Fashion Equipped

Fashion Equipped Fashion Business Strategists & Mentors
Mentoring startups + brands in the Fashion Biz
Online Course So in 2012, I was inspired to form Fashion Equipped.

Fashion Equipped - “Supporting you on the Business Side of Fashion”
A message from Elizabeth Formosa - Founder
I have been fortunate enough to experience amazing things during my 20+ years in the Fashion Industry. I started my journey as a Retail Fashion Buyer and then moved on to rewarding roles in the Apparel Wholesale sector. These included Business Management, Sales and Marketing, Product D

evelopment, Sourcing, Strategic Planning & Major Account Management. I then applied all of those skills and knowledge to start and run my own Fashion Wholesale Business, developing & selling to major retailers around Australia. In addition, I also have a passion for Education and have spent a period of time teaching Fashion Design students the "Business Side of Fashion". It was during this time that I recognised a clear need in our industry for extended support to Emerging Creative's, Small Business and Entrepreneurs. A consulting business that brings together a collective of industry professionals with the like-minded goals to support others and give them access to the knowledge we wish we had when starting out. In addition I have found an increasing number of Established Business owners in need of Freelancers, Contractors and Consultants. This offers the flexibility of engaging resources for project work & immediate needs that include Increasing Sales, Product Development, Sourcing, Design, Marketing, Branding, Online Strategies, & Business Development. If you are a Business in need of the support of long term Industry Professionals with diverse skills and the flexibility of a Consulting, Contract or Freelance arrangement please contact me. I would be happy to discuss your needs and assess where Fashion Equipped could be of service. Email - [email protected]
Web- www.fashionequipped.com.au
Facebook - www.facebook.com/fashionequipped
Linked in - http://au.linkedin.com/pub/liz-formosa-cassar/11/906/249

21/05/2026

There’s a lot of commentary and uncertainty online right now around the Federal Budget, capital gains tax, negative gearing, family trusts and long-term business structures.

And honestly, I understand why many business owners are feeling unsettled.

As both a business owner myself and someone working closely with founder-led brands every day, I see firsthand the pressure, risk, reinvestment and responsibility that comes with building a business in Australia.

I also believe it’s important not to spiral into fear-based thinking.

Some broader reforms have been proposed, however many small business CGT concessions currently appear unchanged at this stage, and much of this has not yet been legislated.

This is why informed conversations, financial visibility, strategic planning and professional advice matter more than ever.

Focus on what you can control.
Strengthen the foundations.
Understand your numbers.
Build resilience.
Stay commercially grounded.

Because the businesses that tend to navigate uncertainty best are usually the ones built with strong foundations, financial clarity and the ability to adapt as the market evolves.

👉🏼 I’d genuinely love to hear how other business owners are feeling right now.

👇🏼Are these conversations coming up in your world too?

Important note: This is general business commentary only and not financial or tax advice. Please seek professional advice specific to your circumstances.

15/05/2026

Strategic advisory + financial clarity and control = a very powerful combination for growth.

One of the biggest things I’m seeing across fashion, retail and eCommerce businesses right now is founders trying to scale without fully aligned financial visibility underneath the business.

And honestly… it creates huge vulnerability.

Because in multi-channel businesses, growth amplifies everything:
• Margin pressure
• Inventory complexity
• Cash flow strain
• Operational inefficiencies
• Weak reporting structures
• Poor commercial visibility

Today really reinforced for me how important strong financial partners are within a business.

Not just for compliance and tax…
but for helping create:
✔ stronger reporting cadence
✔ financial controls
✔ clearer visibility
✔ operational discipline
✔ better decision-making foundations

Because strategy becomes far more powerful when the financial foundations underneath the business are strong.

Financial clarity, control and strategic advisory together create much stronger foundations for sustainable, scalable growth.

And honestly, this is where we start seeing businesses move from reactive decision-making into much stronger commercial leadership.

👉🏼 What’s been your biggest challenge when it comes to financial visibility in your business?





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13/05/2026

Just finished presenting a 12 Month Strategic Growth Roadmap for one of my clients and honestly… these are becoming some of my favourite projects to work on.

What starts as a business review process often evolves into something much bigger:
reviewing operations, financials, product strategy, marketing, team structure, customer growth, workflows, scalability and overall business readiness for growth.

Throughout the process, I’m really looking at:
• Where the vulnerabilities are
• Where the opportunities are
• What’s limiting growth operationally
• What needs to happen before scaling further
• What the true strategic priorities should be moving forward

The roadmap itself is then built across three phases over 12 months:
Stabilise & Structure → Build & Optimise → Scale & Expand

And what I think is really important is that this becomes a living, breathing strategy document for the business.

Not just a presentation deck.

Something the founder and team can actively use to:
✔️prioritise,
✔️make better decisions,
✔️improve accountability,
✔️track progress,
✔️scale more sustainably over time.

One of the best parts of today was hearing the client say the roadmap exceeded expectations and gave them real clarity and direction for the next stage of growth.

And honestly… I love this part of the work!

X
Elizabeth

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30/04/2026

I’ve just been reviewing the latest eCommerce report and there are some clear shifts happening across fashion and retail.

Customers are less loyal.
They’re shopping more frequently, but spending less per transaction.
And brands are losing customers at the final step of checkout.

On the surface, sales may still be growing.

But underneath, many businesses are feeling pressure on margin, conversion and retention.

This is where strategy becomes critical.

Because every part of the business is connected.

Are you using the data available to you to guide the right decisions?

👉🏼 Comment REPORT and I’ll send you the link

Elizabeth Formosa
Fashion Business Strategist

24/04/2026

The latest pod has dropped 🎙️

Each channel has a purpose.

In this conversation, Kiki Keysers, Founder of KIVARI, shares how she thinks about the role each channel plays in building the business.

Wholesale as brand exposure.

Digital for speed, data and real-time performance.

And retail as the place where the brand truly comes to life.
Where the customer can walk in, connect, touch, feel and experience the brand in a way that goes far beyond the product.

It’s not the easiest path.
Retail comes with cost, complexity and risk.

But for Kiki, it’s a critical part of building a strong, enduring brand.

🎧 Full episode now live
Link in bio or comment Kivari and I’ll send it through

25/03/2026

Consumer confidence in Australia has just hit a 50-year low — lower than COVID — and it’s flowing through into how customers are shopping.

Conversion is softer.
Decisions are slower.
Customers are more considered.

But the majority of brands I’m working with are still trending ahead of last year — because they’re responding with strategy, not panic.

In this video I share the three things that are making the difference right now.

If your brand needs support navigating this — reach out or book a complimentary clarity call via the link in bio. 🔗

22/03/2026

Latest pod has dropped over at 🎙️

The independent retail landscape is so crucial to our Industry. 🙌🏼

In this episode, Adella and I unpack what it’s really like to work on the frontline of retail for 15 years!

One of the things Adella, co-founder of shared on the podcast is the importance of always bringing something new into the boutique.

Not just for the customer, but also for the team. 👗👚🧣

Because when there is a sense of newness, there is energy.

✨There is curiosity.
✨There is conversation.

“What’s new?”
“What’s just arrived?”
“What’s coming in this week?”

It creates a rhythm inside the store and a reason for customers to keep coming back.

At Grace & Willow, this is done with intention.

A thoughtful mix of Australian and international brands.

Pieces that feel directional, considered and worth talking about.

It is not about volume.
It is about curation.

And that is what great independent retail does so well.

It creates an experience you cannot replicate online.

A reminder of the power of fresh product, strong buying and a clear point of view.

🎧 Full episode with Adella Greenwood now live on Fashion Business Mindset
Link in bio

13/03/2026

I’ve just finished up a full day of strategy sessions and it’s always a good reminder of how multi-dimensional running a fashion business really is.

Today alone we moved between conversations on:

✔️ Merchandise planning and analysing product sell-through

✔️ Supply chain and production challenges

✔️ P&L performance and margin pressure

✔️ PR strategy, celebrity gifting and agency performance

✔️ Marketing spend and return on investment

✔️ Team structure and a potential new hire

✔️ Trend analysis and pulling together direction for next season’s range

Strategy touches every part of a business. ✨✨

That’s why I’m so passionate about strategic growth planning. 🙌🏼

I’m completely in my element working across these conversations with founders and leadership teams.
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Elizabeth Formosa
Fashion Business Strategist





12/03/2026

The messy middle of fashion business isn’t glamorous.

It’s leadership.
It’s structure.
It’s responsibility.

And most founders are carrying more than they let on.

What are you holding up?? 🏠






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11/03/2026

I finished a strategy session with a fashion founder today, and it reminded me of something I see quite often inside fashion businesses.

Many brands grow very successfully in the early years through instinct, creativity and passion.

The founder understands their customer.
The product resonates. They build a community. ✨

The brand begins to build momentum.

But as the business starts to scale, the structure behind the scenes doesn’t always evolve at the same pace as the brand itself.

That’s when things like range planning, supply chain capability, team structure, financial planning and visibility and commercial strategy suddenly become incredibly important.

Creativity might start a fashion brand.
But structure is what allows the business to scale. 📈

Very often, the turning point for a brand is when the founder steps back and begins putting those foundations in place for the next phase of growth.

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Elizabeth Formosa
Fashion Business Strategist

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