The legalities of running a business are overwhelming; there's no denying it. If you're unsure what to implement in your business, this Masterclass will walk you through the legal considerations you need to make whether you're pre-launch or fully fledged. We cover everything from Intellectual Property and counterfeiting to modern slavery and equal employment opportunities, due diligence in materials testing, requirements for shipping, developing contracts for your workforce and supply chain, and certifications you may want to take forward in your business.
As always, we are joined by industry professionals for expert input and guidance, including lawyer David Fyfield, Oritain fibre-tracing company, Collect ID, Martha Silcott (Fab Little Bag), Victoria Jenkins, Young Women's Trust and TSG Consulting.
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Protecting Your Business Idea Before You Launch
with The SFC TeamSummary
How forthcoming should you be with information on your business, brand, ideas and name? We explore all in this lesson and share one vital thing you must NOT do.
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Registering Your Business (UK)
with The SFC TeamSummary
How your business grows, pays taxes, makes big decisions, and deals with liabilities will depend on its legal structure. You decide this at the outset, but it can change later if advantageous. In the UK, there are four popular types of business structures. All of these business structures have advantages and disadvantages, depending on factors such as the size of your business, the nature of your business and your plans for it. Here's a summary of the three most common types of business structures for fashion brands, how they compare against each other and the steps for registering each.
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Intellectual property rights for your design business
with The SFC TeamSummary
At the heart of fashion are fresh, new designs. Innovation and original creative expression are the primary sources of competitive advantage for all businesses. Intellectual Property (IP) law protects your goods and fashion designs from being copied or pirated - which is why it is a crucial part of any design business. IP essentially prevents others from counterfeiting and imitating your goods and profiting from your hard work.
In this Masterclass, we have called on the help of lawyers who specialise in IP to bring you up to speed on everything you need to know to ensure that your brand, designs and products are adequately protected.
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The small business legal considerations of Funding, Investment and Partners
with The SFC TeamSummary
Contracts act as a safeguard for your business and ensure your business' right to timely payments. You need to know the amount of money you're receiving, how frequently the payments will be made, and the costs associated with delayed repayments.
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Employment Contracts, HR & Modern Slavery Acts for Small Fashion Businesses
with The SFC TeamSummary
Having clear, well-drafted contracts and policies around employment is essential for any business. Employment contracts are important for both employees and employers. It bonds both parties to do their duties and responsibilities. For example, to fulfil the employee's work duties for the employer and that the Employer pays the employee according to work within a certain time frame. Contracts help you manage your staff effectively and protect the interests of both parties if issues arise. They also provide clarity about what will be expected from each party involved in the arrangement, which helps eliminate any confusion about responsibilities or expectations.
It’s important to have well-drafted contracts that are tailored to your business and individual employees and their responsibilities.
Modern Slavery is a crime and examples include trafficking people, forced labour and servitude. The practice sees individuals gain, either personally or commercially, from the exploitation of the victim. That's why a Modern Slavery Statement, describing ‘the steps your organisation has taken during the financial year to deal with modern slavery risks’, is important to publish. In this lesson, we talk you through how to write your own Modern Slavery Statement.
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Legal Requirements When Designing Sustainable Fashion Products
with The SFC TeamSummary
Design is at the heart of the fashion industry. The fun, creative side of the job that inspired you to start your brand in the first place. But are you aware of the legal requirements for fashion design and the certifications surrounding them? In this lesson, we make sure your products comply with vital regulations, so you don't get caught out.
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Legal Information for Websites in Fashion Business
with The SFC TeamSummary
Selling online is a no-brainer; reaching a global audience, increasing sales opportunities, competing with larger businesses and receiving payment more quickly from online transactions. So, chances are, you will rope in help designing your online shop-front. But what do you do if your web developer comes in over budget and takes three times longer than estimated?
And once you've jumped this hurdle, if you're selling goods or services through digital TV, by mail order or by phone or text message, you are legally obliged to provide certain information. Not complying with these regulations is very serious: If you do not follow the rules, you could be made to deliver the goods or services as agreed, pay compensation or be given an unlimited fine or even a prison sentence!
For example, when selling online, you must provide a policy that states who pays the cost of returning an item. If it doesn't state this, you will have to cover the cost and your customer is entitled to a refund of the total amount paid, including charges to ship the item and the fee to return it.
In this lesson, we take the stress out and cover every agreement you need when creating and selling through a website.
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How to Handle Disputes in a Small Business
with The SFC TeamSummary
If you run a small business, you may know by now how much time, effort and money can be spent resolving conflict. It could simply be an unhappy customer complaining about your service or goods. Small business owners usually deal with conflict alone, which can be stressful and tiring. If you own your own business, you must sharpen your communication and conflict resolution skills to avoid wasting resources better spent on helping your business flourish. The reality is conflict is a normal part of your business growth. The more successful you become, the more likely you will encounter it.
In this lesson, we outline how to deal with conflict, conflict resolute swiftly and avoid it in the future.
Past Events
Understanding The UK And EU REACH Regulations [SFC]
Toxic Fashion: Chemicals Used In The Textile Industry [SFC]
Provenance: Tech solutions for transparent supply chains [SFC]
Fab Little Bag: solving a huge environmental problem & nabbing Waitrose as their first stockist [SFC]
Guide To Equal Employment And Fair Working Practices [SFC]
Unhidden Clothing: Sustainable Adaptive Fashion [SFC]
What You Need To Know About Importing Post-Brexit [SFC]
What You Need To Know About Exporting Post-Brexit [SFC]
How To Find Your HS Tariff Codes For Exporting Goods [SFC]
How To Achieve Economic Justice For Young Women [SFC]
Martina Spetlova: Traceable Handmade Leather Fashion Goods [SFC]
How Fashion Businesses Can Prevent Modern Slavery [SFC]
Protecting The Intellectual Property of Your Creative Business [SFC]
Patents, trade marks, copyright and designs [Gov.uk]
Intellectual property and your work [GOV.UK]
Apply to register a trade mark [GOV.UK]
Trademark vs Copyright: When to apply [Brinso]
Providing Origin And Protecting Reputation Through Fibre Tracing [SFC]
Avoid Counterfeiting With NFC Tags and Blockchain [SFC]
Demystifying Certifications and Standards [SFC]
Introduction to Certifications [SFC]
How To Make Your Fashion Business More Sustainable [SFC]
Infantium Victoria: Avant-Garde Organic And Vegan Certified Childrenswear [SFC]
Additional Reading
What The Fashion Industry Should Take Away from COP26
Monday Nov 15th, 2021
10 Podcasts Every Entrepreneur Should Listen To
Sunday Oct 24th, 2021
In Conversation With: Barley Massey, Fabrications
Sunday Feb 28th, 2021
What Wellbeing Strategies Can You Implement To Be An Agile Business?
Thursday Dec 17th, 2020
Can The High Street Recover From The Covid-19 Pandemic?
Thursday Dec 10th, 2020
How Fashion Retail Has Survived The Covid-19 Pandemic
Thursday Dec 3rd, 2020
In Conversation With: Stag & Bow, Purveyors Of Historic Craft And Haberdashery
Wednesday Oct 14th, 2020
In Conversation With Bundle 'n Joy: Possibly the First Ever Maternity Clothes Rental Scheme
Tuesday Aug 4th, 2020
Who are the Drapers Sustainable Fashion Award Winners?
Thursday Jul 30th, 2020
How To Extend The Life Of Your Materials
Friday Jun 12th, 2020