Could an MBA help launch a vintage clothing start-up?
The following contribution is by Kate Hodge, who was the former special features editor of the Financial Times.
A student’s tale: Opinion is divided on whether entrepreneurship can be taught, but one graduate learned valuable lessons
Abhi Arora grew up with “a healthy dose of excitement and ambition”. In a family of entrepreneurs, it was taken for granted that he and his siblings would start their own businesses.
And he is well on his way to fulfilling that ambition as co-founder of Fleek, an online marketplace for wholesale second-hand fashion, which closed a $20.4m funding round last year.
An MBA wasn’t automatically a step on that path, though
MBAs are “hotly debated” in startup circles, Arora says, particularly whether entrepreneurship can be taught, and he admits he was “a little apprehensive” before starting his program at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School.
Arora had already experienced learning and working in some of the world’s most popular startup communities.
He moved from Kolkata in India, where he grew up, to study a business degree at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2011. After working at startups in San Francisco and Berlin, he moved to London.
By 2018, Arora had decided to start an MBA
Having a background in startups, he was “ready to take the leap” and create something of his own. But he also wanted to step away from full-time work so he could “ideate” (develop and evaluate potential business ideas), conduct customer research and “actually build something.”
Studying an MBA at Cambridge would place him in an “entrepreneurial ecosystem,” while the course would teach him the frameworks and strategies used by larger organizations, such as how to scale operations. Having worked in early-stage startups, the MBA was to be a “shortcut” to gaining the knowledge accumulated in larger companies.
While the idea for his business came to Arora after completing the program,
he found that when it came to entrepreneurship and the MBA, he could arguably have the best of both worlds.
“I realized that there is a lot of knowledge to be tapped into [in the MBA],” he says. “You can’t teach entrepreneurship – you learn by doing. However, there are things that can be learned that give you a trick to do what you’re doing better.”
The MBA is being put into practice as he builds Fleek from London with his co-founder, Sanket Agarwal
The idea for the business, which was launched in 2021, came about during the Covid pandemic when Arora, then living near trendy Brick Lane in the East End, walked into a vintage clothing store that was closing down.
The owner faced a number of challenges, including supply issues. Arora learned that sourcing was an analogue process, with buyers travelling around the world to find products.
Fleek aims to bring both buyers and sellers online
Sellers are typically large clothing sorting centres – around 70 per cent of supply comes from Pakistan, around 20 per cent from India and the rest from countries such as Thailand and Dubai.
The platform enables these suppliers to sell vintage and second-hand clothing in bulk to retailers and resellers primarily in the US, UK and mainland Europe (with France and Germany being the largest markets). Arora points to the MBA’s management practices class, which focuses on the practical aspects of management, touching on organizational behavior, team management, and leadership, as an example of how the course has influenced Fleek. The class touched on managing very diverse teams, and one phrase struck a chord with Arora: «My world is not your world, and your world is not my world.»
“I think that’s been probably the one thing that’s really stuck with me as we’ve been able to build,” he says. Fleek now employs about 60 people, of seven nationalities, in offices across three countries (in London, Karachi in Pakistan, and Bengaluru in India).
Another class Arora enjoyed, but never thought he’d be able to teach, was negotiation.
He found the topic “fascinating,” learning to understand strategies, studies that have been done, and coming to a mutually beneficial resolution.
“In a startup world, I feel like you’re always selling and you’re always negotiating at some point or another,” he notes. “It’s been transformative in the way I think about it.”
As well as his encounter with the Brick Lane shopkeeper, Arora also traces Fleek’s deeper roots back to his global MBA consulting venture.
He lived in Shenzhen, China, and worked for SF Express, a logistics company. This involved experience in warehouses and helping to design fulfillment systems for marketplaces and e-commerce companies.
There, he says he became “obsessed with the idea of social commerce” (or e-commerce platforms that include social and interactive shopping features). “There are a lot of social interactions that happen between buyers and sellers [on Fleek] that I think were inspired by my time in China,” he says, pointing to features like hosting videos of products being sold and allowing video calls between buyers and sellers.
There are things… that give you a cheat code to do what you’re doing better
With the company focused on expansion, Arora wants to double down on its mission to “make secondhand products the first choice while also empowering entrepreneurs on both sides of this market.”
This isn’t without its challenges, not the least of which are quality and authenticity
The company is working on solutions like building quality control centers in Karachi and Delhi to assess items before they ship and using third-party apps, like Legit App, to help authenticate items.
The app allows workers at control centers to send photos of products to experts who can advise on authenticity and share the conclusion with buyers.
The MBA is helping Arora on that path to growth. While the best thing to do to learn how to be an entrepreneur is “do,” he says, “what an MBA can do is give you that structured approach to ideation, the cheat codes and frameworks you need, and a network that you can really lean on.”
Why You Should Get an MBA in Operations for a Career in Fashion
The following contribution is from Seattle University’s Blog portal and is written by a member of the team.
Looking to land an entry-level job in fashion management, planning, production, or manufacturing? An MBA in Operations may be the perfect fit.
This degree will fully prepare you for management and consulting jobs in the fashion industry, which is constantly evolving and moving at a fast pace.
Plus, it can equip you to help businesses move toward a more successful and sustainable future.
If you’re intrigued by how an MBA in Operations can lead to opportunities in fashion, read on to see what this degree entails and how it can help you create a headline-worthy career.
What’s the difference between an MBA in Production or Operations?
Before we dive in, let’s clear up any confusion: at first glance, an MBA in Production and an MBA in Operations may seem like different degrees.
However, they are actually the same degree with slightly different titles
Operations and production are closely connected and contain many of the same key components, which is why they are often used interchangeably in universities.
For the sake of consistency, we will refer to it as an “MBA in Operations” for the remainder of this blog post.
An MBA in Operations combines the standard Master of Business Administration with a specialization in operations/production management. Simply put, this graduate degree focuses on how a company can create, sell, and deliver products or services in a more cost-effective manner.
While most MBA courses include general business topics such as marketing and finance, this program focuses primarily on operations management roles and responsibilities.
Students will take courses in quality, supply chain management, global operations, project management, operations planning, service operations strategy, and more.1
Career Benefits of an MBA in Operations
Unlike a more general MBA, this degree specifically helps students discover new ways to develop and produce products and services to increase quality and profitability while minimizing risks to an organization’s bottom line.
You’ll become familiar with the most common processes, departments, and quality standards, and gain a global perspective on fashion and business trends.
Executives and hiring managers can tell the difference between someone who is invested in the industry or someone just seeking notoriety
With these universal and highly sought-after skills in your pocket, you’ll be a standout candidate for a wide variety of desirable jobs in fashion.
How Your MBA Can Help You Add Value
When you first start considering a career in fashion, an MBA in Operations may not seem all that necessary or relevant.
But when you look more closely at the macro and micro levels of the industry, you’ll notice that operations are at the core of every transaction, from sourcing materials and hiring workers to perfecting production and delivery methods.
As the fashion industry begins to “embrace business on multiple fronts—efficiently, economically, and greenly,” more companies than ever are looking for candidates with MBAs in operations or similar fields.
Brands, designers, and other fashion companies now readily admit that they need people with higher education to help them streamline processes, reduce waste, and increase profits.
Improving Quality, Improving Experiences
Poor product quality leads to wasted labor and ruined raw materials, not to mention disappointed customers and negative reviews.
Ultimately, this hurts an organization’s reputation and its bottom line
To protect against this major pitfall, having a deep understanding of operations management means you can help companies develop high-quality production practices.
This creates good production management and efficient utilization of raw materials to meet (or exceed) the performance, durability, and reliability expectations of the industry and its consumers.4
Reducing Costs, Cutting Overheads, and Increasing Profits
Manufacturing is where a company makes or loses most of its money.
The more it costs to make a product, the more they have to charge for the product to cover those costs.
As a result, customers might not be willing to pay the high prices, companies will have to cut back on spending in other areas (e.g., employee wages), and they will lose business.
On the other hand, cost reduction from efficient, quality production means that a company can charge a competitive price for its product.
This is where you can come into play: the experience you will gain with an MBA in Operations can help a company reduce the cost of producing goods while maintaining quality. With your valuable contribution, it is a win-win situation for you, your employer, and your customers.
Lead brands towards a greener future
Many fashion brands are struggling with the uncomfortable truth that they contribute significantly to high levels of carbon emissions, water pollution, and wasted materials each year.
With 88% of consumers saying they want brands to help them be more environmentally friendly, several companies are pledging to rethink their methods.
Rothy’s, Patagonia, and Levi’s are some of today’s top fashion brands leading the charge on sustainability,
material recycling, and pollution reduction.
You can take what you learn from your MBA experience and use it to help companies rethink and restructure their production practices.
Demonstrate your skills by suggesting projects that reduce labor waste and spoiled materials, and spend some time researching new measures to improve the current business model.
Identifying opportunities to minimize environmental impact will show that you are committed to the business and looking to the future.
– Jobs for Graduates with an MBA in Operations
– Armed with impressive skills and business acumen, you will be qualified for top-level fashion jobs in planning, manufacturing, and production of several different types of goods and services.
Typical job titles for those with an MBA in Operations include:
– Purchasing or production manager
– Inventory coordinator
– Warehouse operations manager
– Supply chain manager
– Operations consultant or analyst
– Project manager
– Marketing operations manager.
Graduates with an MBA in Operations can work at a wide variety of companies within the fashion industry.
That includes global and local brands (ranging from fast fashion to luxury apparel), large retailers like Macy’s, and private label manufacturers.
An MBA can also lead to a higher salary, as the average U.S. operations manager earns more than $120,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Enter the Fashion Industry in Style
Become a leader in the fashion world by enrolling in one of the AACSB-accredited online MBA programs at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics.
With each course, you’ll explore the impact of ethical, people-centered business practices and learn how to apply this approach as you develop cross-functional mastery of all areas of operation.
Review our application requirements to get started, or contact an admissions advisor for more information about the program.
What Should I Study to Launch My Own Fashion Brand?
The following contribution is from The Masters Institute of Creative Education portal and is authored by the editorial team.
How to do it
Fashion
So, you want to launch your own fashion brand. Maybe you’ve identified a gap in the market for amazing pieces that the world needs, or maybe it’s something you’ve had on your bucket list for a long time.
It’s not just an idea. You want to take the plan seriously
make sure everything goes smoothly and get the right education so you can launch a successful business.
So where should you start?
What makes a good fashion brand?
To start, you need to understand the main things that make a good fashion entrepreneur, and therefore a good fashion brand.
Industry knowledge
A big part of creative work actually involves researching and analyzing the industry. To do this, you will need a good understanding of the industry, from its fundamentals, cultural history, consumer behavior, laws, and ethics, to give you a broader perspective on the industry.
Marketing and Branding
Good fashion marketing is the key to getting your brand to the right target market, at the right price, place, and time.
To achieve this, you need to know how to develop a good brand, how to come up with solid communication, marketing, and management plans, how to work with fashion copywriting in digital media, and the latest strategies in e-commerce and the digital fashion landscape.
Product Knowledge
It is critical that you understand your products well because you will be working on many processes related to them along the way.
This includes:
– deciding on textiles and materials
– sustainable sourcing and supply
– product development
– financial and purchasing decision making
– inventory management
– product management and accounting.
Fashion manufacturing, sourcing, and purchasing require careful steps that go beyond trusting your “gut feeling.”
