{"id":3548,"date":"2018-10-31T06:37:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T06:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider.utelier.com\/?p=3548"},"modified":"2024-02-19T22:59:30","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T22:59:30","slug":"get-the-best-out-of-business-mentor-grow-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fashioninsiders.co\/business\/get-the-best-out-of-business-mentor-grow-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get the Best Out of Your Mentor [and grow your business]"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Journey of Monisola Omotoso<\/em> from a fashion designer to a pattern cutter.<\/p>\n When I embarked on my first enterprise as a fashion designer, while in my final year at University I felt invincible and ready to take on the fashion world. I had designed a menswear item that was bought by Paul Smith, the design emporium of the times, Jones, on the Kings Road, and the Duffer of St George. I was supported by my university tutors and the buyers at the stores I sold to.<\/p>\n They advised me and introduced me to members of the press who gave me a lot of coverage in their newspapers and magazines. Looking back, I guess they were my early mentors but at the time I wasn\u2019t even aware of the term and its importance.<\/p>\n After graduating and with the confidence of selling to such illustrious stores, I wanted to focus on ladies wear so I wrote a business plan to try and raise funds for the production of my first collection.<\/p>\n Subsequently, I was awarded a grant by The Princes Youth Business Trust, of late, The Princes Trust<\/a>.\u00a0 During my interview for viability, I was informed that I would be allocated a business advisor who would select a mentor for me. At that stage in my career, I was a little unsure what a mentor actually was and how they were supposed to help me<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Princes Trust understood the importance of nurturing and guiding talent in young people. By allocating a mentor in the form of an appropriate fashion business owner or manager to a budding designer, the right one will be a fount of knowledge.<\/p>\n In addition to their business acumen, they will also open up their address book and potentially introduce you to a myriad of useful contacts. Finding one mentor who can support you in all areas of your business isn\u2019t always possible.<\/p>\n Without their support, things would have been much more difficult to navigate on my own.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n My first mentor ran a company that produced uniforms and workwear to catering companies and he supported me with financial forecasting and day to day business management. My second mentor was better placed to help with the latter as she was the director of a company called Shelana, who produced ladies blouses. She introduced me to a couple of manufacturers who were able to offer short-term help.<\/p>\n My mentoring journey with Shelana ended after a couple of years and in spite of many efforts made to try to find another mentor through the Prince’s trust I was unsuccessful. My business continued, without mentorship, for many years until I met someone who would serendipitously act as a mentor of sorts.<\/p>\n Simon Reeve, the television presenter, introduced me to his friend Charlotte Soussan, who worked for Evian and they awarded me money to produce two seasons worth of collections. When that ended I was backed by them to develop a range of maternity clothes that I sold to Harrods and other maternity wear stores in the country.<\/p>\n My mentorship with them included being introduced to a great photographer who used Rosemary Ferguson in my campaign and working with a PR company who got me a lot of press. Without this support, things would have been much more difficult to navigate on my own.<\/p>\n My latest journey with mentoring has been the most interesting and beneficial one by far. It began two years ago when I felt I had got as far as I could go with the development of a range of handbags.<\/p>\n I had been working on the range for quite a few years trying to find the right manufacturer to produce them. My first attempt at working with a factory was unsatisfactory and the money invested in me by a friend was wasted.<\/p>\n I had developed a technique to create ergonomic, sculptural handbags by elevating a humble vintage textile embellishment called Italian quilting. I could make the products so I knew it was possible for others to make them properly but they were labour intensive and the stitching needed to be precise. I was selling them on a bespoke basis to a couturier I had met while I was lecturing at LCF and realized that because I was receiving fantastic orders, I had to explore scaling up.<\/p>\n Dessy (my mentor) also helped me realise that my skill as a creative pattern cutter wasn\u2019t being pushed far enough.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n But, how was that possible without a great manufacturer? I had all but given up when I realized I needed a mentor who could perhaps help me to find a manufacturer in Italy. I stumbled upon a company on Instagram while reading the comments made on a Sophie Hulme post. That company was Mentor Matcher<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The brainchild of a lady who had spent some time in prison for fraud and who felt that she would try to support women by pairing them with an appropriate business mentor. I signed up and after attending their first meet up I was eventually matched with Dessy [Tsolova]<\/strong>. Her background is in design and product development as well as factory sourcing. She was a perfect match. Our first of 12 monthly meetings was a revelation.<\/p>\n Dessy completely stripped my product back, suggesting I simplify zip pullers, refine straps and bin the dog tag I was obsessed with using. She compared my product to Bottega Veneta, which was amazing, and suggested I do some research on the company aesthetic.Your First Mentor(s) and What They Can Teach You<\/h3>\n
\nThis was useful but once I had understood the machinations of financial forecasts I felt I wanted someone to help with introductions to potential buyers or support with manufacturing.<\/p>\nWhether to Trust Your Mentor Completely or Not?<\/h3>\n
\nShe set me tasks so that I could define my brand DNA, ideal customer and edit my bag styles.<\/p>\n