Free tools in this hub
No signup required · Drafts sync when you sign in
Tools other UK fashion guides charge for — free here
Jump straight to the interactive tools, then come back for the deep-dive guidance.
Tech Pack Generator
6-page factory-ready Word doc. Multiple named drafts, auto-saved.
Cheapest-First Launch SKUs
6 low-MOQ products with real UK supplier links — caps, gloves, tees…
Mission Pledge Generator
UK CAP Code / CPR-compliant "gives back" wording + Word doc.
Pricing & Margin Calculator
Solves retail price from landed cost, fees, returns and target margin.
Inspiration · Featured kit
Real example: how MEM built its first activewear drop
Same playbook this hub teaches: embroidered logo tee, beanie and lifting gloves, small UK runs, sold direct. Browse the live store to see fits, packaging, photography style and price points you can model your own launch on.
Visit mem.fitnessYou don't have to do this alone. These UK programmes offer free coaching, grants, loans and direct mentor support — several are built specifically for people with convictions.
Forward Trust — Ex-Offenders Business Bootcamp
Who it's for
London residents with a criminal record who want to start a business.
What you get
6-month blended programme: 1-to-1 mentoring, masterclasses, business plan, peer group, ongoing enterprise support.
Forward Trust — Enterprise Support
Who it's for
Anyone in Forward's catchment looking at self-employment.
What you get
Plan templates, advisor sessions, signposting to grants & loans, post-launch check-ins.
Bounce Back
Who it's for
Prison leavers and people with convictions.
What you get
Training in and out of prison + employment in their social enterprise. Strong route into work, then into self-employment.
Key4Life
Who it's for
Young men in prison or at risk of offending.
What you get
7-step model — emotional resilience, employability, on-going support. Reported 8% reoffending vs ~50% baseline.
Barclays Eagle Labs — Black Founder Accelerator
Who it's for
Black-led UK startups raising or scaling.
What you get
Cohort programme: investor readiness, mentoring, network, growth content. No equity taken.
Barclays Eagle Labs — UK Government-funded Programmes
Who it's for
Tech & innovation-led founders across the UK.
What you get
Free regional accelerators co-funded by government. Workshops, 1:1 advisors, investor demo days.
Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme
Who it's for
18–30s starting a business.
What you get
Free training, business plan support, low-interest start-up loans (up to £5k), grants and a dedicated mentor for 2 years.
Start Up Loans (British Business Bank)
Who it's for
Anyone aged 18+ with a UK business under 36 months old.
What you get
Government-backed personal loan £500–£25k at 6% fixed, free 12 months mentoring, no application fee.
Working Chance
Who it's for
Women with criminal convictions.
What you get
1-to-1 employment & enterprise coaching, employer matching, application & interview prep.
Spark Inside
Who it's for
Young men inside HMP and on release.
What you get
Life coaching that builds motivation & self-belief — strong feeder for entering enterprise programmes once released.
Tip: apply to 2–3 in parallel. Forward Trust + Start Up Loans + Prince's Trust is a strong stack if you're under 30.
This is the no-fluff version of what we wish someone had told us when we launched MEM Fitness clothing. It's the same playbook we use — built for ex-offenders, side-hustlers and underdog founders who don't have a £50k war-chest.
1. The basics — what an activewear brand actually is
- Activewear is a marketing business with a product attached. Fit, fabric and finish must be solid — but distribution and story decide who survives.
- Start narrow: 1–3 hero products (e.g. tee, shorts, hoodie). Don't launch a full collection. You'll learn more from 200 units of one tee than 50 units of six SKUs.
- Plan for 3 sample rounds (proto → fit → pre-production) before you place a bulk order. Budget 8–14 weeks from first sketch to first stock landing.
2. Textiles 101 — what each fabric actually does
- Cotton jersey (180–240gsm) — soft, breathable, easy to print/embroider. Best for tees, casual hoodies, lounge. Shrinks ~5% on first wash; spec pre-shrunk.
- Cotton/poly fleece (280–400gsm) — heavyweight hoodies, sweats. Holds shape, takes prints well, warm.
- Polyester / poly-spandex (interlock, 180–220gsm) — moisture-wicking, fast-drying. The default for performance tees, shorts and base layers. Sublimation print only (no screen print).
- Nylon-spandex (Supplex, Lycra blends) — high stretch, compression. Used for leggings, sports bras, cycling shorts. Higher fabric cost, harder to sew — needs a specialist factory.
- Recycled poly / Repreve — same performance as virgin poly with a story consumers care about. Adds £1–£3 per unit but unlocks sustainability marketing and Faire/wholesale buyers.
- French terry / heavyweight cotton (300gsm+) — premium streetwear feel. Sits between tee and hoodie. Great for "elevated basics" pricing.
3. Best first products to launch with
- Oversized heavyweight tee (240gsm+) — easiest to sample, wide fit tolerance, strong margin. Our #1 recommendation for round one.
- Hoodie (380gsm cotton fleece) — high perceived value, easy to bundle, signature piece for brand photography.
- Cap or beanie — low MOQ (50–100 units), £3–£6 landed, retails £20–£28. Cash-flow rocket for round one.
- Performance shorts — if you're going pure activewear, this beats leggings as a starter (simpler pattern, fewer sizes, lower returns).
- Avoid for round one: leggings, sports bras, technical jackets. Fit complaints are brutal and returns destroy margin.
4. UK vs overseas — real landed cost (heavyweight tee, 300 units)
| Region | FOB / unit | Shipping + duty | Landed / unit | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK (London / Leicester) | £14–£20 | £0–£1 | £14–£21 | 3–5 wks |
| Portugal | £9–£14 | £1–£2 | £10–£16 | 5–7 wks |
| Turkey | £6–£10 | £1–£2 | £7–£12 | 6–8 wks |
| China (Guangzhou) | £3–£6 | £1.50–£3 | £4.50–£9 | 8–12 wks |
| Bangladesh / Pakistan | £2.50–£5 | £1.50–£3 | £4–£8 | 10–14 wks |
Add UK import duty (12% on cotton garments) + 20% VAT on landed value when sourcing from outside the UK. Most founders forget VAT and lose 20% of margin on day one.
- Made in UK wins on: short lead times, easy QC visits, "Made in Britain" pricing power (+20–30% retail), low fraud risk, ethical story.
- Made overseas wins on: 50–70% lower unit cost, lower MOQs at scale, deeper fabric range. Pays off only above ~500 units per SKU.
- MEM rule of thumb: first 2–3 drops in the UK or Portugal to learn fit and reorder fast, then move proven SKUs offshore once you've sold through.
5. Fraud-safe sourcing — the platforms that actually protect you
- Alibaba — only pay through Trade Assurance (escrow). Money is held until you sign off the goods. Never pay by personal Western Union or to a director's private account — that's the #1 way new founders get scammed.
- Made-in-China — similar escrow ("Secure Trading Service"). Use it.
- Global Sources — verified manufacturer audits, used by Amazon sellers and Argos buyers. Higher MOQs but lower fraud risk.
- SGS or QIMA — pay £200–£300 for an independent pre-shipment inspection. They visit the factory, photograph and measure your goods, and email a report before you release final payment. Non-negotiable for first-time orders over £2k.
- Always: video-call the factory before paying a deposit, ask for their business licence and a recent export bill of lading, pay 30% deposit / 70% on inspection, and use a UK-issued credit card or Wise multi-currency for chargeback protection.
6. Your USP — why MEM Fitness clothing actually sells
A USP (unique selling proposition) is the one sentence a customer can repeat to a friend. Without it you're just another tee on Instagram. Generic "premium quality" is not a USP.
MEM Fitness clothing — worked example
USP: "Heavyweight gym kit made by people who came home — every tee funds a real second-chance training programme."
- Product hook — 280gsm oversized fit, gym-tested, not fashion-tested.
- Mission hook — profit funds free coaching for ex-offenders. Buyers feel the impact.
- Founder hook — built by formerly incarcerated founders, not a marketing agency.
- Proof — published outcome reports, named coaches, real before/after stories.
That stack lets MEM charge £45 for a tee that costs £8 to make, sell to corporate gifting buyers, and get featured by press for free. Find your version of these four hooks before you spend a penny on ads.
7. Sales strategy — channels that actually move stock for indie brands
Most founders default to Instagram ads and burn cash. The channels below have lower CAC and build community at the same time.
- Local gym pop-ups — DM 10 independent gyms within 30 minutes of you. Offer a free Saturday rail in exchange for 20% of sales (no rent). Bring a card reader (SumUp / Zettle), a clothing rail, mirror, and a QR code to your Shopify. Expect £300–£900 in a 4-hour pop-up at a busy gym. Process: (1) email gym owner with one-page deck + photos, (2) confirm date and rev-share in writing, (3) post to gym's Instagram 7 days out, (4) capture every buyer's email at checkout for the next drop.
- High-street gym shops — PureGym, The Gym Group and most council leisure centres run small retail counters. They don't take new brands centrally, but regional managers can stock 1–2 SKUs on consignment. Walk in with sample, line-sheet and a 60% wholesale price. One yes here = a permanent shelf.
- Barbershop tours — sounds odd, works hard. Independent barbershops have your exact target customer sitting still for 40 minutes. Drop 10–20 caps or tees on consignment in 5 shops, pay them 30% of every sale, restock weekly. We've seen brands shift 80+ units a month from 4 shops with zero ad spend.
- Combine sports / boxing / MMA gyms — coach-branded co-drops (small print run with the gym's logo) sell out at events. 50/50 split of profit, gym handles distribution.
- Local markets & trade fairs — Spitalfields, Brick Lane, Camden, Manchester Northern Quarter. £40–£120 per stall day. Best as a content shoot + customer-research session, not a profit channel.
8. Wholesale marketplaces — set up bulk sales channels (mostly free)
Wholesale is where indie brands stop trading time for orders. List once, get re-ordered by 50–500 small retailers worldwide. Most platforms are free to list — they only take commission on sales.
- Faire — biggest indie wholesale marketplace in the UK/EU/US. Free to list, Faire only charges 15% on first order from a new retailer and 0% on reorders for life. Net-60 payment terms are paid to you upfront by Faire (you get cash, retailer gets time). This is the #1 channel we recommend.
- Ankorstore — European Faire-equivalent, very strong in France/Germany/UK. Same free-to-list, commission-on-sale model.
- Creoate — UK-based wholesale platform, good for sustainable / mission-led brands.
- Tundra — US-focused, 0% commission (charges retailers a small fee instead).
- Setup time: ~1 day. You need 6–8 product photos on white, a line-sheet PDF (wholesale price + RRP per SKU), case-pack quantities, and a "minimum opening order" (most brands set £150).
9. Online distributors & Amazon — lazy passive volume
- Amazon Seller Central UK — list your hero SKU on FBA. Amazon picks, packs and ships. Fees are ~30%, but volume can be 5–10× your DTC. Use it for basics (plain tees, caps), keep your premium drops Shopify-only.
- Not on the High Street — UK gift-buyer audience. Higher commission (~25%) but built-in trust.
- Etsy — works for printed / personalised activewear and small-batch streetwear.
- Method to find more: Google "clothing distributors UK [your niche]", "activewear stockists wholesale", "streetwear consignment shops [your city]". Build a list of 30 in a Google Sheet (name, email, IG, notes), then upload them all to your Faire portal — Faire will send the intro email, follow-ups and onboarding for you. Same for cold-emailing independent gyms and barbers: BCC 30 at a time using a free tool like GMass or Mailmeteor in Gmail.
10. The order to actually do this in
- Week 1–2: Lock USP. Pick 1 hero product. Build tech pack (Section 2 of this hub).
- Week 3–6: Sample with 2 UK factories. Approve fit. Order 100–300 units.
- Week 7–8: Shoot product. Build Shopify (Section 8). Open Faire + Ankorstore listings.
- Week 9–12: Run 3 gym pop-ups, 5 barbershop consignments, list on Amazon FBA, email 30 wholesale buyers via Faire.
- Month 4+: Reorder what sold, kill what didn't, plan drop two.
Three common routes
- Print-on-demand — zero inventory, test designs cheaply. Quality and margins are limited but risk is near zero.
- Private label / white label — buy existing blanks and add your branding. Faster to market, decent margins.
- Custom manufacturing (cut & sew) — your own patterns, fabrics, fits. Highest quality and margin, highest MOQs and risk.
UK & Europe manufacturers (low-to-mid MOQ friendly)
Manufacturers, blanks & POD directory
- Fashion-Enter Ltd (London) — ethical UK cut & sew, small runs from ~50 units.
- The Label Makers (Leicester) — UK manufacturing for emerging brands.
- Amplaize — UK activewear manufacturer for new brands.
- Makers Valley (Portugal) — small-run European production with sourcing support.
- Sewport — directory to find vetted clothing manufacturers worldwide.
Print-on-demand & blanks
- Printful — POD with UK fulfilment and Shopify integration.
- Printify — wide product range, multiple suppliers.
- Teemill — UK-based, organic, circular POD.
- AWDis / Stedman / Gildan — wholesale streetwear blanks for screen-printing locally.
Sourcing further afield
- Alibaba and Made-in-China — large catalogue; insist on samples, verify with video calls, use trade assurance.
- Always order samples, wash-test, check seams, and ask for written MOQs, lead times, Incoterms and shipping costs before committing.
Tech pack — what it is and why every manufacturer asks for one
A tech pack is the spec sheet your factory uses to make your garment exactly how you want it. No tech pack = guessing, expensive sampling, and unusable production.
Think of a tech pack like a recipe. It removes ambiguity between you and the factory — every measurement, fabric, trim, stitch type, label and packaging detail is written down and signed off before production starts. UK and EU manufacturers expect one. Most overseas factories will quote you a higher price (or refuse to quote) without it.
What a complete tech pack includes
- Cover sheet — brand, style name, SKU, season, designer, version, target retail and landed cost.
- Technical flat sketches — front and back line drawings showing seams, stitching and design details.
- Bill of Materials (BOM) — every fabric, trim, label, zip, drawcord and tag with supplier, colour (Pantone), placement and consumption.
- Measurement chart (size spec / POM) — every point of measure in cm with tolerances, graded across XS–XXL.
- Construction details — stitch types, SPI (stitches per inch), thread type and seam finishes.
- Labels & care — main label, size label, care/content label (legally required for UK retail) with placement and artwork.
- Colourways — Pantone references for body, trims and prints, plus lab-dip approval status.
- Packaging & sample log — polybag, hangtag, carton spec, plus a record of proto / fit / PP / TOP samples.
How to use it
- Send the tech pack with every quote request — you'll get apples-to-apples pricing instead of vague "it depends" answers.
- Version every change (v1, v2, v3) with a date. Send the latest version with every sample round.
- Treat the measurement chart as the contract — your factory's QC team will measure against it on TOP samples.
- Free starting tools: Techpacker, Figma for sketches, and Pantone Connect for colour references.
Build your tech pack
Fill in your style details below. We'll merge them into a 6-page editable Word doc — open in Word or Google Docs and keep typing into every cell, then add your sketches.
Live preview
Exactly what each page of your downloaded .docx will contain.
Tech Pack — Cover
Style information & sketches
Style information
| Brand | [Brand name] |
| Style name | [Style name] |
| Style # / SKU | [Style # / SKU] |
| Season / drop | [Season / drop] |
| Designer | [Designer] |
| Category | [e.g. hoodie, leggings, tee] |
| Date created | 2026-05-12 |
| Version | v1 |
| Status | Concept / Sample / Production |
| Target retail (£) | [£ target retail] |
| Target landed cost (£) | [£ target landed cost] |
| Order quantity | [Total / per size] |
| Manufacturer | [Factory / supplier] |
| Sample size | M |
Sketches
Front technical flat
[Insert sketch in Word — Insert > Picture]
Back technical flat
[Insert sketch in Word — Insert > Picture]
6 pages · Cover · BOM · Size spec · Construction · Labels & trims · Colourways & sample log
Recommended tools
One-click jumps to the platforms most UK indie fashion brands use to build a tech pack.
Drag-and-drop tech pack builder used by indie brands. Free starter plan, BOM and size charts built in.
Draw front/back technical flats, version designs and share with your factory. Free for solo founders.
Look up Pantone TPX/TCX codes for body, trims and prints — the language every factory speaks.
Industry standard for technical flats. Use the free 7-day trial or Affinity Designer (£70 one-off) instead.
Quick way to build a cover sheet, mood board or lookbook to send alongside your tech pack.
Free, shareable, version-controlled. Perfect for the Bill of Materials and graded measurement chart.
Step-by-step workflow
The order most indie founders follow — and exactly which tool to open at each stage.
- 1
Sketch the front and back technical flats
Open FigmaStart in Figma (or Illustrator) with line drawings of the garment from front and back. Mark seams, stitching, pockets, drawcords. Don't colour them in yet — black lines on white only. Export as PNG to drop into your tech pack.
When: Before you talk to any factory.
- 2
Pick your Pantone colours for body, trims and prints
Open Pantone ConnectOpen Pantone Connect and choose TPX/TCX codes (TCX = cotton, TPX = paper) for every colourway. Write the codes down — these go on the BOM and the colourway page. Never describe colour in words alone ("navy" means 50 different things to 50 factories).
When: Before you order lab dips or sample fabric.
- 3
Build the Bill of Materials and size spec
Open Google SheetsIn Sheets, list every fabric, trim, label and zip in one tab (BOM) and your point-of-measure chart graded XS–XXL in another. Share the link with your factory so revisions are version-controlled and date-stamped. Faster to iterate than a PDF.
When: After flats are signed off, before requesting a proto sample.
- 4
Assemble everything into the final tech pack
Open TechpackerDrop your Figma flats, Pantone colours and Sheets BOM into Techpacker. It auto-formats into a clean, factory-ready tech pack with version history and comments — much better than emailing PDFs back and forth. Free plan covers your first style.
When: Once flats, colours and BOM are locked.
- 5
Update with every sample round
Open Techpacker + SheetsAfter every fit sample, log measurements in your Sheets POM tab against the spec, leave comments in Techpacker on what to change, and bump the version (v1 → v2). Send the new version with the next sample request. Repeat until you sign off the PP (pre-production) sample.
When: Throughout sampling, until TOP sample is approved.
Cut-and-sew (full garments like hoodies, leggings, sculpt sets) is where most new brands die — high MOQs, fit rounds, fabric deposits. The cheapest, lowest-risk way to launch is blanks + branding (decorated accessories and tees). You can land your first 100-unit drop for under £600 and reorder in days, not months.
The 5 cheapest first-launch SKUs (UK 2026 ballpark)
Costs are landed cost per unit at low MOQ (50–100 pcs) using UK decorators. RRP shown is realistic for an indie streetwear / activewear brand with decent imagery.
Weight-lifting / training gloves
~3.5–5xNiche-signalling, gym-bag staple, tiny size range (S/M/L), no fit drama.
- MOQ
- 50 pairs
- Landed cost
- £3.50–£6.00 / pair (private-label, woven label add-on)
- Realistic RRP
- £18–£28
Tip: Source via Alibaba Gold suppliers or UK importers (e.g. Premier Fitness Service). Add a woven brand label — looks 10x more premium for ~30p.
Caps (5-panel, dad cap, trucker)
~4–6xOne size, no sizing returns, embroidery hides cheap blanks well.
- MOQ
- 25–50 units
- Landed cost
- £4–£7 / cap (blank + UK embroidery, ~6,000 stitches)
- Realistic RRP
- £25–£40
Tip: Use Beechfield or Flexfit blanks. UK embroiderers like Banana Moon or Garment Printing do 25-unit runs.
Stainless steel water bottles
~4–5xHigh-perceived-value, screen-print or laser-engrave logo, no sizing.
- MOQ
- 50–100 units
- Landed cost
- £3–£6 / bottle (500–750ml double-walled, 1-colour print)
- Realistic RRP
- £18–£32
Tip: Avoid plastic — premium gym brands all use steel. Laser engraving lasts forever; screen print scratches.
Heavyweight tees (printed blanks)
~3–4xCheapest entry to apparel. AS Colour / Stanley Stella blanks already fit well.
- MOQ
- 25 units (DTG) or 50 units (screen)
- Landed cost
- £8–£14 / tee (240–280gsm blank + 1–2 colour print)
- Realistic RRP
- £32–£55
Tip: AS Colour Heavy / Stanley Stella Creator 2.0 are the indie-brand standard. Use screen print for runs of 50+ — much cheaper per unit than DTG.
Tote bags / drawstring gym bags
~4–6xFree marketing — customers carry your logo. Doubles as packaging on launch.
- MOQ
- 50 units
- Landed cost
- £2.50–£5 / unit (heavy cotton tote, 1-colour print)
- Realistic RRP
- £12–£22
Tip: Throw one in free with orders over £50 — the unboxing video alone is worth it.
Beanies (cuffed, embroidered)
~5–6xYear-round demand for streetwear, gym, and outdoor crossover. One size.
- MOQ
- 25–50 units
- Landed cost
- £3.50–£6 / beanie (Beechfield blank + woven label or embroidery)
- Realistic RRP
- £20–£35
Tip: A folded woven label on a cuffed beanie is the highest perceived-value-per-pound move in indie streetwear.
The smallest viable first drop
- Caps (50) @ £5 = £250 → sells out at £30 = £1,500 revenue.
- Tees (50) @ £11 = £550 → sells out at £40 = £2,000 revenue.
- Tote (50) @ £3 = £150 → free with orders £50+, drives AOV.
- Total inventory cost: ~£950. Sell-through revenue: ~£3,500. Add a £25 Shopify plan, £100 product photos and you've launched a real brand for under £1.1k.
Aesthetic vs USP — pick both
Aesthetic gets the first sale. USP keeps the customer. In a saturated UK streetwear market, a beautifully shot cap is forgettable — a beautifully shot cap that funds rehabilitation projects for ex-offenders is sharable, press-worthy and repeat-buy material.
Aesthetic only
"Heavyweight oversized tee, washed black, boxy fit."
Competes on photography and price. You'll spend 30%+ of revenue on Meta ads forever to stay visible.
Aesthetic + USP
"Same tee — every one sold funds 1 hour of mentoring for someone leaving prison."
Earns press, organic shares, retail-buyer attention and repeat customers who feel they're part of something. The ad cost-per-sale drops because the story does the selling.
Mission-led USP angles that actually work in fashion
- Direct funding pledge — "£X from every order funds [specific outcome]." Specific beats vague: "1 hour of mentoring" outperforms "supports good causes".
- Lived-experience design — pieces designed by or with people the brand serves (ex-offenders, care leavers, recovering addicts). This is your story, not a marketing line.
- Transparent supply chain — name the UK decorator, name the blank, show the unit cost. Gen Z rewards radical honesty.
- Re-entry employment — long-term, hire ex-offenders for fulfilment, embroidery or photography. Few brands can copy this without rebuilding their ops.
- Put the USP on the product where it makes sense: a printed inside-collar message, a hangtag with the impact number, a QR code linking to the project page.
Heads up: if you make impact claims (e.g. "£X funds Y"), you need to be able to prove it — keep a simple spreadsheet of units sold × pledge amount, and publish the total quarterly. The Charity Commission and ASA both look at this.
Mission pledge — copy-ready, verifiable template
Fill in your brand, partner and pledge details below. You'll get a downloadable Word doc covering the pledge statement, how it's calculated, payment terms, public reporting, what you must not claim, and copy-ready hangtag / product page / footer wording — all aligned with the CAP Code, CPR 2008 and Charity Commission CC20 guidance for commercial participators.
Fill in the details and download a Word doc your customers, ASA and a partner charity can verify. Designed to align with CAP Code section 9, CPR 2008 and Charity Commission CC20.
Be specific and measurable. "Funds 1 hour of mentoring" is verifiable; "supports good causes" is not.
Live preview
[Brand name] — Mission Pledge
Effective from 1970-01-01 · Reviewed quarterly
Pledge statement
For every order placed on our website, [Brand name] donates £3 to MEM Academy CIC to fund 1 hour of 1-to-1 mentoring for a person leaving prison, delivered by a vetted MEM Academy coach.
Show full clause-by-clause preview
1. The pledge
- [Brand name] ("we", "us") commits that for every order placed on our website, we will donate £3 to MEM Academy CIC (Community Interest Company registered in England & Wales).
- Each donation funds 1 hour of 1-to-1 mentoring for a person leaving prison, delivered by a vetted MEM Academy coach.
- We commit to a minimum donation of £1,000 per year regardless of sales volume.
2. How we calculate it
- The pledge is calculated on net orders after refunds, returns and chargebacks.
- We do not deduct payment processing fees, marketing costs or shipping from the pledged amount.
- Where an order contains multiple items, the pledge applies once per order unless explicitly stated otherwise on the product page.
3. How and when we pay
- We transfer pledged funds to MEM Academy CIC within 30 days of the end of each quarterly period.
- Funds are restricted to the outcome described above and may not be used for general overheads, marketing or unrelated activities.
- We retain bank transfer evidence for every donation for at least 6 years in line with HMRC record-keeping requirements.
4. How we report it (public, verifiable)
- We publish a running total — units sold, amount raised and outcomes delivered — on [https://yourbrand.com/impact] and update it quarterly.
- Each quarterly report is signed off by MEM Academy CIC confirming receipt of funds and delivery of the stated outcome.
- We will publish a correction within 14 days if any figure is found to be inaccurate.
5. What we will not claim
- We will not describe the donation as a discount, promotion or price reduction.
- We will not state or imply tax-deductibility for the customer — the donation is made by us, not by them.
- We will not use vague language such as "a portion of profits" or "supports good causes" — every claim names a specific amount, partner and outcome.
- We will not use a charity's name, logo or registration number without written permission from that charity.
6. Compliance with UK rules
- This pledge is written to align with the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code rules on charity-linked promotions (rule 3.1, 3.7 and section 9), the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and Charity Commission guidance CC20 on commercial participators.
- Where the donation arrangement constitutes a commercial participator agreement under the Charities Act 1992, we hold a written agreement with the receiving charity setting out the notifiable amount, payment terms and reporting.
- We retain evidence of every claim made for at least 3 years and will provide it on request to the ASA, Trading Standards or the Charity Commission.
7. Changes to this pledge
- We may update the pledge amount or partner with at least 30 days' notice on our website.
- Any change applies prospectively only — orders placed under a previous version of this pledge are honoured at the rate in effect at the time of purchase.
8. Contact & verification
- Questions, verification requests or correction notices: [hello@yourbrand.com].
- Latest published impact figures and partner sign-off: [https://yourbrand.com/impact].
Copy-ready customer wording
- On-product / hangtag (short): "£3 from every order placed on our website funds 1 hour of 1-to-1 mentoring for a person leaving prison, delivered by a vetted MEM Academy coach."
- Product page (medium): "Every order on this page funds 1 hour of 1-to-1 mentoring for a person leaving prison, delivered by a vetted MEM Academy coach, delivered by MEM Academy CIC. £3 per order placed on our website — see our public impact page for the running total."
- Footer / about page (long): "[Brand name] pledges £3 from every order placed on our website to MEM Academy CIC (Community Interest Company registered in England & Wales). Funds are restricted to 1 hour of 1-to-1 mentoring for a person leaving prison, delivered by a vetted MEM Academy coach and reported quarterly at [https://yourbrand.com/impact]."
Compliance note
UK · ASA / CMAThis template is built to align with UK advertising and consumer-protection rules for cause-related marketing. It is not legal advice. Before publishing, have a solicitor review the final wording and get a signed agreement with your delivery partner.
What this template covers (you can publish)
- Specific, measurable outcome (CAP 3.1, 3.7 — no misleading claims).
- Named delivery partner with charity/CIC reg. no. (CAP 3.50–3.53 — charity refs).
- Per-unit pledge amount + minimum commitment (CPR 2008 — no implied "more than we deliver").
- Reporting cadence + public impact page URL (transparency / verification).
- Effective-from date and contact email for queries.
Get a lawyer to review
- Contract terms with the delivery partner (liability, IP, exit).
- Use of the partner's name, logo or charity number on packaging.
- Tax treatment (corporate gift aid, VAT on cause-related sales).
- Any "% of profits" wording — ASA treats this very strictly.
- International claims (US/EU consumers have different rules).
Template only — not legal advice. Get a written agreement signed by your delivery partner before publishing.
- Pick a clear lane: performance gymwear, oversized streetwear, modest activewear, women’s sculpt sets, etc.
- Define your visual system early: colours, logo use, tone of voice and photography style.
- Your name, product names and product descriptions should sound like the same brand.
Free / low-cost brand tools
A simple starting rule: selling price should usually be at least 2.5x–3x landed cost if you want room for packaging, content, ads, discounts and mistakes.
- Include VAT implications (register at £90k turnover), packaging, returns and payment fees (Stripe ~1.5% + 20p) in your maths.
- Leave 15–25% margin for creators or affiliate commissions if you plan to use them.
- Premium positioning is easier with fewer SKUs and stronger imagery.
Worked example (£12 landed cost t-shirt)
- Sell at £35 → gross margin £23 (66%).
- After 20% VAT: £29.17 net → margin £17.17 (49%).
- After Stripe fees + £4 fulfilment: ~£12.50 contribution per unit to cover marketing, returns and overheads.
Retail price calculator
Rounded up to .95 from £45.89. Hits ~60.0% margin after fees and returns.
- Markup vs landed cost
- 3.83×
- Net revenue (ex VAT)
- £45.95
- Payment fees
- −£0.89
- Landed cost
- −£12.00
- Fulfilment
- −£4.00
- Returns adjustment
- -8.0% of net
- Contribution per order
- £25.38
- Effective gross margin
- 60.0%
Contribution is what's left to cover marketing, overheads and your time. If it's under £8–£10 on a hero SKU, paid ads will struggle to pay back.
Your own store (recommended starting point)
- Shopify — fastest route to live, huge app ecosystem.
- WooCommerce — WordPress-based, more control, more setup.
- Squarespace — beautiful templates, simpler catalogue.
Whichever you pick: one clear homepage message, simple collection structure, strong PDPs with size guide, mobile-first checkout.
Marketplaces & social commerce
- TikTok Shop UK — huge reach for streetwear and activewear with creator affiliate built in.
- Etsy — works well for printed/personalised pieces.
- Depop — younger streetwear audience, good for limited drops.
- Amazon Handmade / Seller Central — volume but tight margins.
- Not On The High Street — curated UK marketplace.
Wholesale & retail partnerships
Wholesale & retail directory
- Faire — leading wholesale platform for UK independent retailers.
- Ankorstore — European wholesale marketplace.
- Creoate — sustainable wholesale platform.
- Pitch local independent gyms, studios and concept stores directly with a one-page line sheet.
- Pop-ups: Appear Here for short-term retail space across the UK.
AI business plan generator
Talk to the AI like a real advisor. Describe your idea in your own words, then chat to refine the plan.
Register your business
- Register as a sole trader with HMRC — simplest start.
- Set up a limited company — better for separating personal liability and raising investment.
- VAT registration — required at £90k turnover (2024/25 threshold).
Trademarks & IP
- Search the UK trademark register before committing to a name or logo.
- Register a UK trademark — from £170 for one class.
- IP overview — designs, copyright, patents.
Selling online compliance
- Online & distance selling rules — 14-day cancellation, returns, info you must show.
- ICO SME hub — privacy notice, GDPR, cookies. Most online stores must register with the ICO (£40/yr).
- Publish: terms of sale, privacy policy, returns policy, delivery policy, cookie banner.
Product safety & labelling
- Textile labelling rules — fibre composition labels are mandatory.
- Care labels (wash symbols), country of origin, and CE/UKCA marks where relevant.
UK government-backed
- Start Up Loans — £500–£25k, 6% fixed, government-backed, free mentoring.
- Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme — for 18–30s, grants, low-cost loans and mentors.
- Business finance & support finder — search grants & loans by region.
- Local Growth Hubs — regional support, often free advisors.
- Innovate UK — Smart Grants for genuinely innovative product/tech.
Crowdfunding & community
- Kickstarter — best for product launches with a strong story.
- Indiegogo — flexible funding option.
- Crowdfunder UK — UK-focused, often partnered with grant match-funding.
- Use pre-orders carefully — only promise dates you can hit.
Other routes
- Bootstrap with a small first drop and reinvest revenue (the most common path).
- 0% purchase credit cards for short-term stock funding (only if you can clear it before the rate kicks in).
- Angel investors via UK Business Angels Association — usually for later stage with traction.
Foundations (week 1–2)
- Choose your niche, customer and one-line positioning.
- Check the name on trademark register, Companies House and as a .co.uk / .com domain.
- Register with HMRC as sole trader (or set up a Ltd).
- Open a separate business bank account (Starling, Tide, Monzo Business).
Product (week 2–6)
- Decide first 1–3 products and target landed cost.
- Contact 3–5 manufacturers, request samples, compare lead times and MOQs.
- Wash-test, fit-test on real bodies, finalise tech pack.
- Place first production order (start small — 50–200 units).
Brand & store (week 4–8, in parallel)
- Logo, palette, type system, packaging.
- Build store on Shopify; add policies, size guide, FAQs.
- Set up Klaviyo and a pre-launch landing page with email capture.
- Book product photography (or DIY with daylight and a clean wall).
Launch (week 8–12)
- 3–4 weeks of teaser content on TikTok and Instagram.
- Send 2–3 pre-launch emails to your list.
- Seed 10–20 micro-creators with free product.
- Launch day: limited colourway or timed drop. Aim for first 20 customers, then learn fast.
Core gov.uk references: Register as self-employed, UK business finance support, IP overview.
Shopify launch checklist
The five things that have to be live before you press launch. Tick as you go — progress saves on this device.
Buy your .com or .co.uk (Shopify, Namecheap or Cloudflare) and connect it inside Shopify → Settings → Domains. Set it as primary so all traffic redirects there.
Generate Returns, Shipping, Privacy and Terms in Shopify → Settings → Policies. Edit returns window and shipping zones to match what your factory + courier can actually deliver.
Activate Shopify Payments (UK), then enable Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay for one-tap checkout. Run one £1 test order end-to-end before launch day.
Minimum 4 shots per SKU: clean white-background hero, lifestyle/on-body, detail (fabric, stitch, label) and scale shot. Compress under 200KB so mobile loads fast.
Install Klaviyo (free up to 250 contacts), embed a pop-up + footer signup, and set a 3-email pre-launch flow: welcome → behind-the-scenes → launch day.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers on UK manufacturing, pricing your first collection, and getting a Shopify store live.
Channel strategy by product type
What to post (weekly cadence)
Tools & resources