We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Combs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I would say my fascination and excitement with design came when I was living in Canada. I was in eighth grade when I had the idea to sketch out a design for my graduation dress. It was a three-tier pink ombre design off the shoulder dress which I created with the help of a family friend. It was that moment, seeing my design come to life, when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Fashion. When I stepped onto the campus of O’More College of Design in August 2011, I realized I was about to make my dream a reality. I had learned some of the basics and knowledge about textiles and sewing from my mother, but this paled in comparison to the experience I gained at O’More. While in school I took classes consisting of but not limited to pattern making, draping, sewing and illustrating. I learned however after college, conviction and commitment does not guarantee you a position in the world of Fashion. Despite my best efforts and graduating near the top of my class I was unable to find a position in the industry. I could have let this disappointment stop me from pursuing my dream, but it did not. If I was unable to find a position in fashion, I knew I would chart my own course and start my own business. In 2016 I launched BMC Designs LLC. I started off slow; selling to friends and family members, then grew into selling at local Farmers/Artisan Markets and Craft Shows. Today you can find BMC Designs LLC. online where I offer a wide array of my custom pieces and in person at various Markets. The next step in my business plan is to start selling in local boutiques and offer whole sale options, with the end goal to be owning my own store front and employing a staff of dreamers who have the same vision as I.
Brittany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
BMC Designs LLC. is a custom accessories and apparel clothier based in Atlanta, GA. I create custom pieces for men, women and children along with offering alterations services. I most recently started to cater to the families who have fur babies and offer a dog line of bow ties, over the collar bandanas, sweaters and more. My collection of fabrics range from holidays, to movie characters, to sports teams, and fun prints!
Richard Cranson said “if your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small” I was on top of the world when I graduated. I had all the tools and knowledge to showcase my talent to the world and start making a name for myself in the Fashion Industry. Humility, however, set in quickly after a grueling process of applying for jobs and interviewing. Each time receiving the blanketed response of “thank you for your time and interest but we have chosen another candidate”. Rejection only went to fuel the flame within me and as a result this is my story and my story is far from over, so stay tuned.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I have found networking and attendance at Farmers/Artisan Markets or Craft Fairs have taken my brand beyond the internet. I am reaching a broader network of people who originally may not have heard of BMC Designs LLC, or came across my social media accounts or website. These events give me the opportunity to speak with everyone on a more personal level. Get to know what kind of pet they have, look at the pictures on their phones, and help them make those tough decisions on which patterns to choose! These interactions also foster a deeper relationship between the client and I; one which they will remember and in return tell their friends about which will expand my customer base.
By making these connections and creating a product that is well made and high quality fosters brand loyalty that one cannot achieve solely over social media or the internet.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
BMC Designs LLC. currently has its own ecommerce website in which all my designs are available for purchase or custom order. It also highlights a portfolio of my work, fashion show videos, and upcoming markets in which you can find me.
In 2019, I built my e-commerce site. Previously I had a portfolio website through Wix which I created while in college for my entrepreneurship class. It highlighted all my illustrations and pieces I worked on throughout schooling. After graduation, I opened an Etsy shop where I sold a limited inventory of pet accessories and children’s apparel. I updated my portfolio site to direct all customers who were interested in purchasing something to Etsy. After a few years of being on Etsy, and starting to sell at local Artisan and Farmers Markets, I decided it was time to build my own e-commerce website in which shoppers could purchase directly from my page and I did not have to pay additional seller fees. I enjoyed my time on Etsy, however once it started to take off in popularity, the traffic to my storefront started to decline. More and more people started selling similar products, some of which were not even handmade, and I personally did not like the direction in which the company was going. I loved the initial idea of it being a makers website; where artists and designers could sell their handmade items. After a while it just became another Ebay or Amazon in which people just started posting random things for sale which were not custom.
I updated my website in 2020 which I felt was necessary to strengthen my reach and make it more user friendly for my customers. I follow my consumer market closely and always want to ensure my website remains updated to keep up with the changing trends in the market. The process is grueling, but the satisfaction in seeing the final product, even better than the last, makes it all worth it!
For those just starting out, I highly recommend building your own website, but if you do not have the time or expertise Etsy is still a good platform. Another option would be Amazon Handmade, I recently joined the community and am excited to be a part of this new initiative Amazon is starting! I do not have much feedback right now as I have recently been accepted into the program and have not had an opportunity to create my storefront or catalog. My best piece of advice would be to do your homework. Research several platforms and selling sites to compare which would be the best for your brand and your wallet. I personally recommend Wix for a website builder, not only do they have great customer service, but they have several different plans depending on what you are looking for, and they are affordable for someone just starting their own business. They also offer a wide selection of tools to help you create a successful business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bmcdesigns.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmcfashiondesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMCFashionDesigns