As I mentioned in my earlier post, Why Hiring Fashion Freelance Makes For Better Business, two of the biggest advantages for your company when hiring a fabulous fashion freelancer are the increased flexibility and reduced costs.  An experienced fashion industry freelance professional is a great resource for large and small companies, but can be a major asset for a growing or "in-transition" apparel company.

I've found the biggest deterrents for many companies in deciding whether to take the ever-freeing, always-smart fashion freelance plunge are the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions.

I think I've already made an excellent case in my previous Freelance|Works post, if I must say so myself;), for the "why" and "what" but wanted to provide a quick, easy guide to address the other 4 questions.  

1. The Who: Determining The Right Person For The Job
   

Once you've decided to use an agency or search on your own for a fabulous fashion freelancer, then the next step is to review candidate resumes and/or portfolios for the specific skills needed to complete the available work.  

You should ask yourself questions such as:

• Does the resume/portfolio demonstrate the ability to handle similar situations as the available work?
  
• Does the resume/portfolio demonstrate flexibility in handling a variety of tasks as related to the available work?
  
• Does the freelancer have the experience to understand company goals and match their output to achieve these goals?

Once you've asked these basic questions and are satisfied the freelancer's resume/portfolio indicates a good fit for the available work, then time to set up an interview.  Be sure you are best prepared for the interview by reviewing their Linkedin profile or website provided.  These sites should give you a better idea of candidate's work by highlighting skills or experience not listed on the resume, as well as, providing recommendations or testimonials from colleagues and previous clients.

When calling the prospective freelancer to set up an interview, be up-front about your budget; discussing how much you can allocate toward the available work and when the freelancer will be paid.  I'll discuss a bit more about this in later steps, but remember "money talks...first" as you will need to negotiate an honest and fair pay rate and timeline for completion of your project.  You and the freelancer should be aware before the scheduled interview the terms of payment and project budget.

One more quick note when In determining your pay rate, just remember, you get what you pay for. You want to insure the rate quoted is fair and representative of industry standards.  Glassdoor is a great resource to visit when collecting information to help you determine a fair rate of pay for your freelancer.  

Just know that "most"(not all) cheaper or less experienced freelancers are going to require more supervision, more communication, and may not be as quick to take full ownership of a project.  All of which will cost you valuable time.  

The freelancer hired should be an expert in their specific area either as a product manager, designer, merchandiser, researcher, sourcing manager, technical designer, etc.  There will be some questions asked that are related to the nature of your particular business but in short, your freelancer should be able to accept your guidelines and hit the ground running.

When interviewing be sure to:

• Ask specific questions as they relate to the available work as well as situations that may come up while the freelancer is completing the work.  You could ask the freelancer to discuss a time when they had to meet a tough deadline without supervision or to ask them to describe how they handle crisis situations taking you through each step of their process.
• Look for evidence of problem-solving, creativity, and self-discipline.

Once the interview is over, then be sure to check for three references asking each reference about the freelancer's attitude and quality of work.  All satisfactory? Now you have the "who" for your fabulous fashion freelancer, now time for the how, when, and where!

   2.  The How: Freelance Is Contract Work:
A good freelance contract should include a set of guidelines for the work that needs to be done.  These guidelines need to be clearly outlined in the contract.  Be clear about the results you expect and at least include the details listed below in the contract:

• Deadline: Be sure to state how much time you are expecting the job to require and when you will consider the work complete.  Be crystal clear on your expected timeline for the work or for each job completed by your fabulous fashion freelancer.
• Communication: How often do you want your freelancer to communicate with you on the progress of the work? Do you want daily, weekly, bi-weekly updates?  Are you ok with verbal updates or should all updates be written and submitted according to the agreed upon communication schedule?  Make sure each party is clear on the work schedule by including the number of hours per week you are expecting your freelancer to devote to the job.  Make sure there is room for flexibility especially as the work load during a production season can be extremely variable with a definite ebb and flow in the cycle.
• Budget:  This will include the agreed upon rate (hourly, weekly, monthly, per job, etc.) as well as maximum amount to be paid to the freelancer within a specified period of time.  The contract should also outline maximum weekly hours, if relevant.  In addition, when the freelancer will be paid (weekly, monthly, per assignment completion, etc.) as well as agreed upon terms of deposit should be included in the contract details.

You will also want to determine if the work should be done on-site or can be done completely off-site, level of confidentiality required, and if the freelancer can use any of the work that is completed in his or her portfolio.  A good freelancer will go over expectations and deadlines with you carefully and provide feedback if the terms are reasonable or not.  A happy client means increased or repeat business for your freelancer and so your fabulous fashion freelancer is going to make every effort that all expectations are positively met. 

As I'm a proud member of Freelancers Union and am encouraging all serious freelancers to join this organization (free to join!), I've included a link to their automated contract creator.  This contract creator is useful for those looking to freelance and those looking for a freelancer.

Final quick note: A freelancer's contract is fairly simple with no taxes withheld and reported on Form 1099.  

   3|4. The When and The Where: Freelancers Are Always Open For Business
As I've already mentioned, freelancers offer increased flexibility for your organization and have the ability to work at any and all times.  

Specifically in the case of apparel companies, particularly those with a heavy or growing import business, freelancers can schedule their peak work hours at the same time as overseas merchandisers and factories.  I don't have to tell the savvy apparel owner or vice president of merchandising how much more effective and efficient in terms of approvals, solving production issues, and increased turn-around this can be for a growing apparel business.

A freelancer's ability to work when and where he or she is most needed allows for a more productive output of labor and an increase in business profits.  But before everyone gets all excited, there are a few things that have to be kept in mind. 

A Freelancer Is Not An Employee--but as we've discussed, an independent contractor.  When establishing the terms of employment, you need to know that if you hire a person to work regular hours at your office with your team, reporting to the same supervisors as your employees, the government may hold you liable for employment taxes.  You nor your fabulous fashion freelancer wants this as the goal is to "save" you money.  So just remember you, as the contractor, control the "results" of the freelancer's work, but not when or where they get it done.

You can definitely include within the contract terms expectations and guidelines for when your freelancer will work on-site, but you must also remember that the best times for your freelancer to work may not be during regular office hours and so this work may be done off-site, during flexible, peak hours.

So, those are your 4 easy tips to hiring a fabulous fashion freelancer.  Please feel free to add comments and feedback.  I would love to hear your thoughts whether you are planning to hire or are a fabulous fashion freelancer.


Fashion Freelance Works! Find out how I can work for you by submitting your contact information on this website or visit my Linkedin profile.

The expense for hiring and training new employees can not only take a toll on a start-up company or brand in terms of monetary costs, but also time lost to acclimate and train a new employee.  

As a fashion freelancer, I'm oftentimes confused and amazed that many smaller companies would waste the time and effort of hiring, training, losing an employee, and then hiring and training again a new employee, only to find they are back in the endless, non-productive, and expensive loop of replacing employees who have either quit due to burn-out or fired due to lack of competence or working well within the corporate environment.  These types of concerns will never surface when working with an experienced and skilled freelancer.

I think the biggest concern for apparel organizations is the belief that they will lose control of the product management process or they leave themselves vulnerable to the exposure of company "secrets."  These concerns have little to no bearing as:

1. The fashion freelancer is working for you.  You are their client and therefore, the freelancers #1 priority is to make sure you get the results you are paying for.  This is no different than the approach you take with your own B2B customers/clients.
2. Any real or most likely, imagined, concerns regarding company "secrets" can be easily addressed with a very simple and direct non-disclosure agreement which most fashion freelancers are happy to sign as this is quite a common practice of larger apparel companies for their entering and exiting employees. 

Why Fashion Freelance Works!

• Affordability
  

Why not gain the benefits of a highly experienced and skilled apparel professional without the risk and costs associated with a full-time hire?  Tangible monetary savings include, but not limited to lower cost in salary and benefits paid, minimal time required for training, and reduced cost of workspace  integration, as I can come in the office and work when and where I'm most needed.

• Dedication

Get the best-always! Your organization is my business and your company's success and happiness is directly connected to my livelihood.  My job is not only to keep your business, but to keep your business "happy" with my results.  You will always get the best work I can provide as You, as my client, are what drives my business. This means deadlines get met, phone calls are followed up and returned, and every bit of my energy is focused on making sure the job gets DONE!

• Expertise

Good freelancers bring their expertise and skills to your organization.  Hence, the reduced time in training and development.  An experienced fashion freelancer can breathe new life into your company by finding ways to reinvigorate your product development team, streamline development and production processes as needed, and introduce innovation where it makes sense for the company.  What better way to grow your business than by bringing fresh eyes and insight into the organization and creating new and improved ways to do better business?

• Flexibility

A freelancer works hours that make the best sense for the organization and oftentimes, is working when everyone else in the office has finished for the day and gone home.  For example, you may need someone who is available to communicate with overseas offices and the optimal time may be 6:00 am or 11:00 pm.  You can now rest assured you have a person working for YOU who will be available those times when it counts the most toward speed of development and production.  The second bonus? You only "pay" for the time worked, not the coffee breaks or the personal phone calls taken, but the time when I am working toward the success of your organization.

These are just a "few" of the reasons why Fashion Freelance Works!  In addition, consider my extensive network from working with other vendors, strong sense of immediacy as I work based on your schedule and budget, and accountability because if you don't look good, then I don't look good.

There is no easier "or" cheaper way to bring a talented, experienced team player into your company, especially if you are experiencing quick growth or going through transition, than by hiring a fashion freelancer like myself.

Every day you spend looking for that next full-time employee, who may or may not be around 12 months from now, means time (productivity costs) and money (direct costs) lost.  The typical cost of turnover for positions earning less than $30,000 annually is 16% of an employee's annual salary.  Of course, jobs which require more skills and education is going to have an even "higher" turnover cost.

Fashion Freelance Works! Find out how I can work for you by submitting your contact information on this website or visit my Linkedin profile.

Finding the right suppliers can be very simple if you follow these five keys to successful sourcing:

1. Variety of Vendors: You should develop partnerships with multiple vendors either based on country of origin, proximity to fabric and trim resources, specialties, flexibility, and costing.  The obvious reasons rely on speed and cost of production, but also you want to have design and line development options which edges you ahead of your competitors.  I have always prioritized to build strong relationships with many different vendors as these relationships have netted big pay-off in terms of solving production delays, quick sample turn-arounds, and increased design development options.
2. Know Your Vendors Strengths: As we all know, the cost of production machinery is expensive, especially specialized equipment used for needle-punching, stitching and bonding leathers, enzyme washing, beading, etc.  It pays in time and money spent, as well as customers saved, to have a very clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of your vendor base.  As a production manager, it is important to develop a vendor matrix which quickly outlines and targets these strengths and weaknesses as these are important factors to consider for booking and allocation.  Hence again, the importance of having a variety of vendors in your matrix as it widens the playing field in terms of design options you can bring to prospective buyers, as well as allows for greater negotiation power.  There are quite a few stories I could share on the nightmare of booking sample development and/or production (note: I did not do the booking) only to discover the vendor does not have the machinery to produce the garment.  Although, not in charge of the booking, I've often had to find miraculous ways to circumvent these issues which has always inevitably cost the company time, money, undue stress, and in some cases the lost confidence of a customer.  Save yourself the hassle now...be sure you know your vendors' strengths and weakness before booking samples or bulk production.  Create and manage a vendor matrix.  It will be your best resource when it comes time to book for development and/or bulk production.
3. It Pays To Visit: Many companies are slow to send representatives overseas to visit manufacturers complaining about the cost and lost in manpower back home.  Trust me, the pay-off will far outweigh any initial costs in the long-run.  As I just stated in the preceding key, you need to know your vendors' strengths and weaknesses.  This is best gained by being on-site, visiting their show/sample room, walking the factory floor, asking questions about equipment, working conditions, common production problems, and making note of what you see both on the factory floor and in their respective offices.  In addition to having "real' knowledge about the vendor you are working with, you can now sit down with the factory managers and address any production issues causing delays, plan for bookings and allocations for future development and production, see what new developments the factory is working on for other design companies, source local fabric and trim suppliers to add to your vendor matrix, and most importantly, build better working relationships so that you and your vendors become partners in your line's success.
4. Bigger Is Not Always Better: Cultivating relationships with smaller, lesser used vendors gives you the flexibility to competitively price for SMUs and build unique, fashion-driven designs into your product mix.  In addition, smaller manufacturers can be a life-saver for last-minute sample development especially when your bigger vendors are overbooked with production runs.  Of course, the same rules apply, as listed in the above keys, when using smaller, lesser known manufacturers, but I've found some of my best production runs in terms of quality, cost, and speed typically come from smaller vendors.  Smaller vendors want it more and will work hard to gain and keep your business. Consider the factories located in Africa for example...The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provides duty-free and quota free treatment on a number of apparel items. Africa is decidedly much closer in terms of transport time than China and here's one to "grow" on...Chinese manufacturers have already set up "shop" in many of these African countries...so if you are working with a large Chinese factory chances are your bookings are already being subcontracted to Africa.  Cut out the middle-man and seek out these factories directly.  Of course, be sure to consider factors such as political stability, infrastructure, ease of entry/port access, access to fabric/trims, etc.  Take a trip and then decide if a new, smaller, little tried vendor is a good option for your production.
5. Hold Your Vendor Accountable: In the wake of the recent Bangladsh factory fire that killed 112 workers, Walmart has decided to take a tougher stance on its vendors.  Zero tolerance for subcontracting without Walmart's prior approval. Now, this could serve as a cautionary tale and weigh back to my prior point on the importance of factory visits, but what should be stressed is how these factory visits work to keep vendors accountable by maintaining an open line of communication.  Having worked with Walmart for many years, I can safely say factory visits is not one of the company's biggest priority...getting the lowest price for the best quality is how Walmart works and has in the past "entrusted" factory conditions to the "lowly" concerns of its multitude of vendors.  As long as goods are cheap, pass CTL, and arrive on time, Walmart is happy and will continue to give you business without any thought or care of how its vendors managed these miraculous feats of production.  There are countless news stories, like Walmart, highlighting the damaged reputation of brands due to poor factory conditions, environmental abuses, and unethical  practices in terms of mislabeling, etc.  Macy's and Sear's just recently were fined $1 million dollars by the FTC for mislabeling rayon as bamboo.  This is a big ouch and a huge cut in profits.  You don't want to find your company or brand headlining a factory fire, improper labeling, or environmental waste story in major newspapers or all over the internet.  The amount of time and money needed to sway public opinion can be costly or even detrimental.  Companies like, Sears, Macy's, and Walmart have the money and clout to swiftly address this media firestorm and pressure its vendors.  You may not.  It's never a good idea to be reactive, best line of defense is no defense...so work toward a strong offensive, proactive strategy when working with your vendors.  Levi Strauss serves as an excellent example of building vendor accountability right into every contract. It's best to plan for vendor accountability and find out how many, if any before goods are booked and one of those factors to include in your vendor matrix spreadsheet.

Fashion Freelance Works! Find out how I can work for you by submitting your contact information on this website.

You want to know how to create strong competitive advantages that will drive competition away and solidify your market standing? Quality-driven production, along with innovative, fashion-focused merchandise, will give you a leading edge {every time} against other merchandising and production companies.  I offer a quick visual review of how to use quality assurance to drive the competition away. Here's a quick tip, creating and maintaining high quality standards not only protects your brand, but also builds a strong brand reputation that can be leveraged to create new brands, increase sales, and grow consumer base(s). Click on the file link below to read more and share your thoughts in the comment section.

Fashion Freelance Works! Find out how I can work for you by submitting your contact information on this website.

I offer a quick visual review of how to use sales and trend analysis to drive the product development and production process.  Here's a quick tip, the key is a creating an open supply chain of information that converge from retail sales and trend research.  Click on the file link below to read more and share your thoughts in the comment section.

Fashion Freelance Works! Find out how I can work for you by submitting your contact information on this website.

As we, once again, look toward a new year...I have returned to the familiar with an eager anticipation of what will unfold in fashion for 2010.  This blog is both a labor of love and at times, I hope, an intellectual endeavor...as this is how I see fashion.  


It requires unique vision and a creative intelligence to innovate the familiar, to translate our collective experiences into a wearable expression, and brave vulnerability to captivate an oftentimes jaded and jaundiced audience each season who is always eager to proclaim it has already been done.  And perhaps it has, but I never tire of looking for the "divine" on the runways and fashion spreads and sharing my awe and excitement when a designer's vision of their inspiration is revealed.  In each season's collection, fashion speaks to us of our hopes, dreams, disappointments, beliefs...it reminds us of where we have been, shows us where we are, and suggests where we are heading.  I look forward to continuing this dialogue with each of you this year.  What will be your fashion statement(s) for 2010?  

Clothes rental services have been around for some time now, often focusing on the short-term needs of new parents, dieters or those preparing for special occasions. A new Singapore company gearing up for launch, however, is setting its sights squarely on fashionistas and others who would rather not wear the same outfit twice.

Representing yet another variation on the well-loved Netflix model, Closet Infinite is a service through which members can rent clothes for free in exchange for donating a fashion item of their own. Interested fashionistas begin by sending a photo of the item they'd like to donate, along with a description of its condition, where it was purchased and how much it cost. Upon acceptance and delivery to Closet Infinite, the item entitles them to 6 months' worth of membership on the site and the chance to rent the donated clothes of others for free.

At that point members simply browse Closet Infinite's "library" and select the clothes they wish to rent. Clothes are then sent to them by mail within three days along with return packaging, and members are entitled to keep them for up to five days. Within Singapore, a per-item handling fee of SGD 6.50 includes packaging, postage and cleaning fees, while a deposit of SGD 30 is returned when the clothes are sent back. (International pricing will follow at a later stage.) Late charges of SGD 5 are assessed for each day the clothes are overdue.

Closet Infinite will officially launch once it has built up its collection of clothes, the site says.

Given the pace at which styles change, it's no wonder more and more consumers are opting to be transumers instead, free from the expense and commitment of ownership. There's bound to be plenty of demand for a service like this in every fashion-conscious corner of the globe—one to bring to clothes hounds near you?

Source: Springwise.com