Yes, a nightmare for most women is the thought of shopping for a bathing suit. Actually, it’s usually more like a hunt – hunting for one that you not only would wear, but would make you feel good wearing it. That hunt led Melanie Travis to Founder and CEO of Andie Swim. It had nothing to do with the garment industry or wanting to start a swimwear line. What it did have to do with was the frustration of trying to find one for a company retreat. The tiny dressing rooms, the lack of variety, her exasperating online experience all turned a lightbulb on for Melanie.
The Creation
The lightbulb turned into the creation of Andie Swimwear, a collection of bathing suits that women can feel good in,. The swimsuits are classic, high quality and affordable without the anxiety of trying them on in a tiny dressing rooms. A direct-to-consumer shopping experience. And the experience is empowering.
‘Made for life’s sunniest moments, so you can spend less time thinking about your swimsuit and more time making memories.’ – Andie Swim. Andie Swim just made the Lead’s 2020 FOREMOST 50 list of high-growth D2C brands that are reinventing the future of fashion and retail. https://the-lead.co/the-foremost-50-2020/
This week Melanie and I will chat about:
- The hunt and the inspiration for finding the “perfect suit”
- The beginning of her Crowdfunding Campaign
- The start of the first collection
- The Mykonos and it’s sellout
- E-commerce, technology and and the consumer
- The at-home-try-on shopping experience
- Why the D2C (Direct-to-consumer) model
- Perfect fit – how does this work
- Funding process
- Letting experts in without fear
- Some advice for others starting out
- Covid and swimwear
- What’s next