You finished your first production run, the goods are being shipped to you from the factory, and it's time to launch and start selling...

On the one hand, it's super exciting. Finally, after so many months of hard work, you're ready to unveil your creations. This is it. It's happening.

On the other hand, it's super stressful. It's your first time doing this, you poured your heart and soul into this, and you have no idea what to expect. What if it will not be recieved well? What if it's too expensive? What if you chose the wrong materials? Fit? Sizes? 

That unknown produces lots of anxiety, and your inner voice is having a field day.

If only you had a better idea of what to expect.

Well, each business is different, so your experience will differ. Still, I saw several things across the board with many of the brands I helped launch, which I wanted to share with you with the hope that it will give you a better perspective on what this first launch might look and feel like and more so, what should you do and pay attention to so this becomes a productive and positive experience?

1. This is a test run. This first launch should be considered a test run. Your goal should be to test every part of the puzzle from the start of your development process to when the customer paid and received their products... and everything in between. Take notes, ask for feedback, and brainstorm what can be done better next time. 

2. Be prepared for things to go not as expected. I know this is hard to accept, but that will happen. Some things along the way will go differently than planned. Some might be better than expected. Some might be worse. The key is not to panic when things don't work out and keep perspective when things go exceptionally well. Keep an eye out for what's happening, and above all, be curious because there is always a lesson to learn.

3. Stay tuned to your customers. No matter what happens, open a dialog with them, ask for feedback, and listen to it! The answers are usually there. Don't hide if something goes wrong or disappear when things go really well. Remember, with happy customers, you're going to have a successful business.

4. Monitor your inventory closely. Now that you had your first production run, you should have an idea of the production lead time, keep that in mind and set a measurable point in your inventory level so you'll know when you need to go into production again.

5. Test different marketing initiatives. Don't be afraid to take chances and try some crazy marketing ideas. You need to get people's attention and sway them to try your product, so think outside the box and experiment with marketing ideas. Luckily, since you don't yet have an audience, you're not risking too much at this early stage of your business. And as important, analyze your marketing efforts. You want to know what works and how much that costs you so you'll know what you should turn the hit on when you're ready.

6. Learn to trust your gut feeling. When faced with challenges, we learn a lot about how we operate, what we need, and how to trust ourselves, and if you pay attention to all that, you'll know when to trust your gut feeling! 

7. Stay focused! It's easy to get discouraged when things don't work as expected. This is why you want to have clear goals and expectations. Setbacks are part of the journey. The trick is to stay positive and curious. Your first season is...your first season. You will have many successful seasons if you keep your focus, learn from it, and adjust. 

8. ENJOY IT! Just like a first child, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You will never have a first season again, and yes, it could be stressful and overwhelming, but you will also have many great moments, take it all in and enjoy the journey. Whatever happens, you just completed the first big challenge in your business. Enjoy this moment.

Good luck on this journey!

Want help getting from an idea to launch? Check out my Fashion Brand Clarity Program.