Case Study

Ethical Clothing Brand & Marketing Manager

Chloe Wild of Seasalt
Information about Chloe Wild
Name Chloe Wild
Location Cornwall
Company Seasalt

"I do feel happy with what I earn but there are lots more benefits to me in terms of job satisfaction.
"

Chloe Wild

Overview

I’m Chloe Wild, marketing and brand manager for Seasalt, a clothing company in Cornwall who have led the way in using organic cotton to make clothes.  My job involves communicating and developing the brand of clothing that we make, from designing the tags to organising photo shoots and our internet shop.
I enjoy a new challenge, have lots of enthusiasm and really like working with people.  Everything I have ever done has helped me get into this role.  Being passionate, organised and creative are also assets.
Every day something exciting happens here.  We are a growing company and there’s always something new going on.  Everyone who works here is really proud of what we do.

Tell us about your job – where do you work and what do you do?

As marketing and brand manager, my role is to communicate and develop the Seasalt brand – the look and feel of what the company does.  I look after all the garment branding and logos, the website, and all the people and channels involved in selling our products.  My role in brand development means that I look after the photo shoots, posters and promotional imagery, labels and swing tags.  I coordinate the overall look and feel of Seasalt so that everything we do carries the same core messages, values and personality of the brand.  It’s very varied.

What inspired you to do what you do?  How did you get into it, did you have a plan?

I have a degree in Fine Art and managed a fine art gallery for years, part of which involved marketing duties.  I was attracted to Seasalt because it’s a creative company.  I was doing a lot of copywriting and art consultancy at the time and I was asked to write the copy for Seasalt’s website.  Gradually I got more involved in the whole thing.  It’s a very friendly company that’s interested in sustainability, and I like the family aspect of the business.  Over time I’ve taken on more and more responsibility, and my role has just grown.

Why is your job meaningful?  Both to you personally, and in how it benefits the wider world in terms of climate change and other environmental challenges.

Every day something exciting happens within the company, whether it’s meeting a deadline or having a breakthrough - a large new sale, for example, or managing to integrate bamboo cotton with organic cotton.  Everyone at Seasalt is passionate about what we do; there‘s a great feeling of wellbeing about what we are doing and where we are going with the company.
Seasalt is at the forefront of organic cotton use.  It’s not just about creating a nice clothing item for someone; it’s about the whole supply chain - where the cotton is grown, how people are employed, the wildlife and environment affected by the cotton farms, the factory standards, how we ship our goods to the UK and how much energy our products consume.  We look at the whole process involved in making clothes and make it as sustainable, ethical and environmentally low impact as possible.

Many jobs in this sector are very new, how long has your job existed?

My role has grown as the business has grown.  Neal Chadwick, who started Seasalt, headed up the marketing to begin with, then when I joined I looked at the marketing but started to take an even bigger role in developing the entire brand.

What personal qualities do you think have got you where you are today?

The main thing is working with people.  Next it’s an ability to be creative, confident and flexible.  I like new challenges, and approach everything with enthusiasm and a willingness to adapt.  In a growing company you have to be prepared to do whatever it takes, whether that’s helping to stock the shelves or launch a new product.

What are the essential skills for your job?

Most people doing what I do would have a degree in marketing.  I have learned what to do as I’ve gone along, but the main thing is to be passionate and able to identify with the role you’ve been given.  You need the skill to understand and carry out the tasks or goals you’ve been set.  It’s also important to understand and embrace the objectives of the company you're working for.  Organisational skills are important.  Managing tight deadlines and working with a cool head under pressure helps too.

What qualifications do you have? Are these typical for people in your role?

I have a BA in Fine Art.  Most people would have a degree, or higher, in marketing or brand development.  Equally, an understanding of computer design and graphics packages would be useful.  Having some knowledge of web marketing would help with a role like mine.

What do you think most helped you get where you are now?

Everything that I have done in my career and education has enabled me to do this role - I managed a team prior to this company, I’ve been a copywriter, picked potatoes and made jewellery!  I’ve turned my hand to all sorts of things; there is nothing more valuable than real experience and being able to adapt the skills you’ve learned from one situation to help you do another.  It comes back to enthusiasm, and being passionate, adaptable and willing to take on a challenge.
My advice is be committed to doing a job well, aim high, achieve what is necessary and take responsibility for what you are doing.

Please describe a typical working day

I get in at 8.30am and, depending on what deadlines there are, my day usually finishes at 6pm.  If there is a deadline, I might work until 9pm and may have to come in at weekends to get the job done.
Most of my work is office-based, with some time spent out on photo shoots or studio shoots.  I also spend some time going around the different branches.

What do you enjoy most and least about what you do?

The best times are when a new clothing range arrives, and everybody who has been involved in the development of the new designs gets together.  We always celebrate what we have achieved - we all share in the excitement and everyone runs around trying things on!
It does get stressful when there are loads of deadlines happening at once.  It’s challenging to remain calm and to prioritise, especially when other departments or channels are putting the pressure on at different times.

What kind of people do you meet through your work or do you work alone?

I get to meet designers and customers.  I do a lot of dealing with enquiries, sponsorship requests, companies looking for reciprocal marketing, web marketing, graphic design, garment design and production.  I also work with people from India and Turkey who grow cotton and help us make our clothes.

Do you feel well paid for what you do, or is it not about the money?

I do feel happy with what I earn, but there are lots more benefits to me in terms of job satisfaction.  There are times when I feel really rewarded because I’ve achieved all the goals.

Finally, what do you know now about jobs, careers and the future that you wish you’d known when you were at school?

Value the balance between work life and your own life outside work.  Make sure you still get out and enjoy the sun and enjoy your hobbies (I'm a passionate rower); those sorts of things make you do your job well.  There were times when I was so engrossed in work that other things went by the wayside - work hard but live hard too.

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