In this exclusive documentary series, Maxim Sion, fashion entrepreneur and Business Development Manager at Bleckmann, shares his experience of building a brand from the ground up – providing valuable insights on how to make your vision a reality. In this episode, he discusses the transition from online sales to establishing a retail presence.
Fresh from launching a web shop to sell bracelets inspired by traditional Mexican iconography, Maxim and his co-founder, were experiencing strong demand for their new Black and Gold brand. However, this digital success was just the beginning of an entirely new learning curve.“Everything was very new for us,” Maxim explains. And one of the challenges they faced was making the pivot from online-only to physical retail.
Press play on part two to find out about the brand’s expansion into physical retail.
From online success to brick-and-mortar stores
Black and Gold’s first exposure to physical sales channels was with a Belgian department store. This gave them the introduction they needed, and they were soon preparing their first official sales pitch – refining out key details such as pricing strategy and brand positioning. The initial meeting was a big success, and Black and Gold bracelets were picked up for a month-long trial period. The response to this was so positive that the store decided to stock the products on a longer-term basis.
Using this initial foothold in the retail market as a springboard, Black and Gold began expanding its presence to more stores across Belgium. This increased the brand’s visibility, giving them access to a broader range of demographics than they would have been able to access through the e-commerce site alone. The next step? Expanding Black and Gold’s product range, a move that would introduce new layers of complexity.
Check out the next episode to learn more about Maxim’s approach to growing the brand and dealing with supply chain challenges. And, if you want to find out more about taking your brand to the next level, get in contact for a free consultation with a Bleckmann expert!
