Last night, reality stars and entrepreneurs; Olivia Attwood and Montana Brown, spilled their secrets on the challenges they faced when first starting to their build their brands at Amazon’s Small Business, Big Dreams livestream panel, which took place on Amazon UK’s Instagram channel.
During the livestreamed discussion, Swim Society founder Montana revealed the difficulties she faced as a businesswoman in a man’s world, whilst also trying to promote a body-positive swimwear brand in a world where digital enhancing is the norm. Olivia also went on to explain how she’s had to separate her clothing brand, Foolish, from her persona, as she understands how public perception could hinder her business’s success if she’s too closely tied to the label’s image.
The insights, revealed at a panel on small business secrets, were to celebrate Amazon’s Prime Day and were aimed to help inspire budding business owners to successfully market a business in the ever-changing social media age of 2022.
Montana Brown, speaking live on Amazon UK Instagram and founder of swimwear brand, Swim Society, said: “Having elevated price points, I can send products to Love Islanders or influencers but that doesn’t speak to our consumers. It’s being authentic and speaking from the heart. Our brand has a face to it because they resonate with our personalities. Let people get to know you as a person.”
“I previously owned my business with other people, and I was just the face of it. You understand that the entrepreneurial world is run by men. Being a woman in that space is quite daunting. I wanted to make a difference and it is so empowering with Swim Society, as we don’t retouch any of our imagery and show all kinds of body types and shapes.”
“On investment, I’ve done it wrong in the past and it caused me time, money and tears. Most people who are investors they don’t care about your brand, but you need to see if they can become an important part of your life for the foreseeable future. You need someone with empathy. Everyone has their own pace and Instagram makes every business look so successful, but it doesn’t show the real cracks. Start small, get your engaged audience and work your way up.”
Olivia Attwood, founder of contemporary luxury brand, Foolish, said: “I wanted to be the face of the brand and I want to make clothes that I want to wear and I can’t find. I don’t want my product to feel like merchandise. I know as a person I’m a bit like Marmite, so on the name choice, I wanted people if they don’t like me, to like the clothes. Therefore, it’s a brand that I am a face of but at the same time it stands quite separately to me.”
For those who missed Amazon’s Small Business, Big Dreams livestream last night, you can watch here: https://www.instagram.com/amazonuk/.
