Episode Details

Today Nicole is joined by Julie Peelo, founder of the Irish contemporary bag and accessories line Peelo. Julie has worked with designers such as Dior, Marni and John Galliano, creating and overseeing their handbag divisions. In 2020 during the pandemic, she launched her own brand.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Julie left her good job in Ireland to move to Italy to pursue her dream. Without speaking a work of Italian, she rented a sofa to stay on and hit the streets to hand out her CV to all the top brands. She eventually found work with Marni with her office in the picturesque Como.
• After working in New York, Julie finally decided to return home where after 6 months she met her husband and had three children together. After her third baby, Julie decided to set up in business on her own as a new challenge.
• When creating her own brand, Julie set her price point at 150 to 450 in the contemporary market. It would still be a luxury product for most people but not out of their price range. Sue didn't want to go up against the huge luxury brands with million in funding behind them.
• When she decided to set up her manufacturing in Portugal, Julie called the Portuguese embassy for information and advice. This is such a great tip because the embassy wants to create commerce for their country.
• Because of Covid lockdowns, Julie had to do the photography for her products in her back garden with herself as the model and with no hair and make-up.
• Julie has found that there is a lack of control over the output you get when gifting to influencers. You never know if they're going to really post about the product and get on board, or if you're just wasting stock.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I accidentally became a big designer director, I suddenly had a team'

'I had planned to be away for a year, it had been 11'

'You have to be strategic over which retailers you use'

EPISODE RESOURCES

Peelo Accessories

PEELO (@iampeelo) • Instagram photos and videos

ABOUT THE HOST

Buying & retail expert Nicole Higgins spent the last 18 years working for companies such as Primark, M&S, Debenhams and Asda, sourcing & developing products from all over the world, building strategies for blue chip businesses, and increasing bottom-line sales and profit, adding over £40 million in incremental business to the bottom line.

Nicole now uses that experience and works as a consultant and coach for entrepreneurs and small to medium sized business owners, helping them start and scale their product businesses as The Buyer And Retail Coach (TM)

Join the Start Scale Succeed waitlist. How to start & scale a product business. A 12 Week programme: thebuyerandretailcoach.com/startscalesucceedwaitlist

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