"Joining The Board is the best investment I've ever made."
- Michelle Wolfe, Owner of Abundantlea
After joining, Michelle found $51,000 in savings by going through the core course in record time! Using the Million-Dollar Line Planning Worksheet, the $60,000 that she had saved for the launch of her brand and her first inventory purchase was reduced to just $14,000 by budgeting and planning with Rachel's templates.
What would $51,000 back in your pocket do for your brand today?
Let's Finally get you the answers that you need
What if I told you that the information you've been endlessly Googling and searching for on YouTube will NEVER be found? The apparel industry is purposefully keeping secrets from you because (this sounds harsh, but it's true...) they WANT you to fail. They don't want you to take their market share.
I know you're tired of...
Getting ghosted by the exact manufacturers that you know you need to scale your brand.
Wearing every hat inside your company, but not paying yourself a single dime for your efforts.
Worrying that your next production run will have issues that prevent you from selling it.
Guessing if the next move is the right move, and winging it on every decision.
Working your 9-5 job while also trying to grow a brand, make time for your family and your life!
but what if it didn't have to be that way?
Come see what it's like to...
Have a team of 20-25 year industry professionals with whom you can gut-check every single decision.
Knowing, without a doubt, what the next RIGHT decision is in every phase of your company's growth.
Fixing your margin goals so that your profits start to pay you a salary that gets you out of your 9-5 job.
Be directly introduced to trusted, vetted suppliers and manufacturers by people who know great quality.
Start working on building your dream team so you can gain more freedom and space in your life.
Introducing:
the apparel founder's board
The ONLY online membership community built by executive industry veterans for apparel brand founders. We are sharing the secrets of the professional fashion industry so you can build a successful business that works for YOU.
Gone are the days of constantly searching for answers that aren't there.
Meet Your Board of Advisors
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Jessica Kuczek
Our Lead Product Developer at Unmarked Street, Jessica brings an elite level of expertise to your product creation plans.
20 Years in Corporate Apparel
Elite PD Leadership
Rachel Erickson
CEO and Founder of The Business of Apparel, Rachel brings her leadership and entrepreneurial edge to your brand as lead coach here!
25 Years in Corporate Apparel
Certified PMP
Mary Coats
Mary's primary role here is to ensure that YOU are happy with our services. Your Customer Solutions Manager, she is also an industry vet.
15 Years in Corporate Apparel
Masters in Sustainability
a note from Rachel:
Hi! I'm Rachel Erickson - your biggest fan and fashion mentor!
Call me crazy, but I believe that you should have the same access to information and processes that the biggest fashion brands in the world have.
After spending 20 years working in corporate apparel offices, I built up an arsenal of knowledge and network connections that I want to share with you.
I'm sick of seeing the billion-dollar brands take all the market share and have all the success! I'm dedicated to seeing you win so we can make more space for trust in this industry again.
My track record as a professional includes the creation of some of the most complicated but best-fitting performance garments the world has ever seen. I'm talking aero suits that win Tour de France stages because of the fabric positions and compression percentages that were calculated for winning power gains. I'm also talking warm, down-filled puffy jackets that fit tight but move so well with the body that you only notice how good you look in it! And that's just the tip of the iceberg...
In 2021, I took my apparel team from a plateaued $25,000,000 department to $60,000,000 in a single year. I then repeated that profit-doubling success with my first small brand client, and then again with an emerging brand at 7-figures. What I teach is proven to work over and over again, and I want to teach it to you, too!
- Rachel
"Oh, my gosh! This has been so game-changing for me. I don't know what I don't know, and having a team of people to work with who are experts - they know who to talk to, they know the questions to ask - I couldn't do this without them. If I didn't have the guidance. I think I would make so many mistakes. I know that it's really, really worth it to pay the experts to get the help. And you're going to move so much faster, do so much better, and have fewer errors if you can just get the help. Invest in it, invest in your business early. Get the right people surrounding you and then it's just going to make your life so much easier."
- Natalie W., Owner of Anna & Atticus by graced
within your first 90 days inside the board, you'll have...
Nailed Down Your Profitable Niche
Even if you already have a target customer defined for your apparel brand, the best companies in the world evaluate and re-evaluate their profile to ensure they're maximizing sales opportunities. You will know your target customer so well, they'll have a name and their picture will be up in your office!
Created Your "Less is More" Product Strategy
Curating the perfect product line for your target customer isn't just about what to add every season. Believe it or not, the most important part is knowing what NOT to offer and what to remove from your line when it stops being a winner for your brand. We will guide you through these decision-making processes with ease.
Negotiated Better Terms with Your Factories
Once you figure out how to determine your ideal minimum order quantities (MOQs), quality and production terms, we will help you negotiate these terms with your factories. With our Vendor Agreement templates and factory contract knowledge, you'll never have to pay for unsellable goods ever again.
Built Your Dream Team Organization Chart
The best business advice Rachel ever received was to start hiring before she thought she needed to. We are going to pass on that wisdom to you, and help you determine who you should hire next, how to pay them without breaking the bank and remove yourself from the day-to-day work in every department.
Set Up a Burnout-Free Timeline and Calendar
Stress and burnout in the apparel industry comes from not knowing the next right steps. When you see our professional calendar file that lists every single process step that you need to take from kick-off to launch date, that stress is going to melt away. You'll never miss a due date or a launch date again, with these tools.
Elevated Your Brand to the Top 10%
What's crazy is that, of the thousands of apparel and fashion brands in the world, only a very small handful of them actually know all of the processes that we teach. So even fewer of them implement them! Rise above all of your competitors by learning and executing tasks they they don't even know exist.
but you don't have to take my word for it!
here's what our board members are saying:
take a peek inside the BOARD'S included masterclasses
Business of Apparel Full Course
Our most essential, core curriculum. Learn how the biggest apparel brands grow and build profits year over year by learning the processes that they will not share with you. 10 modules, 55+ easy-to-consume videos, dozens of templates and an accountability tracker to move you through the content in 90 days.
Apparel Brand Business Planning
Did you skip over the step of building out your Business Plan when you started your company? Or maybe you are just starting? This course will walk you through the process step-by-step, using templates and key financial spreadsheets that will pertain to you as an apparel brand owner, specifically.
The Shopify Back-End Cheat Code
In this hands-on Masterclass dedicated to organizing, optimizing, and leveraging your Shopify data. We are moving beyond the dashboard basics to help you build a data infrastructure that actually scales. Learn how to set up "smart" SKUs, names and internal style numbers. Smart SKU Generator included!
Map Your First $1M and Next 10 Years
This workshop is designed to demystify the numbers behind a successful apparel brand. We move beyond theory and build a tangible financial roadmap to help founders confidently plan for profitability and growth, mapping out your first $1 Million in revenue. Rachel then walks you through her 10-year profit exercise.
Time Keepers: Build Your Ideal Calendar
Master the exact roadmap to confidently plan, produce, and launch your clothing line. In this on-demand masterclass, you will learn how to take control of your production schedule and build a timeline that actually works. It is paired with actual calendars that Rachel has built for name brands.
Define Your Minimum Viable Product
In this on-demand masterclass, we’re taking your scattered ideas and funneling them into a tight, strategic line plan. You’ll learn exactly how to choose your "hero" product and map out the exact specs you need to hand off to a manufacturer. Know exactly what you want to become famous for!
The Scalable Team Blueprint
Learn how to hire like a pro! This workshop is designed to take founders from being the overwhelmed "Chief of Everything Officer" to a confident CEO with a clear plan for growth. We will build a blueprint for designing a lean team, identifying the right roles, and making your first hires.
Trade Show Essentials
NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. Mary and Rachel will walk you through the industry's best practices in attending and exhibiting with your very own booth at Fashion and Apparel trade shows. Get a full list of dates and locations of shows that we recommend you research and booth creation companies.
Apparel Brand Social Content Creation
NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. Learn how to map out your social media strategy so you can build a strategic community and sales channel for your brand. Map out posting times, topics to cover and steal Rachel's marketing plan that she's been curating for years with professional consultants.
Apparel Brand Email Funnel Building
NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. Build out your three most important email funnels for your brand. Capture your own audience inside your CRM instead of leaving every customer on "rented" social media platforms. Set up the automations that Rachel walks you through step-by-step to simplify and go!
What industry leaders are saying:
Arielle, CEO & CMO
"As a new CEO in the apparel industry who did not understand or suspect the level of distress and fixing that I would need to do to stabilize the business on the product/biz side, your content resonates SO much. ❤️"
Ryan, Custom Director
“Working with Rachel has been nothing short of amazing. She has an arsenal of skills and talents that allows for her to be efficient, effective, and impactful, all of which we have seen and witnessed firsthand."
Brittney, Supply Chain Lead
"Rachel is a true expert in the apparel industry. Her vast experience leads to thoughtful decisions, clear direction, a distinct point of view, and a level of empathy for the various stakeholders involved."
you have my PROMISE:
The Apparel Founder's Board Is Different
MYTH #1
People who have built their own fashion brands are the best mentors and teachers. If you can't build and scale your own fashion brand, then you shouldn't be out in the world trying to help others do it.
THE TRUTH
A diverse range of experiences across a team of highly experienced professionals will give you a more diverse and complete knowledge base. Leverage 100+ years of collective experience, not just a few.
MYTH #2
You can learn everything you need to learn about growing and scaling an apparel company in a three or six-month program. There is no need for ongoing support after that.
THE TRUTH
Running a business in the apparel industry is a decades-long endeavor to support your family for years and build a legacy. Support shouldn't end after you've learned how to launch your first collection.
MYTH #3
The goal is to build so much hype with your brand's first launch that you sell out every single unit as fast as you can. Selling out every launch you ever have is always the goal!
THE TRUTH
What happens after you sell out and have no inventory left to keep new sales coming your way? Inventory planning is tricky, and the goal should be to always have units to sell. Don't leave $ on the table!
MYTH #4
Offering end-to-end help and advice in too many areas of the apparel industry means that you aren't an expert in anything and you shouldn't be trying to mentor brand owners.
THE TRUTH
When you've been inside the corporate apparel industry for nearly 30 years, you meet a LOT of pros and experts who can help to fill the gaps and support in every way that any owner could possibly need.
MYTH #5
Online coaching communities are all run by lying scammers who just want to take your money. If you can get support for less than $10 per day, you should run for the hills! It can't possibly be good.
THE TRUTH
Rachel has been a member of these kinds of bad communities herself and would NEVER allow our program to treat people that way. We leverage the power of the group to give real support at a low cost!
The Board is for you if...
You have an apparel business that you love, and are ready to make it profitable and easy.
You want to build real connections in the industry and network with other like-minded CEOs.
You're tired of wearing every hat in your brand, and are ready to take your life back.
You're done being paralyzed by self-doubt, up at all hours of the night trying to Google answers.
You want to spend more time with family, friends and have your brand replace your 9-5 salary.
THE APPAREL FOUNDER'S BOARD MEMBERSHIP BONUS:
Sign up for the full Board Membership and get your brand's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) written over-night! We will send you our Business of Apparel Team Process Manual, which includes:
-
Apparel industry team members roles and responsibilities descriptions
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Helpful job description details for hiring apparel industry professionals
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Key apparel industry meetings and processes, and how to implement them for your brand
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Ideal timelines for key meetings, RACI roles and decision making needs for each meeting
$5,000 Value to you for FREE when you sign up today
enroll IN THE BOARD today and you'll also receive these
these exclusive BONUSES:
Social Media Content Planner
Map out your weekly and monthly social media plans so you can apply a solid strategy to your marketing and sales goals. Randomly posting without a plan or a consistent cadence will make you invisible to any algorithm. Make sure your content is seen and grow your audience by using this template.
Cost Breakdown Template
If your manufacturer isn't sending you a detailed view of your costs, this is the template that you need. In every large apparel brand, Cost Breakdown (CBD) sheets are used for every style at multiple stages. It helps you keep your factory accountable for accurate pricing and gives you proper visibility to it all.
Timeline Building Spreadsheet
In our courses, you'll find similar advice to many of the online "gurus" out there, telling you to build your ideal timeline backwards. But very few people tell you how to actually do that! Not only will we walk you through it, but this template will allow you to put in an ideal launch date and populate everything for you!
Apparel Industry Calendar Template
Key milestones from your timeline building template will be a huge start for your brand, but getting access to a real best-in-class apparel industry calendar with EVERY single due date included will help you to never miss a deadline or a deliverable again. Rachel builds these for huge corporations. Get it here!
Seasonal Vendor Letter Template
At the beginning of each season, you should be notifying all of your manufacturers and suppliers of your plan. How many new styles are you developing? How many styles are you re-buying for this season? What is the timeline you need them to commit to? In this template, we help you write these letters easily.
Vendor Cost Confirmation Template
Before you place your final purchase order with a manufacturer, you need to lock in your prices. Too many times in the past, we've seen factories charge a brand differently than they expected. Confirm and lock in your costs with this template document so you never receive a surprise invoice again.
Vendor Agreement Template
Sustainability initiatives, business ethics and ideal, expected ways of working should be outlined and agreed to in a formal contract with every factory you use for your brand. Use this template to outline what happens if a bad production run comes in and so much more. Get signatures on paper!
Vendor and Supplier Contacts
One of the most common questions that we receive about The Board is: "Do you have a suggested vendor base?" We certainly do, but we don't share it with people we don't know. Our reputation is on the line when we make introductions, so we only share this if you are a full member of The Board.
25% Off "Done For You" Services
Looking for a professional team to build your tech packs, run a perfect fit session for you and get your product from idea to reality faster? Our sister company, Unmarked Street, is where we contract our time to do this work for big brands. Get a discount as a member and a priority spot on our calendar.
Ongoing Updates and Additions
We are always adding new masterclasses, tutorials and tools inside The Apparel Founder's Board membership. Every addition becomes available to you instantly. We are also always taking suggestions from YOU on what you need and want to learn next! Get exactly what will help you next in our group.
when you add it all up...
this membership has a total real world value of
$43,797
But we are looking to grow this community this year! Which means that we're keeping our membership price super low... for now!
the basics and essentials
The Apparel Founder's Library Membership
The FULL Business of Apparel Digital Course
The Million Dollar Line Planning Worksheet
Library of Industry Spreadsheets,
Diagrams, Contracts & Email Templates
New Video Tutorials Released Weekly
Community Forum for Daily Communication
with Rachel and her Team
Business Planning Training Course
Key Financial Templates
TOTAL VALUE: $5,173
YOUR PRICE:
12 Monthly payments of $46
1 payment of $499 (10% savings)
complete support and more
The Apparel Founder's Board Membership
Everything in the Library Membership ++
Access to Our Entire Suite of BONUS Masterclasses and Workshops
Team Process Manual
"Board Members" Only Community Forum
25% Off Unmarked Street Services
25% Off at The Business of Apparel Shop
Introductions to Manufacturers & Suppliers
LIVE In-Person Meet-Up Opportunities
Weekly 1-Hour LIVE Calls with Rachel and her Team
Quarterly Guest Expert Speakers
TOTAL VALUE: $43,797
YOUR PRICE:
Monthly payments of $325 (cancel any time)
1 payment of $3,499 (10% savings)
PAY IN FULL BONUS:
Gain access to a private 60-minute Power Hour session on Zoom with our Sustainability Expert and Sourcing Manager, Mary Coats. This is your chance to get Mary's undivided attention and a personalized strategy to tackle your most pressing challenges. This meeting is 100% about YOU and how we can help you with your next RIGHT decision. We'll cut through the noise and focus on actionable steps you can take today to move the needle with your apparel brand.
A meeting like this is genuinely priceless, but we typically charge $397 - get yours free!
"Other mastermind groups are great when you're a 'baby brand,' but when I tried to get to the next level, they didn't have the specific information I needed to implement. The Board is the first group I found that is completely specific to overseas manufacturing and building an apparel brand. The worksheets and line sheets have completely changed how I use numbers to support my day-to-day decisions. Plus, having a place where I can drop a question and get a response from an expert within an hour is above and beyond my expectations. We did just under $600,000 in revenue last year, and my goal is to break $1 million this year. With The Board, I know I'll get there."
- Virginia P., Owner of SWOOP
Why now is the perfect time to join:
We will not be keeping these prices this low forever. Get in now and lock in the price forever!
In the apparel industry, what you launch in six months is decided today. Don't wait any longer.
Get immediate access to our trusted, vetted suppliers list and stop being ghosted by factories.
The next 90 days could be the turning point where you finally start paying yourself a salary.
Joining today means your next investment goes to profitable inventory, not expensive mistakes.
You already know that Googling and watching YouTube videos isn't giving you the answers you need to scale. The gatekeeping stops here. By joining now, you immediately gain a personal advisory board of 20+ year industry veterans ready to gut-check your next big decision.
the basics and essentials
The Apparel Founder's Library Membership
The FULL Business of Apparel Digital Course
The Million Dollar Line Planning Worksheet
Library of Industry Spreadsheets,
Diagrams, Contracts & Email Templates
New Video Tutorials Released Weekly
Community Forum for Daily Communication
with Rachel and her Team
Business Planning Training Course
Key Financial Templates
TOTAL VALUE: $5,173
YOUR PRICE:
12 Monthly payments of $46
1 payment of $499 (10% savings)
complete support and more
The Apparel Founder's Board Membership
Everything in the Library Membership ++
Access to Our Entire Suite of BONUS Masterclasses and Workshops
Team Process Manual
"Board Members" Only Community Forum
25% Off Unmarked Street Services
25% Off at The Business of Apparel Shop
Introductions to Manufacturers & Suppliers
LIVE In-Person Meet-Up Opportunities
Weekly 1-Hour LIVE Calls with Rachel and her Team
Quarterly Guest Expert Speakers
TOTAL VALUE: $43,797
YOUR PRICE:
Monthly payments of $325 (cancel any time)
1 payment of $3,499 (10% savings)
PAY IN FULL BONUS:
Gain access to a private 60-minute Power Hour session on Zoom with our Sustainability Expert and Sourcing Manager, Mary Coats. This is your chance to get Mary's undivided attention and a personalized strategy to tackle your most pressing challenges. This meeting is 100% about YOU and how we can help you with your next RIGHT decision. We'll cut through the noise and focus on actionable steps you can take today to move the needle with your apparel brand.
A meeting like this is genuinely priceless, but we typically charge $397 - get yours free!
"I would say the most important thing about joining The Board membership is the community. When we get together and we speak out, there are things that are said by other people that are starting their own businesses that I have not thought of or that I did not know about, and their struggles that they encounter is something that can start me thinking about other struggles that I'm encountering, and it's a positive place to be able to have all of our issues put on the table and to be able to solve those issues."
- Celeste R., Owner of Zun Rays Clothing
so you don't have to!
you deserve to own an apparel brand that works for you 24/7
You don't need more random strategies. What you need is a complete blueprint. That's what you're getting inside
The Apparel Founder's Board.
A step-by-step proven curriculum with everything you need (and nothing you don't) to help you start, grow and SCALE your business exactly how you want.
Pair that with the most supportive community on the internet, direct coaching from me in the live Q&As each week where we can lock arms and do this thing together...
And you can't fail.
I would be honored to lock arms with you.
faq:
I'm too busy running my brand, what is the time commitment?
We know how busy you are as a business owner! It's our goal to give you as much value and helpful information in just 2-3 hours per week to help you start growing and scaling your brand. You'll want to set aside 1 hour every Thursday morning from 9-10am PST / 12-1pm EST for Office Hours, 1 hour every week to review our curriculum and if you want to be an over-achiever, you can set aside a third hour each week to execute what you're learning and complete new tasks. That's it!
It's a big investment. I need to spend on inventory, why this too?
A single bad factory order or one wrong hire can cost you 10x the price of this membership. The Board is an investment in not making those costly mistakes. It's the fastest path to ROI. When Rachel started Unmarked Street, she jumped into a $30,000 per year coaching program that helped her take the right steps and she made that money back with ease. The structure she learned in that program is what she's put into The Board at a fraction of the price.
How is this different from other groups and masterminds?
This isn't a generic business group. It's 100% focused on the apparel industry. Our conversations are about supply chains, costing, DTC scaling, and retail partnerships—not coaching or info-products. You'll be in a room with a COO and peers who speak your language. This is also not a group or course that just teaches you how to do social media marketing. While that might be PART of what we teach inside The Board, just like it needs to be a PART of your business, we cover all the other aspects of building a real, profitable company, too.
what kind of results can i realistically expect?
We are all about honesty, shared in kindness here at The Business of Apparel, so I'm not going to sugar-coat this for you. Building a global, profitable apparel company takes time. However, we have accountability trackers and suggested timelines to move you through our core curriculum in just three months. So in 90 days, you'll learn executive-level processes that 90% of this industry doesn't EVER learn. During that time, you'll also be refining your budget with us so your cashflow levels out and you start working toward profitability. We will also be guiding you through marketing and sales improvements. We've had members save over $50,000 in less than 60 days inside our program, launch their brand from just an idea in less than 9 months and we've helped seasoned owners figure out how to clean up their back-end data in less than a week. Results do depend on YOU, but we move quickly with 70+ collective years of seeing it all!
What if I can't make the live calls?
We record our Live Office Hours calls every week, and post them in the private community forum for you to access, watch and rewatch whenever it works best for you. Concerned that you won't get your questions answered if you're not in the calls? All you have to do is put your questions in the community's "Q&A" thread and we'll get back to you right away. You don't even need to wait for the next call! We're not going to leave you hanging just because you couldn't attend some calls.
What if I make jewelry, footwear or accessories, not apparel?
Building a profitable product-based business has many of the same principles when it comes to building a business plan, line planning, financial planning and so much more. Many of the business principles, sales tactics and marketing strategies we teach are applicable for your category as well. HOWEVER, our network is mostly made up of apparel industry professionals. While we know a few people here and there in other categories, we cannot promise the same level of connections outside of our group if you're not in the apparel industry.
Who else is in 'The Board'?
The Board is made up of apparel brand owners from all levels. We have owners who are working hard to leave their nursing jobs to run their brands full-time. We also have owners in our group who have been making and selling apparel since the '90s! The beauty of this group is the advice, collaboration, support and genuine care that each member gives to the others. Your experience could be the key that unlocks another member's big break which not only gives you the chance to learn from others, but also to pay forward the experience and work that you've already put into your brand. It brings us all so much joy.
WHAT IF i JOIN AND REALIZE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT FIT?
Our monthly payment option for The Board can be cancelled at any time. So if you join for a few months and decide it's not the right fit for you, the option to cancel your subscription is always available to you. It's our goal to make you so happy inside our membership though, that you want to be with us for decades!
how much access to rachel will i have? what is her support level?
Rachel personally runs our weekly 1-hour "Office Hours" calls every Thursday at noon EST. She is also in the Community Forum every single day, answering questions, posting videos and helping you get the exact answers that you need. Unlike other programs where the CEO is part of the up-front process and then disappears on you, Rachel is 100% committed and involved in this group. It is her passion to help you!
how do i know which package is right for me and my business?
If you have questions about the different options (The Apparel Founder's Library or The Apparel Founder's Board), we encourage you to set up a totally FREE call with Mary, our Customer Solutions Manager. She can help you determine the best possible program for you at this stage of your business. CLICK HERE to get access to her schedule.
can other members of my team get access as well?
If you have a co-founder or a partner that you'd like to include in our weekly calls, we're happy to invite them in for a small additional fee of just $47 per month or $505 if you are paying for the year in full, up-front. Otherwise, please feel free to use the same account login with your team so they can also access the courses, templates, tools, diagrams and more. We know how important it is for teams to have access to the same information, so we do encourage you to take advantage of this option!