So, you all know that I like to be as honest with you all as possible, and I try to keep things as positive as I can, but I also want to be real with the realities of running a small business.
I was asked to attend a charity fashion show a while ago and was so excited to go! I got one of my Brand ambassadors to get two other models to come because that would be my worst nightmare!
I very much got the impression that this was a very small charity event and just let the models come up with something together, and I went with my boyfriend with what I could fit in my little Ford Fiesta.
We travelled up there and got there with about 2 and a half hours to kill so went over to a little pub to get a drink before we went over to set up.
This is where I started having a bit of a meltdown…
So, we headed back over to Beechwood where I see all these vans, trucks, tens of people all practicing their catwalk, boxes and boxes of clothing, gazebos going up and I just felt sick!
I had only brought a clothing rail, a table and as much clothing as I could possibly fit in my car, which was not a lot. I start setting it all out and by this point I’m nearly in tears, it was then that my boyfriend took me outside and gave me a little pep talk. He told me that it is what it is, and that we will know for next time and to just let the clothing speak for itself.
And he was so right! The first person that walked through the door that night came straight over and bought something, then the next person, then the next person. I really couldn’t believe it. My models turned up and they really done me proud, I had no idea what they needed to do and had given them no guidance, but they smashed it!
We had some lovely comments and chatted to so many people. It ended up being such a good night.
But the main lesson I learnt was that it doesn’t matter if I have the biggest stand, the most branding, the loudest voice or the most experience, people like my clothing because it makes them feel good, and they don’t feel judged when they come over to speak to me. I like to think that I’m very approachable, and this night confirmed it.
If there’s one thing at Jockey and Jill that we want more than anything, it’s that you can ask us anything, and that our clothes give you a bit of a confidence boost. I suppose that’s two things…
So, from almost crying at the start of the events, I was beaming from ear to ear by the end.