It seems every week we are exposed to some new effect of our struggling economy. Read this article on how high fashion designers are not above moving into the low-end discount market to increase sales. The most interesting thing to me is that in our economy, such as it is,
none of these designers think to ease up, slow down, or wait for better times.
Here’s what I take from the article for local independent apparel retailers determined to succeed and grow in this economy:
· Have you designed an affordable line?
· Are you reaching more people?
· Have you created any new partnerships?
· Do you have a source of new designers to provide you with fresh ideas and designs?
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/sep2008/bw20080911_459145.htm
Take special note of the additional benefits these designers gained as a result of trying something new. Mizrahi found sales of high end fashion designs were revived quite unexpectantly.
None of the above suggestive questions involve anything extraordinary or expensive. They are all part of the IE-Network model which any two enterprises; at-home apparel contractor and local apparel retailer can partner together for their mutual gain.
Showing posts with label affordable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label affordable. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
IE-Networks and Americans, immigration and economy
A profitable at-home network, not government or employment in the private sector, affects the immigration and economic status of Hispanics in America. The target of this network represents a response within the larger context of displaced apparel manufacturing American workers of which, it is safe to say, the greater percentage are Hispanic. Simultaneously, this response, by extension, provides a real, living, human, national response towards people, not just issues of immigration and economy.
A woman, in her 40s, single, with children, monolingual spanish-speaking Hispanic, displaced apparel manufacturing worker with a primary education is the at-home target. However, there are thousands of displaced workers like her who possess a wealth of resources capable of producing a positive impact on their immigration and/or economic status. These are resources acquired over the years of employment; the Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) best utilized through IC-Networks (Independent Contractor Networks) to produce affordable, at-home, custom and regular apparel for their own private clients or local independent apparel retailers.
As at-home independent contractors (not employees) their legal or illegal immigration status represents neither a legal risk for retailers nor a threat for job-seeking Americans.
Conversely, their contribution makes for a significant impact towards strengthening the US economy.
The following is derived from a conversation with a business friend. It illustrates how the network, as a pragmatic alternative, can affect the lives of these individuals, their families and independent apparel businesses, significantly.
An independent retailer purchases from a merchandiser an elegant dress for sixty dollars. After the resale the retailer pockets a twenty dollar profit. However, a retailer who takes from 30 to 50 of that 60 dollar investment and partners with an at-home, local IC-Network has made an business inventory savings and increased the entrepreneur's bank account. Furthermore, IC-Network (or Independent Enterprise-Networks) membership is open to contractor and retailer enterprises, alike. Networks represent the potential for three forms of revenue generation: Personal productivity and sale plus residual income and bonuses paid by the network parent company.
A woman, in her 40s, single, with children, monolingual spanish-speaking Hispanic, displaced apparel manufacturing worker with a primary education is the at-home target. However, there are thousands of displaced workers like her who possess a wealth of resources capable of producing a positive impact on their immigration and/or economic status. These are resources acquired over the years of employment; the Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE) best utilized through IC-Networks (Independent Contractor Networks) to produce affordable, at-home, custom and regular apparel for their own private clients or local independent apparel retailers.
As at-home independent contractors (not employees) their legal or illegal immigration status represents neither a legal risk for retailers nor a threat for job-seeking Americans.
Conversely, their contribution makes for a significant impact towards strengthening the US economy.
The following is derived from a conversation with a business friend. It illustrates how the network, as a pragmatic alternative, can affect the lives of these individuals, their families and independent apparel businesses, significantly.
An independent retailer purchases from a merchandiser an elegant dress for sixty dollars. After the resale the retailer pockets a twenty dollar profit. However, a retailer who takes from 30 to 50 of that 60 dollar investment and partners with an at-home, local IC-Network has made an business inventory savings and increased the entrepreneur's bank account. Furthermore, IC-Network (or Independent Enterprise-Networks) membership is open to contractor and retailer enterprises, alike. Networks represent the potential for three forms of revenue generation: Personal productivity and sale plus residual income and bonuses paid by the network parent company.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Overheard around town
Just a few things I have overheard and discussed with several whose passion is in apparel.
1 The merchandiser requires I buy bulk quantities in order to obtain a low price.
Apparel (women's, particularly) has an extremely short lifespan. So, why stockpile merchandise you can only hope to sell, and, make a profit?
2 What am I suppossed to do with my unsold merchandise?
The apparel network direct model eliminates the middleman leftovers from your boutique.
3 People are cheap. They want extravangance in custom apparel at regular prices.
People don't know how regular price imports have hurt their own apparel jobs. Contractors and retailers attempt to fight off imports relying on the same business model which was overrun by the competition. Nonetheless, the apparel network direct model enables a much more competitive price as opposed to the traditional ceiling-high price associated with custom apparel.
4 Why should I have to pay nine hundred dollars for a custom-made dress?
I agree and I would ask contractors and retailers: Would you be willing to pay those prices for your own custom apparel? Why ask others to pay prices you would not like to pay yourself?
5 If I had a few thousand dollars I could do it.
The truth is the investment in apparel networks is nowhere near thousands of dollars, plus, it allows you to duplicate your efforts while increasing your revenue. Furthermore, unlike the traditional model where retailers tie up hundreds of dollars when buying from merchandisers local apparel networks enable them to get a quick turnaround on their merchandising capital with custom-made apparel, that is, reduced inventory.
6 I shop expensive dresses for my clients, but I make a small profit.
Why shop around when you can have your own local network create your apparel. Since they do most of the work they are compensated accordingly.
7 My sales and profits are good, but my rent eats it up.
Instead of feeding the rent monster and the merchandiser machine why not consider reducing your inventory and leveraging the resources of an apparel network.
8 My time is worth twenty dollars per hour and that's what I charge.
No one can dictate to an independent what they are to charge for their services, that is except, the consumer. Hourly rates are what employers pay employees. Contractors are nobody's employee. Consumers do not pay for what they do not wear. They do not wear your service. They wear your product, the apparel made with their pleasure in mind.
9 I am afraid someone will steal my business.
This is small thinking. You are a steward of the business you operate. Helping others become successful is not your loss.
10 I just don't have time.
Maybe because independents represent a breakaway from the environment of employer and fellow employees they believe they should conduct business: Alone. It is no wonder too many run themselves ragged. Apparel networks are about you being in business for yourself, but not by yourself.
1 The merchandiser requires I buy bulk quantities in order to obtain a low price.
Apparel (women's, particularly) has an extremely short lifespan. So, why stockpile merchandise you can only hope to sell, and, make a profit?
2 What am I suppossed to do with my unsold merchandise?
The apparel network direct model eliminates the middleman leftovers from your boutique.
3 People are cheap. They want extravangance in custom apparel at regular prices.
People don't know how regular price imports have hurt their own apparel jobs. Contractors and retailers attempt to fight off imports relying on the same business model which was overrun by the competition. Nonetheless, the apparel network direct model enables a much more competitive price as opposed to the traditional ceiling-high price associated with custom apparel.
4 Why should I have to pay nine hundred dollars for a custom-made dress?
I agree and I would ask contractors and retailers: Would you be willing to pay those prices for your own custom apparel? Why ask others to pay prices you would not like to pay yourself?
5 If I had a few thousand dollars I could do it.
The truth is the investment in apparel networks is nowhere near thousands of dollars, plus, it allows you to duplicate your efforts while increasing your revenue. Furthermore, unlike the traditional model where retailers tie up hundreds of dollars when buying from merchandisers local apparel networks enable them to get a quick turnaround on their merchandising capital with custom-made apparel, that is, reduced inventory.
6 I shop expensive dresses for my clients, but I make a small profit.
Why shop around when you can have your own local network create your apparel. Since they do most of the work they are compensated accordingly.
7 My sales and profits are good, but my rent eats it up.
Instead of feeding the rent monster and the merchandiser machine why not consider reducing your inventory and leveraging the resources of an apparel network.
8 My time is worth twenty dollars per hour and that's what I charge.
No one can dictate to an independent what they are to charge for their services, that is except, the consumer. Hourly rates are what employers pay employees. Contractors are nobody's employee. Consumers do not pay for what they do not wear. They do not wear your service. They wear your product, the apparel made with their pleasure in mind.
9 I am afraid someone will steal my business.
This is small thinking. You are a steward of the business you operate. Helping others become successful is not your loss.
10 I just don't have time.
Maybe because independents represent a breakaway from the environment of employer and fellow employees they believe they should conduct business: Alone. It is no wonder too many run themselves ragged. Apparel networks are about you being in business for yourself, but not by yourself.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
The Cost of Tradition
ATTENTION: If you were looking for the Prom Dress survey: High School Prom Dress Survey
(Surely, Round Rock/Austin apparel networks could help parents and high school students in the form of a cost trimming on a prom dress, right?) WM
This article is taken from The Monitor. Click the post title to go to their site. WM
(Surely, Round Rock/Austin apparel networks could help parents and high school students in the form of a cost trimming on a prom dress, right?) WM
This article is taken from The Monitor. Click the post title to go to their site. WM
* * *
The Cost of Tradition -- Expense, trappings of prom increasing May 18,2006 Paige Lauren Deiner Monitor Staff Writer
Cost of prom dress and shoes: $360
Cost of tuxedo and shoes: $125
Cost of limo per couple: $115
Cost of dinner for two: $50
The perfect prom night: priceless
Valley area prom goers are dishing out large sums of money to ensure that their prom is an event to remember. But spending upwards of a $1,000 on prom is becoming the norm throughout the United States. The average prom couple spent $1,170 in 2005 said Richard Calo, who studies prom trends and operates a site called http://www.thepromsite.com/. In 1965 the same couple would have spent $120.
Easton Schrock, McAllen Memorial High School junior class president, says that for some people, prom is a good reason to max out credit cards, but others feel that prom is a little over rated.
“Mostly it is for seniors. It’s their last big high school event,” she said. “Senior prom is supposed to be a huge deal. I think it’s a little over-hyped. It’s just a dance to me. I really like decorating it and it’s a lot of fun to be with your friends. But people make it seem like it’s so huge and it’s really not.”
Schrock said that the McAllen Memorial High School Prom Committee plans to spend between $2,500 and $3,000 on decorating and renting the space for prom, which has a Las Vegas theme.
“Most people are spending around $400 (on prom),” said Schrock. But she said she didn’t know anyone who had their dress yet. And many people are trying to figure out who is going with whom, she said
Calo attributes the rising cost of prom to the extra elements added to prom, such as after-prom parties, hotel rooms, etc. Also, over the years, prom has become a much more extravagant event with limousines, very expensive dresses, and accessories. Now, tanning and waxing have entered the picture.
“On the whole, prom has become more expensive because teens are including more than just the prom dance in what they consider prom expenses,” said Calo. “While the prom dance is still thought of as the core of the prom experience, after-prom events and weekends are now factored in as an essential part of prom.”
George Lopez, a senior at McAllen Rowe High School, said that he is going to spend between $400 and $500 on prom, plus whatever he spends on dinner for prom night. He said that he thinks guys spend a lot more money on prom than girls do, but he said in the end it’s worth it.
“In a way, it’s tradition,” he said. “But it’s also celebrating the fact that you’re getting out of high school. It’s the big night before you graduate.”
But not every couple can or wants to spend $1,000 on prom. Jacob Duran, a student at McAllen Memorial High School, said “prom is a once in a lifetime thing and you don’t want to skip it.” But he said prom is “pretty expensive.” He said he knows people who are spending $300 to $400 on dresses alone, but he said that is not what he and his girlfriend are planning on doing. Duran said he plans on borrowing a suit or tux for the prom and his girlfriend is looking for an inexpensive but pretty dress.
“We’re not going all out (for prom),” he said. He said he plans on spending between a $100 and a $125 on prom. Included in that cost, he plans on getting a corsage for his girlfriend and photos.
Some couples though do go all out. Blanca Salazar, the owner of Norhil Bridal, said that many girls begin looking for their prom dresses in January. She said it is very important to them that they don’t appear at the prom wearing the same dress as someone else.
Schrock said she plans on spending about $250 on her dress, but she wants to make sure she is the only one wearing it on prom night.
“It’s important to me, because I’m planning to go into the fashion field. My style is a little different from other people. I wouldn’t have a fun time if my dress was the same as someone else’s. I like to be my own person and since fashion is something I like a lot I feel like my dress should express who I am,” she said.———Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.
The Cost of Tradition -- Expense, trappings of prom increasing May 18,2006 Paige Lauren Deiner Monitor Staff Writer
Cost of prom dress and shoes: $360
Cost of tuxedo and shoes: $125
Cost of limo per couple: $115
Cost of dinner for two: $50
The perfect prom night: priceless
Valley area prom goers are dishing out large sums of money to ensure that their prom is an event to remember. But spending upwards of a $1,000 on prom is becoming the norm throughout the United States. The average prom couple spent $1,170 in 2005 said Richard Calo, who studies prom trends and operates a site called http://www.thepromsite.com/. In 1965 the same couple would have spent $120.
Easton Schrock, McAllen Memorial High School junior class president, says that for some people, prom is a good reason to max out credit cards, but others feel that prom is a little over rated.
“Mostly it is for seniors. It’s their last big high school event,” she said. “Senior prom is supposed to be a huge deal. I think it’s a little over-hyped. It’s just a dance to me. I really like decorating it and it’s a lot of fun to be with your friends. But people make it seem like it’s so huge and it’s really not.”
Schrock said that the McAllen Memorial High School Prom Committee plans to spend between $2,500 and $3,000 on decorating and renting the space for prom, which has a Las Vegas theme.
“Most people are spending around $400 (on prom),” said Schrock. But she said she didn’t know anyone who had their dress yet. And many people are trying to figure out who is going with whom, she said
Calo attributes the rising cost of prom to the extra elements added to prom, such as after-prom parties, hotel rooms, etc. Also, over the years, prom has become a much more extravagant event with limousines, very expensive dresses, and accessories. Now, tanning and waxing have entered the picture.
“On the whole, prom has become more expensive because teens are including more than just the prom dance in what they consider prom expenses,” said Calo. “While the prom dance is still thought of as the core of the prom experience, after-prom events and weekends are now factored in as an essential part of prom.”
George Lopez, a senior at McAllen Rowe High School, said that he is going to spend between $400 and $500 on prom, plus whatever he spends on dinner for prom night. He said that he thinks guys spend a lot more money on prom than girls do, but he said in the end it’s worth it.
“In a way, it’s tradition,” he said. “But it’s also celebrating the fact that you’re getting out of high school. It’s the big night before you graduate.”
But not every couple can or wants to spend $1,000 on prom. Jacob Duran, a student at McAllen Memorial High School, said “prom is a once in a lifetime thing and you don’t want to skip it.” But he said prom is “pretty expensive.” He said he knows people who are spending $300 to $400 on dresses alone, but he said that is not what he and his girlfriend are planning on doing. Duran said he plans on borrowing a suit or tux for the prom and his girlfriend is looking for an inexpensive but pretty dress.
“We’re not going all out (for prom),” he said. He said he plans on spending between a $100 and a $125 on prom. Included in that cost, he plans on getting a corsage for his girlfriend and photos.
Some couples though do go all out. Blanca Salazar, the owner of Norhil Bridal, said that many girls begin looking for their prom dresses in January. She said it is very important to them that they don’t appear at the prom wearing the same dress as someone else.
Schrock said she plans on spending about $250 on her dress, but she wants to make sure she is the only one wearing it on prom night.
“It’s important to me, because I’m planning to go into the fashion field. My style is a little different from other people. I wouldn’t have a fun time if my dress was the same as someone else’s. I like to be my own person and since fashion is something I like a lot I feel like my dress should express who I am,” she said.———Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4425.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Small is Beautiful
After six years of doing my research I was pleased, I was excited, to be introduced by an attorney to the work of renowned British economist E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautitul.
Although an economist himself, Schumacher does not speak kindly of his fellow economists. He challenges scientists and technologists to design and develop machines which are:
This is the core of Working Mannequin's call to Independent Contractors and Independent Retailers in apparel networks and their KSE (see KSE post).
First, that the Independent Contractor's primary tool is the sewing machine. It is affordable. Purchase of the most expensive home sewing machine is not in excess of an individual's gross annual income.
Second, any home sewing machine is small enough to fit in the home, easily. It has the added portability feature which means that despite it being slightly bulkier than a notebook anyone with a sewing machine can travel.
Third, and perhaps a point much undervalued: The affordable, small, sewing machine allows for creativity. Creativity ought not be seen merely as the free expression on canvas by a painter or a beautifully designed quilt or apparel item. It is creativity when a person can design their day according to their family life. Where they can put in so much time on a given order or task and then breakaway to attend their child's school or athletic function.
Schumacher did not believe the mega corporation was the solution to the needs and problems of our society. There is nothing affordable, small or creative in the mega machine on the manufacturing floor where many a worker earns his/her livelihood.
It excites me to think there will be networks which will make a name for themselves for their quality, integrity and ability to deliver. The cream rises to the top, always.
The Lord he is God.
What are your thoughts?
Although an economist himself, Schumacher does not speak kindly of his fellow economists. He challenges scientists and technologists to design and develop machines which are:
- Affordable
- Small
- Creative
This is the core of Working Mannequin's call to Independent Contractors and Independent Retailers in apparel networks and their KSE (see KSE post).
First, that the Independent Contractor's primary tool is the sewing machine. It is affordable. Purchase of the most expensive home sewing machine is not in excess of an individual's gross annual income.
Second, any home sewing machine is small enough to fit in the home, easily. It has the added portability feature which means that despite it being slightly bulkier than a notebook anyone with a sewing machine can travel.
Third, and perhaps a point much undervalued: The affordable, small, sewing machine allows for creativity. Creativity ought not be seen merely as the free expression on canvas by a painter or a beautifully designed quilt or apparel item. It is creativity when a person can design their day according to their family life. Where they can put in so much time on a given order or task and then breakaway to attend their child's school or athletic function.
Schumacher did not believe the mega corporation was the solution to the needs and problems of our society. There is nothing affordable, small or creative in the mega machine on the manufacturing floor where many a worker earns his/her livelihood.
It excites me to think there will be networks which will make a name for themselves for their quality, integrity and ability to deliver. The cream rises to the top, always.
The Lord he is God.
What are your thoughts?
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