James Sinclair's Business Broadcast Full Time Soldier, Part Time Fashion Entrepreneur - £10k/Month and Growing (4k)
Oct 29, 2025
Jacob Lockwood, a serving soldier and founder of Lockwood Smocks, shares his journey of blending military life with entrepreneurship. He reveals the challenges of managing cash flow and scaling his British-made fashion brand, which earns £10k/month. Jacob recounts his first sale in Cyprus and discusses the competitive fashion market. Insights include using pre-orders for funding, leveraging high-margin accessories, and the importance of authentic social media engagement. The conversation highlights Jacob's resilience and plans to navigate growth in the demanding world of fashion.
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Bootstrapped Soldier-Turned-Founder
- Jacob started Lockwood Smocks while still serving as a soldier and reached about £10k/month within 13 months.
- He runs the operation with his fiancée and outsources web design while keeping manufacturing British-made.
Negotiate Factory Payment Terms
- Negotiate production payment terms with your factory to delay cash outflow and buy time to sell stock.
- Offer confirmed retailer orders as credibility to secure flexible factory terms or short-term financing.
Use Pre-Sales To Solve Cashflow
- Use a paid waiting list or pre-orders to collect cash up front and recycle funds into new production.
- Validate demand with pre-sales before committing to large minimum order quantities (MOQs).
