Listen to the new podcast episode!
Here’s what you’ll find in today’s episode:
Uncover this fashion designer’s secrets to attracting clients and growing a successful agency, while also shedding light on the challenges and frustrations she faces when working with freelancers (and what you should do instead.)
In this episode, Rachel Battarbee spills the secrets to growing your freelance fashion career, ways to expand your network, and insights on what frustrations she commonly runs into when working with freelancers. We dive into her experience starting Guided Makers and how she landed her first clients. Rachel shares her valuable insights on using LinkedIn as a powerful tool for networking and getting noticed by potential clients. And hey, for all you freelancers out there, Rachel also provides some eye-opening tips on working effectively with freelancers and avoiding common struggles. So whether you’re just starting out or looking to amp up your fashion freelancing game, this episode has got you covered with expert advice from the one and only Rachel Battarbee!
Our Industry Expert in this episode, Rachel Battarbee, cracks open her 25-year career in the apparel industry. She is a results-driven strategist who understands all facets of product development and sourcing. As a big-picture thinker and experienced process manager, she helps her clients anticipate potential roadblocks and establish best practices for current and future business opportunities.
Rachel’s previous experience includes developing and sourcing apparel lines for leading U.S. and U.K. retailers and distributors.
Episode Highlights
Introduction to Rachel Batterbee
- Heidi introduces Rachel Batterbee, founder of Guided Makers, an apparel development agency. Rachel shares her journey from corporate roles in fashion to freelancing and eventually launching her own company.
Starting Guided Makers
- Rachel recounts leaving her corporate job to freelance and how growing client demand led her to formalize her work into a business. She stresses the power of networking and communicating your expertise when starting out.
Networking and Building a Client Base
- She breaks down her client acquisition strategy—leveraging LinkedIn, updating professional profiles, and gathering testimonials to establish credibility and attract work.
Seizing Opportunities
- Rachel shares how she turned a traditional job offer into a freelance opportunity by identifying mutual benefits, showing the importance of adaptability in client conversations.
Growing to an Agency
- The conversation shifts to how Rachel evolved from solo freelancer to agency owner. She began collaborating with a business partner and built a network of freelancers with niche skills to grow Guided Makers.
Importance of Networking
- Rachel emphasizes specific tactics that have helped her network effectively—attending trade shows, connecting through LinkedIn’s extended network, and maintaining industry conversations to build lasting relationships.
Hiring and Managing Freelancers
- She explains her approach to hiring: valuing clear communication, industry referrals, and freelancers who stay within their skillset and are responsive throughout the project lifecycle.
Challenges with Freelancers
- Rachel highlights common pain points such as poor communication and overselling skills. She underscores the importance of trust and managing expectations on both sides.
Key Advice for Freelancers
- Her top tips: be honest about what you can do, ask for feedback, and maintain strong communication. These habits build reliability and trust in collaborative work.
Operational Logistics
- The episode covers behind-the-scenes operations: setting rates (hourly vs. fixed), managing remote collaborations, and integrating freelancers into ongoing timelines effectively.
The Glamour Perception in Fashion Industry
- Rachel ends by challenging the myth that fashion is all glamour—acknowledging that while it’s not always glitzy, the fast-paced, creative energy of the industry keeps people passionate.
Key Questions and Responses
1. How did you first start Guided Makers and your path from working with larger brands to being an independent consultant?
- Rachel stepped away from her corporate job as it was evolving into something she didn’t want. During this transition period, people started reaching out to her for help with their ideas, which led her to freelance. Visitations and word-of-mouth slowly turned into more projects, and she sensed an opportunity. Eventually, this built up to forming Guided Makers in 2019.
2. What specific strategies did you use to get your first few clients?
- Rachel highlighted the importance of letting people know about her services, updating her LinkedIn profile, having a basic landing page, and utilizing her extensive network. She also mentioned that applying for jobs and then suggesting freelance opportunities to those companies worked for her.
3. What’s your process for hiring freelancers, and what do you look for?
- Her process involves reaching out to freelancers she discovers online, typically through LinkedIn, or through referrals. Rachel values clear and succinct messaging, polished presentation, and specialists in specific areas. The relationship and trust are vital, and she prefers working with individuals who are open, communicative, and deliver what they promise.
4. How do you work with freelancers – are they in touch with the clients directly?
- This varies by project. Some freelancers do work directly with clients for effective communication and expertise sharing, while others work behind the scenes. The approach depends on the project’s needs and the specific role of the freelancer.
5. What lessons or challenges have you faced working with freelancers?
- Good freelancers are responsive, collaborative, and offer thorough communication. On the contrary, challenges arise with those who either overpromise, fail to proactively provide solutions, or lack transparent communication. She advised freelancers to always ask for feedback to improve and stay aligned with the expectations.
6. Do you utilize LinkedIn or other online platforms for networking?
- Rachel actively uses LinkedIn for networking, emphasizing its importance for reaching out and making the second and third level connections. She regards it as vital for building credibility and leveraging connections in the fashion industry.