Make it British Podcast

If you're struggling to find a UK manufacturer there's usually one of five reasons why you can't find one. In this episode, I explain what those five situations are. And give you suggestions for how to have more success in finding your ideal manufacturing partner. Discover: Why more people are looking for UK manufacturers now 00:45 Questions I ask when someone says they can't find a manufacturer 0...

Lee Akpareva is a fashion designer, tailor and technology consultant.  He's also creative director of Never Fade, a fashion store and creative space on Old Compton Street in London. We chat about collaborations within the fashion industry, helping new designers get a head start, and how blockchain and technology are impacting the fashion industry and manufacturing. Discover: About Lee and his...

Should you use Made in UK or Made in Britain? And what's the difference? A few people have asked why we chose to call the awareness campaign Made in UK Day and not Made in Britain Day. United Kingdon, Great Britain, The British Isles...it can be very confusing trying to get your head around all the different ways you can describe the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. In this episo...

What does it mean to be a UK leather bag business in 2021? Today I’m chatting with Gillian Tusting from English heritage leathergoods brand Tusting. Gillian shares the story of how the family business, founded in 1875, evolved from a small tannery to a thriving part of the UK's leathergoods industry. She describes the craftsmanship that goes into the making of their leather bags, and how collabora...

If you manufacture a product in the UK, selling your product for too low a price could be detrimental to your brand. And putting your prices up could actually increase your sales! If you prices are too low, especially if you make in the UK, your customers may think there is something wrong. This applies not just for brands, but for UK manufacturers too. In this episode I look at the reasons why th...

Welcome to series 3 of the Make it British podcast! On the 10th anniversary of the founding of Make it British I take a look back at some of my milestones over the last decade. How have perceptions of UK manufacturing changed in that time? To celebrate 10 years of Make it British we have launched Made in UK Day on 9 March 2021. Find out more at madeinukday.co.uk Stay in Touch British Brand Acceler...

Made in UK Day is taking place on 9 March 2021. In this episode, I explain why I've started an awareness day for UK makers, and how you can get involved! Follow #madeinukday on social media to keep up to date with the campaign. Find out more at madeinukday.co.uk Mentioned in this episode: British Brand Accelerator

What will 2021 hold for businesses that make in the UK? In the last episode of 2020, and the last of series two, I look at some of the trends that I think will impact businesses that make in the UK in the coming 12 months. Listen to this episode to hear my predictions - and let me know if you think I've missed anything out! Here are my 11 trends for UK manufacturing and British-made brands in 2021...

Today's episode is part one in a two part series where I'll be looking back on our year in 2020 and then looking forward to 2021. There is no doubt that 2020 has brought its share of challenges for everyone, but I am not going to dwell too much on the negative today. Instead, I take a look at what positives have come out of this most unusual year. Discover: How virtual events and meet-ups have bee...

UK-made goods have huge value both at home and abroad. If you have a UK-made brand are you doing enough to shout about it? In this episode, I share my 7 foolproof tips you can action right now to shine a light on the products that you make. Discover: What you can do to make your brand stand out from the brands that make overseas How you can have great provenance without being a heritage brand with...

Catherine Erdly is the founder of The Resilient Retail Club . She has a background in retail as a merchandiser for some of the best-known High Street retailers but now works exclusively with independent retailers and small businesses. In this episode, we discuss what went wrong at Debenhams and Arcadia, how the buying model of the big retailers is now becoming less relevant, and how now is a good...

This is a recording of an Instagram live that I did on the last Friday in November. A day often referred to in the retail calendar as Black Friday. I discussed why the heavy discounting from many stores at this time of year are not really deals at all, and why many UK-made brands don't do heavy discounting. Discover: - The tricks big retailers use on Black Friday  - Why most UK-made brands do...

How do UK manufacturers and brands compete with huge overseas factories and the likes of Black Friday discounting? In this episode, I revisit an interview I did back in 2018 which is still very relevant today. It's a ‘no holds barred’ interview with James Eden, owner of Private White V.C . who tells me how he’s turned a clothing factory that solely manufactured for other brands, including Burberry...

This week we've been spending time updating the About page on the Make it British website. It's still not finished yet so please don't look at the old one! It caused me to revisit the first-ever episode of this podcast when I talked about my background and why I set up Make it British. So I'm sharing that episode with you again today as it is two years ago since I first started recording this podc...

Based in Cornwall in the South West of England, Celtic & Co is the original sheepskin boot company. Kath Whitworth and her husband Nick bought the business 30 years ago and trademarked the UGG boot in the UK. In this episode, Kath tells the story of how the brand has evolved over the last three decades. Discover: The history of the Celt boot Why Cornwall has such an entrepreneurial spirit How...

Julie Deane OBE, set up the Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with £600 and went on to make it a global, multi-million pound business. But behind the success story, there was a lot of hard work, including having to set up her own factory in Leicestershire almost overnight. In this interview, she tells the story behind the brand, and talks about how the business has evolved over the last 12 years.&...

Emma Mathews is the founder of sustainable sock brand Socko and the author of 'How to quit fast fashion; 100 expert tips for a sustainable wardrobe' In this episode, she talks about how she went from a career in advertising to launching a sock business, and why we should all learn the lost art of darning socks. Discover:  - How Emma found her manufacturer and learnt the process of industrial...

Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper , a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire. The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK. Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already p...

Rachel Attwood is the founder of luxury childrenswear brand Britannical, and a long-standing member of Make it British . The business started life making outwear for babies and was originally called The Great British Baby Company. The brand is known for its coats, which are now made for children up to 12 years old, and an adults line is in development too. Britannical is an ethical brand...

Elizabeth Stiles is a straight-talking fashion buyer turned small business consultant. She helps fashion brands with their marketing, manufacturing and mindset, and has worked with clients such as Lucy & Yak and Olivia Rose. Discover:  How to find your USP Why Elizabeth won't buy from Amazon How not to commit your life savings to stock when you launch a business Why you should focus your...

The second in our series of live panel discussions in association with Kornit Digital, manufacturers of advanced digital printing solutions. ‘Sketchpad to Shopping Bag: The Future of Fashion Production and Fulfilment’ continues the important debate around the future of the UK textile industry. I'm joined by panellists from education, design, manufacturing and retail, as well as the Chief Marketing...

Davinder Madaher has been a textile and print designer in the fashion and homeware industry for 30 years. In this episode, he talks about his career - from working in print studios in New York to high street retailers in the UK. Davinder clearly loves what he does, and this enthusiasm and passion for the industry clearly comes across in this interview. His motto is ' Finding the creativity in the...

Putnams is an award-winning homeware manufacturer based in Plymouth, Devon. The business was started over 40 years ago by Hedley Putnams' parents, and he and his sister Bubbles now run the business. Hedley had no intention of working in the family business but found that he loved working in manufacturing and employing people locally. Discover: Why you should listen to customer feedback and how you...

Are you currently making your product overseas but thinking about bringing it back to the UK? The pandemic has caused ongoing supply chain disruption and many businesses are now looking to make locally. In this episode, I look at what some of the pros and cons are of moving your manufacturing closer to home. I also give some tips for how to reshore your production as smoothly as possible if that's...

How do you feel about virtual trade shows? 2020 has certainly changed the way the whole world works and does business, but if you are in the business of developing or sourcing products, how does that look for you?  I can’t see that long haul buying trips will be happening in the way they used to. Far too risky that the whole team might end up quarantined for weeks after they get back, or...