Batool Zaidi, the founder of the fashion and wellness company BeReal Wear, has a background in engineering and technology including time spent working for Siemens. However, during the pandemic, she returned to an interest from earlier in life, fashion. 

“Fashion had been a passion for me when I was growing up. As a child, I attended international art competitions and won several medals. During lockdown, I started sketching clothing designs again to boost my creativity.

“I shared these designs with friends and family and they suggested that I bring these sketches to life and that’s how BeReal Wear was born. When the company began, I wanted to create a brand that believes in empowerment and in being real to yourself and being positive. 

From this launchpad, Batool began an amazing journey and now employs 14 people. To invest in her own development along the way, she attended the Help to Grow: Management Course at Brunel Business School.

By the time Batool joined the Help to Grow: Management Course BeReal Wear had a range of skin products to complement the women’s fashion collection. Batool wanted to ensure that both her clothing and wellness products met shoppers in-person.

However, this was not a simple task, and Batool was looking to discuss her ideas with other business leaders while getting the advice of an expert in her field.

“I didn’t want to be on my own in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s hard to speak about the difficulties you face with people who are not in the same boat. The opportunity to meet like-minded people and gain a mentor were my primary motivators for joining the course.”

Mentoring

The ten hours of one-to-one mentoring in the Help to Grow: Management Course surpassed Batool’s expectations.

“Before working with a mentor, one of the main challenges we faced when pitching BeReal Wear was anticipating what specific information retailers wanted to hear, sometimes our pitch would be too detailed, and other times, not focused enough on the business aspects.

“I worked with a mentor who had experience as a retail buyer, and it was helpful to get their perspective on our product.

“If it wasn’t for the mentor, we would have never refined our pitch which helped us launch pop-ups in the likes of Westfield London.”

The ability to make an impression on retailers has helped BeReal Wear go from strength to strength.

Recruiting the right staff

 Naturally, pop-ups require customer-facing staff and Batool was keen to get the right people for this job. “The Help to Grow: Management Course played a crucial role in shaping a more strategic approach to our hiring process. One of the key lessons was the importance of aligning talent acquisition with our overall business strategy.

“The course emphasised hiring not just for immediate needs, but with a long-term vision in mind, ensuring that each new team member supports the broader goals of growth and scalability for BeReal Wear.

“In the recruitment process, we now focus on establishing and communicating the BeReal brand as one that values creativity, and inclusivity. Our brand is built on empowering individuals to express their true selves, and we made it a priority to embed this ethos in our hiring strategy.

“We communicated our core values through job descriptions, interviews, and onboarding processes, emphasising our commitment to innovation, a supportive work culture, and the importance of diverse perspectives. We adopted a no-discrimination policy and have hired individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that our team reflects our ethos.

“This approach not only attracted candidates who resonated with our vision but also enriched our team dynamic. This alignment has created a strong sense of collaboration, driving BeReal Wear forward with passion and dedication while making a positive impact.

Social Media

To make the values of inclusivity and creativity clear to everyone, Batool also looked at the social media channels she had at her disposal. 

“During the course I learned about the importance of a good marketing strategy and how it can establish a brand. I wanted to make it clear that we were a company based on positive self-expression, so I started to grow our presence on different social media channels, including X and LinkedIn.

“We now publish updates about the company not just the products. So that people have more insights into what we stand for.”

Although Batool says that the social media journey is still progressing, the company now has a dedicated following on its digital channels.

Results

Partnership collaborations increased by 70%

Expanded into the US

By establishing, pitching and communicating the BeReal Wear brand, Batool managed to organise a series of successful pop-ups and partnership collaborations increased by 70%, which has significantly enhanced brand visibility. Alongside pop-ups in Westfield in West London and John Lewis stores, the wellbeing cosmetic arm of the company is now working with major retailers like Tesco.

In addition, Batool has successfully expanded the wellbeing arm into the US with a partnership with Walmart, broadening the customer base and showcasing adaptability to diverse market environments. 

On the back of these achievements, Batool reflects on the role that the Help to Grow: Management Course has played in supporting her journey: “I would say the course should be mandatory for business leaders. Anyone who can do the course will have the best resources to build their business and get to make long-lasting connections with like-minded people.”

“We’re now looking at getting our products in more stores and are set to achieve twice the revenue next year.”

You can find out more about the Help to Grow: Management Course here.

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