There’s a saying in financial markets, where I spent my career prior to launching Senza Tempo, that you can’t fight the Fed. It means you can’t fight forces that are much bigger than you as an individual investor. No matter how great, planned and executed your idea — the market is bigger than any individual investor. The same can be said for running a small business.
Running a small business is always hard, but the number obstacles to success in fashion grow by the day between reaching customers and rising costs. I wrote about some of the trends affecting small brands last year after a spate of closures — the writing was on the wall — but like every entrepreneur I held out hope that somehow, I’d overcome these challenges. That a breakthrough would finally appear.
Unfortunately, the obstacles and market trends are only getting worse by the day and the losses are not only at the brand level, but upstream at the mill level. If a 200-year-old Swiss mill making some of the finest cottons in the world cannot survive what hope is there for a small brand without outside investors? How can I run a brand dedicated to creating a quality product when quality materials are becoming more and more rare?
Most of my clients over the years have always commented: “It’s so hard to find brands like yours.” These were the emails that would keep me going some days when I was ready to give up. Unfortunately, reaching enough of these clients to stay
afloat has become an impossible task.
Shop and invest in quality driven brands while you can. Given the market trends it’s only going to become harder over the years.
I’ve spent my entire career at tough jobs, working through extremely volatile economic cycles. I thrive in the face of challenges. Winston Churchill said: “Success is going
from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” But sometimes you must
close the door on your failures in order to make room for future successes.
It’s time for me use my collective experience in financial markets, macroeconomics, and running a small business to focus on the bigger challenges all small businesses are
facing not only independent fashion brands. Every job I’ve had has helped pave the path for what came next. I believe starting Senza Tempo will be no different. There are certain jobs and tasks that can only be learned by doing — starting a business from scratch without any kind of outside support is one of
them.
Markdowns on remaining inventory have started. You can find our initial list of markdowns here. Follow us on social media, sign up for emails and text alerts for additional markdowns and flash sales over the coming months. All sales are final. All orders will receive our signature English Garden scarf until supplies run out.
Whatever is not sold will be donated to
organizations dedicated to helping working mothers.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the clients who supported Senza Tempo over the years were a part of the movement to bring quality and craftsmanship back to
fashion. I hope you treasure your pieces the way I have treasured your support.
XO,
Kristen
