Know-How for British Brand Founders

Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, in a UK garment factory This article explores the common reasons why brands might hesitate to manufacture locally and aims to debunk these myths, offering a fresh perspective on the untapped potential of

If you’re looking to work with a UK manufacturer Make it British can help. I’ve been developing my network of UK manufacturing contacts for over 15 years, and maintaining these valuable relationships is a priority for me. This is why

If you’re a small business that makes in the UK, have you thought about selling your products on pre-order? More and more small businesses are now operating on a pre-order basis because it not only helps with cash flow, but

In this video I answer the question ‘What funds should I put aside for production costs? And how long should I allow from order to completion on average? This video is a snippet taken from a taster coaching Q&A session

I constantly have people telling me, “I can get X made much cheaper overseas than in the UK.”  Yes, that might be true, and the allure of a lower cost-price from overseas can seem tempting initially.  However, for small businesses,

When it comes to getting products made, sometimes things go wrong. It’s a fact. The trick is to know how to handle it and put it right. When I worked as a fashion buyer, a big part of my job

There are a range of ways to fund your business based on what stage you are at, what you need the money for,  and where you are located. How much you need to start your brand, and what you need

Starting a brand can be really exciting, but also super scary. What do you need to do, in what order, and how much it’s all going to cost you! You don’t even know where to begin to estimate that one

Are you fed up with Instagram not delivering the goods anymore? Find yourself spending valuable time going down a scroll-hole hoping it might spark some ideas? If so, you’re not alone. Businesses are becoming increasingly disillusioned with social media, and

What are some of the most common misconceptions about making clothing in the UK? In this blog post, which is part of a talk I gave at Source Fashion in February 2023, I bust some myths around UK garment manufacturing

The first episode will be released on Friday 3rd March, 2023! I’ve already recorded a couple of the interviews for the next series, and I will fill you in in a minute about what the focus will be this series,

Launching your own brand and manufacturing your product in the UK? Here some of the common mistakes that I see start-ups make and how to avoid them. 10 Mistakes Made by Start-Ups: 1. Not allowing enough time to develop a product

A common concern that I hear from many product-based businesses is how hard they find manufacturing. But you can make manufacturing easy. You just need to follow three simple rules… As an example, I was chatting to a brand owner this week

If you are looking to make in the UK, or if you already do, you are likely to be passionate about making your products locally and developing partnerships with UK manufacturers. But do you know what goes into building a

Trying to decide on a range plan for your new brand? It’s easy to get carried away with loads of great ideas while you’re brainstorming different products. However, it will work in your favour if you don’t overcomplicate things, particularly if

Are you looking for a UK clothing manufacturers for your small business or start-up? Look no further than within the UK. When it comes to sourcing a clothing manufacturers for small business there are a whole host of reasons why

If you are looking to make in the UK, or if you already do, you are likely to be passionate about making your products locally and developing partnerships with UK manufacturers. But do you know what goes into making UK-made

Looking for a clothing manufacturer for your small business? Look no further than within the UK.  The following British clothing manufacturers are all members of Make it British and can help you with sampling and production. When it comes to

Have you sent an email to a manufacturer and not got a reply? I outline the 3 common reasons why you may not have heard back, and how to make sure you get manufacturers to respond to your emails. One

We don’t think so, and we’ll show you why… You can’t compare apples to apples – buying clothing made overseas is not as cheap as you may think… There is a myth that making clothing in the UK is much

Can you launch a brand with £500? Or do you need more like £50,000? We surveyed Make it British members to reveal how much it cost them to launch their brand and the results may surprise you… I’m sure many

There is no doubt that it is going to be a challenging Christmas for UK businesses this year. How do you sell your UK-made products at this time of year? Don’t despair! The good news is that if you make

There are many things that can influence your manufacturing costs. Here’s what they are – and how to mitigate them. When you ask a manufacturer how much something is going to cost right at the start of a conversation with

Trade shows are very busy events, with thousands of visitors trying to gain the attention of the exhibitors.  To achieve the most out of your visit you need to get organised.  Read our top tips to help you prepare for

One of the best ways of finding suppliers and manufacturers is by attending a trade show, but there are many other benefits. We give you 5 reasons why attending a trade show is essential to your business. If you’re at

If you’re looking to manufacture a product you’ll likely have heard people talking about MOQs.  But what exactly does that mean? Why do manufacturers have them? And, how can you overcome high MOQs? So what exactly is an MOQ?  It

So, you know what it is you want to make and what you want to make it from, but how do you calculate the cost price for it? Let’s talk about prices – in particular cost prices. Why it’s important

Do you know what materials you need to produce your product? Thought the manufacturer would do this for you?  Depending on whether they are a Full-Service or CMT manufacturer, this is not always the case. In this article I explain the

Are you starting a new British-made fashion brand?  You may have had a brilliant idea, but how do you get from that initial idea to having physical product to sell? We have laid out the 7 stages of fashion production

We’re never going to stop people from buying clothing, but what we can do is aim to produce it in the most sustainable way possible. One of those ways is to make it locally, and here’s why… When it was

Confused about where to start when costing your British-made product? Our easy cost price calculator can help you work it out.   One of the biggest issues I see with businesses launching a British-made product is not building in enough

Do you have your own brand but are struggling to find a manufacturer? It may be time to consider the benefits of setting up your own factory. When I first left college there was a recession on. This made it

In an age where the majority of connections are made online, you still can’t beat doing business in person. Here’s why… A lot of what I do is to help people find UK manufacturers to make their products – be

Having trouble finding fashion trimmings made in Britain? Thought no one made zips, buttons or bindings here anymore? We’ve found several suppliers who can help We’ve compiled a list of trims manufactured in the UK. From buckles to buttons, shoulder

Are you looking for a UK garment manufacturer? Thinking of starting with a Google search to find a factory to make your clothing brand? Let me stop you right there. A search engine is not a good place to start

If you’re looking for a UK manufacturer here are 3 things you need to know before you begin your search for one… I get a lot of people contacting me at Make it British looking for a manufacturer to make

Recent figures show that UK exports of British-made products are at their highest for 7 years. If you are a British-made brand or UK manufacturer and you’re not exporting then you’re missing out. The latest Purchasing Managers Index shows that

Trade shows are one of the best ways to get exposure for your business, and a great opportunity to network too. Yet many companies feel daunted at the prospect of exhibiting at a trade show for the first time. Having

So you want to get something made in the UK? Even if you have the experience of developing a product before you might not have visited a manufacturer.  Choosing a manufacturer is one of the most important decisions you can

Looking to manufacture goods in the UK? Here are our top tips for making it all run smoothly We get loads of enquiries here at Make it British from businesses looking to launch a product that is made in the UK.

How to take the pain out of sampling with a British clothing manufacturer in 8 easy steps I get a lot of designers contacting me asking for recommendations for British manufacturers that can make their products. Some of them are