you still get individual attention.  If you want to learn with a couple of friends you can do so.

If you know you love fashion but have no idea where you fit in or what you’d be good at, this is perfect for you. If you need to up-skill for a promotion or your brand isn’t working and you realise you need to know more about the business side, talk to me. I’ll teach you exactly what you need to know.

Once you email me with your mobile, I’ll contact you to make a time to talk – either Zoom or call, we’ll talk about what you know, what you need to know, and I’ll advise you which modules are best for you or I’ll customise them for you.

Can’t wait to get started!

See you online!

Lisa

hello@fashionbusiness.com.au