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Ross

This week we were given a presentation by recruiter Samantha Mitchnick. I have never been to a Ross store before so it was interesting to hear about the growing company. Ross started in 1982 and has grown to become on one of the largest off-price retailers in the US. Samantha told us that the current CEO moved her way up the ranks at Ross and I found that to be hopeful and inspiring. It just goes to show that hard work really can pay off. It was also nice hearing that the company promotes from within and truly wants to see their employees succeed in all aspects of the company. 

Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, Ross plans on opening 90 new locations. I’m interested to see how this will play out and if any stores will come to where I live. Samantha explained the roles one could have within the company which I find to be helpful considering each company operates a little differently. I am definitely interested in fashion forecasting and I feel working in their NYC fashion office would be an amazing experience. 

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Dover Street Market

Dover Street Market is a multi-brand retailer originally located on Dover Street in Mayfair, London. The store was created by Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo, famously known for the creation of Comme des Garcons. Currently, there are Dover Street Market locations in New York City, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. They carry a number of brands such as CDG, Gucci, Jil Sander, Margiela, and Raf Simmons just to name a few. 

Dover Street Market is a perfect retailer for upcoming brands. They look for brands that are a stand out in the fashion industry. The space itself is very unique unlike other retail stores because it feels almost like an exhibit. They display the clothing in an interesting way and one reason why customers keep coming back. 

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ABC Carpet and Home

abc carpet & home is a home furnishing store located in New York and Brooklyn. According to their website, “We aim to serve by manifesting a shift in the retail paradigm, one in which beauty, experience, and magic are composed onto a revolutionary platform of cause-related products that guide creative expression, celebrate individuality, and cultivate sacred space.” This store really does have something for everyone and they do not focus on one aesthetic. 

abc carpet & home is committed to minimizing their environmental footprint and maximizing social justice. They want to make our a world a better place through their products. They have a program called abc home & planet foundation which allows any abc customer to donate to a charitable organization. It started began in 2005 and they have formed many partnerships including Housing Works, Mission Blue, Mercy Corps, and Women for Afghan women just to name a few. 

Here are a few pieces I liked from the site. 

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Randa

For this week, we were asked to research the brand Randa, one of the top leaders in men’s accessories. Randa was founded in 1910, spanning across 11 countries. Over the past 100 years, Randa has worked with a number of brands such as Dickies, Arrow, Dockers, Haggar, Guess and Levi’s just to name a few. Randa produces an array of products including neckwear, jewelry, belts, furnishings, wallets, seasonal apparel and luggage. 

The Randa website allows you to watch several videos on the company. I thought these were informative and give a feel for what the company is like and what they can offer. While browsing the website, I was drawn to their corporate and social responsibility tab. The company has a ‘Randa Gives Back’ which they give back to the local and global community through organizations such as Aids Walk and American Cancer Society. As for sustainability, Randa is LEED Certified and has a corrugated recycling program. 

Before this assignment, I have never heard of Randa before. However, after researching they seem to be an impressive company working with a number of well known brands. 

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MET

Although the Metropolitan Museum of Art is closed due to the outbreak of the virus, they encourage visitors to explore the website and continue to appreciate and learn about art. The Met allows visitors to interact in a number of ways including browsing The Met Collections, follow along with Primers which give you a rundown of key themes found at the museum, and even view 360 degree images of the Met’s beautiful art and architecture. Although it is not the same as seeing these incredible works in person, it is nice to take your minds off the negativity that we all face in the world and look to art for joy and inspiration. 

I have visited the Met once and could not believe how massive it was! I spent nearly 3 hours wandering around and didn’t come close to seeing everything they have on display. I definitely will visit again, especially during The Met Gala to view the featured exhibit. 

While exploring the website, I was drawn to viewing The Met Collections. This collection highlights works of art that the museum has. Some of my favorites include Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue by Georgia O’Keeffe, Woman with a Cat by Fernand Leger, and this El Morocco, New York photograph just to name a few. The Met has such a rich history and I believe it is very important because it connects us with the past. 

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Internship Experience

This semester I am interning at Michael’s Consignment primarily working on e-commerce and social media for the business. I found this internship through the school and it seemed perfect for me considering I have experience in the consignment/second hand business. Although my time at Michael’s was cut short, it still was an amazing experience and I learned so much from it. The store is temporarily closed due to the virus outbreak, however once it reopens I will continue to work remotely from home.

My job mainly consisted of two things: post item listings to Shopify and creating flat lays for social media content. I also wrote blogs for the website and created email marketing content as well. Many business use Shopify so I was excited to learn more about it. Turns out that I love the platform and would like to continue to use it in the future. The other portion of my internship was to create flat lays that would be used for Instagram. I love creating outfits and find it to be a great creative outlet. I really enjoyed doing this and hope I can do it again in the future. 

Overall, I had a great experience at my internship and met so many amazing people along the way. I was able to explore the world of e-commerce and I actually enjoy it. I could see myself pursuing it in the future. 

(Two blogs that I have done, found on the website)

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Fifth Ave Women

Today we visited Fifth Ave Women, a private label jewelry vendor. The owner Sophia was incredibly sweet and she was so kind enough to open up her business to us. Sophia works with top brands such as Macy’s, Bergdof Goodman, Saks Fifth Ave, JcPenny’s, Khols, and many more. Sophia has built her business from the ground up, and it goes to show what can be done with hard work and dedication. 

Sophia, along with her team, creates pieces containing sterling silver, marcasite, jade, semi-precious, precious, and ivory. There is a wide range of fashion jewelry to more delicate pieces you would find at a luxury store. She was kind enough to let us purchase items from her showroom for a fraction of what she would charge actual clients. 

I was not sure what to expect, however, I am glad we came here. Sophia is such an inspiration through her business and charity work. 

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Centric Brands

Today we visited Centric Brands. Centric Brands works with over 100 plus women, men, children, and entertainment brands such as Herve Leger, Joe’s Jeans, Buffalo Jeans, Robert Graham, Avirex, and Disney just to name a few. Centric Brands is in charge of designing, producing, and building brand distinction for the companies they partner with. Centric Brands closely follows being brand centric, business centric, customer centric, and people centric. During the presentation, I definitely felt all of these brand pillars shine through and I think it would be a great company to work for. 

Before researching and the presentation, I had no idea what to expect from Centric Brands, let alone the companies they partner with. I could not believe how big the space was and how each brand was shown throughout. It felt like you were in a mall during the visit and the brand’s essence was really captured in each showroom area. 

The company life here seems really great and it seems like they put their employees first. They want to hear new and fresh ideas from their employees and even though it is a very large company I think they try to be collaborative as possible. 

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M & S Schmalberg

Today we visited M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers. This business was started 103 years ago in 1916 and remains number one for custom fabric flowers. Top designers such as Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and Carolina Herrera often come here for one of a kind pieces. They have also worked with several celebrities as well such as Beyonce, Lebron James, and Nick Cannon. Adam gave us a brief overview of his family’s company history and eventually gave us a tour of the factory. 

He was so kind to us and even let us have a flower to take home which was really nice. I was so amazed by this company because everything they make is in house and they do not outsource any materials. Considering fashion today, this is extremely rare and I feel this gives the company an advantage over others. 

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Coterie

Today we visited Coterie, a place for buyers to purchase from wholesalers and vendors for spring/fall collections. There were so many brands I was in awe. From smaller brands to more well-known ones like Good American and 7 For All Mankind. There was so much to look at I know for certain I didn’t get a chance to see everything. 

This event is for buyers, so it was amazing having this experience to see what it is actually like when you here buyers going to market. My roommate actually had the opportunity to work at Coterie and it was really interesting to hear about her experience. She was able to work one-on-one with clients and process orders which I thought was really cool. Definitely a great learning experience and it opened up her mind to potentially having a job in wholesaling in the future. 

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M.M. LaFleur

Today we visited M.M. LaFleur. We were given a great presentation by Susan, Maggie, and Shelby and I really enjoyed learning about this company. Before visiting, I had never heard of the brand before so I went in with a completely open mind. Upon learning more about it and researching, I fell in love with what the brand stands for and the pieces it sells. 

I could potentially see myself working for a company like this in the future. I appreciate the fact that this brand strives to make the lives of everyday women easier and harness the power of self-presentation. Their goal is to rethink the shopping experience which in my opinion puts them at an advantage over competitors. I envision myself working for a company that has these types of values and takes their brand in a different direction than everyone else. M.M. LaFleur has an amazing sense of community and the corporate atmosphere I would want to surround myself with. 

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Cotton Incorporated

Today we visited Cotton Incorporated, which is a non-profit company that provides resources and research to companies with the best cotton products possible. We were given an amazing presentation by Aubrey Howard who is a fashion forecaster for the company. She was describing details of her job and I found it extremely interesting. 

She mentioned that she travels often for her job which I think is amazing. I want a job that allows me to see the world and I think a forecasting position would be a dream come true in my opinion. She talked about how her job is a very hands-on, creative position which is something I am looking for in the future. Aubrey mentioned that forecasting is all about immersing yourself in whatever country you are visiting, through museums, shopping, street culture, etc. I find that so amazing as I am someone who feels most inspired and creative when doing those activities on my own. 

There were two interns at our presentation and they inspired me to apply for a summer internship at Cotton Incorporated. I know if I got this opportunity it would open so many doors for me and change my life completely. 

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Nordstrom Buying Office

Today we visited the Nordstrom Buying Office and we were given a great presentation by Jamie Seiden. We learned about Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and HauteLook. It was interesting to hear how each of these brands caters to a different target audience and the ways in which each is promoted in a very specific way. For example, Nordstrom is geared more towards a seasoned customer who shops for contemporary labels, while HauteLook is geared towards Gen Z or Millenial age groups who are budget to moderate price point shoppers. Overall, I think having all three labels places Nordstrom as a whole in a very competitive position against other brands. 

Before attending the presentation, I did a little research about the company. I did not know that Nordstrom was founded in 1901 originally as a shoe company. They quickly grew to become the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By the 60′s they ventured into women’s clothing and soon after men’s and children’s wear was added as well. Before researching, I was unaware of Nordstrom’s rich history. Today it continues to grow as a company and I’m sure they will continue to make advances into the future.