We Patented the Wrong Design and Had to Give Our First Production Away For Free: Tim Bligh from Ever Vessel on What He'd Do Differently

We Patented the Wrong Design and Had to Give Our First Production Away For Free: Tim Bligh from Ever Vessel on What He'd Do Differently

What does it actually take to walk into a factory in China — one supplying billion-dollar brands — and convince them to manufacture your product when you're a nobody with no sales history and no track record? Tim from Ever Vessel did exactly that. But getting in the door was only the beginning. In this episode, Tim unpacks the manufacturing lessons that took him three years and a full first production run he couldn't sell to learn. He thought he had a great design. The factory couldn't reliably make it. He'd already started the patent process. The money was already spent. We get into: * Why the factory that supplies billion-dollar household brands agreed to work with a tiny Australian startup * What DFM (Design for Manufacture) means, why it matters, and what happens when you skip it * The design patent mistake: patenting a product before it was finalized — and why Tim says he'd think hard before going down that path again * Why your tooling costs might be a better moat than a patent * The trade-off between small factories (more attention, less scale) vs. large factories (more capability, you're a low priority) * Why Tim still flies to China to do QC checks himself — even now Tim also shares how Ever Vessel grew a customer base and moves serious volume with just 3,000 Instagram followers, his unconventional approach to Facebook ads, and what he learned using Kickstarter as a marketing channel rather than a funding tool. If you're thinking about manufacturing your own product, this episode is required listening. 🎙️ About the Guest Tim Bligh is the founder of Ever Vessel [https://evervessel.com.au/] , a premium stainless steel water bottle brand focused on simplicity, durability, and ease of cleaning. After 10 years in the Australian Army, Tim and his wife Bec built Ever Vessel from the ground up — navigating custom manufacturing in China, design patents, and growing a loyal customer base without a large social media following. 🎙️ About the Host Candice Tang is the co-founder of Freckl [https://www.freckl.com.au/]— a boutique fulfilment and logistics partner for fashion and beauty brands. After experiencing firsthand the frustrations of working with traditional 3PLs — from lost inventory to inconsistent packing and hidden costs — Candice and her team built Freckl to do things differently. Today, Freckl partners with growing fashion and beauty brands to deliver a more considered post-purchase experience — from premium packing and returns handling to scalable fulfilment operations across DTC and wholesale. Working closely with brands at different stages of growth, Candice has a unique lens into what actually happens behind the scenes — the operational bottlenecks, scaling challenges, and decisions founders face as they grow. If you're a fashion or beauty founder navigating growth and want to sense-check your fulfilment, operations, or scaling strategy — feel free to reach out or learn more about Freckl:https://www.freckl.com.au/ [https://www.freckl.com.au/]

From Pastry Chef to VC-Backed Fashion Tech Founder | How Shanya Suppasiritad Built Revibe

In this episode of If Not Now, When, Candice sits down with Shanya Suppasiritad, founder of Revibe—a VC-backed fashion tech platform now working with leading brands like Oroton, Assembly Label, and THE ICONIC. After raising investment from exceptional founders including Christy Chong—who sold her business Modibodi for $140M—Shanya is building one of the most exciting startups at the intersection of fashion and circular commerce. But her journey didn’t start in tech—or even in fashion. From making 500 scones a day as a pastry chef to becoming a stylist, Shanya’s turning point came after watching The True Cost, when she realised the industry she loved was also deeply flawed. That moment sparked a mission: to build a better way for people to access fashion—without contributing to the problem. In this episode, she shares the messy early days—testing ideas on Facebook groups, teaching herself just enough code to build an MVP, running operations out of her one-bedroom apartment, and making the tough call to pivot even after gaining traction. She also opens up about raising capital with no prior experience, the pressure that comes with investor money, imposter syndrome, burnout, and why—if she started again today—she would bootstrap first. This is a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to build something from scratch—and the courage to start before you feel ready. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode * Why she shut down an idea with 4,000 users * From pastry chef → stylist → VC-backed founder * The moment that changed her view on fashion * Building and validating without tech * What investors actually look for early on * Bootstrapping vs raising capital (the reality) * Founder anxiety, burnout & imposter syndrome 🎙️ About the Guest Shanya Suppasiritad is the founder of Revibe [https://www.revibecollective.com/], a fashion tech platform helping brands unlock new revenue through rental and circular commerce. Her clients include leading retailers like Oroton, Assembly Label, and THE ICONIC. She has raised capital from experienced founders and operators, including Christy Chong, and is building toward a future where circular fashion becomes the norm. 🎙️ About the Host Candice Tang is the co-founder of Freckl  [https://www.freckl.com.au/]— a boutique fulfilment and logistics partner for fashion and beauty brands. After experiencing firsthand the frustrations of working with traditional 3PLs — from lost inventory to inconsistent packing and hidden costs — Candice and her team built Freckl to do things differently. Today, Freckl partners with growing fashion and beauty brands to deliver a more considered post-purchase experience — from premium packing and returns handling to scalable fulfilment operations across DTC and wholesale. Working closely with brands at different stages of growth, Candice has a unique lens into what actually happens behind the scenes — the operational bottlenecks, scaling challenges, and decisions founders face as they grow. If you're a fashion or beauty founder navigating growth and want to sense-check your fulfilment, operations, or scaling strategy — feel free to reach out or learn more about Freckl:  https://www.freckl.com.au/ [https://www.freckl.com.au/]

Part 2: How Jenny Nakkan Scaled an International Wholesale Business from 500K to 40 Millions and Started Over in Her 40s | Elevate Wholesale Ageny

From managing key accounts at Nike and Sony to leading global wholesale at some of Australia's most recognised fashion brands — Jenny Nakkan has spent over two decades building an encyclopaedic knowledge of what it actually takes to scale a brand through wholesale. In this episode of If Not Now, When, I sit down with Jenny — founder of Elevate, a wholesale consultancy for fashion and lifestyle brands — to unpack the strategy behind scaling an international wholesale business from $500K to $40 million, why she walked away from a high-paying senior career to start her own business in her forties, and what most founders completely get wrong before they even walk into their first buyer meeting. This one is essential listening if you're a fashion or beauty brand thinking about wholesale — or if you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode * Why wholesale is brand amplification — not just a lower-margin sales channel * The two biggest mistakes DTC brands make when they enter wholesale (pricing and timelines) * How to pitch to buyers before you have sell-through data — and what actually makes them say yes * The FOMO strategy that took a brand with serious reputational damage from $500K to $40M in global wholesale * Why saying no to the wrong retailers is one of the most powerful things a brand can do * How to drive sell-through at full price — without defaulting to discounting * What buyers actually want to know about your logistics and supply chain before placing an order * The mindset behind starting a business in your forties — and why Jenny believes the fear of not doing it outweighed the fear of failing 🚀 Key Takeaway Wholesale success isn't about getting the order — it's about what happens after. Sell-through is the language of the buyer, the metric that determines whether you grow or get cut, and the foundation every brand needs to obsess over before they scale. If you're sitting on the fence about wholesale — or wondering if it's too late to back yourself and start — Jenny's story is the permission you've been waiting for. 🎙️ About the Guest Jenny Nakkan is the founder of ⁠Elevate Wholesale Agency⁠ [https://www.elevatewholesaleagency.com.au/], a wholesale consultancy that helps fashion and lifestyle brands build the foundations they need to scale — from pricing and margins to global market entry and sales agency relationships. With senior roles at Nike, Sony Pictures, Rachel Gilbert, Camilla, and Subtitled, Jenny brings over 20 years of global wholesale expertise to the brands she works with. She is also the founder behind bringing the Splash Sydney trade show to the Australian market. Follow Jenny on Instagram ⁠@elevatewholesaleagency⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elevatewholesaleagency/] 🎙️ About the Host Candice Tang is the co-founder of ⁠Freckl⁠ [https://www.freckl.com.au/] — a boutique fulfilment and logistics partner for fashion and beauty brands. After experiencing firsthand the frustrations of working with traditional 3PLs — from lost inventory to inconsistent packing and hidden costs — Candice and her team built Freckl to do things differently. Today, Freckl partners with growing fashion and beauty brands to deliver a more considered post-purchase experience — from premium packing and returns handling to scalable fulfilment operations across DTC and wholesale. Working closely with brands at different stages of growth, Candice has a unique lens into what actually happens behind the scenes — the operational bottlenecks, scaling challenges, and decisions founders face as they grow. If you're a fashion or beauty founder navigating growth and want to sense-check your fulfilment, operations, or scaling strategy — feel free to reach out or learn more about Freckl: ⁠https://www.freckl.com.au/⁠ [https://www.freckl.com.au/]

Part 1: How Jenny Nakkan Scaled an International Wholesale Business from 500K to 40 Millions and Started Over in Her 40s | Elevate Wholesale Ageny

From managing key accounts at Nike and Sony to leading global wholesale at some of Australia's most recognised fashion brands — Jenny Nakkan has spent over two decades building an encyclopaedic knowledge of what it actually takes to scale a brand through wholesale. In this episode of If Not Now, When, I sit down with Jenny — founder of Elevate, a wholesale consultancy for fashion and lifestyle brands — to unpack the strategy behind scaling an international wholesale business from $500K to $40 million, why she walked away from a high-paying senior career to start her own business in her forties, and what most founders completely get wrong before they even walk into their first buyer meeting. This one is essential listening if you're a fashion or beauty brand thinking about wholesale — or if you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start. 💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode * Why wholesale is brand amplification — not just a lower-margin sales channel * The two biggest mistakes DTC brands make when they enter wholesale (pricing and timelines) * How to pitch to buyers before you have sell-through data — and what actually makes them say yes * The FOMO strategy that took a brand with serious reputational damage from $500K to $40M in global wholesale * Why saying no to the wrong retailers is one of the most powerful things a brand can do * How to drive sell-through at full price — without defaulting to discounting * What buyers actually want to know about your logistics and supply chain before placing an order * The mindset behind starting a business in your forties — and why Jenny believes the fear of not doing it outweighed the fear of failing 🚀 Key Takeaway Wholesale success isn't about getting the order — it's about what happens after. Sell-through is the language of the buyer, the metric that determines whether you grow or get cut, and the foundation every brand needs to obsess over before they scale. If you're sitting on the fence about wholesale — or wondering if it's too late to back yourself and start — Jenny's story is the permission you've been waiting for. 🎙️ About the Guest Jenny Nakkan is the founder of Elevate Wholesale Agency [https://www.elevatewholesaleagency.com.au/], a wholesale consultancy that helps fashion and lifestyle brands build the foundations they need to scale — from pricing and margins to global market entry and sales agency relationships. With senior roles at Nike, Sony Pictures, Rachel Gilbert, Camilla, and Subtitled, Jenny brings over 20 years of global wholesale expertise to the brands she works with. She is also the founder behind bringing the Splash Sydney trade show to the Australian market. Follow Jenny on Instagram @elevatewholesaleagency [https://www.instagram.com/elevatewholesaleagency/] 🎙️ About the Host Candice Tang is the co-founder of Freckl [https://www.freckl.com.au/] — a boutique fulfilment and logistics partner for fashion and beauty brands. After experiencing firsthand the frustrations of working with traditional 3PLs — from lost inventory to inconsistent packing and hidden costs — Candice and her team built Freckl to do things differently. Today, Freckl partners with growing fashion and beauty brands to deliver a more considered post-purchase experience — from premium packing and returns handling to scalable fulfilment operations across DTC and wholesale. Working closely with brands at different stages of growth, Candice has a unique lens into what actually happens behind the scenes — the operational bottlenecks, scaling challenges, and decisions founders face as they grow. If you're a fashion or beauty founder navigating growth and want to sense-check your fulfilment, operations, or scaling strategy — feel free to reach out or learn more about Freckl: https://www.freckl.com.au/ [https://www.freckl.com.au/]

From Management Consultant to Viral Skincare Brand Founder — Here’s How Cindy Moon Did It | Muun Skincare

From applying to 200 jobs to breaking into management consulting — and then quitting it all to build a skincare brand — Cindy Moon’s journey is anything but conventional. In this episode of If Not Now, When, I sit down with the founder of Muun Skincare to unpack how she went from studying psychology to working in consulting at global companies — before walking away from it all to start her own business. From building her first audience on TikTok before launching, to investing her own savings and figuring out growth through trial and error — Cindy shares what it really looks like to start without having everything mapped out. 💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode * How Cindy broke into management consulting with no business background * The mindset behind quitting a stable corporate career to go all in * How she built momentum on TikTok before launching her product * The reality of organic vs paid growth for early-stage brands * Why UGC doesn’t always convert — and what actually drives sales * How brand activations and events can drive both awareness and revenue * The importance of showing up (literally) to build strong supplier relationships * Why “failing fast” helps you find the right path quicker 🚀 Key Takeaway You don’t need certainty to start — you need to take action. Whether it’s applying for the role you think you won’t get, quitting to build something of your own, or launching before you feel ready — clarity comes from doing, not overthinking. 🎙️ About the Host Candice Tang is the co-founder of Freckl — a boutique fulfilment and logistics partner for fashion and beauty brands. After experiencing firsthand the frustrations of working with traditional 3PLs — from lost inventory to inconsistent packing and hidden costs — Candice and her team built Freckl to do things differently. Today, Freckl partners with growing fashion & beauty brands to deliver a more considered post-purchase experience — from premium packing and returns handling to scalable fulfilment operations across DTC and wholesale. Working closely with brands at different stages of growth, Candice has a unique lens into what actually happens behind the scenes — the operational bottlenecks, scaling challenges, and decisions founders face as they grow. If you’re a fashion or beauty founder navigating growth and want to sense-check your fulfilment, operations, or scaling strategy — feel free to reach out or learn more about Freckl: https://www.freckl.com.au/ [https://www.freckl.com.au/]