Episode 32 - How a Daughter's Sensitive Skin Condition Inspired Katie Brandon Byrne To Set Up Her Own Childrenswear Brand

Lil & Izzy is an award winning brand with sustainability and design as it’s key focus points. Katie Brandon Byrne wanted to create products that stood the test of time and didn't cost the earth. She was inspired by her daughter's sensitive skin conditions to set up her own children's wear brand. In today's episode of Start Scale Succeed Katie joins Nicole to talk about considering both the parent and the child while designing, the challenges when you are starting out and how they are different to the challenges she now faces two years on, when to ask for support, prioritising when spinning all the plates becomes overwhelming, visibility on instagram, and influencer marketing.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The biggest challenge Katie had when starting her business was that she had no idea of the specific costs related to her field. She had experience with physical stores but hadn’t had to learn about the e-commerce side. She went with the cheapest options and that cost her in the long run. 
Other challenges Katie faced are that it’s expensive to create a product and you need to have some capital there to cover all these little and big costs you might not have expected. 
Time is a valuable thing when you’re starting out. Can you free up your time by outsourcing to someone else? If something takes you a long time to do and it would be more cost efficient to hire a freelancer with the skills you should always consider it. 
Remember to switch off from time to time. Working from home on your own business is something that can creep into your family life and you end up taking calls and doing emails when you should be relaxing. Set yourself a start and end time for the day. 
Making products that last and can be handed down between siblings is something that is so important to Katie and her brand. 
Katie has found that people only see brands through social media and influencers. It’s about working with the right influencer and try and test to find those right ones. 
 
BEST MOMENTS
‘You can always make changes along the way, you don’t need to do a big re-brand’ 
‘If you aren’t good at something, outsource it’
‘I started this to be flexible for my family and kids’ 
‘Comfort is still always going to be at the forefront’
‘Influencer gifting is all very much testing’
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES 
www.thebuyerandretailcoach.comwww.instagram.com/thebuyerandretailcoachwww.lilandizzy.com
 
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