Not all factories are created equal!

And if you’re contacting 20 different manufacturers hoping one will say yes — you're doing it the hard way.

In this episode of MANUFACTURING SOS, I’m talking about one of the most common mistakes I see when people start looking for a UK manufacturer: assuming every factory can make every kind of product.

You’ll learn why factory specialisms matter, how MOQs and capacity make a difference, and what you actually need to look for when shortlisting a manufacturer.

I’ll also share why I took down my free directory of UK manufacturers and the surprising truth about what manufacturers really said about being in it.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube

Listen now to find out:

🏭 Why not every factory with a sewing machine is right for your product

🧵 What kind of research you really need to do before reaching out

🛑 The red flag that means a manufacturer isn’t a good fit

🍷 What looking for a factory partner and choosing a wine having in common!

Get a copy of my UK Manufacturers List

▶️ Watch all 5 episodes of MANUFACTURING SOS on YouTube

🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

In this episode in the MANUFACTURING SOS series, I’m breaking down why placing a big order with your manufacturer, especially on your first production run with them, can be a costly mistake.

You’ll learn why it’s always smarter to treat your first production run as a test, how to avoid tying up all your money in stock, and how to respond when a manufacturer insists on high MOQs.

If you’re at the stage of placing your first order with a factory, or wondering how many units to start with, don’t miss this one.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube

🎧 Listen now to find out:

📦 Why ordering big on your first run is rarely a good idea

🧪 How to treat your first production like a product test

👚 How to avoid ending up with stock you can’t sell

⭐️ Why less really is more when you're building a UK-made brand

🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series

Get my Range Plan Template Here

▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube

🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply

Think tech packs are optional? Or that your manufacturer can just "sort it for you"?

Think again.

In this episode of Manufacturing SOS, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you don’t have a proper tech pack, and why skipping this step is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make.

You’ll learn why a tech pack is your blueprint, not just a boring admin task, and how trying to wing it will cost you more in sampling, quality control, and wasted materials.

I’m also busting the myth that you need to spend thousands on a designer to create one – and showing you what to include (in plain English).

Whether you’ve been told you don’t need one, or you’ve been avoiding it because it sounds too techy, this episode is your wake-up call.

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube

Listen now to find out:

🧵 What a tech pack actually is and why it matters

💸 How skipping it costs you money, time, and control

🧠 Why pay £100s to get one made

📋 What to include in a tech pack (and how to keep it simple)

🎧 Subscribe to the Make it British podcast so you don’t miss the rest of this special MANUFACTURING SOS series

Get my Tech Pack Template Here

▶️ Watch the full series on YouTube

🚀 Ready to scale your UK-made brand? Apply for the British Brand Accelerator at makeitbritish.co.uk/apply