Ep. 137 Vanessa Sofia | Overcoming Challenges in the Fashion World

The EO Business Podcast

Guest: Vanessa Sofia, an EO Melbourne member since 2023 and founder of Gingerlilly Sleepwear
Host: Linh Podetti, an EO Sydney member since 2022, owner of Outsourcing Angel.
Welcome to the Entrepreneur Organization Business Podcast! Today, we are joined by Vanessa Sofia, a seasoned entrepreneur from EO Melbourne. Vanessa has a rich history in the fashion industry, from her early days in her family’s clothing business to working at Prada's head office in Milan, and finally founding Gingerlilly Sleepwear.
In this episode, Vanessa shares her journey of launching and growing a successful sleepwear brand. She discusses the challenges she faced, including a drastic drop in wholesale sales that led her to reinvest personal funds into the business. Vanessa provides valuable insights into maintaining strong supplier relationships, the importance of continuous innovation, and her strategies for breaking into international markets.
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ABOUT VANESSA
Vanessa Sofia, a fashion industry veteran, grew up in her family’s clothing business, which shaped her career path. After working at Prada's head office in Milan for three years and helping launch the baby range at Country Road, Vanessa founded Gingerlilly Sleepwear in 2006. Her brand, known for its stylish and comfortable loungewear, quickly gained traction and is now stocked in prestigious stores like David Jones and internationally at Brown Thomas and Wolf & Badger.
Vanessa's commitment to quality and strong supplier relationships has been key to her success. Despite facing significant challenges, she has continually innovated and expanded her brand into new markets. Her story is a testament to resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.
CONNECT WITH VANESSA
Website: http://www.gingerlilly.com.au
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3480930
Instagram: @gingerlillysleepwear
ABOUT THE HOST
Linh Podetti is the CEO and Founder of Outsourcing Angel, a Sydney-based company that helps to create jobs for people in the Philippines while creating freedom for business owners around the world.

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ABOUT EO
Entrepreneur's Organization (EO) is a global business network of 18,000 + influential business owners in over 220 chapters across 76 countries. We offer world-class events that encompass engaging entrepreneur and business stories, skills-specific workshops, and exciting social gatherings.
Our mission is to drive both business and personal growth through peer-to-peer learning, providing support for the holistic entrepreneur experience covering business, family, community, and personal aspects. As a not-for-profit organization, all our funds directly contribute to member benefits.
If you're a business owner with revenues ranging from US$250k to US$1m, you can join our Accelerator Program. If your revenues exceed US$1m, you can join the main EO Program in your nearest local chapter. To join or find out more about your nearest chapter, visit https://www.eonetwork.org/why-join/apply-for-membership-form.
For further information, please contact:
Podcast Host Linh Podetti: [e-mail]
General Inquiries: [e-mail]
EO Sydney: www.eosydney.com.au
EO Global: https://hub.eonetwork.org/