Ep 24 -Creating a children's footwear brand with Ali Mcleavy of Brand Zig And Star

Today’s Start Scale Succeed is a recording of an IG live with Ali Mcleavy, who after 20 years working in buying and most recently as head of buying for Topshop has launched her own children's footwear brand Zig and Star. Join host Nicole and Ali as they chat about how the brand came about and how Ali built the brand and established relationships with wholesale partners. 
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
 
Ali had lost passion for the job she was in and found that passion again creating her own brand and throwing herself into it. 
By finding the right people who bring their own level of experience to the table, as a new business owner you can really plug some of the gaps in your own knowledge. 
Ali spent more time bringing people on board, developing and sampling, and working out their brand story before launch. She could have launched in 9 months but decided to wait 2 years. 
One of Ali’s pieces of advice is to learn along the way while you’re small enough to learn. 
Zig and Star only work with partners who they think bring something to the brand, it’s not a case of trying to stock them in every single shop on the high street. 

BEST MOMENTS
 
‘You can absolutely have kids and have a career like this’ 
‘Even though I’m not very entrepreneurial, I have belief in myself’ 
‘When you’re a small brand, certain collaborations don’t feel right’ 
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES 
 
www.thebuyerandretailcoach.comwww.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoachwww.zigandstar.comwww.instagram.com/zigandstar
 
ABOUT THE GUEST
 
Ali, mum of 3, felt frustrated at how the kids wear market directed her to buy one type of product for her daughters and another for  her son. An avalanche of pink unicorns on one side of the shop and an army of dinosaurs on the other. Shoes were no better: boys’ shoes were built for adventure, but where was the colour or the fun? Whilst girls’ shoes were sparkly or impractical...
 
After 20 years working in fashion and footwear, she decided to tackle this head-on. To create the shoes she wanted to buy for her own children. Unisex styles in cool colours, that not only looked great but were good for their feet and for the planet. Designed in collaboration with a Paediatric Podiatrist, the styles are designed to adjust to each child and grow as they grow.

ABOUT THE HOST
 
Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line. 
Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM) 
Join the Start Scale Succeed waitlist. How to start & scale a product business. A 12 Week programme:  thebuyerandretailcoach.com/startscalesucceedwaitlist
 
CONTACT METHOD 
 
Website http://www.thebuyerandretailcoach.comIG https://www.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoach/LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/nicolehigginsuk Email [email protected] Newsletter https://thebuyerandretailcoach.com/newsletter-sign-up/Book a call with me https://thebuyerandretailcoachltd.as.me/discoverycall