One Dress, One Computer at a Time

There are workers in several industries hit hard, one at a time, in America by the corporate practice of overseas outsourcing, incompetence and other factors. Among these is the apparel industry. Right along with apparel is the computer and IT industry, in general. Apparel holds the longer track record of the two and what transpires once these jobs leave our communities. There's one thing the computer industry and IT can learn from the apparel industry: Those jobs are not coming back.

There is opportunity, here.

Workers in the apparel and computer fields, respectively, have acquired, and in some instances, amassed a great deal of Knowledge, Skills and Experience (KSE). What many do not realize is they can utilize these KSE resources as entrepreneurs generating an income for their families. Furthermore, many mistakingly believe being self-employed or having a business of their own requires sums of money they do not have to open a shop. I would not advise either of them to leave their new jobs whether at McDonald's, Walmart or other place of employment. I will urge both to consider the potential dynamic of Independent Contractor-Networks. (IC-Networks)

The IC-Network model enables indviduals and retailers to build their businesses mutually, successfully, locally, regionally, statewide and nationwide. Apparel boutique and VAR (Value-Added Resellers) owners continue to struggle to increase sales and service revenues. The reason: If they are not sole individuals trying to do it all themselves they are small business employers who cannot afford to hire the additional workers to boost their revenues. Their business model can only carry them so far. Where major corporations will outsource; boutique and VAR owners shutdown.

The outsourcing of apparel and computer jobs overseas has left in its wake an enormous talent pool; people with the KSE to meet the needs of local boutique and VAR owners.

What is the difference between an upscale dress at Neiman-Marcus and one at a local boutique? Other then price and location: None. My point is the employee whose KSE produced the Neiman-Marcus dress on the production floor is the same person capable of producing the same for the boutique owner. Boutique owners can provide and build relationships with customers for whom corporate conventional mass production has given one option as consumers: One size fits none.

What is the difference between a name-brand computer and a whitebox / whitebook? Other than price and localtion: None. When Dell sized the whitebox market at 3 billion dollars it pretty much remained unchanged when Dell got out of it a couple years later. Who makes up that 3 billion dollar market as yet unpenetrated by the Acers, Dells, HPs and Lenovos? They are the low-income, Blacks and Hispanics who do not own a computer. They industry has moved on to pursue the current hot item: Laptops. I do not expect those who could not afford a desktop to race to their local retailer for their laptop.

No single boutique or VAR owner can rival the mega corporation's local chainstore. However, a local IC-Network can greatly increase the efficiency and productivity of their business with one dress, one computer at a time.

The IC-Network model targets other industries which lend themselves to independent contracting. The model will launch locally (in Round Rock, Texas) and expand regionally, statewide and nationwide. It represents promise and hope for our families, comuunities and country.

We welcome your comments.

Hope you will join us at that time.

Two greatly talented women

We spend years making a living using our talents as employees. We have made many an employer wealthy with their use of our wealth. That's not a complain. That's a commitment of mutual advantage called the employer/employee relationship, but I want to tell you about two great talents.

I posed the question to my friend, "What is the difference between an upscale, high-price dress at Neiman Marcus and a similar dress at an independent retail
store"? "None" I replied before she could answer. That is the Neiman Marcus dress is manufactured by an individual on the production floor. The other is manufactured by the same individual in their home as an independent contractor for his/her client, the independent retailer.

I posed this same question with my reply to my friend. She had heard me go on so many times about my business dream for creating apparel networks.

Today, she surprised me. "I used to make dresses for Neiman Marcus" she said.
"Really?" I said.
"Yeah, it was just a few of us in a small shop" she explained.
My friend had just described what I had reasoned, but never really knew for a fact. The truth is, I explained to her, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands,
of small shops like that one in Taylor Texas. The government categorizes them as "independent contractors" and they are vital to apparel manufacturers who outsource work to them.
*
I was visiting with a couple. They had left a familiar setting, lifestyle and country along with their professional careers to come to America. The living room where
we sat was filled with portraits of couples. Most of them wore the most extraordinary wedding dresses found in the best of wedding dress boutiques.
It was her husband who gave me a tour of their portrait gallery explaining, while his wife sat without comment, the wedding dresses were the creation of her hands.

She had been an executive administrative assistant for many years in her country. In America she was helping provide for their family through her custodial
job. Yet, the enormous talent and ability to design and create wedding dresses seemed as easy as boiling water. It was something she had done over the
years, not so much as a hobby and certainly not as a job, but as a favor for friends and relatives.

FOR FREE!

I will not speak of friends and family who would take such advantage. I will speak of her talent. There are many like her.

Is there not an independent apparel boutique specializing in wedding dresses who could not or would not contract such talent? How about my friend with the ability
to make dresses no differently than she made for Neiman Marcus?

Apparel networks between contractors and retailers are the creation of one vast, enormous talent pool. It is a direct model which allows retailers to market their own
label or simply Made in USA.

Don't let another year go by without the income potential of your resources; your Knowledge, Skills and Experience in apparel.

Interview: Round Rock Army Store

Carmen Montoya is one of thousands of individuals with a wealth of Knowledge, Skills and Experience in apparel making. She is owner and manager of:

Round Rock Army Store
Carmen Montoya, owner
2001 N. Mays Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 246-7033

WM Do you see yourself as a designer?

CM I've heard that term used so many different ways. I see myself primarily as one who works to create a dress or other apparel creation with the client's wishes in mind.

WM As a father of three daughters I remember hearing of their search with their friends for prom dresses. Are prom dresses a custom apparel need ICs can meet for high school girls?

CM Yes, I truly believe we can help the public, especially the young generation, on this issue.

WM What is the big need you see in apparel?

CM My sister in Laredo and I were talking just today. She's been in apparel many years too and we were talking about how there's so much apparel on the store racks out there that simply just does not fit. Recently, I was asked by a vendor to partner in a plus size apparel creation enterprise because this vendor has learned there are people whose apparel needs and wants are not going to be found in the apparel department of most stores.

WM Why do you think that is the case?

CM Quantity is more important than quality on the production floor. People are not taught the value of quality. Quantity means nothing if you have to do rework to improve your quality.

WM I've always thought you learn your process well, first, and the quantity, with quality, will follow. A manufacturer may sell quite a large amount before people catch on to their poor quality. An independent doesn't have that luxury. It's got to be quality from the beginning.

WM How many years have you been in apparel?

CM I've been in apparel over twenty years including manufacturing and custom apparel.
Some of the custom apparel I have made in the past have been costumes for kids and some adults. I went from the Power Rangers to Cinderella, Sylvester, Tweety Bird and others.
I have made some outfits for granddaughters, my husband, myself, and various customers.

WM Clearly, you have alot of experience in different aspects of apparel.

WM Have you ever worked with a group of independents?

CM I have never worked with a network or a group of independents. However, I like the idea of working with other individuals and the ideas they bring to an apparel creation. I want to see the group come together to express one idea of which we have all been a part.

Interview: City Jeans of Texas (Round Rock)

City Jeans of Texas (CJT)
Edda & Luis Rivera (owners)
105 South Mays Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-6463

WM What is unique about City Jeans of Texas?

CJT I sell up to twenty (20) different lines of quality, high-dollar jeans off-price in all
price ranges.

CJT What are IC apparel networks?

WM Independent Contractor (IC) networks are groups of people with Knowledge,
Skills, and Experience (KSE) who create apparel in their homes locally, regionally,
and nationally.

CJT What can a network do for City Jeans of Texas?

WM A network can deliver product in numbers. It can meet a particular service request from
a retailer or consumer. It can bring customers in the door. It can generate income. A
network can create a City Jeans of Texas design with the CJT label.

CJT What are my obligations to a network?

WM Retailers are under no obligation to buy from a network or to acquire membership.

CJT Where would I meet ICs to create my apparel?

WM You could meet ICs in business meetings, workshops, fashion/dinner shows, word-of-
mouth and online.

CJT Why have I not heard of apparel networks?

WM There may be some apparel networks out there of which WM is not aware. These would probably work from the traditional employer/employee model and service major retailers. However, we don't believe there are any in existence with a direct model to service Independent Apparel Retailers in local, regional and national locations that can equal the WM model.

CJT Who are the people who make up apparel networks?

WM They are designers, fabric retailers, buyers, sewing machine retailers, sewing
instructors, apparel retailers, sellers, cutters, sewers, pattern makers and more.

CJT What is a direct model?

WM It is the ability to create apparel locally for apparel retailers or consumers without
a middleman. It dispenses with "one size fits none" mass produced apparel and
and allows for a "custom service" or "customer made" service at reasonable prices.

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