Off the Record
A conversation for anyone who wants to start a fashion or beauty brand, or just did. My focus is fashion.
When I started Maison Marron et amis, I had so many questions. How much money do I really need? How do I find a production partner in Europe that will make small quantities? What does a piece actually cost once everything is included? And who can I even ask without the answer turning into a sales pitch?
In the end, I worked out most of the answers myself. Some of them were expensive.
So now I'm offering an hour where you can ask me anything. About finance, costing and pricing. About production, sourcing, fabrics and minimums. About pre-order, marketing, Meta ads and Shopify. Or about the one thing you're stuck on right now.
I'll tell you how I did it, with real numbers. And what I would do differently today.
What I wouldn't do again
I wouldn't take out a loan with only one year before repayments start. A year sounds like a long time. For a fashion brand, it isn't.
I wouldn't let limits hold me back as much. A lot of what looked like a fixed boundary at the start wasn't one.
And I wouldn't try to do too much too fast. I'd rather let customers wait a little in the beginning than promise more than I can deliver.
How it works
Pick a time on a Tuesday or Thursday, at 10 am, 4 pm or 7:30 pm Berlin time. The booking page shows the times in your own time zone. When you book, tell me briefly what you'd like to talk about so I can prepare.
We talk for one hour on Google Meet, in English or German.
If none of these times work for you, write to me at contact@maisonmarronetamis.com and we'll find another time.
Questions
Can I reschedule or cancel?
Yes, using the link in your confirmation email. If you cancel up to 24 hours before, you get your money back. After that I can't refund it, because I've kept the time free and prepared for our call.
Will I get an invoice?
Yes. Just add your billing details when you book.
Is our conversation confidential?
Yes. What you tell me stays between us. That's where the name comes from.
I'm starting a beauty brand. Is this still for me?
Yes. My focus is fashion, but a lot of it is similar: funding, costing, pre-order, marketing and Shopify. When it comes to cosmetics production and regulation, I'll tell you honestly where my experience ends.
What if I'm not sure my question fits?
Ask anyway. If I don't know something, I'll tell you.
