Guest Speaker Knowledge: Cole Haan

A quick overview from the company's LinkedIn profile:

"Founded by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan in 1928, Cole Haan is built on American craftsmanship and ingenuity. We combine traditional methods, timeless style and modern innovations to create footwear and accessories for optimists of all ages. This company was started to make good things for people who make good things happen; it still does. 

Cole Haan recently returned to its roots as an independently owned company and is growing rapidly in the US and abroad, as people rediscover the value of quality goods made without compromises. It's about time. 

We call New York City and Greenland, New Hampshire home, but you'll find us everywhere. 

The Cole Haan brand is all about modernizing Trafton and Eddie's legacy. The Cole Haan company is about enlisting like minded people who want to make good things happen."

Some More Quick Facts To Know:

- The Cole Haan brand specializes in Footwear, Handbags and Accessories.

- As mentioned in the overview above, the company was started in 1928 by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan. The business consisted of only mens shoes until 1979 when they introduced bright colored designs for women.

- The company was acquired by Nike in 1988.

- The brand began with a focus on comfort since the creation of its first driving shoes, and is still important today with the inclusion of Nike Air soles in the women's shoes.

- The company began selling online in 2000 and greatly expanded business.

Read more about the company and its history here:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/cole-haan

http://www.shoemetro.com/t-history-of-cole-haan.aspx

And make sure to check out their social media accounts!!

http://www.colehaan.com/blog.html

https://www.facebook.com/colehaan

https://twitter.com/colehaan

http://instagram.com/colehaan

http://colehaan.tumblr.com

Guest Speaker Knowledge: Oscar de la Renta

We may have learned about the designer himself in some of our classes, but let's take a look at the designer label as a company. 

The business overview on the Oscar de la Renta LinkedIn page says:

 "Oscar De La Renta is one of the world's leading luxury goods firms. The company was established in 1965, and currently produces a full line of women's accessories, bridal, home products, childrenswear and beauty, in addition to it's signature women's ready to wear collection. 

Be sure to check out the timeline on Oscar de la Renta website

http://www.oscardelarenta.com/the-house/

Some recent dates events for the label include:

Fall 2001- The introduction of accessories. The line now including bags, belts shoes and jewelry, all made with the most luxurious materials.

2002- Home collection launched with inspiration stemming from Oscar de la Renta's personal residences in New York, the Dominican Republic, and Connecticut. The collection began with furniture and home fragrance and has grown to include tabletop, decorative fabrics, wallpaper, bedding, rugs, and decorative accents.

2004- The sophisticated line of eyewear debuts. Optical frames and sunglasses made of the finest materials combined with the detail that Oscar de la Renta is known for.

2004- The Oscar de la Renta retail division is launched with the opening of the first freestanding store on Madison Avenue in NY. There are now freestanding boutiques in Bal Harbour, Costa Mesa, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Manhasset.

2006- The Bridal collection is launched with gowns featuring beautiful embroidery and fabrics. There is also a line of accessories such as veils, shoes, and bags.

Spring 2012- Introduction of childrenswear line. The collection includes boys and girls from infant to 14 years and is produced twice annually. 

Oscar de la Renta is a high fashion brand that has embraced social media, so be sure to check out THE Oscar PR girl on:

instagram: http://instagram.com/oscarprgirl

twitter: https://twitter.com/OscarPRGirl

and tumblr: http://oscarprgirl.tumblr.com

Guest Speaker Knowledge: WindowsWear

The business overview from the WindowsWear website:

THE ULTIMATE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE - 

WindowsWear allows consumers the ability to digitally shop the latest, must-have products in the windows of the fashion retailers from the world's fashion capitals like New York, Paris, Milan, London, Barcelona, Los Angeles and more.

TREND REPORTS AND INTELLIGENCE - 

WindowsWear PRO is the premier site for the window display and visual merchandising industry, providing inspiration to the world's leading brands to innovate and create more engaging visual displays.

The site features proprietary trend reports, analysis, information and exclusive access to the world's fashion windows (20,000+ analyzed windows, 500+ exclusive brands from around the world).

NEW YORK CITY'S BEST FASHION TOUR - 

WindowsWear’s Fashion Window Walking Tours take visitors to experience NYC’s best window displays, learning about the history of New York City's fashion industry and most famous stores, how they design their windows, and the latest fashions on display. Experience fashion from a new perspective and receive exclusive offers for participating.

http://www.windowswear.com/about

"…WindowsWear, which bridges technology and e-commerce. The company launched last year shortly before holiday, showcasing store window displays from around the world so consumers and merchandisers can keep tabs on global fashion trends in real time. This year, the company is launching shoppable holiday windows, where consumers can shop merchandise that’s in the window displays, said Jon Harari, cofounder and chief executive officer.”

WWD – Nov. 2013 “Holiday Selling Gets an Early Start”

It was announced just 5 days ago that a partnership has been made with the A.R.E. (Association for Retail Environments) organization. A.R.E is the only non-profit trade organization that represents the entire retail environments industry. This means the over 700 member companies of the organization will now have access to the WindowsWear PRO digital tools and visual merchandising and trend reporting.

http://www.internetretailer.com/2014/02/26/re-announces-partnership-windowswear-pro

This article gives a very good overview of the company and how professionals in the fashion industry can use the WindowsWear PRO services: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/11/prweb11287374.htm

Also, be sure to check out the WindowsWear social media!

https://www.facebook.com/WindowsWear

http://instagram.com/windowswear

http://www.pinterest.com/windowswear/

https://twitter.com/windowswear

Guest Speaker Knowledge: Kohl's

An introduction to the internship program from the Kohl's website:

"At Kohl’s, we don’t want interns or trainees to blend in — we challenge them to stand out and make a difference. With a team and results-driven culture, we are dedicated to supporting growth through training and hands-on experience. During our 10-week internship or full-time trainee program, we do not waste time. You will hit the ground running on day one. Throughout your time with Kohl’s, you will learn to understand the fast-paced nature of retail and be trusted as a contributing member of the Kohl’s team. So if you like a challenge, some serious responsibility and a lot of fun, come check us out!”

And here are some key points from each program:

Stores:

• 10-week program with realistic retail management experience
• Learn how to manage a team, run a department in a store, work on a project to impact a $10-$16 million business, and present to senior leaders
• At the end of the of the program students know what it takes to run a Kohl’s store

Corporate:

• At the Kohl's headquarters based outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Housing in downtown Milwaukee and transportation to and from work is provided 
• Many opportunities for exposure to senior management
• Classroom training and the ability to work on projects that could affect all of Kohl’s stores
• Opportunities include: Buying, Product Development, Design, Textiles, Technical Design, IT-Business Analyst, IT-Programmer, e-Commerce, Finance, Marketing, Logistics, Purchasing and Human Resources

Distribution Centers:

• A challenging 10-week program to prepare you to take on the role of operations supervisor
• Learn day-to-day operations to gain an understanding of what it takes to manage, motivate and lead people in a Distribution Center
• Opportunity to attend a conference to learn about Kohl’s global logistics process and meet other distribution interns from across the country
• At the end of the program interns have an opportunity to present project findings to senior leaders

Contact Centers:

• 10-week program to prepare students to take on the role of supervisor in a contact center
• Spend time learning day-to-day operations to gain an understanding of what it takes to manage motivate and lead people

All of this and more information can be found on the company's website: http://kohlscareers.com/our-jobs/internships/

Guest Speaker Knowledge: Dr. Jays

Company Background:

“DrJays.com was created in 1999 to enable us to share our passion for the urban lifestyle with millions of customers in the US and abroad. DrJays.com is an integral part of DJ Networks, a bi-coastal company with headquarters in New York and San Diego that also owns and operates DJPremium.com, DJ Agency and upcoming social networking site StreetStyle.com. DrJays.com is a privately held, profitable, stable organization growing exponentially since its creation.

The Dr. Jay's legacy began in 1975 with the opening of our first store, in the South Bronx section of New York. Not coincidentally, hip-hop had its origins in the same neighborhood around the same time that Dr. Jay's opened its first doors. The urban landscape was changing, and with the new music came a new fashion sensibility. Dr. Jay's has been a pioneer in providing these urban fashions ever since, growing to 19 stores throughout the New York Metro area.

In the same way that our New York and New Jersey stores serve countless out-of-state and international visitors, our DrJays.com internet store now enables us to share our passion for urban fashion with millions of consumers around the world. Dr. Jay's has built its success over the last 25 years by offering the latest styles from the leading brands, while continually discovering new brands to bring to our shoppers. Dr. Jay's was there as urban fashion was born in the inner-city, and continues to expand today both online and offline, as urban fashion breaks free of all geographic and cultural boundaries.”

 - via the Dr. Jays LinkedIn Profile

Dr. Jays currently has 20 selling locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and New Jersey. Some of the women’s brands carried online and in-store include Rocawear, Southpole, Nike, and North Face. Some of the brands offered for men include New Era, Akademiks, Adidas and Timberland. The DJPremium shop offers higher end brands such as Joyrich, Billionaire Boys Club, and True Religion.

Check out some of their merchandise and learn more about the business on their websites:

http://www.drjays.com

http://www.djpremium.com

or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DrJays

Guest Speaker Knowledge: FM 492 Study Abroad Program

Professor Sheridan will be speaking at tomorrow's meeting about the new summer study abroad program: FM 492 International Product Development in China!

The program is for students who are interested in getting real international industry experience in developing product from a recognized Chinese corporation sponsor. You will also get to visit cities such as Hong Kong, Dongguan and Shanghai! Prerequisites to go on the trip include the completion of FM244 by this spring.

Interviews are being held on November 26^th from 8:30-11:30 in B320. Schedule an appointment beforehand by calling 212-217-4800!

Get more information about how to apply here: http://www.fitnyc.edu/21797.asp

Guest Speaker Knowledge: URBN Internships

Get ready and excited for the guest speakers from URBN tomorrow with some background information about the company!

The Company Profile: "Our established ability to understand our customers and connect with them on an emotional level. The reason for this success is that our brands — Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain and BHLDN — are both compelling and distinct. Each brand chooses a particular customer segment, and once chosen, sets out to create sustainable points of distinction with that segment. In the retail brands we design innovative stores that resonate with the target audience; offer an eclectic mix of merchandise in which hard and soft goods are cross merchandised; and construct unique product displays that incorporate found objects into creative selling vignettes. The emphasis is on creativity. Our goal is to offer a product assortment and an environment so compelling and distinctive that the customer feels an empathetic connection to the brand and is persuaded to buy."

About the Internship Program: 

- They are looking for Juniors and Seniors

- You will need a current resume and cover letter

- They ask for a digital inspiration board that is specific to the brand that you are applying for. Be creative with this part of the application!

- Know the specifics about the brand you are interested in, its target customer, and where they would find inspiration when applying- Address this in your cover letter

Read more about the company here: http://urbn.com/profile/

and read a sample of an Urban Outfitters Summer internship listing here: https://www.firstjob.com/listings/110703/

Guest Speaker Knowledge: Personal Branding

We will have a very special guest at tomorrow’s meeting! One of our MS members’ father - Dennis McCarty, Professor at the University of Albany, will be speaking to us about creating your personal brand. It’s an increasingly important tool that many people are using in today’s competitive industries (like fashion merchandising!). I think this article from Mashable.com really breaks down the steps for someone who wants to appropriately create a personal brand:

1 – Discover your brand by examining your personal values and how others perceive you.

2 – Create your brand by establishing it through networking in person and online.

3 – Everyone, from college students to CEOs, should have a business card.

4 – Resumes, cover letters and related documents are also necessary. Take it to the next step by putting them online for easier sharing.

5 – Create a personal portfolio of work that you have done in the past that you think is the best representation of your brand.

6  and 7 – Use your Facebook and Twitter wisely! Not everything should be about you; keep your personal sharing to a minimum.

8 – A video resume is easy to create and share via YouTube.

9 – Make sure that your clothing choices are appropriate but use them to show who you are as well.

10 – E-mail is an important communication tool in bringing all of these networking connections together, make sure yours is appropriate and that you manage it on a regular basis.

Here is the full article and some more related articles that you could use as background information. Read them and ask any questions at tomorrow’s meeting!

http://mashable.com/2009/02/05/personal-branding-101/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/10/31/6-things-that-could-be-hurting-your-personal-brand/2/

http://www.businessinsider.com/10-ways-to-build-your-personal-brand-2010-4#curious-about-branding-dont-miss-11

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2013/04/22/personal-branding-101/

Guest Speaker Knowledge: FM 226 Presentation

Professor Werner will be coming to speak to us at tomorrow’s meeting about the FM 226 program! It is the International Buying and Marketing class that counts for 3 credits. The estimated dates for the upcoming summer 2014 trip are May 29-June 23.

The course description as seen on the FIT website is: “Students, under faculty supervision, visit London, Paris and Florence to study the factors involved in fashion marketing and the international customer’s attitudes about fashion. Discussions involve methods, practices, and reasons for importation and exportation. Students are expected to complete written assignments.”

The prerequisite for taking the class is the approval of the instructor, so it is something you have to apply and interview for. (This means get your DARs and resume ready!)

For more information visit fitnyc.edu and come to tomorrow’s presentation with any questions!

Guest Speaker Knowledge: FIT in Florence

The IFMM program is a part of the Bachelor program that allows you to study at Polimoda in Florence during your 5^th or 6^th semester, or your entire third year. Students with a GPA over 3.0, have completed their Associates program, and are able to register for 12 credits for each semester in the program are eligible to apply. The campus itself is a sight and the building where classes are located, Villa Favard, is in beautiful central Florence. You will have the opportunity to visit many different Italian cities on such as Milan, Venice, Como and Rome.  Field trips include fashion showrooms, trade shows, galleries, and many more exciting and exclusive opportunities. We’ll let these pictures show how incredible the program really is:

Come to the meeting on tomorrow, Tuesday Oct. 22, to learn more about the IFMM program from Professor Kaplan!

Guest Speaker Knowledge: Burlington Coat Factory

This Tuesday, our guest speaker will be Donna Norton from Burlington Coat Factory. Burlington Coat Factory is a leading off-price retailer offering women's, men's, children's, and infant's apparel, shoes, accessories, toys, gifts, and home goods as well. They operate over 470 stores in 44 states and Puerto Rico, and offer discounts of up to 70% off department store prices. The Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation was founded in  1924 as a wholesaler of ladies coats and junior suits. In 1972, the first outlet store in Burlington, New Jersey opened to the public (right near Social Media Manager Christina's hometown!). Although coats were the primary offering at the original Burlington Coat Factory, the company has expanded into all facets of the fashion industry. The company attributes their success to making value a priority and purchasing in a strategic manner. Recently, Burlington Coat Factory had their trading debut and shares rose over 40% from the original IPO.