We recently connected with Derrica Webb and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Derrica, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
The most important lesson I learned in a job is to be flexible and adaptable. I had to learn that the decisions being made were never personal always business to continue the success and growth of that company. The company always made changes like job functions in my positions, departments closing, etc. I use that same mentality in my business because I am always adapting to how I do business and how to market my products to my clients and potential customers so it can continue to grow. Technology and social media play a huge role in the fashion industry, and they are consistently changing so having those characteristics is a major plus and a great competitive advantage.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Derrica Webb.I am founder and designer of Xzood. Xzood, which is a creative spelling of the actual word ‘exude’, is a luxury sleepwear company where our pieces are made to transition from the bedroom to fashionable loungewear apparel. We specialize in caftans, robes, pajamas, nightgowns, onesies, rompers, sleepshirts, and bedroom accessories. I always had a passion for fashion but never thought sleepwear. I started Xzood because I wanted to fill the gap that was missing in the sleepwear / loungewear industry. Back in 2010 when I was working retail as a specialist in the intimate apparel dept, my clients weren’t finding fashionable sleepwear it was either that flannel or lingerie, so I researched about the industry and started my company.
Most people view sleep as a luxury and sleeping less is beneficial but in actuality it creates poor quality sleep and consequences that could impact your health & productivity. Xzood is the ultimate sleepwear solution offering several benefits from comfort all the way up to confidence. After a long day once you slip into our comfy fashionable sleepwear, it creates a positive uplifting mood providing self-care and a good night’s sleep. Xzood is dedicated to women who live and chase their dreams, so we provide a product that gives them that boost to make their dreams a reality. Being a woman who made my dreams come true and thrived through my struggles creating Xzood, I want to be a part of helping other women do the same. We are more than a sleepwear company; we are a movement supporting women-empowerment and self-love. Being in business close to 5years now, we have collaborated with amazing women -owned businesses, non-profit organizations supporting breast cancer survivors, featured in Buzzfeed, and a featured designer for International Digital Fashion Week.
What is your strategy to grow your clientele?
My most effective strategy for growing my clientele is networking, exclusive pop-up shops, business partnerships with social and non-profit organizations, and personal memberships with social and professional organizations.
Do you manufacture your product(s)? Tell us the story of how you got started – did you already know how to manufacture the product? Did you have to find a vendor who could manufacture for you and if so, how did you find the right one? What lessons have your learned along the way about manufacturing a product?
I have a company that manufactures my products. Yes, I knew how to manufacture my product, but I didn’t have the time to do it because I had to work to fund the business and actually run the business. I found my first manufacturer through my fashion teacher as she provided me a few small production manufacturers locally. My first manufacturer produced my 1st 2 collections, and I wasn’t happy with quality nor service, so I stopped working with them. I found my current manufacturer through a local fabric store I shop at as the manager provided me information. That manufacturer company did a sample for me, and I was very impressed with quality and service, they have produced 4 collections for me so far.
The lessons I have learned from manufacturing is having effective communication with the company is key to a successful relationship with them, always negotiate the price. and quality over quantity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.xzoodsleepwear.shop
- Instagram: xzood_sleepwear
- Facebook: Xzood
Image Credits
Captured by JoJo