How many fashionistas would love to turn their passion into their profession? As you can imagine, lots! Now unless you’re a Victoria Beckham, it can prove a tricky arena to carve out a career in this field. But there is good news. In this increasingly web-based world, new opportunities in every sector are constantly emerging, and the traditionally store-based fashion industry is no exception.
These opportunities, however, are a recent phenomenon. In the past it was a very different story, with only the most determined getting into the fashion industry by sheer hard slog. While others have had to take a more circuitous route to get where they want to be. There are also those who sought a more unconventional route. And you can’t find a less conventional break into fashion than Carol Hanson’s journey to MD of Want Her Outfit Ltd!
Carol’s aspirations to get into fashion buying right after college was wrought with frustrations as there were very few roles available, unless you had the experience or knew the right people.
Ever the pragmatist, Carol decided a background in accountancy, while light years away from fashion, would be one of the best foundations for running any business. It also gave her the confidence to set up her own accountancy service business, and through one of her clients, she established a corporate giftware company. This confirmed her passion both for buying and selling and running a full pledge business.
After a period of selling B2B software and a management role in video games, when the opportunity to buy a fashion website came last year, Carol could not turn it down. A lack of experience in the industry didn’t deter her—whose passion for fashion and her own individual style had always evoked compliments and comments.
Carol bought www.wantherdress.com from the founders. For 9 months she tried to combine it with her role as director of a video games accessories business, but juggling the demands of running a fledging ecommerce business alongside her day job meant progress was very slow. In February 2014 the chance came to run Want Her Dress on a full time basis and since then she’s not looked back!
Her plans for the website are starting to take shape, including the really exciting prospect of having a collection designed for the site by a local fashion student whose own work was featured on the catwalks at Clothes Show Live last year!
Carol’s relentless energy and enthusiasm are infectious and she’s delighted to have been asked to speak at Pure London in August, the most important fashion trade show in the UK.
“Ideas are not a problem,” She says. “I get loads and sort them out in my head when I’m out tramping the country paths with my dogs, it’s just finding enough hours in the day to implement everything that’s the challenge!”
What’s her advice for anyone looking to get into fashion?
“I’m probably not the best person to ask,” She laughs. “But what I would say is that my advice to anyone is if you have a dream, don’t give up! However long it takes you can realise it with enough determination and self-belief.”
To check out more on Want Her Dress, click here or on Twitter @WantHerDress
photo credit: University of Salford via photopin cc
