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KaPow Kids is 4 years old! July 01, 2017 10:43 1 Comment
Today is our birthday!
KaPow is now 4 years old! We started in 2013 with a trip to spotlight to purchase some fabric and a domestic sewing machine, now here we are today with over 60K followers on social media, many stockists in Australia, New Zealand and Dubai and a very funky brand that customers just love.
Wow, what a ride it has been. There's been ups and downs and lots of interesting surprises. We've been copied by big department stores, we've been accused of copying, we've had exact copies being sold on Ali Express, and we've had a few design fails. But on the upside we have an amazing network of like-minded friends from running this business, designs that sell out in a flash, a super loyal customer base that just go crazy for our brand, and many wins along the way.
At times I have thought that I want my biz to take over the world, but you know what - I have realised now that I actually want to stay small, it is more manageable, less stress and I can control things much better. It is what suits me and my family and my lifestyle. So no plans for KaPow to expand anytime soon, especially while our children are still so young and need me so much. Don't get me wrong, its is definitely growing at a rapid pace. My ordering has doubled from last year. But I will have to cap it somehow soon, otherwise Ill move into the next bracket of having to get a warehouse, staff etc and I'm not ready for that.
Overall it has been a fun and perfect job for me, and I am super passionate about my business. I love the fact that 99% of the time I am working in my pyjamas. I love that my work time is flexible, so I can work around my kids. I absolutely love children's fashion, so much so, that most of the time this doesn't even feel like real work.
Of course running a fashion biz is a lot of work too. It takes time, it doesn't happen overnight. I would like to share some of my tips for running a successful kids clothing business:
1. Passion
Be prepared to work long hours if you want to have a successful business online. Respond to customers in a timely manner, they really appreciate it and will become a return customer. I am constantly researching fashion, whether it be on pinterest or out on the street, you always need to be one step ahead!
2. Master Social Media
Instagram results in about 80% of our sales online. Its important to master Facebook too, they are different. Here are my top tips to master instagram - I get asked this question a lot - How did you get to 54,000 followers - well its actually a lot of work. If you really want a big following, prepare to put in the hours. Here you go:
- Be passionate about your brand, your story. Be a real person, show your personality through your posts, add a little humour, some behind the scenes into your day to day life. Make your descriptions pop! If you're excited, it will show through your posts.
- Only post beautiful photos. People will unfollow you if you post a blurry, unedited pic. I just use the editing functions within instagram. I brighten, add contrast and crop. All pics should have good lighting. Also make sure your entire feed as a whole is beautiful too.
- Hashtag within the first post, not in comments or it wont be effective. Change up your hashtags from post to post. Check out what hashtags some of your fellow brands are using in your industry.
- Brand reps and enthusiasts are an amazing way to promote your brand. We have about 5 or 6 each range. The create content for us to repost, plus they create awareness of our brand to their followers. Having lots of pics to post on instagram is so helpful. We really appreciate our little reps.
- Post regularly. A good time to post is after 7pm as thats when most kids are starting to go to bed and parents are scrolling on their phones. Try to post each day, followers like consistency.
- Network with other instagram accounts. Be social, comment and like pics that you feel you genuinely like and align yourself with. In that way, you are supporting them, creating a friendship hopefully, and they may return your support. Not everyone will reciprocate, but its good to be commenting on pics as others will see you, may give you a follow, or at least you will gain exposure. I have made many true friends by engaging with them. Some are direct competitors, but it doesn't matter one bit to me - we help each other out and ask each other questions. Working from home can be isolating, its so important to network. Not everyone will be your friend too, I am pretty sure some other brands hate my guts!
- Giveaways are a quick way to gain followers - you could do a giveaway with a whole bunch of other brands, or just 1 or 2 brands, or by yourself. Make the prize decent, say a $100 gift voucher to your store.
3. Marketing
You need to spend money to make money. When you first start out, of course its fine to just grow via word of mouth organically and not pay for any advertising. But if you truly want to grow, you need to invest in clever marketing. Some of my most successful marketing strategies would be: Brand reps and enthusiasts on Instagram, Facebook and Instagram ads, blog features, markets, giveaways and email marketing. I have found that being featured in print magazines not that successful. You need to try each avenue out yourself and measure which ones work best for your biz.
4. Get a mentor
My background is Architecture, not fashion, so I wanted to learn more about the fashion biz - I enlisted mentor Elizabeth from Fashion Equipped and she taught me so much. The things she has taught me have allowed my biz to grow in leaps and bounds. She taught me about wholesale and how to take my manufacturing offshore. Recently I have worked with biz coach Catherine Langman, you can read what we achieved here. It really pays off to get help!
But you could do all of these things above and still get nowhere - ultimately you need to create a product that rocks! Something different to whats already out there. You need to be creative, it will show through your designs. When I design my range I like to create clothes that when a kid wears it, people go WOW! Don't create something that's already been done, the market is saturated. Be unique, be yourself and I think you will flourish!
Whats next?
So whats next for KaPow? We have a brand new range launching at the end of August, our Spring/Summer range. To make room for the range our current winter range is on sale (selected designs). Here are some sneak peeks of summer below:
Soon we are doing a photo shoot for our AW18 range! Its quite a big collection this time, and we are showing the range for wholesale ordering at HELLO KID FAIR in August. We are expanding our knitwear range and also doing some new styles like kids backpacks! These will be available to buy February 2018 to customers.
Something for you!
Thank you to all our amazing friends and fans for your love and support, to celebrate our birthday we are offering 40% our Pom Pom Beanie range! Use code: BIRTHDAY at checkout. Ends Sunday 2.7.2017 at midnight.
Thank you
Andrea x
Pom Pom Beanies are here! April 23, 2017 08:43
Pom Pom Beanies are here!
Grab them while you can, these limited edition cute Pom Pom beanies have been selling very quickly.
- 50% fine merino wool / 50% low pilling acrylic blend yarn
- warm soft chunky knit
- easy to care for: machine washable
- sizing:
- SMALL fits newborn - 1 year,
- MEDIUM fits 1 year - 2 years,
- LARGE fits 3 years to adult.
- 4 prints to choose from
- designed in Melbourne
- made ethically in Vietnam
The perfect accessory to match the KaPow Kids Winter 17 range!
Look whats coming soon! March 15, 2017 19:58 1 Comment
Yas!
Look what's coming soon!
KaPow are doing KNITS! Limited edition Knit Pom Pom beanies to match our AW17 range! These super cute beanies will be available to purchase after Easter. The beanies are a warm chunky knit 50% wool/ 50% acrylic, fitting newborn to big kids (even adults can wear the large size).
Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when they are online.
Stockist spotlight March 09, 2017 11:12
We love our stockists!
Check out these awesome Kids Clothing stores in Australia and New Zealand that stock KaPow Kids:
Kawaii Kids - Horsham Victoria, Australia
Rourke and Henry - Cowra, NSW, Australia
Hello Willow - Elwood, VIC, Australia
Fox in Sox Kids - Fairfield, VIC, Australia
Little Mash - Hamilton New Zealand
Grey and Wild - Takapuna, New Zealand
Little Troopers - Earlwood, NSW
We will be at Swagger Child Market this Sunday 19th February. February 18, 2017 20:28
Have you got swagger?
Then come see KaPow Kids and lots of other cool brands at Swagger Child Market this Sunday, 19th February from 10am til 3pm at Coburg Town Hall, Melbourne, VIctoria!
We will have our AW17 range, plus a few pieces on sale from our Summer range.
Other cool melbourne brands that will also be there are Retro Bub, He and Her the label, La Banj, Le Petite Bouton, Cheeky Little Fox and Krome Kids.
Hope to see you there!
AW17 Launches today! February 02, 2017 09:31
We are so excited today because it is finally Launch day for our new Winter Range! We know a lot of you are excited too! The range will be available online tonight at 8pm daylight savings time (Melbourne time). Follow us on instagram and facebook so you can be up to date for the release.
This range goes up to a size 3 years and a lot of people are asking me why only size 3!? Well, it is because when I was designing this range, I thought I would try and just focus on baby and toddler clothing, rather than trying to cater for bigger kids too. But now I have changed my mind again (haha) and the next range will go to a size 6 - so don't worry, if you can just wait another 6 months, we will have bigger sizes!
So whats everyone's favourite piece so far? Have you been checking out all our previews?
Beautiful Bear Cub flatlay by @mikzuzu on instagram
Up close with our new Skull Harems. Shoes by Pretty Brave.
@taneyha on instagram modelling our new Unicorn Bodysuit
2 weeks to go til new KaPow range is here! January 19, 2017 11:56
Hi, Andrea here! Owner of KaPow Kids. I thought I would give everyone another look at our new AW17 range that drops on February 2nd at 8pm online and at our stockists.
I am so proud of this new range, it has been about 12 months in the making. I am so glad it is nearly time to launch!
So let me introduce our new leopard print! We have leopard print again, because it is my favourite, and I know a lot of you just never get tired of it. It is an oversized leopard spot this time, with peach and black spots on beige fabric. Bodysuits, headbands, dresses, and jumpers. The peach is repeated in details like flutter sleeves and contrast trims. The peach is the same peach fabric used in our summer range so you can also mix and match it back with your soft serve designs.
Be sure to follow us on social media (@kapowkids on instagram) to stay up to date with more sneak peeks!
New AW17 range launching February 4th at 8pm! January 05, 2017 11:00
We cant wait to show you our new range that launches soon! Unicorns, skulls, bears and leopard print in sizes 000 to 3 years. Online February 4th at 8pm.
Here is a special sneak preview:
Shoes supplied by Baby Bootique
Hats supplied by Acorn Kids
Finders Keepers Market Wrap Up! October 19, 2016 09:19 2 Comments
WOW.
Our first Finders Keepers Market was just WOW.
Still recovering from the weekend but thought I'd post some pics from our stand.
We made the double racks ourselves - timber purchased from Bunnings.
Colourful wire baskets from Down to the Woods
Ply cubes borrowed from a friend but you could easily make these from timber at Bunnings. We just pinned colourful paper behind each cube.
Mannequins and coat hangers from Shop for Shops
Limited stock is left after the market. Shop here.
Wrap up:
I think when we do Finders Keepers next time, we will get a bigger stand. Our 2m x 2m stand was a bit too small to showcase our range and also too small for all the shoppers and their prams.
It was such a great market and we loved meeting everyone, and the other fab designers at the market! Cant wait to do it again next year.
Andrea xx
We will be at Melbourne Finders Keepers Market - October 14th-16th September 25, 2016 18:34
KaPow Kids next market is coming up soon!
We will be at Finders Keepers Melbourne Market October 14th - 16th!
When?
Friday 14th October 6pm - 10pm
Saturday 15th October 10am - 6pm
Sunday 16th October 10am - 5pm
Where?
The Royal Exhibition Building
9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, VICTORIA
Plus additional entry at Rathdowne Street
How Much?
$2 entry fee for adults
Children under 12 FREE entry!
The Finders Keepers markets is a massive three day event, featuring over 250 independent art and design stalls in the world renowned Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens. Expect to find some lovely local makers from Melbourne, as well as talented favourites from all around Australia.
Each market is uniquely and carefully curated, featuring amazing new talent and debut stalls at every event. With dedicated food and beverage stalls, live music, two bars, three stations serving fresh coffee and Melbourne’s favourite Food Trucks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Our markets launched in Melbourne in 2010 and have been steadily growing ever since, so come along and find out what the fuss is about!
Click here to see the full line up of designers who will be at the market.
Come visit us and say hi! View our new Summer range in person!
Kids Outfit Inspiration September 15, 2016 12:04
We get tagged a lot on instagram, with kids wearing our threads. Its so lovely to see everyones cool outfits. Here are a few of our favourite get ups that we've been tagged in recently to give everyone some outfit inspiration:
@chopsandpie wearing our Banana Playsuit
@bridielee_soulmama wearing our Banana Drib, Ka-splat Headband and Banana Playsuit
Willow wearing our Soft Serve Tee, Soft Serve Headband and Soft Serve Skirt
All of these kids outfits are available now and we offer Take home layby - Afterpay for Australian customers. Free shipping over $100 spend Australia Wide.
Cool new summer range online now! August 18, 2016 12:17
KaPow Kids new cool clothing range for Spring/summer 2016 is online now!
Shop hipster kids fashion today. We have lots of cool childrens leggings, shorts, slogan t-shirts and baby playsuits in fabulous new prints! Also matching bandana bibs and top knot headbands available. Our range goes up to size 4 years.
Here are a few outfits for inspiration, but more ideas on instagram: @kapowkids
Tag us in your cool threads by hashtagging #kapowkids on instagram! You may be featured on our page!
Great gifts for a baby shower of newborn baby gift. Designed in Melbourne.
Sizes are selling out quickly, if your size is already sold out please check out our stockists.
To view the new range click here.
Soft Serve Leggings, Soft Serve Tshirt
Cheetah Harem Shorts
New SUMMER Range coming AUGUST 4th! July 14, 2016 08:15
I am so excited about our new range, our spring/summer range, that launches August 4th at 8PM Aest!
The range is called: TropiKOOL.
Its a very fun, playful and colourful, tropical range with 4 new prints, soft serves, bananas, splatter print and cheetahs.
The Banana print is an awesome collaboration with our friends Victor Fox!
There will be new designs: a playsuit for the babies, a mini skirt for the girls (don't worry its not that mini!) and a twirling dress!
Heres a sneak peak below!! Photos by Little Me Collab.
KaPow Kids X Chuck and Taz Colab March 01, 2016 19:44
We are so excited to announce that we have teamed up with amazing Aussie handmade label: Chuck and Taz to bring to you some super cute KAPOW X CHUCK AND TAZ pram liners and muffs!
Pimp your prams with KaPow AW16 fabrics: Leopard print and Penguin print pram liners and keep warm in winter with the matching pram muffs (aka pram sleeping bags)!
If you have never heard of Chuck and Taz before, it is an amazingly popular handmade pram liner brand based in NSW. Mum of 2, Catherine, is such a lovely, funny and talented mumtrepeneur and we are so thrilled to work with her on this collab.
The collab range will be available through www.chuckandtaz.com Thursday 3rd March at 8PM in limited numbers.
For more info on what size to choose for your pram see here.
New range coming soon! January 26, 2016 20:17
KaPow Kids new range launches next week on Thursday the 4th February! At 8PM AEST.
Here's a sneak preview of some of the designs from the Winter Collection!
The range features four cool prints: Penguins, Raccoons, Leopard spots and a Boom Pow Print!
The colour palette this season is minimal with black, white, beige, charcoal and grey.
Fabric Secrets November 26, 2015 13:43
Cool knit fabric for kidswear can be very hard to find. I get asked a lot - "Where do you buy all your cool knit fabric from?".
We used to search everywhere for cool fabric. Now we design our own fabric.
(For people who don't know, Knit fabric is generally used for stretchy stuff like leggings, tshirts and headbands etc and sewn on an overlocker/serger machine.)
Well the secret's out - here are a few of my favourite places to buy knit fabric.
http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kapowkids
Spoonflower is an online marketplace for really cool and unique fabric located in the USA, where many different designers contribute fabric designs. We used the spoonflower 'organic cotton knit' for our headbands. We also sell our own fabric designs on spoonflower!
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/landofoh
Land of Oh on etsy sells amazing knit fabric from Korea. Leopard, fruit and animal prints in cotton jersey, lycra, french terry and sweater fabrics. Great customer service and fast shipping to Australia too. There are many other cool etsy stores selling great knit fabric too, so have a look around.
http://www.darncheapfabrics.com.au/
Darn Cheap fabrics is a hidden treasure trove of cool knit fabric located in Melbourne. You can visit their 2 shops in Melbourne, order by phone or order online. The fabric is really cheap too as the name suggests.
http://www.naturesfabrics.com/
At natures fabric, located in the USA, you can find lots of different print knits and even fleece. Pandas, splatter print, leopards, the list goes on. We have purchased from there many times and shipping is fast.
Based in USA stocking lots of different cotton knits in many prints and blends.
There are a lot more out there, but these are some of the most unique fabric stores. Please comment below if you think there is a fab store I've missed.
KaPow Kids SS15! January 16, 2015 19:01
KaPow Kids Spring Summer 2015 is online now!
We are super excited about the new range. We have been working on it for a long time (since last year) and are very proud with the way it has turned out.
We have increased our sizing to size 4 and we will also be stocked in 25 stores Australia wide.
