Make it British Podcast

Unfortunately, mistakes can, and do, happen in manufacturing, but there are ways to avoid it.

In this episode we look at:

• the main reasons that manufacturing a product usually goes wrong
• how to resolve the situation if it does
• how to make sure that it doesn't happen again

If you are struggling to find and work with UK manufacturers I can help. Sign up for myGet Set for Manufacturing course here

Show notes for this podcast can be found here:www.makeitbritish.co.uk/044

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British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

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Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

What makes a great British brand?

In this episode I chat to brand guru Simon Middleton about what makes an average brand stand out from an extraordinary one.

Simon is my go-to authority on anything to do with creating a brand and telling brand stories - he'sbeen voted one of the world's Top 30 branding professionals, and his book How to Build a Brand in 30 Days is a must-read for anyone who is launching a new business.

Simon was the founder of British-made clothing brand Shackleton clothing, which he launched on Kickstarter and grew into a successful business stocked in stores worldwide.

He has also advised the Harris Tweed Authority, and many other household names, on brand strategy.

In this interview we discuss what makes a great British brand, and why he has coined the phrase 'contributive business' when referring to organisations that operate with authentic meaning and purpose.

More about Simon Middleton

Simon Middleton on Linkedin

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British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

Why is swimwear so difficult to make when the products look so simple?

This is one of the questions that I put to guest Paul Smithers from Halcyon Blue, a swimwear manufacturer based in Hampshire, UK.

Paul fell into manufacturing by accident after acquiring the small factory that was making his swimwear brand for him. He now makes 3,000 garments a week for both his own brand and other clients.

In this interview he discusses some of the challenges of making a product that looks deceptively simple, but which is actually quite difficult to make in volume in the UK.

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

In 2014 I had the idea to set up a trade show for UK manufacturers.

This episode tells the story of why the event came about - and how it nearly went very horribly wrong!

For the first time, I share the behind the scenes story of what triggered the event happening in the first place, and why that nearly led to its downfall.

Hear the real reason behind why we ended up with queues around the block at that first show, and a warning as to why you should never hold a big event in a venue with no toilets!!

Thankfully, I can look back on our first event and laugh now, and I hope by sharing the story it gives inspiration to anyone else thinking of taking the leap to do something they've never done before.

If you'd like to attend this year's trade show (which will be much better organised and will have proper toilets) go to www.makeitbritishlive.com/register

Show notes for this podcast can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/040

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

In this episode of the Make it British podcast I discuss a love of knitwear, in particular the lost art of hand-intarsia, with Genevieve Sweeney.

Genevieve trained as a knitwear designer, and after working for several well-known brands, she took the plunge and set up her own label - Genevieve Sweeney - which she describes as 'Premium British Knitwear'.

To find out more about Genevieve and to see her fantastic knitwear, go to genevievesweeney.com

Genevieve Sweeney on Instagram

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

I think visiting a factory is essential for anyone that is developing a new product

One of the benefits of making in the UK is that factory visiting is far easier than if you are making your products overseas.

In this episode I run through my 7 reasons why you should be visiting a factory - and hopefully, if you're not doing so already, I will have convinced you by the end!

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best

Debbie Humphreys stumbled across her business idea when she took ownership of a whippet called Bruno and had trouble finding things to keep him warm.

With a background in dressmaking and a successful wedding dress business, Debbie started to turn her hand to making clothes for her whippet.When other dog owners started to ask where she got them, Debbie realised that she was on to something.

Fast forward nine years and Debbie has a thriving business selling a very British collection of knitwear and coats for whippets (with the occasional Daschund coat).

The secret to her success?She's stuck to a very specific product area for one type of customer - and nearly everything is made within 20 miles of where she is based in the Kent countryside.

Redhound for Dogs

Redhound for Dogs on Instagram

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

What are the rules surrounding whether you can label a product as made in the UK?

"Can I label my product as made in the UK?' is one of the questions that I get asked the most.

The answer to this question is not completely cut and dry, but in this episode I try and clear up some of the confusion surrounding country of origin labelling, and give advice on what 'made in the UK' really means.

Rules of Origin Brexit Briefing from EEF

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

Katherine Hooker started her business with one garment and has been perfecting it ever since

In this episode designer Katherine Hooker tells the story of how she took a garment from her wardrobe that she loved, and turned it into a successful business.

Part of that success has been due to Katherine's dedication to craftsmanship and creating a perfect fit. In this interview she talks about how she found her manufacturer and what that partnership means to her today.

Katherine Hooker London

Katherine Hooker on Instagram

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.

When it comes to labelling your products what is the best term to use? Made in Britain, made in the UK, or something else?

In this episode I explore the different 'Made in..' labels that brands use to signify where their products are made.

Find out which is best...

Show notes for this podcast can be found at www.makeitbritish.co.uk/034

Stay in Touch

British Brand Accelerator-Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand

Make it British website

Join Make it British-become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers

Make it British on Instagram

Make it British on YouTube- subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos.