Honor Roll Blair
Starting A Clothing Brand
Blair Caffey, Co-Owner and Head of Product Development at the Atlanta-based Honor Roll Clothing, stopped by Night School to break down the fashion industry and how he has built one of the hottest label’s to emerge from the south. For anyone curious about fashion and brand development, Caffey’s lecture is an essential study.
In this lecture, Caffey breaks down his conversation into six concepts: legal, production, branding, marketing, sales, and finances. All are equally important, some are more glamorous than others, and a few will come naturally to you. For the concepts that click, run the operation. For those that don’t? Surround yourself with a team more talented than you. Take control when necessary, and delegate to others when you’re unsure of the next move forward. Always be confident in your opinion, but listening is crucial as well.
As Caffey explains during the lecture, business is nothing more than figuring out how to avoid issues. “All business, and especially on the fashion side, is just problem solving. How am I going to solve today's problem? That problem may be on the sales side on Wednesday. Thursday, it may be marketing. On Sunday night, you may get an email that lets you know now that going into the next week, you're about to have production issues that you have to solve.”
With this established and understood, students of the lecture will have a firm grasp of deliberate and intentional steps towards creating their own fashion empire. From hiring a bookkeeper to knowing where to procure the best, most affordable fabrics, Caffey offers a wide-ranging lecture that can turn any aspiring entrepreneur into a fashion supernova. All it takes is unending dedication, confidence in your vision, a little bit of luck, and a team willing to push you to the top of the mountain.
Starting A Clothing Brand (Course Trailer)
Introduction: Meet Your Substitute Teacher, Blair Caffey
In this lecture, Caffey breaks down his conversation into six concepts: legal, production, branding, marketing, sales, and finances. All are equally important, some are more glamorous than others, and a few will come naturally to you. For the concepts that click, run the operation. For those that don’t? Surround yourself with a team more talented than you. Take control when necessary, and delegate to others when you’re unsure of the next move forward. Always be confident in your opinion, but listening is crucial as well.
Module 1 – Protect Your Creation
In this lesson, Blair shares the importance of legally protecting your entity. For most, the legal aspects of business may not be the most colorful section, however, it is one of the most crucial to understand. You’ll hear about the suggested steps you should take to create an LLC, the differences between a copyright and a trademark, and what you should look for when hiring your lawyer.
Module 2 – Production is About Research, Efficiency, and Cost
In this lesson, you will learn that to create any piece, you need to know what you want and how to make it. Resources are limited, so it's essential to be efficient and cost-effective. You'll also learn about what to expect during the production process of your items and why research is important during this phase.
Module 3 – Allow Room for Your Brand to Evolve
In this lesson, you’ll learn why Blair believes branding is the backbone of your company. The Honor Roll co-founder uncovers both the exciting moments and challenges he and his partners have had in carving out the company’s identity in the marketplace. Here, you’ll get a deep understanding of why it’s OK for your brand’s imagery to be fluid and the questions you should be asking yourself as your company matures.
Module 4 – A New Way to Look at Marketing
In this lesson, Blair challenges the traditional definition and approaches of marketing. Though he admits that he’s not the most qualified member of the Honor Roll team to touch on this subject, he shares his thoughts on what marketing should be in its simplest form.
Module 5 – The Best Sales Technique is Patience
In this lesson, you’ll get a glimpse into the 13-year journey Blair and his team have had in creating a consistent sales funnel for their business. Similar to his viewpoint on marketing, Blair’s concept of sales is a bit different than the traditional definition. Sure, on the one hand, a sale is just a transaction, but Blair will explain why he believes the element of patience should always be baked into the equation.
Module 6 – Financial Foundations for Upstart Brands
In this lesson, Blair shares the financial basics that every business owner should know. While producing financial statements and keeping track of money may not be why you got into business, it is why you’ll stay in business. Blair breaks down the differences between an accountant and a bookkeeper and shares how he became a financially literate entrepreneur.
Starting a Clothing Brand: Full Course
Course Resources
Course Resources
Substitute Teacher: Porchia Marie