The Business of Apparel

You can't force someone to love your favorite product, no matter how much time, money, and energy you've poured into creating it. As apparel founders, we have to be willing to look at the data, learn from what isn't working, and make tough decisions about what stays in our product line.

I'm sharing three lessons I've learned over the last five years of running my business and working with apparel founders. I'm talking about why failing fast can actually help your business move forward, why you sometimes have to "kill your darlings," and why your focus should shift from constantly creating new products to testing different ways to sell the products you already know are good.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why failure and mistakes are an essential part of building an apparel business
• How to use data to identify your hero products and eliminate other products
• Why you sometimes need to let go of products you love
• How to test messaging instead of immediately changing your product
• Why launching a product is only the beginning of figuring out how to sell it
• The importance of focusing your efforts instead of constantly creating more products

Growing an apparel brand takes patience, testing, and a willingness to listen to what the data is telling you. My hope is that you can learn from my mistakes and focus on finding what actually works for your brand!

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Order my book The Business of Apparel here!
• Say Good-Bye to $20,000 Apparel Brand Mistakes here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/goodbye
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

What if growing your apparel brand actually means offering less? After five years of trial and error, I'm realizing just how much simpler a business can become when you stop trying to do everything and focus on what's working. In this episode, I'm sharing how we're applying "the principle of the three ones" at The Business of Apparel: one funnel, one offer, and one million dollars as the first major milestone.

I'm sharing a sneak peek into why we're putting our energy into the Apparel Founders Board, how simplifying our offers and websites will help us better serve apparel founders, and why I believe the same approach can transform your product line. Limiting your offers can lower customer overwhelm, protect your cash flow, and build a brand people recognize for what it does best.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• The principle of the three ones: one funnel, one offer, and one million dollars
• How five years of testing, failures, and customer feedback shaped our business strategy
• How simplifying your offers and marketing can make it easier for customers to buy
• Why starting with one hero product, outfit, or collection can protect your cash flow
• How to use sales and profit data to identify your best-selling products and rationalize your SKU list
• How to use big businesses as a model to start small and expand strategically

Your apparel brand doesn't need dozens of products or endless offers to grow. Start by simplifying, looking at your numbers, and figuring out what you want to be known for. Focus your energy on your hero product, make it easy for customers to find, and build from a strong foundation.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Order my book The Business of Apparel here!
• Book a call with us: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/meet
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

What if your stellar work ethic is actually killing your business? It sounds crazy, but if you're doing everything yourself, working 60, 80, or 100 hours a week, you may actually be creating a ceiling for your business instead of helping it grow. I've had to learn this lesson myself, and I'm seeing the same pattern with many of the apparel founders I work with.

In this episode, I'm talking about why doing more isn't always the answer. I'm sharing what my own experience taught me about letting go of tasks, giving my team room to succeed, making space to be the visionary, and recognizing when my work ethic was no longer serving me or my business.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why doing everything yourself can create a ceiling for your business
• How holding onto tasks can prevent your team from succeeding and growing
• Why CEOs need space on their calendars to think about the bigger picture
• What my corporate career taught me about the importance of delegation
• How coaching and mentorship can help you find opportunities to save money, make more money, and move faster

Building a profitable apparel brand isn't about proving how much work you can handle. It's about creating the systems, team, and space you need to lead the business forward. My challenge for you this week is simple: give yourself permission to be the visionary.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Order my book The Business of Apparel here!
• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Reaching five years in business is a milestone worth celebrating, and it also gives you plenty of reasons to pause, reflect, and take stock of everything you've learned along the way.

In this episode, I'm reflecting on five years of building Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel and sharing some of the biggest lessons, mistakes, and pivots that have shaped my journey. From launching my own apparel line and realizing it wasn't where my heart was to learning the importance of trusting my vision, I'm sharing the experiences that have influenced the way I lead my business today. I'm also talking about building a strong team, simplifying our offers, learning to focus, and finally taking my own advice when it comes to tracking numbers, building processes, and creating a more profitable business.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• The biggest lessons I've learned after five years in business
• What launching my own apparel line taught me about being a startup founder
• Why fear-driven decisions can pull you away from what you really want to build
• The importance of hiring and building a team you can rely on
• Why simplifying and focusing can be so difficult for entrepreneurs
• The importance of knowing your numbers and using data to make better business decisions
• Why slowing down to build better processes can ultimately help you grow faster
• What I'm focusing on as I begin the next five years of Unmarked Street and the Business of Apparel

Five years in, I'm realizing that building a business is an ongoing process of learning, adjusting, simplifying, and starting again when necessary. This episode is an honest look at the lessons that have shaped my business so far and the work I'm doing now to build a more focused, data-driven, and sustainable company for the next five years.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Order my book The Business of Apparel here!
• Say Good-Bye to $20,000 Apparel Brand Mistakes here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/goodbye
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Get help with product development: http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/contact

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Starting an apparel brand can require far more time, money, and patience than you might expect, and unfortunately there may be plenty of expensive lessons to learn along the way.

In this episode, I'm bringing back a conversation with entrepreneur Kelly Roach, a former NFL cheerleader and Fortune 500 executive turned 8-figure+ entrepreneur empowering thousands around the globe to achieve financial and lifestyle freedom through entrepreneurship. Kelly shares openly about the biggest mistakes she made when launching her apparel brand, Give Her Courage, along with what she learned and how she would do things differently. She is passionate about inspiring girls and women to reach incredible goals, both through her apparel line and her strategic coaching.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why launching with too many products can make it harder to build momentum
• How to test demand for your designs before investing in a lengthy and expensive custom development process
• Realistic timelines of apparel development, including how samples, revisions, overseas vendors, ports, and tariffs can affect them
• How inventory quantities affect your overall startup budget
• Why you need a separate budget for marketing and advertising
• The importance of building wholesale relationships to get your product in front of potential buyers
• Why product quality, fit, and customer loyalty are essential to building a brand that can grow over the long term

Kelly's journey offers a valuable look at some of the financial and strategic realities that come with building an apparel brand. From testing your concept to planning your long term goals, this conversation is packed with lessons that can help you approach the apparel business with a clear understanding of what it takes to get a product to market and build a sustainable brand.

➡️ Connect with Kelly:

• Website: https://kellyroachcoaching.com/
• IG: @kellyroachofficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyroachint/
• Join the club: http://thecourageousbrand.com/
• Listen to her podcast: http://kellyroachinternational.com/podcast/

➡️ Connect with Rachel:

• Join The Board: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Get in touch here: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/contact
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/
• Order my new book, The Business of Apparel, here!

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

When you're working with an apparel manufacturer, it's important to know exactly who you're communicating with. Sometimes the person you think is part of the factory may actually be a sourcing agent working between you and the manufacturer.

Agents aren't necessarily a bad thing, but understanding how that relationship works can have a major impact on your costs, communication, and control over your production. I'm breaking down what apparel sourcing agents do, how they fit into the relationship between a brand and a manufacturer, and what you should know about the additional costs that can come with working through an agent.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• What apparel sourcing agents do and how they fit between brands and manufacturers
• The potential benefits of working with an agent, especially when sourcing multiple types of products or working across different manufacturing regions
• How agent fees can affect your FOB costs and why you should understand exactly what you're paying for
• Why detailed, line-by-line cost breakdown sheets are an important tool for evaluating your manufacturing costs
• How to compare fabric prices and yields and work directly with your mill to verify pricing
• Why maintaining a relationship with your manufacturer can reduce risk and give you more visibility into your production

Whether you choose to work directly with a manufacturer or through an agent, the most important thing is understanding how your sourcing relationships actually work. Knowing who is on your team, what they're responsible for, and how money and communication flow through those relationships can help you make better business decisions and avoid expensive surprises as your apparel brand grows.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Get help with product development: http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/contact
• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Order my new book, The Business of Apparel, here!

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

There are a lot of opinions about where you should and shouldn't manufacture apparel, but the truth is that no single region of the world is automatically good or bad for apparel production. What matters is finding the right manufacturing partner for your specific product, quantities, timeline, and business needs.

In this episode, I'm breaking down some of the biggest misconceptions about apparel manufacturing by region and talking about all the factors that should go into your decision about choosing a manufacturer. I'm also sharing a real example of a client project where we've run into unexpected sourcing challenges, even with 25 years of industry experience behind us.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why you shouldn't assume that an entire country or region is bad for apparel manufacturing
• The differences between woven and knit fabrics and why those differences can affect your sourcing options
• The advantages and challenges of domestic manufacturing, including smaller MOQs and "Made in the USA" opportunities
• Why tariffs, duties, shipping costs, and transit times can make overseas manufacturing more complicated right now
• How working with an experienced sourcing partner can help you navigate difficult manufacturing challenges

There is no single best region for apparel manufacturing. The right choice depends on your product, your quantities, your sourcing needs, your timeline, and the manufacturing partner you're able to find. I hope this episode gives you a more nuanced perspective on where apparel can be produced and reminds you that finding the right partner can make a huge difference for your brand in the long run.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Reach out to me at hello@unmarkedstreet.com
• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Pre-order my book, The Business of Apparel, here!
• Pre-order the e-book version here!

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Getting a response from the manufacturer you want to work with can feel like a challenge, especially when you're building an apparel brand and still learning how the industry works. But sometimes, the way you approach a factory can be the very thing keeping you from getting a response.

In this episode, I'm breaking down four things that can make you look like a beginner to manufacturers and suppliers, and what you should understand before you reach out. I'm sharing the questions you should be asking, the information you need to have prepared, and the tools that can help you build credibility and create stronger manufacturing partnerships.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why asking a manufacturer for their "best price" can be a major red flag
• What MOQ means and why it's so important to your budget and cash flow
• Why understanding lead times and a factory's production calendar is essential
• Why having a professional tech pack can completely change your conversations with manufacturers
• What information should be included in a tech pack, including garment measurements, construction details, and a bill of materials
• How asking the right questions can help you build stronger relationships with manufacturing partners

The more you understand about how apparel production actually works, the more confidently you can approach the manufacturers and suppliers you want to work with. I hope this episode helps you feel more prepared, professional, and equipped to have better conversations as you build your apparel brand.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Learn about our product development services: http://unmarkedstreet.com/contact
• Say Good-Bye to $20,000 Apparel Brand Mistakes here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/goodbye
• Pre-order my book, The Business of Apparel, here!
• Pre-order the e-book version here!

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

One of my favorite things about running a membership is that I have the opportunity to give apparel brand founders direct access to experienced industry professionals who can help them navigate the challenges of launching, growing, and scaling a business.

In this episode, I'm giving you an inside look at what happens during an Apparel Founders Board office hours meeting. I'm sharing a real preview of the conversations, questions, and resources that help our members make smarter decisions and navigate the many challenges that come with building and growing an apparel brand.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• What it's actually like inside an Apparel Founders Board office hours meeting
• The resources, templates, and curriculum I provide to Board members
• How I recommend apparel brands respond to rising shipping costs and changing market conditions
• What founders should consider when navigating ethics and sustainability in the apparel industry
• How to audit your time and identify the right roles to delegate or hire
• How I think about ROI and budget when hiring your first team members

As an apparel brand founder, you don't have to navigate this journey alone. I hope this insider's look at the kind of practical questions, resources, and strategic advice available in the Board encourages you to join us!

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Join The Board: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Pre-order my book, The Business of Apparel, here!
• Pre-order the e-book version here!
• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Starting an apparel brand is a big investment, and taking the time to validate your idea before jumping into product development can save you time, money, and frustration down the road.

As the launch of my book The Business of Apparel is right around the corner, I want to be sure you have a solid foundation for your brand before reading about how to start your business. I'm walking through the essential research I recommend doing before launching an apparel brand. I explain why researching your idea, understanding your potential customers, and creating a business plan can help you enter the apparel industry with a stronger foundation and a clearer path forward.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• How to vet an apparel product idea before investing in development
• What questions to include in customer surveys to guide product development
• How competitor research can help you understand pricing, products, and opportunities
• Why every apparel founder should consider creating a business plan
• How a SWOT analysis can help you identify your brand's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• Why thinking like a CEO from the beginning can set your apparel business up for long-term success

If you're still developing your brand idea, or if you're looking forward to reading my new book The Business of Apparel, you need to know these practical steps in order to validate your concept, understand your customers, and build your brand with a stronger business foundation.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Pre-order my book, The Business of Apparel, here!
• Pre-order the e-book version here!
• Browse our resources: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/shop
• Join The Board: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be some of the most profitable days of the year for your apparel brand, but success doesn't happen by accident. The brands that see the biggest results are the ones that start planning months in advance with a clear marketing strategy.

I will walk you through how to create a successful Black Friday Cyber Monday strategy that attracts new customers, increases repeat purchases, and protects your profit margins. I'll share how to plan your product launches, discounts, marketing campaigns, customer service, and post-purchase follow-up while using key performance metrics to measure your success and improve future promotions.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why Black Friday and Cyber Monday planning should begin months in advance
• How to create a profitable BFCM marketing and promotional strategy
• The key metrics every apparel founder should track before, during, and after the sales weekend
• How to balance discounts with healthy profit margins and inventory goals
• Why customer retention, community building, and post-purchase nurturing are essential for long-term growth

Whether you're preparing for your first Black Friday Cyber Monday promotion or looking to improve the results of future sales events, you'll gain practical strategies to help you plan with confidence, maximize revenue, and turn seasonal shoppers into loyal customers.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Say Good-Bye to $20,000 Apparel Brand Mistakes here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/goodbye
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Learn how we can help your business grow further: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/coursehttp://www.unmarkedstreet.com/

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Building an apparel brand can feel like an uphill battle, especially when you're competing against industry giants with resources, data, and strategies you don't have access to. While many founders assume they're simply missing a piece of the puzzle, the reality is that the apparel industry is far more competitive than most entrepreneurs realize, and understanding how it really works can change everything.

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on an eye-opening experience from my corporate career that completely changed the way I view the apparel industry. I share what happened during a leadership meeting at one of the world's biggest apparel companies, why emerging brands were seen as a threat despite holding only a tiny fraction of the market, and how that experience inspired me to dedicate my career to helping independent apparel founders succeed with the insider knowledge they've never been given.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why even the biggest apparel brands pay close attention to emerging competitors
• What I learned inside a corporate strategy meeting focused on protecting market share
• Why so much of the advice available to apparel founders feels incomplete or unhelpful
• How understanding the industry's hidden dynamics can help you make smarter business decisions
• Why having experienced advisors and proven operational strategies gives small brands a competitive advantage

Success in the apparel industry starts with understanding the realities behind the scenes. This episode will give you a new perspective on the challenges you're facing and remind you that success isn't about working harder. It's about understanding how the industry really operates and having the right guidance to navigate it.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Say Good-Bye to $20,000 Apparel Brand Mistakes here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/goodbye
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Leaving the security of a steady paycheck to build your own apparel business is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. The uncertainty of replacing your income, finding clients, and giving up traditional benefits can feel overwhelming, but the freedom, flexibility, and opportunity to build a business on your own terms can make it one of the most rewarding decisions you'll ever make.

In this episode, I sit down with two former colleagues and friends, Sarah White and Kayla Clarot, to talk about our journeys from the corporate apparel world into running our own businesses. We share the lessons we learned working in a high-pressure environment, how those experiences shaped our leadership styles, and why creating businesses rooted in collaboration, flexibility, and kindness has become our mission.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why leaving a corporate career can be the catalyst for building a business that fits your life and values
• How high-pressure work environments can develop leadership skills that translate into entrepreneurship
• Why collaboration works better than competition to create a strong business
• How to lead with honesty, kindness, and clear communication while building a healthy team culture
• Why balancing ambition with your physical and mental well-being leads to more sustainable success

Whether you're wondering if it's time to pursue your own apparel business or you're looking for encouragement as you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, this conversation will remind you that your past experiences can become your greatest advantage in building a company on your own terms.

➡️ Connect with Sarah and Kayla:

• Sarah: https://www.theoutdoormerchant.com/
• Kayla: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-clarot-58351b97/

➡️ Connect with Rachel:

• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel
• Get in touch here: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/contact
• Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Stepping into the role of CEO requires more than designing great products. It means shifting your mindset from working in your apparel brand to leading and growing it. Learning to delegate, trust your team, and focus on the bigger picture is what creates the foundation for long-term success.

As I work to better understand the financial data behind my own business, build stronger leadership skills, and expand my team, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to transition from product designer to business owner. I explain why hiring before you feel ready, investing in expert guidance, and creating systems that empower your team can help you break through the growth ceiling that many apparel founders face.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why thinking of yourself as a product designer instead of a CEO can hold your business back
• How hiring and delegating create more opportunities for growth and profitability
• Why learning your business numbers is essential, even if finance isn't your strength
• How to build a leadership team that can grow alongside your apparel brand
• Why asking for help is a strength, not a weakness, when scaling your company

If you're still trying to wear multiple hats in your business, this episode will help you shift your mindset, embrace your role as CEO, and create a business that can grow beyond what you could accomplish on your own.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel
• Get in touch with me here: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/contact
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Bringing investors into your apparel brand might seem like the fastest path to growth, but the wrong investment, or the wrong strategy, can put everything you've built at risk.

In this episode we're breaking down why many apparel founders make costly mistakes after raising capital and explain how to use investment dollars strategically to build a stronger, more profitable business. We discuss why investing in education, hiring the right team, and testing products before scaling leads to better long-term results, while also exploring the dangers of chasing rapid growth and partnering with investors whose values don't align with your brand.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why raising investment capital isn't always the right move for apparel brands
• The smartest ways to invest funding to support sustainable growth
• Why buying more inventory too soon can hurt your business
• How to use product testing before scaling your apparel line
• The risks of partnering with investors who don't share your brand values

Whether you're considering outside investment or simply planning your next stage of growth, this episode offers practical guidance to help you make smarter financial decisions to protect your brand and build a business that lasts.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Subscribe to the Apparel Founder's Boardroom Notes on Substack: https://substack.com/@businessofapparel
• Get in touch with me here: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/contact
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Many apparel founders believe growing revenue is the key to building a successful brand, but revenue alone won't keep your business alive. Without healthy profit margins, even brands generating millions of dollars in sales can struggle with cash flow, inventory purchases, hiring, and long-term growth.

In this episode of the Business of Apparel podcast, Rachel explains why profitability, not revenue, is the most important metric every apparel founder should be tracking. She shares real examples of brands that looked successful on paper but ultimately failed because they ignored their margins, along with practical guidance for calculating profitability, understanding company-wide weighted margins, and making smarter inventory and pricing decisions. Rachel also discusses how experienced mentorship and the right financial systems can help founders avoid expensive mistakes and build brands that are positioned for sustainable, long-term success.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why focusing on revenue instead of profit can put your apparel brand at serious financial risk
• How to calculate and evaluate product and company-wide profit margins
• The warning signs that your inventory and purchasing decisions are hurting profitability
• Real examples of brands that succeeded or failed based on the financial decisions they made
• Why expert guidance and better financial systems can help you avoid costly mistakes and scale with confidence

Whether you're just getting your business off the ground or you've been at it a while, this episode provides practical strategies for understanding the numbers behind your brand. You'll walk away with actionable steps to help you improve your margins, strengthen your decision-making, and create a business that's built for long-term growth rather than just impressive revenue.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Get the initial line planning template: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/gift
• Check out our resources here: http://thebusinessofapparel.com/shop
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

For years, we've been searching for a better way to help Apparel Ffounders bridge the gap between learning industry concepts and actually applying them inside their businesses. That's exactly why we're launching Boardroom Notes, a brand-new weekly Substack newsletter designed to help founders take the lessons from the Business of Apparel podcast and turn them into practical action. In addition to Boardroom Notes, you can also subscribe to In the Margins with Rachel Erickson, a behind-the-scenes newsletter documenting the journey of writing and releasing my first book, The Business of Apparel. Whether you're trying to improve your margins, make smarter business decisions, or get an inside look at the ideas shaping my upcoming book, you'll want to join us over on Substack at https://businessofapparel.substack.com 🤝 Meet Rachel: Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year. After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting. Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands: ✅ Build lean, profitable product lines ✅ Streamline operations for growth ✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity ✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading. Learn more at https://www.unmarkedstreet.com/

When apparel founders fail to create a profitable business, it's not because they lack talent or great product ideas. They struggle because they're forced to navigate a highly technical industry through expensive trial and error, often making costly mistakes that could have been avoided with the right guidance.

In this episode of the Business of Apparel podcast, Rachel shares the common challenges she's seeing apparel founders face and explains why learning the industry as you go can put your business at risk. Through real client stories, she breaks down how poor product development processes, weak financial planning, inaccurate pricing, and unclear production documentation can quickly lead to cash flow problems, wasted inventory, and even business closure. Rachel also explains why building strong operational systems early, tracking profitability instead of just revenue, and seeking expert support can dramatically reduce risk and help founders build profitable, sustainable brands.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why trial-and-error can become one of the most expensive ways to build an apparel brand
• Common product development mistakes that lead to costly production errors
• How tracking margins, not just revenue, is essential for long-term profitability
• Real examples of apparel founders who saved (or lost) tens of thousands of dollars based on key business decisions
• Why investing in the right systems and expert guidance can help prevent cash flow issues and accelerate growth

For apparel founders who are trying to build a profitable business without making costly mistakes, this episode offers practical lessons from real-world experiences. Rachel provides actionable insights to help entrepreneurs strengthen their operations, protect their cash flow, and make smarter decisions that position their brands for long-term success.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Ask your questions: hello@unmarkedstreet.com
• Join The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Sign up for the Business of Apparel Goodbye Masterclass:https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/goodbye

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.

Building a successful apparel brand takes more than creating great products. The strongest brands are built around a clear purpose, a committed community, and a culture that inspires people to keep growing.

In this episode of the Business of Apparel podcast, Rachel sits down with Jason Daniel, founder of globally recognized activewear brand LSKD, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey from selling T-shirts at motocross events to leading a company with hundreds of employees and a worldwide customer base. Jason shares the story behind LSKD's "1% Better Every Day" philosophy, how discovering a deeper purpose transformed the trajectory of his business, and why community, culture, and continuous improvement have become the foundation of the brand's success. He also offers practical advice for founders looking to define their values, build stronger teams, and create brands that stand for something bigger than the products they sell.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• The origin of LSKD and how Jason turned a passion project into a global apparel brand
• Why finding a meaningful purpose is essential for long-term business success
• How strong company values help attract, retain, and develop great team members
• Why continuous learning, personal growth, and mentorship are critical for founders
• Practical steps apparel entrepreneurs can take to define their mission and build a values-driven brand

For apparel founders navigating the challenges of growth and team building, this episode provides a powerful reminder that long-term success comes from a business rooted in purpose and community. Jason's story offers both inspiration and actionable strategies for entrepreneurs who want to build a brand that resonates deeply with customers, attracts exceptional team members, and creates lasting impact for years to come.

➡️ Connect with Jason and LSKD:

• Learn more about LSKD: http://lskd.co/
• Find your next read in the LSKD library: https://www.lskd.co/pages/lskd-library
• Connect on IG @lskd and @jasondaniel__

➡️ Connect with Rachel:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/
• Website: http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

If you're feeling exhausted as the CEO of your apparel brand, it doesn't necessarily mean you're working too hard. It may be a sign that you've become the bottleneck preventing your company from growing.

In this episode of the Business of Apparel podcast, Rachel shares why every founder eventually reaches a point where they need to stop doing everything themselves and start building a team that supports long-term growth. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, she explains the importance of hiring before you feel desperate, delegating strategically, and creating systems that allow your business, and your people, to thrive. She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the concepts covered in the Scalable Team Blueprint masterclass and discusses how leadership, mentorship, and organizational planning all work together to build a stronger company.

📝 Today We're Covering:

• Why founder burnout is often caused by becoming the bottleneck in your business
• Why hiring before you think you need to can accelerate business growth
• How delegation creates space for CEOs to focus on higher-level strategy and vision
• How to create career growth opportunities that help employees stay engaged and loyal
• Why building your dream organizational chart is essential for scaling an apparel brand

As you think through your vision for the future of your company, creating the right delegation flow is essential for success. This episode offers practical insights to help you step out of the day-to-day, lead with intention, and create a business that supports both your goals and the people who help bring your vision to life.

➡️ Your Next Steps:

• Join the Scalable Team Blueprint masterclass: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/team
• Learn about The Board here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/join
• Sign up for the weekly newsletter here: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/contact
• Purchase the Business of Apparel Online Course: https://www.thebusinessofapparel.com/course

‼️ Don't Miss These Episodes:

• Wholesale 101: https://youtu.be/lpezH1YwCyE
• Use AI in Your Apparel Brand: https://youtu.be/Dn9tjPNmfaw
• Grow a 7-Figure Apparel Business: https://youtu.be/rpQYDyo5Rao

🤝 Meet Rachel:

Rachel Erickson is a Fractional COO, Apparel Industry Consultant, and founder of Unmarked Street and The Business of Apparel. With 20+ years in technical design and product development leadership, she sat at the executive table of a $25M apparel line and helped scale it to $60M in one year.

After decades working inside major fashion companies, she learned the truth behind billion-dollar brands, and it's not about chasing trends or pumping out endless products. It's about building clean processes, tightly edited assortments, and obsessively focused customer targeting.

Rachel helps founders and CEOs of performance apparel brands:

✅ Build lean, profitable product lines

✅ Streamline operations for growth

✅ Replace overwhelm with executive clarity

✅ Create garments that fit bodies in motion

Whether you're just hitting $1M in revenue or trying to break through the $10M ceiling, Rachel will join you as an embedded operations and product partner—running fittings, line plans, tech packs, and vendor communications so you can get back to leading.

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-erickson-pmp/ and visit her website at http://www.unmarkedstreet.com/.