Name: From fashion influencer to founder of million-pound fashion brand
Uploaded: 2023-01-30
Duration: 32 min 45 s
Description: After spending six years building a social media following, Sarah Ashcroft launched her own brand, SLA The Label, in 2019.

After spending six years building a social media following, Sarah Ashcroft launched her own brand, SLA The Label, in 2019.

From fashion influencer to founder of million-pound fashion brand

https://www.enterprisenation.com/learn-something/fashion-influencer-founder-of-million-pound-brand

Video

Over 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs joined us in person and online at StartUp Show 2023 to learn everything there is to know about starting and growing a business. 

They were also presented with the opportunity to connect with advisers and business experts to help take their enterprise to the next level.

In 2013, Sarah Ashcroft started sharing her love of fashion online through her blog – 

Sarah spent six years building her following before launching her own brand, 

, in 2019. The first launch sold out in just 24 hours and last year, the company recorded a turnover of £2.1million. 

Sarah joined StartUp Show to share her business journey and top tips.

Looking for more top tips for starting your business? 

Watch all the keynote stage recordings

StartUp Show - from-fashion-influencer-to-founder-of-million-pound-fashion-brand

StartUp Show 2023: From fashion influencer to founder of million-pound fashion brand

After six years building a social media following, Sarah Ashcroft launched her own brand, SLA The Label, in 2019.

I&apos;m a <a href=&apos;https://danmartinuk.com/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>freelance content creator and event host</a> who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I&apos;m also Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol.
I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden to the founders behind brand new start-ups.
I&apos;ve worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company&apos;s blog and social media. I now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website&apos;s <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/business-news&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>news reporter</a> and as the host of the <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Small Business sessions podcast</a>.
I&apos;m based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region.
In total, I&apos;ve hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street.
With my partner, I co-run <a href=&apos;https://www.lifestyledistrict.co.uk/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Lifestyle District</a>, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

Freelance content creator & event host

Elyssa Desai: How founders can overcome imposter syndrome and burnout - Small Business Sessions podcast (S8E4)

Elyssa is a mindset expert who guides business owners through their what am I doing with my life moments. 

Karla is the associate programmes manager at Enterprise Nation; she is responsible for providing support across the various projects. She has a degree in Political Science and a MSc in Public Policy and Administration from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her background is in project management in the public and private sector in Peru, and international organisations. Karla is passionate about helping the most vulnerable communities and having a positive impact in the lives of small business owners.

Associate Programmes Manager

Harrow Digital Bootcamp

Welcome to the Harrow Digital Bootcamp group! This community is dedicated to participants of the bootcamp.

Generate leads from your website, YouTube and LinkedIn with SEO

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Hello, I’m a digital marketing agency founder and communications consultant in Cambridge.
After a decade in broadcast media producing radio and digital content with the BBC, ITV and Magic FM, and as a homepage editor for Yahoo and AOL, in 2008 I founded Sookio.
I built and scaled the agency through intense periods of change – pandemic, fire, recession, four premises, shift to hybrid working – and oversaw the delivery of targeted marketing campaigns for clients in education, science/tech, B2B and the public sector, reaching millions of people and increasing footfall, applicants, and revenue.
In 2024 I pivoted the business to go from agency to consultancy, enabling me to draw on my wealth of experience in marketing, leadership and business operations and offer a more streamlined set of services:
<ul>
<li>Audits and recommendations</li>
<li>Strategy and support</li>
<li>Consultancy</li>
<li>Training: Social media, writing for marketing, building visibility</li>
</ul>
It&apos;s communications from the inside out. I’m someone who lives and breathes marketing and has closely followed digital trends since the earliest days of social media, but knows how to get the foundations right too – the tools, the processes, the best ways to nurture client relationships and motivate your team. I love working with clients to share this knowledge and solve problems together that lead to a happier, more productive, and more profitable business.
Values (see more on my <a href=&apos;https://www.sookio.com/about&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>About page</a>)
1. Innovation for the betterment of society
2. Empowering others through knowledge, skills and opportunities
3. Best practice in communication
Handy to know (<a href=&apos;https://www.sookio.com/sookio-team/sue-keogh&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>see my full bio</a>)
<ul>
<li>Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and RSA</li>
<li>National Business Women’s Awards judge</li>
<li>Host Skillshare courses taken by 10k+ people</li>
<li>Founder of work experience initiatives which have helped 150+ young people kickstart their career in marketing</li>
<li>Host of Communication Untangled podcast and regular speaker on marketing, digital, communications</li>
<li>Winner of multiple awards for myself and the business including Service Excellence, Business Person of the Year, Community, Website</li>
</ul>

Communications Consultant

Sue Keogh

Hello, I’m a digital marketing agency founder and communications consultant in Cambridge.
After a decade in broadcast media producing radio and digital content with the BBC, ITV and Magic FM, and as a homepage editor for Yahoo and AOL, in 2008 I founded Sookio.
I built and scaled the agency through intense periods of change – pandemic, fire, recession, four premises, shift to hybrid working – and oversaw the delivery of targeted marketing campaigns for clients in education, scie

StartUp Show 2023: From fashion influencer to founder of million-pound fashion brand

From fashion influencer to founder of million-pound fashion brand

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