Fashion Is Not For Everyone

Speak and they will listen!

2011-01-31T05:58:00.001-08:00

The much improved dress code hit the red carpet again with last nights SAG Awards. I am thinking that the press tore into all of those poorly dressed actresses that they either fired their stylist, hired a stylist or got off their thrones and picked out their own dresses.
Immediately there was a new and fresh look in the air.
Annette Bening found her misplaced comb and tamed the main, she actually is a pretty woman, and her dress more natural than death. The natural colored beaded gown was age appropriate and beautiful!
Another wonderful dress worn by January Jones, beautifully tailored black and gold accented her coloring, now if she could only take that puss of her face every time the camera showed her, I wonder was she mad because her lines have been cut on Madmen because Don is remarrying a younger woman who her kids adore!
Hilary and Marishka two best friends, 2 not so great dresses. I like Hilary, a great actress manly features and trying to wear a very feminine frock and banana curls well she should have been wearing the jumpsuit.
Angie Harmon, pink and ruffles, YUCK!!!! And she said Tye Diggs gave her the best compliment ever, I am thinking it might be something like, You are so lucky to have married Jason Seymore.
The point is that for the most part the garments changed drastically and for the better. So who told these actresses that they made huge fashion faux pas?
I don't think it was their stylists, maybe their husbands or significant others came clean.
Or better yet, maybe they saw pictures of themselves at the supermarket checkout line and then ran to self check out to get the hell out of their before anyone else sees.
Let's face it, if you picture is on a magazine at the checkout line it can't be good!
I am glad they came to their senses and we shall see how long this will last, the Oscars are next.
Who do you think they should wear. Please feel free to post a comment and picture. Lets play dress up, we can't do any worse than what we have already seen!

The queen wears McQueen..but not so well

2011-01-30T04:53:00.000-08:00

Cathryn Horn of the New York Times wrote an article about Mrs. O and what she wore to the State of The Union Address.She criticized the CFDA about criticizing Michelle for wearing a foreign designer. Well most of the designers on the CFDA are foreign. And I'm ok with that. But the bigger issue is not that Michelle wore a foreign designer the bigger issue is that when she took office,oops that would be when her husband took office, she came in all gang busters about wearing clothes that the average Americam mom and women would wear. Hello, Michelle we don't wear Alex McQueen, not even at resale!
What ever happened to wearing JCrew, did you get tired of the ruffles too!
Yeah, I don't think so
You got tired of, well being an average American. It sucks doesn't it, having to watch your budget every week. But don't worry there's still 3 years that you get to make grand purchases from our tax dollars!
It reminds me of the Marie Antoinette movie, they came into power, lived the life of riches and then the castle was stormed by the commoners. And I also believe she told "her" people "let them eat cake all while she was eating meats and drinking wine"
In this case the commoners are the designers on the CFDA
Mr O stated he wanted to have more product made in the USA, brilliant idea, can we get those factories up and running, we have enough people that need jobs! I don't think that there would eb a problem finding help!
And Mrs. O, live by your words your a mom, you understand the lifestyle of the average American, actions, actions speak
louder than words. And I would bet JCrew and Macy.s would even give you a discount! However, you can do what we do sign up for their e mail news letters and get coupons!
Yes, and there we have it the queen wears McQueen, sumptuary laws are back we just don't call it that today!

Welcome to my store

2011-01-29T04:13:00.000-08:00

As an above average knowledgeable consumer I feel that I know a thing or two about how a customer should be treated when a guest in a store. It's very similar to when you visit a friends home or are invited to a dinner party, minus having to take off your shoes or leave your coat at the front front.
As you enter a store like any home someone should be there to say hello or greet you, one usually does not enter a friends home by just walking in and making themselves comfortable and then announcing that they are there, do they?
It should be the same, I like someone to welcome me, say hello, welcome to,,,, And that's it!
Please don't tell me about all of the sales that are going on, many to me are meaningless. Unless your going to tell me that the entire store is 60% off, or I'm the millionth customer and have won a new car. I'm OK with you just saying hello!
I stopped in a furniture store the other day (Bob's) and I was all but accosted. No sooner did I walk in a balding, man immediately came up to me, said his name ( I blocked it out, I always to in furniture stores) and proceeded to ask a million questions before the answer for the first one could come out of my mouth. As i continued to walk to try to escape (literally) he kept up right on the side, I can't even remember how many times I said thank you just going to look around. Well I was looking around alright, everywhere I turned there he was, a few steps behind. I was being stalked in a furniture store, Zip right out the door I went!
I feel oh so violated when I am in a furniture store, they ask questions about your style, what room, If I wanted them to see the inside of my house I would invite them over for drinks.
I truly truly hate shopping, yes it is a huge part of my life, hell I teach fashion and retail, but I don't teach customer service otherwise those big boys would all be FIRED!
Now on to a more delightful experience, ZAPPO'S.
You have to love when you can log on, see something you like, place an order, get a shipping confirmation all within 3 minutes and then within the next 24 hours, salespeople free, no tax, no shipping you mdse arrives, nicely boxed at your front door by the man in brown!
No one followed me around, told me about unnecessary items that I am not looking for or do not interest me, no tax, no shipping and if for any reason in 365 days I can return the item no questions asked and free shipping back! You just have to love Zappo's
Now Amazon just acquired Zappo's and I am hoping that they keep a great thing great. Amazon is considering doing away with the shipping too. not that it is expensive anyway and if you have prime it's free!
Can you imagine an Amazon and Zappo's store? Where you go in sit at a computer, key in what you want, and then 5 minutes later a computerized mannequin comes out of the stockroom door and hands you your mdse. Says thank you, turns and goes away! Ah, I think I am on to something here!
The point is, we get better service from a computer system than we do from human beings. You know those that have hearts and feelings. but yet the computer gets us what we want, when we want it and truly asks for nothing in return.
We used to say I love my sales person, their the best. I don't think we say that anymore. we may show feelings for them but I can guarantee it's not love!
Now off to shop ebay!

The papers are saying what they wore not who they wore and I know why!

2011-01-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

The much anticipated Golden Globes was last night and the highlight of the evening was Ricky Gervais introducing Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutchers dad, and the priceless non remark of Bruce.
Other than that BORING!
until we get to talk about the "gowns" well can you say eighties, bad eighties.
Here's the rundown;
Scarlet Johanson, beautiful girl dowdy dress, what was she thinking, just because your going through a divorce doesn't mean you need to dress in flesh colored mourning
Annete Bening, Edward Scissor Hands (hair) crosses paths with Mortia from the Adams family, not good so not good
Julianne Moore is probably one of most beautiful natural beauties, and her rose red dress with high fan collar only on one side did not do her figure or face any justice. It definitely could be construed as the red flag of justice.
And lets talk about America's newest darling, Anne Hathaway, now just because you make good movies doesn't give you the OK to wear reptile based shoulder pads, this could be homage to Alexander McQueen or Isabella Blow but I am thinking a Rachel Zoe pick
And by the way Halie Berry did you forget to put your dress on over that slip you were wearing last night?
OH Oh Oh, January Jones, OK slash, slash slash, ace bandages dyed in crimson red, Blood bath!
And one of my all time favorites of the night, Olivia Wilde, also known as the chocolate cake topper!
On a brighter note Hailie Seinfeld from True Grit, age appropriate and beautiful, Helen Merrin, damn she looked great, she is English after all,
Angelina Jolie in that green seen it on her last year dress, looked fantastic except for the times she was laying on top of Brad, oh that would be all night! Ugh
And the worst representation of a gown, Jennifer Lopez, what they hell was that, Off the shoulder, gauzy beaded, white wedding dress. Now I know she's now married and has two kids, but honestly darling you have it flaunt it!
it was a complete and utter mess. Nothing wonderful for designers to knock off. And why do they headline pages, what they wore and not who they wore, well why would any designer want to be associated with those dresses!
Hollywood glamour is gone well at least taste...We need to get it back so bring on the glitz and glamour we're ready and they need it

Oye Vey

2011-01-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned a few days ago on FB, January is a boring time in retail. Well I spoke too soon, as stores magazines website just announced that Sears has placed a bid to buy the very successful (sans ruffles) J.Crew. I had to re look and re look at the posting before I nearly fell off my seat.
How can J Crew even consider the bid, SEARS, hardware, appliances, electronics but never cashmere sweaters made in Italy with beading ad grommets.
I ask what has this industry come to... An end I say a drastic end.
I am all for the big guy helping the little guy out, but in this case it's role reversal. Sears is by no means the little guy, but when it come to brand equity on the scale of things J Crew definitely has them beat out. So is Sears making an offer to build a better image for themselves. Could be! but it won't work. Sears already has brand recognition, hardware, a man's man store, a store to go to if you need a refrigerator or air conditioner or even a lawn tractor. But not a 200 or 300 hundred dollar outfit.
I truly hope that JCrew pushes that offer aside and says "thank you, we're flattered that your thinking of putting on your trophy shelve along with KMart, but no thank you!

And then the point can be made, well why hasn't any other reputable company come knocking on the doors of J Crew? Good question. But I think I know the answer... MICKEY and again not the mouse. I bet he still wants to have the majority of control, and well we know how that all works out when you have two kings trying to run a country. One goes to the guillotine and very quickly. And I have a feeling ti won't be Mickey. He has clout, what he touches turns to gold..
But with J Crew up for sale what does that mean...why are they up for sale, they are doing well, product has quality, design well depends(ruffles you know), talent, well yes they have that in design, merchandising (sales, well except for previous students, it;s questionable)
This may take some investigating and I am all for that.

So what's next:
Kohls running Hermes
Walmart running LVMH
Ocean State Job Lot running Macy's (well OK)
it's reversal of brand equity. Lower level company's trying to buy high level company's to build their portfolio's. Maybe it would work!

No, I don't think so!

Please leave well enough alone!

2011-01-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

WWD just posted an article that stated that Pendleton clothing company, one of the few valued US company's around brought in three new designers to create a younger, edgier bridge collection.
http://www.wwd.com/markets-news?module=tn#/article/markets-news/pendleton-to-launch-bridge-line-3408945

I am a big fan of US made products and I hope they continue to grow in numbers and prosper. But when a mistake is made someone needs to stand up and tell them.
Dear Pendleton,
Your making a big mistake!
Pendleton like Talbots has a following, and well its not the new generation!
I have seen many companies in the past bring in young, talented, eager, out to change the world designers, offering to bring in a new target market and increase sales like never before. And well, it doesn't work. Pendleton is grandma's clothing, and I mean that in a nice way, grandma always looked good, dressed to the nines no matter where she went. have you looked at the younger consumer lately. She is into wearing Pendleton. She's busy, active, on the go, multi tasking and that means clothing of comfort. But that is just part of it. Pendleton already has brand identity and once you have it it is hard to erase and start anew. When I was growing up anyone who wore Pendleton had money, they were stuffy and well rigid. They went to lunch with the ladies, bridge with their husbands business partners wife's and dinner at opposite ends of the table.
Todays modern women doesn't have lunch with the ladies(she has lunch on the run between text messaging, she doesn't play bridge (she goes to yoga or pilates) and she doesn't eat at opposite ends of the dinner table(they go out to eat)
If Pendleton wants to gain a new target market then do so, but don't call it Pendleton. It will not help with sales, give it a name and call it a division of Pendleton.
And sorry to say, make the word Pendleton very small!
In a world when retail and fashion are trying everything imaginable to stay alive, they are sometimes digging their own grave. Some things are better left alone. Focus on what you are good at. Tweak what you have, create more loyalty to your already existing consumer.
in a heartbeat I could liven up the old Pendleton, grandma wants to look and feel younger. The younger don't want to look and feel like grandma!
Just a thought!!!!

When the CEO's say the weather hurts business then is it OK?

2010-12-31T08:19:00.000-08:00

I have been in retail longer than I can remember, and as long as I can remember we were never ever to blame the weather on the loss of sales. EVER!
We we're told it doesn't matter how many people came into your store, 1 person could spend the same amount as 20 total If we had torrential rains, power outages, snow storms we were still expected to make the days sales goals and well even beat them. And this was during the days when business was good. The eighties!
As I read WWD, every CEO quoted blamed the weather right after Christmas for the loss of sales. Mmm, sales should have come prior to Christmas.
At Saks, they even opened late, concerned about their people getting to work in NYC, subways (underground)
Don't get me wrong, I was always one to understand that weather affected the buying patterns of shoppers, but no matter the case presented to corporate ..we needed to make and beat sales! Bottom line!
But this is really where the retailers went wrong, MARKDOWNS on winter merchandise and putting out spring.
This cold , snowy weather drives sales. Now there is a need not a want for a new winter coat, or new boots and cold weather accessories. This is what the retailers need to focus on THE NEED!
Instead of leaving the majority of product at full price they panicked and marked it all down, losing valuable profit. They marked and marked until they could not mark any more. Stores like Ann Taylor Loft, had 50% off your entire purchase and this was on top of everything being markdown 50 to 75 % already. I of course took advantage and bought a $100 sweater for $10, so who can blame me. but there's no profit in that sale, because the stores were empty, it was 29 degrees and i didn't want the new(not so lovely spring line that was already on 50% of the selling floor.
This weather hit retail at the right time but they didn't see it, they panicked. Why because all of the CEO's ha to make rash decisions before they left for their warm vacations.
And BTW, I would just like to see one year company's giving the hard working managers the week off after Christmas and the CEO's running the stores for them.

Running a retail store by no means is rocket science, although retail in itself is a science (another topic) but getting it right is well actually right before their noses. Cold weather warrants cold weather goods, warm weather warrants warm weather goods, Do you see the connection. As I stated on Sunday Sunrise with Frank Coletta, January is not the time to buy. Everything that you see is pre-spring, Its a test for what the consumer actually likes. And by the looks of the nautical theme in every pastel color under the rainbow(YUCK) it doesn't look too good.
If you buy a warm weather garment in January are you really going to wear it? NO!
you'll put it away and forget that you had it. then 2 things will happen, 1, after 30 days it will get marked down, you'll lose the rec. and you won't be able to get the price adjustment or 2, even worse when it's time to actually wear it you'll think what was I thinking!
Been there, done that lesson learned.
So to my point, the CEO's are claiming if they don't make sales it's because of the bad weather that hit, I guess very similar to the blizzard of 78, i don't think so. So, if your in retail, grab WWD, Dec 28th edition and hang on to it, FOREVER! So the next time you have bad weather and want to blame it on sales, pull out this issue and quote one of the famous CEO's. I mean after all if it's OK for them why isn't it OK for you?

December 26, Bah HumBug!

2010-12-29T05:49:00.000-08:00

As you can see it's been a while since I posted, trying to make a new effort. Picture this, decorated stores, holiday music playing and sales associates actually being cheery. OK that was until De 24th, fast forward to Dec. 28th, decorations down, musac being played and well the sales people, not so cheery. Listen I was in retail for over 30 years, I know how it was, get used to it, get over it or get out of it. But for cryin out loud if your there and it's a job get with it!
The holiday season ended and some dumb ass from corporate told the stores sales were up, they did a great job, thank you very much for a wonderful season! Umh!, the seasons not over yet, not until the books are closed, lets say at the end of January! So that cheery disposition that you portrayed during the holiday season needs to keep on showing! It's not my fault that your manager took the week off, or that your short handed because they didn't allocate holiday hours correctly or even the fact that you have to mark everything down in the store and do a floor move with all new spring clothes. Don't blame me! Did I blame you because I bought my husband the wrong size jeans or a burberry bathrobe that was cut to narrow, No I don't think I did. I took responsibility. And it's about time you do the same. There was a time that to work in retail was considered an honor, the elite worked in retail(remember what I said, there was a time).
So when I bring back those jeans to exchange for just another size don't tell me I won't get the same price because the sizes have different sku's, I know that, even exchange people, same item.
And after I question the rationale, don't say to me"Well then I have to do a price over-ride' And.....Sorry one more step with your little fingers.....Oh and by the way..Thank you, have a good night should come with a return and exchange also! Mickey would not be happy, but maybe he no longer cares seeing the company sold for 3 billion to a private equity firm! Merry Christmas Micky!
Now off to Mr Nordstroms home, thank you for taking back the Burberry robe, no questions asked, sorry it didn't fit, thank you have a nice holiday, see you again! Now that's what I am talking about....Oh wait lets go to men's shoes. Mmm! Nice Italian shoes, $195, distressed suede really nice, "The demo" haha, sample was the right size. Sales person, not so much. Take the size off the shelve, tries it on, salesperson comes out from behind the desk(of doing nothing) "How does that fit?' Good can I try the other. In the back he goes, pulls out the match, "here you go"
hands it to my husband and walks away. Umh!!!!! Service.Yeah right. 5 minutes later, "How's it fit?" Before any words came out Swish disappears. Well it fits fine, it fits better in the box because if for one minute you think your going to get commission on a pair of $195 dollar shoes that you didn't sell, ain't happening baby! Bye-Bye!
So Dear Mr. Drexler, Nordstrom and any one else that runs the number one contributor to the global economy, WAKE UP! It ain't over until it's over, and it's not over until the customer says so!!!!!!!

I have nothing to wear, Just a closet full of clothes!

2010-08-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year that I get a little antsy. Summer is coming to a close and I will be returning back to school, fortunately as a professor not a student. just as any student entering the new year, I still feel the excitement or the need to buy something new and fashionable to wear. I know my students notice, they comment on my shoes, my scarves , my signature big, bold jewelry and yes the never ending sea of black!. But as I reflect on what they comment about, I realize this is how they see me, they feel comfortable knowing that they will come into class and the familiar signature jewelry or scarf will be there to welcome them. They are in their comfort zone. They can take a sigh of relief. And for that I am happy. And now I start thinking, well that's not good, they know me all to well. What would happen if I started wearing bright colors, small delicate jewelry(I can see them cringing right now)?

I think they would have to enter therapy and I would be right behind.

But the dilemma is still there, What do I have to wear?

As I start looking in my closet I see a never ending row of jackets, leather, tweed, denim, dresses that the cast from MADMEN can wear, and so many black pants that I can open up my own store. The drawers in my armoire are no better, except for the fact that they are filled to the top with white, black, grey and brown t-shirts that go with everything , yet I feel match nothing.

The T is my signature top, as many know I hate ruffles and honestly that's all that's out there.

I tried to buy some blouses, but at last nothing was feminine, yet fashionable that wasn't Georgette and no one under 90 should be wearing Georgette.

So where does this leave me? The only place where I know I can add some WOW to the wardrobe, and that would be, In the shoe department!

I know I have a lot, and some are doubles, different colors of course, and yes I can only wear one pair at a time, but I never have to wear the same pair twice. A great shoe can change the entire look of the outfit, a flat can make it look casual, a wedge a little more sporty and a heel down right knock out sexy!

So there you have it, this is where I will spend my back to school clothing allowance. On shoes!
black pants, t's and jackets will be my staples, but my shoes, they'll be my signiture!
Welcome back students!

It's really the only option, one can never go wrong with a great pair of Laboutins, Choo's or even they great steal from DSW.

So back to school here I come, but first let's shoe shop!

Street wear

2010-03-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

In this economy people are becoming more creative in utilizing what they already have. And this definitley means reinventing their clothing.

At one time reinventing clothing was called wearing retro or vintage. Today it can be categorized as survival.

Please contibute to this post;

How have you taken an existing garment or accessory and reinvented it to fit your style today?

The dress shown is very wearable today. At least for me!

Please share

listen, think and then speak a lesson in customer service

2010-03-13T08:06:00.000-08:00

As stated a few months ago I will discuss openly many events that take place in the retail sector. Today is not exception. traveling to the Natick Collective yesterday with a friend we started off a good day in Nordstrom's and then it got worse. Our first stop was at the cosmetic counter where we were determined to buy a new shade from the new line Rouge Coco at the Chanel counter. We did not see the testers and a sales associate came over and asked if we needed help. My friend to remain nameless(just incase she doesn't want to be identified) asked about the new collection. The girl basically had not idea what we were talking about. Once she found the sample tray behind the cash wrap and not accessible to the consumer she had a difficult time finding the specific color that had made the "Hottest lipstick color" shade that we inquired about. It was starting to become a disaster and even though she said she would order it, we ventured to the next department "shoes" glorious shoes. my friend is returning a pair so while she is doing that I find a great pair of Tory Burch shoes "wedges" that I wanted to try on. A young "woman" approaches me and I ask her for my size. She then turns and tells a guy what I am looking for. Ok, thinking that he is a runner, no problem. Within 3 minutes, good timing out he comes, not with one pair of shoes but with &, yes seven. So giving him the benefit of the doubt I look around to see if there is anyone else in need of shoes near me! Nope! So i nicely (remember I said nicely) ask him'Are all those for me?" Yes he says, as proud as a peacock. And the conversations starts;
Well I didn't ask for seven pair of shoes, I asked for one. I don't want to try on 7 pair of shoes, I only want to try on the shoes that i asked for. "
As he sits down to start opening the boxes, the young lady from before comes over.
I then turn to her and express my displeasure in Nordstroms policy.
"I understand that Nordstroms policy wants you to bring out seven pair of shoes, however, I didn't ask for seven, your sales associate doesn't know me or know anything about me. he doesn't even know what style I like, yet you take it upon yourself, to guess what type of customer I am. You don't know what I do for a living or where I am going to wear these shoes. Therefore i find your policy invasive. As I am talking to the girl, the man is just sitting there with his moth wide open, thank goodness there were no flies, he would have caught them all.
I turned and apologized to him and made note he only followed his company's policy. he then continued to try opening the boxes and looked at me and said we don't have the one you want, but you can try on another shoe for size. Please that doesn't even make sense. Seeing the other shoes were not even Tory Burch.
So sorry, Nordstrom, no shoe no buy! And a letter to corporate.

Then we go upstairs, Yikes, my friend wants to find a Tory Burch embellished tank. A young girl approaches and my friend explains what the tank looks like and inquires as to whether or not they will carry it, As the young girl in the middle of the conversation walks away to grab a arm load of clothing, from another client we stand there a little dazed. She comes back and questions the knowledge of my friend as to whether or not it is really Tory Burch, hahaha. As my Friend is wearing Tory Burch! Good gracious! She finally after being interrupted I am sure by a customer that she is familiar with , my friend leaves her name and phone number so that if and when the girl realizes it is a 125$ tank she'll call her. And by the way the salesperson never told us her name, so we didn't ask!
We have not left Nordstrom yet and this was the beginning. A word of advice to all sales people.
listen to what the customer is not only Saying outloud" but saying between the lines, think about what you should do and say, then rethink it, then say it. In sales Nordstrom lost between the 2 of us, 2 tubes of lipstick @ 27$, 1 pair of Tory Burch shoes at 295$ and a Tory Burch tank at 125.

Total lost $474! wouldn't you want that in your pocket?

Change of heart, Change of story.

2010-01-02T05:27:00.000-08:00

Today I was going to start with when I started retail in 1978, and write about my experiences at my first retail job. Then I red an article this morning on google news, Shoplifters, Studies say keep an eye on workers?

My first reaction, No kidding Dick Tracey!. This is nothing new, this has ben going on much longer than companies want to admit or companies want to do anything about. And here's why.

The company I worked for in 1978 had an in house loss prevention(lp) department. At that time they were high tech. A separate room in the back of the store , cameras facing all of the doors and all of the registers and these huge black domes hooked to the ceiling throughout. If you looked real hard you could see the camera inside and see it moving back and forth.

When an employee thought that someone was trying to steal something we would go to a phone not near the perpitrator and call security. We would describe the person, not having to worry about any type of profiling, and within seconds 2 or three lp people would be down, coming in from all angles. They would then follow them, and if they did steal they would take them away in handcuffs. Thats right handcuffs! We would cal it the Frankenstein walk of shame.

Our hands as sales associates would be clean, we went back to doing what we were hired to do. That would be selling.

I do remember one associate getting caught for stealing at this company, she claimed she was putting the money in her pocket to go get change. Yet the store was closing and she never filled out a change request form. Mmm! I don't think that is done anymore, not even when you just have to go change large bills in the back safe. OOOPS! Now everyone knows where the change is kept. You know it used to be a secret.

Now back to, why employee's steal!

First, they were never taught right from wrong, where that begins you decide! Second when they did something wrong as a child they were never punished for it, I don't mean chinese torture, I mean punished, grounded, phone taken away, maybe not sent to their room where the latest technology is, but maybe to the basement to clean it. They are a generation of no responsibility, no accountability, And who do we blame? Again, you be the judge of that.

Stores made it easy for employees to shoplift because the lack of responsibility and accountability and it falls on both parties shoulders. That's right I blame both parties.

As for the stores, they buy LP equipment, sensors, cameras etc but they do not use them. Either they are off or when they go off when your walking through no one takes the initiative to go and see why.

As far as sensors are concerned, DEAR STORES, SAVE YOURSELF THE MONEY!

Every good thief and employee knows how to pop them off, cover them or manipulate the system to get out of the store. Take the 10,000 minimum that its going to cost you in unused equipment and put it towards LP awards for employees, if they catch a shoplifter, and if they turn in an employee stealing double the reward!

Now, back to why employees steal, Because they can! Empowerment is a great thing for companies to allow, however, empowerment and just letting them do things because no one else wants to, or the managers too busy doing(what I don't know) in the back room is not empowerment.

In my day, the only one who could turn the key to do a return, adjustment or any kind of void was a manager. Now everyone can do it, hence register fraud! And what did that take, no time at all, a manager stopping hat they were doing, coming t the register with their keys, that were on their wrist(not left on the counter) and turning to void mode or return mode. If there was a void the employee had to sign and state why and so did the manager. At the end of the week, employee numbers would come up on a report that stated who had returns, adjustments, exchanges, voids and he total number of transactions and dollars worth. Over a certain percent or dollar amount, they were written up, if it continued, they were fired! That simple!

Today we do not fire, we cut hours! Which in turn causes more employee theft. Now they are mad at you for limiting their hours, now they will steal.

I could go on and on about all of the different reason why employees steal, but I have to say the main reason is because the stores allow them. Now they don't come right out and say "I'm going to hire you only if you steal from me" but they do say, here are your job responsibilities, we have a great team, you'll like it here, you get to wear our clothes. But they don't say, this is a job, you'll work hard, you'll be held responsible for you actions while working and you'll be held accountable for them too! Maybe if stores started out with that, then let them know all of the fluff, they may be better off. And oh yes, a little more than minimum wage to deal with the public is a necessity!

New beginnings for a wronged retail

2010-01-01T05:49:00.000-08:00

I decided that today i would commit myself to really taking a hard look at retail past, present and future. It is a big part of our everyday lives whether we think so or not. Every time we go to the bank, the gas station, the grocery store we encounter a retail transaction, let alone everytime we go spur of the moment, I need this shopping!.
Looking back at last years retail history is how I cam up with the title to this blog. New beginnings for a wronged retail. After all its not retail that cheated the consumer with poor customer service, bad merchandise mix or messy stores, it was the people that run the companies. They wronged retail and then retail wronged us.
Retail in itself has a life, but the life comes from within. And the people within in the past few years have become greedy and self absorbed. take Miracle on 34th Street. Can you imagine in today's market a marketing executive suggesting that a consumer go to another store to buy a product. Absolutely not! Now I know the movie is fiction, but I truly believe that back then retail was one big entity, today it's millions.
The management generation running the retail establishments today are not considering what is important in a business atmosphere, and that would be called loyalty. They are looking at how fast can I make a dollar and how fast can I invest that dollar into 2 more things to make another dollar to invest in 4 more things. Unfortunately what they are not investing in is their people.
When I look back at what has happened in retail in the past, it is very disheartening. I have been in retail since 1978, I have seen good bad and the ugly. Both with companies and with people.
This year, I am going to focus my blog on all of that and try to explain what went wrong and that it can still be fixed with companies making a profit.
So for today, keep in mind that you have the capability and the ability to change how you shop, what you buy and how and what companies bring to the table.
We have the power!

Tis the Holiday Season

2009-12-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

The holiday season has arrived and the hustle and bustle is in the air. I have to say to date I have been pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming cheer that I have seen and heard so far.
From customers to sales associates the act of kindness, generosity and the offering of happy holidays has been astounding.
I love this time of year, not just because it is the time of giving and receiving, but because it separates the sales associates from the good and bad, from the ones that really want to work in retail to those who can not handle it.
This is a time that tries the patience of the most skilled. If as a customer you think you have it bad when you go to buy something and it's not there, imagine what the sales associates feel like when they know they actually never had it and now have to lie to you to tell you they sold out, or that the truck didn't deliver it, or better yet, that it should be in in the next shipment. And we all know what that means.
This year stores promised to cut inventory but yet have the product at the price that you want to pay for it when you want it. It's just like a miracle, but not on 34th Street.
Speaking of, once again macy's offers generosity in the form of donating 1 dollar to every dear Santa letter that they receive to Make A Wish Foundation.
Last year I collected (thanks to my students and piers over 1600 letters)
I think that because the post office has discontinued that service that macy's should up the anti to $1.41 , the cost of mailing a Dear Santa letter.
What do we now tell the little kids, that Santa is only taking e mails, or perhaps facebook or Twitter can have a virtual Santa, OOH, what a good idea. If I were tech savy I would create one.
This year my goal is 3000 letters to Santa, anyway I can get macy's to pay, for that sales associate throwing the shoe at me last year, I'm all for it.
Plus the feeling of getting my students involved in such a good endeavor is priceless. Sometimes they forget how to be a kid again, And this is the time to be a kid again, laugh, enjoy, and remember when,
Remember when:
6 shooters were something you could actually get at Christmas,
Tinsel on trees wasn't dangerous to the environment
Eggnog, only came in one flavor

Happy Holidays until the next post!

Healthy women

2009-10-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, however I feel now is the time to start posting again. I read a few articles in regards to Ralph lauren firing a beautiful young model who he claimed was "healthy" at 120 pounds and 5'8". "She no longer fits into his clothes. I think that the one thing that Ralph forgot was that 99.9% of his customers are healthy and maybe a little too healthy. The average women today is a size 14 by American Measurement Standards. Just ask my Apparel class, they'll tell you! If you go to a department store and you look on the racks for a size 0 or 2, the perfect model size for Ralph you will not find those sizes. Instead you will find numerous, 10's, 12's and 14's. These are the sizes the American women wear. Not a 0 or a 2. I fully understand the concept of putting your clothes on a stick figure because they fall better, but isn't that why we invented mannequins. The "healthy " women has a shape. And she should be proud of it. Look back to the days of Marie Antoinette, women were considered beautiful with the more curves they had. If they were scrawney, they were known to live on the street. I think that the message that Ralph is portraying is a poor one. Although not a new one. This has been going on for many years in the fashion industry. And although designers keep stating they do not condone skinny models I've yet to see a "healthy"one on the runway.

Another question arises, will this girl ever work again. Well, I doubt it. She went public and she put Ralph's name in the mud. He has a lot of pull with modeling agencies. And i would bet just like the model he "supposedly" had an affair with, never worked again after she went public. I am sure this one will follow in the same path. I wish her luck, maybe she will coome up with her own clothing line like everyone else

That one special piece

2009-09-22T04:02:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week has just ended and the reviews are all over the board. Similar to a Broadway show, some like it and some don't. What I found most interesting , well actually there were a few things once analyzed was that the majority of favoritism was given to the same designers over and over again, Donna Karan, Narciso Rodriguez, Marc Jacobs, Philip Lam just to name a few. Other were blasted into space, literally Michael Kors collections was stated as looking like "space outfits" By the way did anyone ever wear Michael Kors before he became famous from being on project runway? I don't think so and now we know why.

These designers showed clean lines, silhouettes that could be worn by many, many body shapes and many ages. Isn't this what we have been asking for for so long. So then tell me why the buyers (not consumers) are criticizing the show, saying its too commercial, there's nothing special, collections don't look complete. So this is where the analyzing comes in. In the past buyers went to shows, showrooms and market and saw complete mix and match lines, similar to garanimals from Sears (which by the way they brought back) And it was easy for them to buy. They bought by number, 1 matches with 2 and 4 and so on and life was good , no thinking involved. Today, they need to put on their thinking caps and really look at the collection and it is up to them now to create a line for the store that is coherent and will sell. Oh, they have to do what they were hired for. So yes it may be a little harder for them, but if they knew who their customer was, what she wanted and how much she would really pay for that special piece she would have no trouble at all. But I see trouble ahead of us. When spring rolls around I see department stores not knowing how to merchandise the mishmash that was bought. Good luck buyers may the best buyer win!

Fashion Night Out

2009-09-10T03:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Fashion Night Out across the USA. Many designers and retailers are offering special promotions in their stores to promote the fashion industry. As you know the industry is not doing very well this year because the consumer is being a little more frugal than they were in the past. Which can be interpreted as a good thing, We are getting a little more conscious about what we are spending our money on. But tonight the fashion industry wants us to put that frugality aside and spoil ourselves a little and in return they will spoil us to. Offering, designer photoshoots, cocktail parties, free mdse. It definitely is worth the trip to NYC tonight if you can get there tonight. It is going to be a mad house, but a fun madhouse.

So if you have the time tonight get into the city if not to buy but to support your industry.

Enjoy Fashion Night Out all day!!!

"The New Normal", if they keep saying this it won't be new anymore!

2009-09-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

The main phrase out of NYC over an over again is "The New Normal". I would think as creative as these designers are and claim to be that they could think of something a little more interesting to call a time when consumers are getting back to reality and eliminating their obsession with greed . You know not everyone has to have a Birkin bag, we may want one but it doesn't mean we need or have to have it. And if you think about it a typical Birkin costs 7000. That could be a down payment on a house, college education or a car. So once again WWD. posts an article on the New Normal, for which I am going to call NN. It takes too long to type 9 letters. Alan Schwartz , who some might recognize as the guy who knocks off designer dresses 5 minutes after they hit the Oscars, says that "It will never go back to the way it was.....and that's a good thing becaue a lot of those people(I think he means designers) that were in there(stores) shouldn't have been.

I'm thinking that's because they had ORIGINAL DESIGNS, and took away some of his SALES!

Neal Kusnetz, president of Robert Graham(an amazing blouse and mens shirt line, says" We keep levels limited, well having bought them in the past and as a consumer let me assure you it's not because of their uniqueness which they are it's because of their cost. Wholesale on average $137 to $175, retail minimum to $230, and you have to dry clean them. And Seth Morris of Carol Hockman (no idea who that is) states" There's nothing wrong with creating demand from being out of stock on hot trends" Ok, your out of stock, I don't buy from your store, I am mad, I am determined to get it, Oh I know the perfect place, there's a little alley in China town off Canal street that will have it for let's say 75% less. Duh! This creates knockoffs, which by the way the CFDA has been fighting for years!!!

And here's the best one yet it a quote by Erin Armendinger, a director of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in the retailing initiative, YIKES! states," I would never say people going out of business is a good thing, but this will make us more efficient. We are over-retailed, overstored, overlabeled. I don't think one day this is going to be over and the faucet will turn back on. That era of overspending, "I'll just put it on my credit card" is over"

And I bet all you fashion majors paying 40,000 a year want her as a professor.

And to that I really can't say anything else.

banana republic, it's time to change

2009-09-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today I thought that i would treat myself to a birthday present (it's Saturday by the way)

And I had a few discount cards from BR. So i went to Garden City with my sister, and we went into the BR. e walked around with no one approaching us at all. (let me say we were dressed in jeans, so now I hope you know where this is going) we walked throughout the store, no one approached. Instead all 3 associates were behind the cash wrap chatting with what i would say was a regular. She bought 2 pairs of shoes, More detail later. My sister pointed out a pair of jeweled ballet flats. They were 98$. I decided, like I always do when it comes to shoes to try them on. As I took the size 6 sample I waited for someone to come over, Nope, not happening. So I decided to walk to the cash wrap, nice interrupt the fawning over the regular and ask for some help. Well in comes Madge. I told her the 2 sizes I wanted to try on, she came out i about 5 minutes with only one pair stating she did not have the other size. Meanwhile, now here comes the interesting part, I found a pair of wedges 120$ that I wanted to try on, so as she put the ballet flats on the leather bench and started walking away, I asked to try another shoe on, OMG, I asked to try another shoe on. And here was the reply, "Can you just tell me what you want so I don't have to walk back and forth" ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!

So I replied, I don't know what I want to try on.

She went to the computer and yelled through the shoe dept. that they didn't have one of the sizes I was looking for, but the other was in the back. I think the back had a black hole.

5 minutes, 10 minutes 12 minutes go by and my sister and I are watching Madge in the 3 way mirror having a lovely chat with someone in the fitting room, all the while holding the box of shoes that I want to try on. I actually almost went back there myself to get them from her.

She finally came out dropped the shoes on the bench and walked away again.

That was it, i purposely made it clear that I was going to call and complain once again to corporate, and oh that's right I have the district managers e mail address. Well that got their attention. Now it was my turn to leave the mdse and walk away.

And yes when I got home, I called corporate and sent an e mail too.

So Dear Madge, whether or not you are reprimanded or retrained you do not belong in a field that requires any contact whatsoever with another human being. Perhaps working in an environment where there is no need for human contact might be the way to go.

And Saks will offer Timberland

2009-09-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

OK, first Sears to offer cosmetic counters, Jimmy Choo at H&M and now Saks. Is there no shame or humility any longer. Saks just announced and proudly I may add that they are goig to open a Timberland department. Timberland, yes you heard it right. When I originally thought of Saks, I

thought, high quality, unique brands, fashion forward mdse. I did not think duck boots, camping shorts and anorak jkts. Is it just me or does anyone else see anything wrong with this?

What is retail coming too? I have to say, this surprises me. This past summer I met with the VP of fashion and an assistant buyer introducing a bathing suit line, they loved the line but stated it "just wasn't who their customer is, their customer comes in for unique, fashion forward, designers names. Now let's look at this Timberland are they unique? No

Are they fashion forward ? No

Are they a designer name? No

They are a brand that has a following, but I am not sure if their following lives in Manhattan. I'm think more Vermont, New Hampshire.

Well let it be said, and you heard it first, just like i do not want to buy cosmetics next to the hardware dept at Sears, I don't want to see Timberland next to Carolina Herrerra either

Sears, Cosmetics and Craftsman tools a great combination

2009-08-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Today the Nation Retail Federation reported that Sears is going back into the mass and full service cosmetic business. This brings a few thing to light. So I was thinking how can a store that sells craftsman tools also service the cosmetic junky.

As the article stated during a time of recession( so are we in one) cosmetics is one industry that still does rather well. So Sears feels that right now this is where they should be. But analysts are stating that they tried it before and they couldn't get it right. As I read on, it stated that it was going to carry mass market lines like Cover Girl, Burts Bee's but yet there would be full service counters. I can't imagine getting a makeover from Cover Girl while my husband is wandering around in the tool department looking for the right size screwdriver. Unless of course they put the 2 departments right next to each other. How funny would that be, imagine this, makeup brushes right next to paint brushes. Need to paint a fine line, get an eyeliner brush, need good bronzing cover get a 2 inch sable paint brush , quick easy strokes. Can't get that eyeliner off after you smudged it, try a little paint thinner. Hey this could really work. If placement was done correctly their items per transaction really could increase. Sears has never been known to carry items that were trendy, they have been known for their tools and the sales staff waiting for you when you enter near the appliances. Now they will be waiting to whisk you away to the cosmetic counter for a free makeover. Craftsman tools, craftsman cosmetics, somehow there's got to be a good commercial in this. What I really want to know is exactly how much money they are going to spend to roll this out. Millions I am sure. And remember they own KMart too, are they next KMart cosmetologists?

This will be very interesting...

And a quote from a CEO, This is not the time for Miracle on 34th St.

2009-08-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

In Mondays issue of WWD, this was the quote of the day:

"If we sold 10 of something in the old days, we would make 12 and count on reorders. Now if we sell 10, we make 8 and chase the business. I'd rather have missed a sale than have an unsold garment". Marty Staff, CEO of JA Apparel, on the "new normal"

Ok, let me break this down Marty, in the past you could count on buyers not ordering enough and then going back into market and ordering more, Correct? Did you forget the reorders were all at off price. Next ,Now if you get an order for 10, your only going to make 8, assuming (mmmm) that there will be at least 2 buyers canceling orders, Correct? But what if these buyers are actually smart enough to know how to buy, and all 10 keep their orders. Now you have to decide which 2 will not get their order, because in todays market, manufacturers are cutting to orders and that's that. I would not want to be you when a buyer calls and landblasts you about not getting there goods. And for your last statement, "you would rather lose a sale", YIKES A ROONIE, not a very glamorous statement, but what retailer in todays market can afford to lose a sale, or send a customer to another place (reference to Miracle on 34th St) I do not know too many out there that are willing to bet let's say your salary that any store out there can afford to lose a sale, let alone a customer.

As Donald Trump would eloquently put it "Marty your fired"

H&M magazine Autumn 2009 vs. All the others

2009-08-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

This fall it's all about that .....well I don't know what exactly it's all about. The designs are everywhere, hats are in, the "it bag" is out, there are things called hairings (earings made of hair) good gracious what are we doing. We don't know and the magazines are trying to figure it out themselves. So this lead me to this blog. Long story short first, went to H&M Monday, bought a ponte knit dress(grey not black) for 34.95. $238 in Nordy's. Picked up their FREE magazine.

Tossed it in the bag and on my merry way I went.

Just took a peek at it when I got home, and then another and then another. I couldn't put it down. Fashion on every page, statements on every page, trends, stories, on every page. DO you know what wasn't on every page. Advertisements, for face creams, mascara, wrinkle creams, designers clothing that no one can afford and best of all no smelly perfume inserts.

So I decided to weigh H&M against the others to see where one would get the best bang for their buck this fall.

H&M

Front cover: I girl, 5 statements all readable

Table of contents, 3 pages in

Editors note page 9

First fashion article page 12

Last fashion article page 82

Pages in between 70 all fashion

Sections clearly labeled, all from Autumn trends, toTrends, Moscow Guide to Interviews

Interesting read, every page

Ripped corners because of postal delivery none, in a nice stand at the store

Photographs, beautiful,

Clothing all wearable

Prices of clothing to reflect the economy : right on target

COST: FREE!!!!!

The Other

Front Cover; Charleze again, 11 statements all running into each other

Table of contents: hang on still looking for it Ok page 146 (prior to that all advertisements) sorry part one of table of contents is on page 136

Editors note: give me another minute.. page 208 in between, advertisements

First fashion article: yeah, ok there isn't one, needless to say then there is not a last one

pages of advertisements, please do not make me count them, the mag. is 586 pages 83% is advertisements, please do the math.

Sections labeled clearly...Most of them

Interesting read: not unless you think a small blip on Katie Holmes new line is worthwhile (NOT)

Ripped corners because of the postal service pages 520 to 586

Photographs; Creative, very creative

Clothing wearable None

Prices of clothing to reflect the state of the economy, None and Anna promised this issue would be cost conscious for the consumer

Cost: By subscription it was 12 for the year, newsstand $4.99

You be the judge..but if I may save yourself some money and get the free one at H&M

The colors for fall

2009-08-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is just a brief entry with more to come tomorrow, but I wanted to let you know that if you are looking for anything other than, black, brown, deep crimson, shades of deep purples or greys

this fall/winter you will be very disappointed. Having worked the NEAC show New England Accessories and Clothing I can report first hand that their were aisles and aisles of these colors or should I say lack of. Now don't get me wrong because like Edna and Chanel, Black is my color, no matter what the little nit-wit sales associate told me last year. Sometimes one just needs a splash of something fabulous.

This fall it will come in the form of jewelry!

More to come........

Getting it right and what you should know!

2009-08-24T04:37:00.000-07:00

I really didn't know what to title this entry, because I don't think the fashion industry knows how to explain it either.

This morning I was reading a 5 page article in WWD that interviewed quite a few industry personnel, including designers, owners, forecasters, analysts etc. They were all talking about how retail and the fashion industry will survive what they are calling a pre-recession. Let me start by saying they all gave up hope on the little guy. Encouraging isn't it. Most said they would focus on the vendors that they have worked with in the past for consistantcy . But this didn't work before, weren't those the vendors that they are claiming that they had to take big markdowns on because the consumer demanded a lower price. Do you know what this means don't you, that the stores are going to demand larger discounts from the manufacturer or more more markdown dollars. I know my buying students know what that means. Analysts mentioned that customers do to want to see the same thing from the year before and in order to get the non-buying consumer to buy retailers need to give them something new. There's a contradiction i all of this, retailers sticking with the steady eddies and consumers wanting something new! Who should win? You decide.

Anyway, the article continued to mention bringing in mdse closer to the season, it's called buying closer to the vest. Yeah, this is not happening as wool, cashmere and leather are already out in the stores and it's 90 degrees. But thats OK with me because by time I am ready to buy it will be at a price I want to pay.

The point of this article is because one person actually gets it, that Alan Schwartz. You may have heard of him , he is a designers and usually knocks off red carpet designs from the award shows and their in the store within a week. He said, he survives and will survive because 98% of his product is made here in the United States, Halaluia to that sister.

What does this means, US employees designing, manufacturing, shipping and selling in the US.

Fast design to store time, which means closer to the selling season. In turn less markdowns for him and the stores that carry his product. And a higher profit for all parties concerned.

Good for you Alan...now if just 50% followed suit, we'd have less unemployment, out jewelry and textile industry would be back in business.

Good for you!

Celebrities as Designers, Really now!

2009-08-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

I decided to write this blog because I know once I head back to the classroom, someone is going to tell me that the best designer line comes from one of the celebrities that I am going to mention below. As you read this please think about it in this way "Do you see any one of these celebrites being the next Chanel, Yves St.Laurent, Dior, Jean Paul Gaulthier or even in todays standards of greatness Marc Jocobs.

So here's the list.. In not particular order of bad or bad.

Heidi Klum, paris and Nikki Hilton, Haden Panatere, Lauren Conrad, Nicole Ricci, Gwen Stephani, Jessica Simpson, JLo, Pamela Anderson, Elizabeth Hurly, Reba McIntyre, Christy Turlington, Elle McPherson, jaclyn Smith, Amanda Bynes, kane West, JayZ, Sean Combs, SnoopDOg, Nelly, Eminen, Justin T, Pharrell Williams, Rachel Zoe, Victoria Beckham, Beyonce, Bono, MaryKate and Ashley, Miley Cyrus and the newly announce Katie Holmes(hopefully Tom won't jump up and down over this)

So here's the list and quite honestly although they may be talented on stage, in the fitting room that I question. But I am not writing just about that, this is what I really want you to think about, think about all of the students who are trying so hard to pay their way through design school, who are working 2 to 3 jobs just to get through. Think about the ones who are not fortunate enough to go to school for lack of funding. Think about the students who do hours and hours of internships at famous design showrooms for free and are turned away once the commitment is done. Think about the graduates who go door to door looking for someone just to take a look at their portfolio, only be to be told they don't have a vision or get more experience. I want you to think about them everytime you see a new celebrity who has a ton of money, no education, no internships, so student loans decide because they are bored or because they want their name on something go out with their millions and decide they are a designer.

That is what I want you to think about.

I would rather buy a struggling designers goods than make a celebrity richer than they already are. And shame on the industry for allowing this. Shame on them for turning their backs on the world in which they came from. Shame Shame Shame.

September Issues: Fashion Magazines

2009-08-22T04:58:00.000-07:00

Well the September issues are out and every editor is boasting on how well their issues look. Before you go out and spend 50$ let me give you a quick run down and a recommendation.

If you only had to buy one American magazine for couture fashion I would buy Harper's Bazaar. It was done extremely well, photo's are beautiful and has great content. For those of you who know me it pains me not to suggest Vogue as you know I love Anna. But I think this year she was too focused on looking good for her documentary rather than her magazine looking good. (The cover, not good) If your looking for a magazine that has more realistic style that has attainable fashion that many consumers can afford I would definitely buy "In Style" although the cover with Jennifer Lopez looks like a Christmas cover not a fall cover it has great products throughout. (This is a strong recommendation if your taking my buying class this fall)

Most AMerican magazines rely on advertisements and it definitely showed this fall, with Vogue getting over 75% of their content in advertisements. BTW, you will see all of these ads in every magazine you pick up. Speaking of ads if I may. I think the best fashion ads this fall come from a 67 year old women, her name Betsy Johnson, her ads this fall are fantastic, their fun, creative, loud and unique! Look at everyone elses, dark, scarey and the stick models are all distorted.

So your final cost on mags for Sept. should be less than 10dollars. And if you don't want to buy any, the log onto DailyFashion.com

Inventory levels just what I predicted

2009-08-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

In early July WWD published a few articles stating that many retailers are cutting their inventory level and only buying what is necessary. July 7th, 2009 WWD posted this comment by Terry Lundgren. See first quote below. However, the industry seemed to forget what they promised, smaller inventories and merchandise closer to season. Haha. have you been into a store lately. There is no summer left and one is trying on cashmere sweaters, leather coats and wool boyfriend jackets (I still have mine in pristine condition form the 90')

It is 90 degreees here in New England and you can;t buy anything summer. I thought, well I hoped they would have learned. Apparently not. The second quote is what i published in a letter to WWD on the same day. Today, after receiving my WWD. they announced more stores are laying off, sales are down in some cases by over 30%. Surprised? Not at all.

Retail is not rocket science, although it is a science but mixed with art. And if they continue to force us in shoulder pads. Educationally they will get a D in science and an F in art.

"Many retailers seem resigned to the idea that the shipment faucet has been shut so firmly that they might even have to begin chasing merchandise. Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and ceo of Macy’s Inc., hinted at that possibility in an interview early this year.

“We will get our inventories down very tight,” he said. “We’ve all been scrambling to reduce orders. We will get to the point where we will be scrambling to increase orders. Inventories will be lean and that’s a good way to make money, a good way to raise margins and a good way to improve sell-throughs.”

It is amazing that it took retail stores so long to get to the position of having to realize that inventories are too high and mark downs are too steep. This was not the case in the late 70's when mdse actually did arrive just a few weeks prior to the season starting and not 4 months prior. What is happening in retail now is the result of one thing and one thing only. Greed. When stores were making a profit instead of putting that extra money in the bank they went ahead and opened more stores generally sharing the same demographic market. Without population increasing it was no surprise that same store sales started to decline. Therefore causing the trickling effect of what we see today in a grand scale. There is an easy answer to what companies are going through right now, and the key players have got to realize that a mistake was made and it needs to be fixed. If you want to stay alive in this business, follow these simple rules. 1. Stop being greedy, you do not need more stores, but better mdse in them 2. Hire, not for body's only, but associates that really want to be there 3. Train your sales staff, and yes this means follow through and finish the training, the heck with payroll hours, you'll make it up at the end 4. Decrease markdowns by not marking up so high in the first place. Imagine having the right mark-up and a customer actually buying something at full price within it's first few days on the sales floor. 5. Keep you store visually attractive. it only takes a minute for that young sales associate to come out from behind the desk and pick up something that is on the floor. A clean store means a better shopping experience for the customer 6. DMM's and GMM's control your checkbooks and your buyers. Sometimes less is better

Bathing suit beauties

2009-08-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Today, after 15 years truly I ventured to the beach. Being a fashion afficienado of course I had to look at what everyone was wearing. So here is my report on the wonderful and not so wonderful world of swimwear.

Lets start with the males. I must say to my approval there was not a man out there wearing speedo's , this is a wonderful thing and it should go without saying. the only one wearing a speedo should be Michael Phelps and men built like him which leaves out about 75% of the male population. Board shorts are in and the colors and designs were quite acceptable, most were floral prints, large magnolia's. Now in my day if a man wore flowers, well one can imagine.

The best thing about the board shorts and that they were actually pulled up and at navel level, thank goodness, I did not have to look at the lining of their boxers, which by the way many guys wear under these shorts. But kudo's the the males and their fashion sense.

Now on to my gender. Well there was a little of everything, and when I say a little I really mean a little. Even the life guards had itty, bitty, teenie weenie yellow and blue striped bikini's.

How I wondered would they stay up if they had to rescue someone, and what man would not want to be rescued by them.

Now on to the beach goddesses, yes you know who you are, a suit for everyday of the week..

Well for the most part neutral colors, browns, blacks, browns and black again. very few prints.

As far as the coverage, I guess only certain parts need not burn and well these suits did their job and no more. Kind of like a teenage sales associate who works at stops and shop.

Most had beautiful embellishments across the top and wonderful details. Even the young girl that had on a black suit with the brightly colored word ROXY across her behind looked acceptable.

the beach is a great place. No one is judgemental, at least not openly and anything and everything goes. Its a fashion mecca, of style, color, age and gender. Gosh even the umbrella's were high fashion.

So next time your at the beach look for me, I am the one wearing the brown or black suit in a crowd of 1000.

Customer service is more than ringing up a sale!

2009-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Today I was doing some consulting in a very pretty tourist area. The store that i am helping said they were in need of visual merchandising to help attract the customer and to gain interest in the product so that they could create multiple sales.

So today I ventured out with a plan of attack. I knew exactly what needed to be done to "create interest and sales" or so I thought. For the 3.5 hours that I was there merchandising the store, the sales associate on the floor( or should I say behind the cash wrap) didn't move. She stayed looking down ticketing merchandise. Not even acknowledging the customers when they walked in yet buy something. The young man that was on, opted to check in shipment in the back room with the door closed, the first time I went back to get his help to move a table he was out the back door, the next 2 times he was on his cell phone. Only once when asked did he come out to help move a table. But while out there never acknowledged a customer. I cannot say that I am surprised because this new generation in retail feels that ringing a customer is what they are supposed to do. That is their job, sales will just come and they will have hours to earn money, to buy new clothes, itunes, or any other trinket that is of value to them. What they don't realize and what their managers and owners better teach them is that if they don't get their pretty little faces out there to say hello, talk up the product and then ring it up, there will be no hours to buy all of the things that they want. But who do you blame, the kid or the manager/owner?

My answer....

The manager/owner.

Please don't complain if your business is failing if you are entrusting your money in the hands of an untrained teenager.

Thoughts....

2009-08-17T11:55:00.001-07:00

Welcome to "Fashion is not for everyone"

2009-08-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This blog is to inform all of you fashionista's out there on what is happening in the fashion and retail industry both good and bad.

This is a blog that will be as honest as it gets. No feelings are meant to be hurt, as long as one remembers that Fashion is a business it is not meant to be taken personally.

But I feel it is an obligation to let fashion and retailers know what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. And unfortunately right now there is more wrong than right.

So let's get started, I hope you log on daily.

Melanie