Starting your own Brand with William Hardcastle of WannaHug

Starting a Fitness Brand from the Ground Up with Aprille Moyster

Host Heather Zager interviews Aprille Moyster, creator of FitUWrap, about her journey from having an idea right through to manufacturing. Aprille’s idea for FitUWrap came from personal need. As a runner, she wanted a way to keep her phone from slipping out of her hand while she ran and couldn’t find anything on the market that worked. So she made it. Heather hears about Aprille’s idea, her prototype, the woman who helped her understand the manufacturing process, how Heather assisted in her tech pack, and finally, manufacturing and actually selling her product. The journey was not a smooth one, and Aprille learned a lot about the manufacturing process through trial and error and by finding helpful people along the way. She recalls the first helpful woman she reached, who walked her through the entire process with gratitude. Heather learns about all the hurdles Aprille faced once she reached the manufacturing stage - from shipping delays to logo application to decision fatigue - Aprille very transparently shares her whole journey.  This episode contains a detailed breakdown of the entire process of having an idea right through to selling it, and will be not only interesting but also useful for anyone engaged in the manufacturing process or curious about bringing an idea to market.  About Aprille Moyster:  Aprille Moyster developed her product, Fit You Wrap, to solve the problem of carrying a phone while running, without risking it dropping or getting sweaty. Nine years ago, she created her first concept of the FitUwrap. Her initial prototype was a twisted neck gator that would wick away sweat and help secure her phone to her hand. Her refined product, the FitUwrap, is professionally designed with high-performance moisture-wicking materials, comfortable stretch, silicone back elastic bands, and secure Velcro. — Resources discussed in this episode: * American Made Apparel Manufacturing, Inc [https://americanmademfg.com/] - Sunny __ Contact Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services:  * Website: MADEApparelServices.com [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/] * Facebook: MADEApparelServices [https://www.facebook.com/MADEApparelServices/] * Instagram: MADEApparelServices [https://www.instagram.com/madeapparelservices/] * Linkedin: MADEApparelServices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeapparelservices] Contact Aprille Moyster | FitUWrap:  * Website: FitUWrap.com [https://fituwrap.com/] * Blog: TheRunningGeek.com [https://therunninggeek.com/] * Email [fituwrap@gmail.com]

Starting your own Brand with William Hardcastle of WannaHug

Host Heather Zager interviews MADE client and brand entrepreneur William Hardcastle of WannaHug. WannaHug is a clothing line that aims to help every customer make a difference in someone’s life. Every garment purchased allows the customer to select another garment to donate at no extra cost. William talks with Heather about where the inspiration for WannaHug came from, how he set up the brand, what it cost, and how to handle setbacks.  Heather finds out from William how long it took him to get WannaHug from a concept to where he is now, in online selling. William is very transparent about timeframes, marketing, and the cost of the start-up, breaking down the initial costs for listeners curious about starting their own brands. One of the things William is open about is how he reshuffled his sale garments to better drive revenue and allow for more options in donatable items. The vision William has for giving back to his community is as admirable as his enthusiasm for the manufacturing process, something he truly enjoyed being part of. This episode contains insights, detailed itemization, and inspiration for anyone interested in a brand startup, manufacturing, or creating a purpose-driven sales model.  About William Hardcastle:  William Hardcastle is the founder of WannaHug, a purpose-driven clothing brand that emerged from his time in Seattle. While working as a commercial diver, William and his wife were deeply impacted by the stark contrast between the city’s wealth and the needs of its underserved communities. This disparity inspired him to create a brand that not only provides high-quality clothing but also empowers consumers to make a meaningful impact. With every purchase, customers can choose a donation, enabling them to contribute to positive change at no additional cost. — Contact Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services:  * Website: MADEApparelServices.com [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/] * Facebook: MADEApparelServices [https://www.facebook.com/MADEApparelServices/] * Instagram: MADEApparelServices [https://www.instagram.com/madeapparelservices/] * Linkedin: MADEApparelServices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeapparelservices] Contact William Hardcastle | WannaHug:  * Website: WannaHug.com [https://wannahug.com/] * LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-hardcastle-a63476aa/] * Instagram: @wannahugclothing [https://www.instagram.com/wannahugclothing/]

Mastering Your Social Media Presence with Rebecca Scott

Host Heather Zager interviews social media strategist Rebecca Scott about all things social media, including how often to post, where to post, and how much time business owners should spend on the task. Rebecca shares practical tips to help entrepreneurs improve their social media strategy, starting by identifying their ideal customers and choosing the platforms that align with their interests. From there, Rebecca shares tips for what to post, what not to post, and why engagement matters.  When Heather asks about how much time business owners should realistically spend on their social media, Rebecca outlines a basic social media management strategy for business owners, emphasizing efficiency through content batching and consistent engagement. The approach involves creating monthly content in advance, followed by daily engagement to foster audience interaction. The key steps include establishing content pillars, brainstorming ideas, organizing formats, setting posting frequency, and balancing content types. Time is divided across planning, creating, and scheduling, with daily engagement given high importance to boost algorithm performance. Below is a breakdown of these steps and the time allotted for each.  This episode contains insights, useful tips, and inspiration for business owners of all experience levels. Rebecca’s Basic Social Media Strategy for Entrepreneurs: * 1-2 hours planning and batching content * 2-3 hours filming, editing, creating content, writing captions * 1-1.5 hours creating graphics for posting * 30-minutes scheduling posts * 2.5 hours weekly for engagement About Rebecca Scott With a decade of entrepreneurship under her belt, Rebecca Scott is an experienced social media manager and founder of Creative Nobility. Originally trained in graphic design, she began her career specializing in branding and print media. However, as the demand for digital solutions grew, she expanded her services to include social media management—developing a new passion that transformed her business. Today, social media management makes up the core of Rebecca’s business, serving clients across Canada and the United States in various industries, including podcasting. Known for her dedication to staying ahead of trends, Rebecca is committed to providing her clients with innovative strategies to help them grow their businesses online. Resources discussed in this episode: * Canva [https://www.canva.com] * Loomly [https://www.loomly.com] * Hootsuite [https://www.hootsuite.com] * Sprout Social [https://sproutsocial.com/] * Planoly [https://sproutsocial.com/] * Later [https://later.com] * Fiverr  [https://www.fiverr.com] * Upwork [https://www.upwork.com] — Contact Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services:  * Website: MADEApparelServices.com [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/] * Facebook: MADEApparelServices [https://www.facebook.com/MADEApparelServices/] * Instagram: MADEApparelServices [https://www.instagram.com/madeapparelservices/] * Linkedin: MADEApparelServices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeapparelservices] Contact Rebecca Scott | Creative Nobility:  * Website: CreativeNobility.com [http://creativenobility.com] * Facebook: CreativeNobility [https://www.facebook.com/creativenobility/] * Instagram: CreativeNobility [https://www.instagram.com/creativenobilitysocial/] * LinkedIn: CreativeNobility [https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-nobility/]

Tips for Production

Host Heather Zager shares valuable insights for new and small brands looking to simplify their manufacturing process to save time and money. She emphasizes the importance of narrowing down design options to keep costs reasonable and avoid overwhelming inventory numbers. Heather suggests starting with one design in a size range with limited colors to keep costs manageable. Once success is reached with that design, other options can be explored.  To help streamline the process and validate design ideas, Heather recommends sharing design options on social media to gather feedback. This also helps build a strong social media presence and encourages engagement. Listeners will also hear practical tips, such as how to learn more about material sourcing and pattern-making to save time and money in the long run.  These strategies not only simplify production but also ensure that brands make informed decisions, minimizing risk, and maximizing profitability. About Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services Founder and Owner Heather Zager found her calling when she signed up for a beginning pattern-making course and realized she had a passion for technical design. She subsequently enrolled in the Apparel Design and Development program at Seattle Central College and graduated two years later with her Associate of Applied Science Degree. After graduation, she began working with Meta assisting in developing and designing augmented and virtual reality wearable tech gear. In 2020, MADE Apparel Services was born with the idea of helping makers, inventors and designers bring their own sewn product ideas to manufacture. Since then, she has worked with various businesses such as Santa’s Tailor, Feathered Friends, Wolfpack Gear and Classic Accessories, helping them achieve their goals in design, development, pattern making, sewn construction and manufacture. Today, Heather continues to grow her knowledge and share her experiences with others to bring their visions to reality. Resources discussed in this episode: * Episode 4: Concept to Customer Part 2: Material Sourcing [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/podcasts/material-sourcing] * Choosing Fabrics: Fabrics 101 [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/blog/2024/06/20/fabrics101] * MADE Apparel Services Newsletter [https://forms.zohopublic.com/madeapparelservices/form/NewsletterSignUpForm/formperma/ByPGwzAL80eA8UAKiAZuWITkogDzAUCs6WEVI2RqSc4] -- Contact Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services:  * Website: MADEApparelServices.com [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/] * Facebook: MADEApparelServices [https://www.facebook.com/MADEApparelServices/] * Instagram: MADEApparelServices [https://www.instagram.com/madeapparelservices/] * Linkedin: MADEApparelServices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeapparelservices]

Tech Pack, Spec Sheets and Patterns (oh my!)

Host Heather Zager talks all about tech packs, spec sheets, and patterns in today’s episode. She explains the differences between each one and the function each one performs. A spec sheet is short for a specification sheet. The single difference between it and a tech pack is that a spec sheet is just one page. A tech pack - or technical package or technical specification package - is essentially an instruction manual with all the information needed to create a sewn product. A pattern is a paper pattern used for sewing a product. Heather goes into great detail about what a tech pack could and should include. The summary of the points she discusses is: 1. A cover page or an overview page. 2. Fabrications page. 3. Pattern layout page by fabrication. 4. Bill of materials 5. Pattern pieces list, also known as a cutters must or a pattern parts list. 6. A sequence of construction, also known as the order of operations. 7. Several pages of annotations which are callouts: 1. Just stitch types, just the fabrications, and just colorways. 2. Possibly a close-up or a more detailed illustration. 8. Supplier information. 9. You might also include packaging information. 10. A space for special notes and another space for version updates. The possible variations and trade-offs in information included in tech packs are explained by Heather and she breaks down exactly how a pattern works, when spec sheets are useful, and what other episodes of her podcast will explain certain pieces of information in greater detail. Heather’s knowledge and expertise help to make the process of designing and manufacturing sewn goods easier to understand and less daunting to attempt.  About Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services Founder and Owner Heather Zager found her calling when she signed up for a beginning pattern-making course and realized she had a passion for technical design. She subsequently enrolled in the Apparel Design and Development program at Seattle Central College and graduated two years later with her Associate of Applied Science Degree. After graduation, she began working with Meta assisting in developing and designing augmented and virtual reality wearable tech gear. In 2020, MADE Apparel Services was born with the idea of helping makers, inventors and designers bring their own sewn product ideas to manufacture. Since then, she has worked with various businesses such as Santa’s Tailor, Feathered Friends, Wolfpack Gear and Classic Accessories, helping them achieve their goals in design, development, pattern making, sewn construction and manufacture. Today, Heather continues to grow her knowledge and share her experiences with others to bring their visions to reality. __ Resources mentioned in this episode: * Episode 8: Concept to Customer Part 4 - Preparing for Manufacture [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/podcasts/preparing-for-manufacture] * MADE Apparel Services: Sample Tech Pack [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/590f33b5d1758e85c58e0749/t/65a02fbe68a774748f6acf17/1704996800209/Sample+Tech+Pack.pdf] __ Contact Heather Zager | MADE Apparel Services:  * Website: MADEApparelServices.com [https://www.madeapparelservices.com/] * Facebook: MADEApparelServices [https://www.facebook.com/MADEApparelServices/] * Instagram: MADEApparelServices [https://www.instagram.com/madeapparelservices/] * Linkedin: MADEApparelServices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeapparelservices]