Make it British Podcast
Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing.
In this podcast she shines the light on British brands and manufacturers, and goes behind the scenes of their businesses.
With tips, hints and tricks to help you manufacture in the UK and buy British.
Never has there been a more critical time to get behind 'made in Britain'.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 306
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
186 – Taking a break!
Just a quick one today, to say that I'm taking a break from recording new episodes after next week.
In the meantime, I have selected 10 of the best episodes from the archive for your enjoyment, which …
185 – Reeducating Customers to Buy Better and Buy Less – Rita Britton
Rita Britton is somewhat of a fashion legend.
For 50 years she ran an independent fashion store in Barnsley, Yorkshire called Polyanna, which was an International hub for luxury fashion stocked with …
184 – Should you use a production consultant to help make your products?
If you want to develop a range of products but have little manufacturing experience you might be thinking of employing the services of a production consultant.In this episode, we’re going to look out…
183 – It was a stupid idea, now it’s a million pound business – Brant Richards
Brant Richards is one of the founders of HebTroCo.
5 years ago, he and his business partner Ed had an idea in the pub - to start making trousers in Hebden Bridge, a town in Yorkshire that was once ren…
182 – Why Google is the last place to look for UK manufacturers
Do you want a manufacturer in the UK? On today's episode I discuss the reasons why searching in Google for a manufacturer to make your products could be a very costly mistake to make.
Discover:
- What ca…
181 – Looking after Scotland’s oldest cashmere brand – Simon Cotton
Johnstons of Elgin is the largest textile manufacturer in the UK. The 223-year-old company employs over 1,000 people and was the first to bring cashmere weaving to Scotland.
Simon Cotton, the chief ex…
180 – LIVE: How to make more money making in the UK
This episode is a lesson to anyone that wants to make in the UK but is struggling to make their pricing work.YES, it is possible to have a thriving and sustainable brand that is made in the UK and be…
179 – Growing a UK-made lifestyle brand – Rebecca J Mills
Rebecca Mills has a background in buying and retail for some big-name brands, yet when it came to running her own business she found it very different.
In this episode, she talks about how different i…
178 – The real reason you aren’t making any money with your UK-made business
I get contacted all the time by people looking for ‘more affordable’ UK manufacturers. They’re not making any money in their business and they believe it’s all the manufacturer’s fault because their …
177 – A guide to digital textile printing – Debbie McKeegan, Texintel
Debbie McKeegan has over 30 years experience in textile printing - specifically digital printing. She is the founder of TexIntel, a platform that provides fantastic knowledge and advice to the digita…
176 – When should you choose making overseas versus making in the UK?
There are really four different scenarios in which it's probably better to manufacture overseas than in the UK.In this episode, I run through what those four different cases are. Discover:
- How the am…
175 – The benefits of lean manufacturing – James Stewart, Lean Practitioner
James Stewart is an experienced lean practitioner who has worked with Burberry and Fashion Enter to help streamline their manufacturing process.
‘Lean’ is a method for producing products in smaller ba…
174 – Why are your products not selling?
If your products aren’t selling - don’t get disheartened! There can be many reasons why products don’t sell, but there are also lots of things you can do to make sure they have the best chance of suc…
173 – Launching an Organic Skincare Brand – Hannah Lovegrove
In an industry that is dominated by big brands, how can you stand out from the crowd and launch something new?
In this episode, I chat to Hannah Lovegrove, co-founder of Lovegrove essentials, about wh…
172 – Should you sell your UK-made products on an online marketplace?
What are some of the pros and cons of selling your products on an online marketplace?And how do you know which ones you should be on?
Along with the well-established online marketplaces such as Etsy a…
171 – How we set up a micro swimwear factory – Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior
Rich and Linda make stunning, digitally printed swimwear under the label Usual Objections. They manufacture all of their products from a micro-factory in their family home in Hackney, which they also…
170 – Are you confusing mark-up and margin?
When it comes to working out your selling prices, one of the biggest mistakes people make is getting their margin and mark-up all mixed up!
It’s easily done as the two words are pretty similar. But it…
169 – From make-up artist to product innovator – Phyllis Cohen, Face Lace
On today’s episode, we’re being joined by make-up artist Phyllis Cohen, who is also the founder of a business called Face Lace.
Phyllis started her career as a make-up artist in the ‘80s during the Ne…
168 – How much does it cost to start a UK-made brand?
There are a lot of different costs involved in launching a brand. But in this episode, I break it down into four main segments: prototyping; stock; marketing and admin.
I also advise on what the typic…
167 – Building a Business With Your Customer in Mind – Rowena Howie
Rowena Howie’s Revival Retro store in central London is a destination shop for fans of her flattering dresses and stylish accessories.
In this episode we chat about how Rowena has pivoted her business…