Speaker A: Before we get into today's chat, I want to share a little resource that we've just released. As you might know, in our checkout episodes, I ask our e commerce guests, do you have a book or a podcast that you recommend our listeners get into? Well, I've taken all of those book recommendations and there's over a hundred of them, plus the stories that go behind them and put them into their own book called the Book Recommendations of E Commerce Experts. Yeah, I know, it's totally original. You will never, ever run out of reading ideas again. You can download that one now for free over on addtocart.com
[Voiceover]: welcome to the checkout.
Jessie Sadler: We catch up with previous add to cart guests and ask them five quick questions to get to know them better
[Voiceover]: and leave you with a little extra inspiration to get through your Friday.
Jessie Sadler: Here's your host, Joanne Hugh Miller.
[Voiceover]: Today's checkout features Jesse Sadler, founder of adaptive fashion label Christina Stephens, which allows people with disability, dexterity issues and changing bodies to wear what they actually want, not what they're given, as well as functionality for a range of needs. The brand aims to provide pieces that offer colour, elevated design and a touch of glamour. And were even on the Runway at Australian Fashion Week last year. Jessie, thank you so much for joining us on the checkout today. It was so inspiring to hear about how your label for adaptive fashion, Christina Stephens, is going. But now is the time to find out more about the woman behind the brand. So I've got five quick questions for you. First one, what is the weirdest thing you've ever bought online?
Jessie Sadler: I'm going to have to say my live chickens who are still with me. I bought them during COVID so I think the poultry farm had to get smart quick. Yeah, yeah. I was able to buy live chooks online and now they're our egg layers. So that's the weirdest thing.
[Voiceover]: Who is your favorite retailer?
Jessie Sadler: My favorite fashion retailer is Wolf and Badger. I just love, love northern European style fashion at the moment. It's quirky and a bit different, I think in terms of functional online retailer, I think woolies have got their act together. I do try and support as much as I can local produce and farmers markets, but I have two kids and I run a business and things can get busy and their systems are just excellent. Their return systems, their customer service, their ordering. I hate going to the supermarket full stop. So if I can do my shopping with ease, five minutes on the couch in front of the telly, that just makes my day.
[Voiceover]: What about adaptive fashion labels who do you think's really killing it? There's apart from Christina Stevens, of course,
Jessie Sadler: apart from Christina Stevens. Look, Tommy Hilfiger was or is one of the first movers and international leaders in this space and he has a very distinct style to his clothing. But in terms of distribution and getting it out there around the world, he's doing a great job for others to learn from and to follow. But I think Australia, like we talk to our international colleagues on a regular basis in Europe and the US and Australia certainly on the map in terms of our adaptive clothing initiatives and our labels. So that's something that we should be really proud of. And the girls that we showcased on the adaptive Runway last year, a testament to that. I was really happy. Besides the. The Candace turmoil that she caused herself, that Skims has introduced an adaptive lingerie line or underwear line and I think that kind of Kardashian mainstream, huge exposure for incorporating adaptive fashion is a really good thing for the category.
[Voiceover]: Yeah, 100%. I completely agree. Which e commerce practice do you wish was? History.
Jessie Sadler: Shitty sizing guides and shitty sizing guides. Any relevant span emails? I think people, I think brands have to get a bit more clever about how they use email marketing to inform or to sell to their customers. I think it's become a bit generic and everyone's a bit over getting emails every week. They need to be short and sweet, they need to be really relevant and I think they need to be segmented better. And there's certainly technology out there to do it. It's harder, it's time consuming and I get that with smaller labels. I think it's certainly something to work towards as you grow.
[Voiceover]: Yeah. Is there a book or a podcast that you would recommend our listeners to read or get into?
Jessie Sadler: Do you know what? I feel really behind the times with podcasts. I just haven't gotten into it and I'm going to have to now. So I won't recommend a podcast because I'll show those colors, but two books I've read recently written by our dear friends, M. Carrie, the Girl who Fell from the sky and Stronger by Dinesh Palapana. And I'm not just spruiking their books because they're our friends. They give fabulous insights into the challenges and it is the strength, the guts, the strong mindedness and the determination that people with disability have to have to live a life. And those two are extraordinary, I give you that. But it does take you deep into the world of what it's like to have with a disability and the challenges the real life changing challenges that people experience if the disability is new to them, rather being born with it. And yeah, they're both fabulous reads. I would highly recommend them both.
[Voiceover]: Yeah, finish this sentence.
Jessie Sadler: The future of retail is including adaptive fashion on your racks in your bricks and mortar store. And if not adaptive fashion, just making your marketing and online retail activities more accessible, more inclusive. And not doing that because it'll make you feel fuzzy, wuzzy and good. It's because it will increase your business and your customer following. As we've mentioned before, 20% of most populations around the world, including Australia, have a disability and it is a grossly overlooked market.
[Voiceover]: Yep. Jessie, thank you so much for joining me today.
Jessie Sadler: No worries. Lovely to be here Jo.
[Voiceover]: To hear more from Jessie, jump back into episode 313 where she shares her top tips for accessible e commerce, how a powerful admission from a nervous groom led to some unique sexy lingerie, and why representation makes good business sense both ethically and financially. She even talks about bulletproof jeans. You heard it here first.
Speaker A: Thanks for listening. And until next time, keep adding to carp.
