Episode Introduction

This episode, sponsored by Compass Rose Ventures and SARAL, features Rose Hamilton interviewing Franne Golde, founder and CEO of Franne Golde.

Franne shares her journey from a songwriter to an entrepreneur who built a successful women’s apparel brand. Her company is best known for the “Magic” Pants, loved for their flattering fit and versatility.

Franne’s entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly. A school fundraiser led her to create a boutique featuring clothing and accessories. The event’s success sparked her interest in fashion, eventually leading to her founding a clothing line.

Franne highlights how discovering a unique fabric inspired the creation of her “Magic” Pants. She also shares how a recommendation from Oprah Winfrey’s stylist helped her brand gain widespread attention.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

• Her songwriting background influenced her creative and entrepreneurial mindset.
• She overcame manufacturing challenges by building personal connections.
• Her marketing strategy focused on direct outreach, customer referrals, and online promotions over traditional ads.
• Franne prioritizes customer experience and uses personal touches to build loyalty.
• She balances marketing expenses carefully while adapting to changing market conditions.

Franne’s story offers lessons in persistence, creativity, and finding opportunity in unexpected moments. It’s a must-listen for entrepreneurs and dreamers.

Learn More

To experience the comfort of the “Magic” Pants or connect with Franne Golde, visit:
https://www.frannegolde.com/. Use promo code STORY for 20% off your next full-priced order.

Enjoyed the episode? Please leave a review and follow The Story of a Brand Show on Apple Podcasts and LinkedIn for more inspiring stories.

Today’s Sponsors

Compass Rose – Advisors for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/ramon/

Compass Rose offers free CPG consulting for founders featured on the show. Schedule your call today to claim a $500 value.

SARAL – The Influencer OS for Brands: http://storybrandoffer.com/

Claim an exclusive onboarding session for listeners of The Story of a Brand Show. Work directly with the SARAL team to boost your brand.

Podcast Transcription

Franny Golde:
I think the best advice is… yeah, I mean, from my experience, if you have an idea and you believe in it and you think it’s amazing, go for it. You just don’t know. Nobody knows what the future holds. Nobody. And you know, I would hate to regret having not moved on my idea as I see how it’s unfolded. It’s like magic. And I would never discourage anybody from doing anything because you never know. You never know what can happen.

Rose Hamilton:
Hi. I speak to hundreds of founders and CEOs of consumer brands each year, and they are facing unprecedented challenges: changing consumer behavior, inflation, election year anxiety, the cost of capital, and more. However, finding an experienced, knowledgeable advisor to help your consumer brand shouldn’t be challenging. That’s why the Story of a Brand has worked with the Compass Rose team, my strategic partner, to provide relief.

We are offering a no-cost solution exclusively for consumer brand founders and CEOs featured on the Story of a Brand show as well as listeners. Whether it’s to answer your questions, be that unbiased third-party sounding board, help you map out your brand’s growth trajectory, or prepare your brand and financials for investors or acquisition, simply fill out the form. Answer a few questions and book a one-on-one call with Rose Hamilton, the founder of the Compass Rose team. This is a $500 value. The calendar is limited, so book your time now. Simply visit compassroseventures.com/ramon.

Introduction:

Rose Hamilton:
Hello, listeners. I’m so excited today because I have Franny Golde, founder of Franny Golde. Franny has quite the story about how she began creating her own brand. For those of you thinking about building a brand or scaling one, you’re in for a treat. Franny is at such an exciting stage of growth and has plenty of tips to share with this audience. Without further ado, Franny, tell us a little about yourself.

Franny Golde:
Thank you. What a nice introduction. Well, about me, I started out… I guess the most interesting thing, because it’s unusual, is that I started out as a songwriter. As my friend said the other night when I mentioned it, “Once a songwriter, always a songwriter.” So, I guess I still am.

Rose Hamilton:
And I can’t wait to hear how songwriting plays into building your brand, because I know it does.

Franny Golde:
It does. Coming from a place of creating from nothing really sets you up for any kind of business you want to go into. Often, you have to just wing it, come up with things, and create from nothing.

Rose Hamilton:
So how did you get into show business? How did that space lead you to where you are now?

Franny Golde:
Oh, wow. There was always music around my home. My mother loved music and was a great pianist. My father’s family played piano, and we all sang around the piano during family gatherings. After my parents divorced when I was young, my transistor radio became my best friend. The songs I listened to had such an impact on me—the lyrics, the emotion—I felt understood by the artists. I fell asleep with that radio under my pillow every night. I guess that’s how music embedded itself into my subconscious.

Rose Hamilton:
That’s such a magical beginning. And yet, you transitioned from music to building your own brand. Tell us how that happened.

Franny Golde:
It happened organically and by accident. I was raising money for my son’s school, and we had run out of favors from friends. Parents kept asking me about my clothes—where I got them, what I was wearing. So, I decided to create a small boutique in the school gymnasium with racks of clothes, accessories, and candles. By the end of the day, I was sold out. From there, people started calling me—family, friends, and their connections—asking for more. It grew from there.

The Magic Pant Journey:

Franny Golde:
In one of my shopping trips, I found a fabric I loved. It was stretchy, structured, and had an incredible return. I bought a few pairs of pants and started playing around with scissors, needle, and thread. I made the pants into something I loved. When friends tried them on, they said, “Oh my God, these are like magic.” That’s how the “Magic Pant” started.

Rose Hamilton:
And it’s incredible how that grew. From a happy accident to Oprah Magazine, where they dubbed it “The Magic Pant”… that’s an incredible journey. Tell us about the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

Franny Golde:
One of the biggest lessons is that you have to ask for help. No one can do it alone. Find the right people, let them do what they do best, and appreciate them. Another lesson is to focus on the customer—their experience matters most. Our customer service has received personal letters and gifts, which is so rewarding. Lastly, believe in your idea. You just never know what could happen.

Rose Hamilton:
Thank you, Franny. It’s been a delight hearing your story. For anyone wanting to try the Magic Pant or connect with you, where should they go?

Franny Golde:
Visit frannyGolde.com. We’re also on Instagram and Facebook. I’d love to connect with your listeners.

Rose Hamilton:
Thank you, Franny, for sharing your journey and wisdom. We’ll include your contact information in the show notes. It’s been such a pleasure having you on the show.

Franny Golde:
Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure.

Closing

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