So, you’ve made progress with your fashion brand – you have tech packs, samples, and even some products in hand. But running a fashion label involves more than just the creative aspect. You need to manage the company, handle finances, invoicing, and overall organization to keep things together. Here are some of my favorite management tools for a fashion brand, as the founder of Progarments:
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1) Organize Your Projects & Processes: Monday.com
We absolutely love using Monday.com for organizing our projects and processes. With multiple clients from around the world and ongoing communication and feedback, managing everything by email becomes overwhelming. As a fashion label, you’ll face similar situations, such as dealing with buyer inquiries, communicating with your factory and sourcing team, and discussing quality assurance checklists.
While spreadsheets can be useful, Monday.com takes it to another level by acting as a super-smart version of a spreadsheet. It allows you to invite clients and vendors into the discussions and offers great features that work as a CRM, saving you the need to pay for separate CRM software.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we use Monday.com in our fashion company, we’d be happy to demonstrate it during our training calls, like the Fashion Label Startup Booster! Please note that we receive a commission for our Monday.com referrals, but we genuinely love and recommend it due to its effectiveness and ease of use.
2) Keeping Your Books: Xero
For bookkeeping in the fashion industry, Xero is an excellent choice. It not only keeps your books organized but also offers reasonable pricing and is relatively easy to learn, even for those without a finance background.
However, if you have experience with Quickbooks or other traditional bookkeeping software, Xero might not be the best fit for you. Those familiar with other systems may find Xero frustrating. So, if you’re hiring someone to handle your books and use Xero, it’s best not to hire someone experienced with Quickbooks, as they may face challenges adapting to Xero.
Xero is an ideal option for small businesses with plans for growth. It offers multi-currency support, crucial for fashion businesses dealing with purchases from various foreign countries. With Xero’s automatic exchange rate updates, you can accurately reflect different currencies in your bookkeeping.
We are big fans of Xero, and if you want to learn more about how we use it, you can explore our Fashion Label Boot Camp course for detailed insights.
3) Keeping Your Files: Google Drive
Using cloud storage like Google Drive is a no-brainer for managing your fashion label. It’s essential to have all your information well-organized and accessible at any moment, especially when dealing with suppliers overseas. Being overly organized is crucial for running a small fashion business, so make sure you know where everything is all the time. Google Drive allows you to keep your files in one place, making it easy to access and share them with others.
4) Graphics and Branding: Canva
Canva is a godsend for graphic design tasks. While graphic designers may tease you for using it, it’s a lifesaver when you need to create quick and visually appealing graphics for promotions. Canva’s user-friendly interface and online/mobile accessibility make it incredibly convenient. Plus, its “brand kit” feature lets you upload your logos, colors, and fonts to maintain a cohesive brand identity. Even if you haven’t organized your files properly, Canva has got your back!
5) Communication with Colleagues: Slack
Move over email; Slack is the preferred choice for digital communication among teams. With its channel-based organization, Slack keeps your communication structured and accessible. General channels are meant for the whole team, while private channels can be used for specific discussions with limited participants. Using Slack helps you stay in touch with your team, suppliers, and anyone else you need to communicate with efficiently.
Other Fashion Label Software:
Apart from the mentioned tools, there are other software options to consider, such as fashion tech pack software and a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) system for fashion. These tools can enhance your fashion label management and streamline various processes. As we discover more helpful tools, we’ll keep you informed to assist with managing your fashion label effectively.
