Domestic Sourcing "101" Seminar

This important informative workshop/seminar will address the important topic of; How & Where to find reliable compliant domestic sewing & cutting contractors. The panel of experts will explain the many resources available and the important steps necessary to insure quality control and state regulations that govern domestic production.
1 hour seminar

International Sourcing "101" Seminar

This important informative workshop/seminar will address the important topic of; How & where do you begin to find reliable off-shore sources. The panel of experts will explain the many resources available, which will assist manufacturers to find the right connections to International Sourcing, financial requirements, legal ramifications, shipping information and Government agencies who can assist with off shore production
1 hour seminar

Starting an Apparel Business – From Design Concept to Apparel Manufacturing

This seminar covers all the important topics that are necessary when planning on starting your own apparel company. A complete guide from concept to consumer.

• What do you need to do in order to get those creative hot ideas into the stores
• What licenses you need and how to get them
• Compliance Issues
• What type of funding is needed to start and to support your venture? 
• Do you need a Business Plan
• How to cost and make a profit
• Sales & Marketing
• Trade shows
  

3 hour seminar
Available as a DVD Cost: $80.00 for FBI Members - $95 for Non Members

Brand Building 

In today's brand-conscious world, US companies such as Nike, Polo, Juicy
Couture and Quicksilver have become icons of American apparel labels that
have influenced global popular culture. The name or logo a company invents
will ultimately be how they will be recognized and identified.
Distinguishing a product to consumers by a trademark can be the most valuable
asset a business may own that could then lead to profitable licensing
deals. This seminar will examine the necessary steps a company should take to begin the brand building process and entry the market.
3 hour seminar

Branding for Beginners 

What does it mean to create a brand?  What’s a brand proposition?  Is it essential to have a brand strategy?  And how to communicate your brand message to consumers, retailers and the press?  This compelling topic captives industry leaders worldwide.  And this seminar is A MUST for startup fashion brands entering today’s competitive marketplace.  Come prepared to participate in an interactive discussion, glean practical tips for building your own brand and leave with an invaluable customized guideline to share with your team.
3 hour seminar

Trend Tracking like the Big Brands

Learn secrets of trendspotting, color forecasting and retail analysis utilized by the Pros. Now you can stay on top of the ever-changing marketplace, leverage your trendsetting instinct and create winning product each season.  Trend forecasting is part art, part science, part intuition and a whole lot of common sense.  To tie it all together, attend this seminar and learn how our industry’s international color forecasters, cutting edge coolhunters and global market researchers make sense of the market for their big brand clients.
3 hour seminar

Branding and Marketing for Boutiques

This exciting seminar reviews brand and marketing strategies to help increase the profile and profits of your retail store.  Topics include Customer Relationship Management, Co-Branding and other Marketing Techniques to promote sales and customer loyalty.  
3 hour seminar

Building Your Multi Channel Strategy

Get Your Website and Brick and Mortar boutiques to work together for ultimate sales, profitability and brand exposure.  This seminar reviews marketing techniques and strategies to blend your channels and move your business to the next level. 
3 hour seminar

Effective Costing-"Look after the cents and the dollars will take care of themselves"

Every entrepreneur’s ultimate goal is to run a successful company. Understanding the complexity of how to cost effectively will play a major part in achieving this goal. 

The Fashion Business is a unique industry: artistic and creative, profit-driven and demanding. Effective Costing will take you to the heart of costing and give you the real facts so you can realize a profitable future for your business.

Determining all the costs and all the important components that make up a cost sheet will be the key to your company’s success. One missing item or miscalculation from the cost sheet could lead to the loss of a season’s profit, and if not realized in time could ultimately lead to the failure of your company.

Understanding the importance of costing your product will be the determining factor in the profitability of your company’s growth and survival. This seminar will explain in detail the steps necessary in detailing costs and making a profit.
3 hour seminar

Fashion Retailing - Opening A Retail Store

Opening a retail store in order to sell direct to customers is attractive and can be lucrative. However, like manufacturing it should be fully investigated before investment of time and money.
This seminar will explain some important options before making a final commitment. Bricks and mortar and virtual storefronts will be discussed. 
3 hour seminar

Writing and Developing a Financial Plan

A three-week "hands on" training course is designed to assist start-up apparel manufacturers develop a five year working financial guide that will better prepare them, and thus increase their chances of both surviving and to prosper. Course participants meet once per week and will complete a working financial plan for final review by the third session.  This course has been developed for those who have a business plan but need to plan financial requirements for a five year projection.
9 hour workshop

The Apparel Boot Camp- Lessons for Survival and Success in the Fashion Business™

In the highly volatile, fast moving apparel industry, the reality is that the strong survive while the weak get eaten.  As a small manufacturer you are faced with too little capital, too few sales, and too little time to do too many tasks.  Like a tightrope walker, you’re one mistake away from a disaster.

A ten-week “hands on” training course designed to assist manufacturers become better competitors and thus increase their chances of both surviving and prospering in this “take no prisoners” industry.  Course participants meet one night per week. The course will be taught by Robin Cornwall, a consultant and educator who has worked with hundreds of apparel manufacturers, teaching them strategies and techniques that make money, save time, and prevent mistakes.

The course will be a combination of lectures, group discussions, reading assignments, and Q & A sessions with guest speakers who are industry experts. Course participants will look at different a aspect of the apparel industry each week and will be provided with techniques, strategies, and information that they can use to become more profitable, produce a better product, and sell more units.

30 hour workshop

Labor Compliance and Monitoring

This seminar will outline the legal responsibilities of apparel manufactures, contractors and retailers. Topics that will be discussed:

• If your company is compliant with all the regulatory requirements, do you know how to find industry monitors to assist you with all these issues?
• What are the costs involved and the consequences of non compliance with bill AB633? 
• Penalties of non compliance 
• Obtaining a Garment Registration Certificate 
• Regulations regarding contracts with contractors 
• Monitoring contractors 
• Exempt versus non exempt classifications
  

3 hour seminar

Financing Options For Apparel Manufacturers

Understanding and developing a cash flow will be a crucial factor to the success of your company and will determine the financial future for your company. This important seminar will explain where to find the funds and how to wisely plan:

• Factoring Your Orders
• Loans¨ Investors 
• Friends and Family 
• Repayment Of The Loan Or Investment
  

3 hour seminar

Apparel Entrepreneurial Course

Designed by professionals to assist new businesses achieve their goal of become successful and ultimately running a profitable company. This ten week valuable course will assist small start-up apparel businesses understand the A to Z of the industry. This course has been designed to guide the apparel entrepreneur through the many complex parts to running a successful apparel company. Among the topics to be covered: 

• Legal Issue
• Business & Finance Planning
• Costing
• Operations
• Sales
• Marketing & Branding
• Sourcing
• Logistics/ Shipping/Import – Export
• Web Based Sales
• Using Technology
  

30 hour workshop

What Every Startup Apparel Company Needs to Know about the Legal Issues Affecting its Business

 You are not a lemonade stand.  You are a commercial enterprise seeking to compete against billion dollar apparel giants - who are ready, willing and able to flex their considerable muscles to put you out of business.  Come learn from an expert and one of the top legal professionals in the apparel industry about what you can do to keep your business from getting sued.  Questions are encouraged.
3 hour seminar

Trademark and Copyright Basics for Fashion Entrepreneurs

Practical Legal Tips on Choosing and Registering Trademarks, Licensing and Protecting Copyrights, Model Releases and more.
LEARN:

• Which names and words can be used as trademarks, and which cannot be used;
• Which clothing designs are protectable by copyright law, trademark law, or both, and which are unprotectable; 
• When it is necessary to obtain a license to use a name, logo or celebrity name or likeness in advertising or designs, and when it is not necessary... and more.
  

3 hour seminar