Senior Co-Op Update

by Audrey Ong

Things seemed to pick up in terms of requests, though it was quiet at times. I basically spent my week requesting items for the Marketing department since they needed most of their samples back for an upcoming event. I continued handling requests and tracking press credits in the PR department as well as organizing our back closets with the other interns. We were allowed to take a few items from old seasons, which was a nice treat. Overall, this week was a normal routine but things are definitely going to get busy soon!

' NikkieTutorials ' and Spring Makeup

by Samantha Berkowitz

Dreaming of a colorful pop on your eyes for this upcoming spring? Well then be sure to check this video out! NikkieTutorials is a beauty channel on Youtube, one of the trillion beauty channels you are sure to find. However, instead of typical “smokey eye” or “everyday makeup look” tutorials, Nikkie shows viewers real interesting tips and advice to achieve unique makeup looks. This particular video intrigued me because who would have thought that you can create your own mascara colors, and in colors such as blue, yellow and even orange? Though this isn’t a look most people would wear from day to day, it’s fun to watch and even try for a night out. Videos such as this one truly encourage me to explore my makeup, and strive to be outside the box.

Senior Co-Op Update

by Audrey Ong

Things have slowed down a bit this week. Requests still do come in, but not as crazily as before. This is definitely the calm before the storm, since things around the office are about to get busier. There will be a couple of events in April, though they are currently confidential.

My main focus this week was preparing travel plans for the PR director, who’s going on a business trip this weekend. I helped organize the itinerary – included directions, phone numbers, addresses, alternate dining options, and made reservations. It was a nice change from the normal routine and definitely kept me occupied through this slow week.

We’re still training the new intern, and it’s nice not being the “new” one anymore. She’s been mostly shadowing me and the other intern, but she is slowly getting her own responsibilities.

On a side note, I finally purchased my own dayglow necklace in surf green that I’ve been coveting over in the office. This was one of the necklaces that were featured on the Today show (in my last post).

Cupcake Crawl -- Notable NYC Cupcake Bakeries

By Elaina Price

I have found from personal experience that people tend to be partial to one bakery’s cupcakes over another, and I have yet to make a conclusion about where my allegiance will ultimately lie. That is why I have made it my mission to sample the most popular cupcakes from each of the most popular cupcake bakeries in NYC. This way, I can find my favorite and provide you with a foolproof guide to NYC’s best cupcakes. Let the battle begin! (These are in Alphabetical order and don’t correlate to their ranking).

Babycakes
248 Broome Street
Between Orchard & Ludlow

Babycakes is not like most other cupcake bakeries in NYC, they sell cupcakes that are either gluten free or are vegan. I could definitely tell that the spelt cupcake I had was vegan, and not in a good way. While the carrot cake spelt cupcake I sampled looked adorable (with a little purple flower piped onto the icing), it definitely wasn’t the best cupcake I have ever had. Neither the icing nor the cake were very sweet, which made the cupcake blander than I was expecting. The cake was also quite dense and dry, which made it harder to eat. The flavor of the carrot cake however had a nice, subtle cinnamon flavor that I enjoyed. I think perhaps their gluten free or their other spelt cupcake flavors are better, but I don’t suggest getting the carrot cake flavor. I hope to eventually make it back there to try another flavor just to make sure that I perhaps didn’t get a bad batch. I am hoping this is the case, because I really want to like this place!

Final Thoughts: Great concept, and the cupcakes are great for people with dietary restrictions that still want a tasty treat now and then.

Baked By Melissa
109 East 42nd Street (Between Park and Lexington Avenues)
7 East 14th Street (Between 5th Avenue and Broadway)
529 Broadway (and Spring Street)
526 7th Avenue (Between 38th and 39th Streets)

Baked by Melissa may just have the cutest cupcakes on earth! They are bite size and artfully decorated, which makes them almost too good to eat (emphasize almost). Of their seemingly endless number of flavors, I selected two because the price is fairly high on these little guys. I tried red velvet and the cookies and cream, which were both pretty decent, however it was their cuteness that ultimately won me over. I would definitely pick up some of these as a gift or as a little treat hear or there because they are truly bite sized.

Final Thoughts: Adorable cupcakes, that are truly a tasty mini work of art. Definitely buy a few at a time so you get to try as many flavors as possible!

Billy’s
184 Ninth Avenue (Between 21st and 22nd Streets)
75 Franklin Street
268 Elizabeth Street

Billy’s Bakery is one of the few cupcake places I tried that doesn’t just serve cupcakes. They have a variety of other deserts that I would love to try, but with the purpose of the cupcake guide I had to stick to my original mission. Overall I would say that the cupcake was decent, but not spectacular. I like most of their other customers, got the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. I like the chocolately flavor of both the icing and the cake, but unfortunately the cake was a little dry for my taste. I think perhaps it was the time I day I went and got the cupcake, because most reviews say the cake is very moist. I am hoping in this instance that I just went at the wrong time of day.

Final Thoughts: I will definitely go back to Billy’s again to find out once and for all if the cupcakes are or are not dry. They look so good that I might just eat them anyway.

Butter Lane Cupcakes
123 East 7th Street (Between 1st and Avenue A)

Butter Lane holds a place near and dear to my heart because it is located in the neighborhood of Manhattan in which I reside. It is a really cute, bright little shop that has some of the best cupcakes in the city. First off they have some really interesting icing flavors including sea salt chocolate and popcorn. I tried a banana cake with sea salt frosting and a banana cake with maple pecan frosting. Both were super moist, and had just the right balance of frosting to cake. You just got a hint of the banana flavor from the cake, and I wish I had tasted more, but overall I really enjoyed it.
Final Thoughts: Butter Lane has great fluffy, moist cupcakes that come in interesting flavors that will definitely not disappoint. Make sure to check it out!
Buttercup Bakeshop
973 2nd avenue (Between 51st and 52nd Streets)

Buttercup Bakery is a cute and inviting bakery that sells a variety of baked goods, in addition to their noteworthy cupcakes. I tried the red velvet cupcake, which is one of their top selling flavors. The cake was nice and fluffy, but the icing is what really put it over the top. Instead of the typical buttercream frosting, the red velvet cupcakes are topped with delicious cream cheese frosting. The frosting had a great flavor, and the texture was a perfect complement to the fluffy cake. I will definitely be coming here again just for the red velvet!

Final Thoughts: This bakery is in a great location for us LIM College students, and has one of the best red velvet cupcakes in the city. Make sure to check it out if this is one of your go to flavors.

Crumbs
43 West 42nd Street (Between 5th and 6th Avenues)
420 Lexington Avenue (Between 52nd and 53rd Streets)
1379 3rd Avenue (Between 78th and 79th Streets) (and many more!)

Crumbs, which is regarded as one of the largest cupcake bakery chains in NYC has multiple locations all over the city. I have been to several of their locations, but I frequent the one on Lexington between 44th and 45th the most because they have places to sit down and enjoy your cupcake if you aren’t in a rush. Crumbs cupcakes have many things going for them; they have a great variety, the are quite large, and they are made fresh each morning. The cupcakes at crumbs are very sweet though, sometimes too much so, so if your sweet tooth only goes so far, I would look for another bakery. I have had so many of the flavors here, but my favorite is definitely the half-baked (I mean who doesn’t like cookie dough?). Since the cupcakes here are so big though, I often take half of it to go, which actually makes them a great deal because you are getting two for the price of one.

Final Thoughts: Crumbs is a great cupcake bakery for those who like very sweet cupcakes, and like lots of interesting toppings and flavors. They are really big though, so it would be best to save half for later!

Magnolia Bakery
401 Bleeker Street (and West 11th Street)
1000 Third Avenue (Between 59th and 60th Streets)
200 Columbus Avenue (and West 69th Street)
Grand Central Terminal (Lower level dinning concourse)
1240 Avenue of the Americas (and West 49th Street)

It is clear to me that Magnolia Bakery has a cult-like following. I have seen tourists and New Yorkers alike standing in long lines snaking around the block. Right off the bat, Magnolia’s sets the stage for a great cupcake eating experience. Their décor is slightly shabby chic and retro which only ads to the cupcakes more homemade feel. They continuously provide fresh cupcakes throughout the day by baking several new batches throughout the day. Trust me; you will not get a stale cupcake, even at the end of the day. I tried both their s ’mores and chocolate truffle flavors, and both were good. I did however feel that the cake was more dense than fluffy, but it comes down to personal preference. The frosting is where Magnolia shines however, because it is not overly sweet and ads the extra much-needed flavor to the cupcake.

Final Thoughts: Magnolia Bakery is for those who love a homemade cupcake taste, and who aren’t afraid to battle the long lines and crowds. You definitely have to try it at least once to see for yourself what all the hype is about.

Sprinkles
780 Lexington Avenue (Between 60th and 61st Streets)

Sprinkles was and is still, a west coast sensation that made its way to the big apple, and for that I am thankful. Sprinkles is a chic cupcake bakery that manages to produce stylish cupcakes that still taste great. This makes them a go to parties or other important events. I sampled both the salted caramel and the chocolate marshmallow, at the suggestion of one of the employees. Overall they were good, but I wasn’t blown away. The salted caramel was a little too salty, but the sweetness of the caramel icing underneath made it manageable. The cake itself was a little denser than I like, but overall it was a decent cupcake. The chocolate marshmallow was fairly bland, and unfortunately neither the chocolate flavor nor the marshmallow filling left much of a lasting impression.

Final Thoughts: When it comes to sprinkles I would definitely purchase their cupcakes for their appearance, especially if I was throwing a fancy party. On taste alone though, I would go somewhere else.

Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington Street (Between Essex and Norfolk Streets)

Sugar Sweet Sunshine is a great little cupcake bakery that turns on the charm. From the bright yellow and orange walls, to the colorful sprinkles on each cupcake, Sugar Sweet Sunshine wants you to feel happier. They have all of your typical flavors such as vanilla and chocolate, but I went with the more interesting flavor of strawberry and cream cheese. I don’t know what it is about that combination, but it was absolutely perfect. The flavor of the cake was subtle, but not overpowering, and the icing was creamy with just a hint of cream cheese flavor. The cupcakes here are super moist and fluffy, and their flavors are subtle, but still noticeable. The cupcakes here are also some of the most affordable I found in the city, costing only $1.75 for an average sized cupcake.

Final Thoughts: Everything about Sugar Sweet Sunshine is bright, colorful, and delicious, just as their name suggests. They have the most affordable cupcakes that I know of in the city, which makes them even sweeter.

Two Little Red Hens
1652 2nd Ave (Between 85th and 86th Streets)

While Two Little Red Hens is not the bakery most people think of when they hear the word cupcake, but it definitely should be. In fact, I have to say that Two Little Red Hens may just sell the tastiest cupcakes in Manhattan, and as most of you know that is quite a feat. I sampled both the Brooklyn Blackout and the Key Lime Pie, and I only need one word to describe them…delicious! The Key Lime Pie was chilled and tasted just like a key lime pie should, sweet and tangy at the same time. It provided a truly refreshing experience. The Brooklyn Blackout is for those of you who can’t get enough chocolate. The chocolate flavor could be found everywhere, and its richness could not be ignored. Both of the cupcakes that I sampled were very fluffy and moist, which are two characteristics that I find to be completely necessary in a cupcake.

Final Thoughts: By far the best cupcake bakery in Manhattan (at least in my opinion). Don’t be too chicken to stop here, I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Senior Co-Op Update

by Audrey Ong

This week, my supervisor was out of the office for a few days. My daily activities remained about the same, but I did feel as if I had somewhat more responsibility than usual. I guess you can say I had a bit more freedom - not that I’m complaining about how I feel the rest of the time. Everyone is warm and friendly, and it definitely is a nice working environment. 

 

Other than that, I’m feeling more settled at my internship. I’m getting used to certain procedures and knowing who to contact for specific situations. The other public relations intern and I have moved all of the winter samples from the closet and replaced them with our summer ones. It’s nice finally being familiar with all of the seasons’ samples – it makes checking in and pulling magazines’ requests a lot easier!

The Joy of Retail

by Alexis Michaelides

In my previous post, I said that the worlds of sports and fashion are not mutually exclusive. That is because both realms are part of retailing.

Last month I attended the National Retail Federation’s 101st Annual Convention & Expo, otherwise known as Retail’s BIG Show. The National Retail Federation (NRF) is the world’s largest retail trade association, and the BIG show is its biggest event.

Over its four days, the event attracts some of the most prominent names in retail (both corporations and executives) and is a great opportunity for networking and education, whether you’re a college student or an industry veteran.

One of the most interesting facts that I learned that week was that one of four jobs in America is directly affected by retail. According to the NRF, anyone whose job involves a consumer product relies on retail for their livelihood—everyone from designers to factory workers to truck drivers who deliver goods to the salespeople who offer the products to consumers. Overall, retail supports nearly 42 million jobs in the United States, and the retail sector is the single-largest contributor to our nation’s economy. Not surprisingly, retail is a significant indicator of the health of the economy as measured in crucial areas such as job growth and consumer spending.

To many of us, working retail has never seemed glamorous. Most, if not all of us, have worked long, tiring hours on a sales floor thanks to Work Project 1. In four years at LIM College, I can’t say that I’ve heard many classmates say that their post-graduation plans included working retail.

But although we may not say so, given that we are all fashion merchandising, visual merchandising, marketing, and management majors, nearly all of us will be employed by the retail industry whether we’re working in apparel, sporting goods, automobiles, or food.

Careers in retail are not truly limiting; in fact, career opportunities in retail are as diverse as the industry itself. Here are parts of the retail industry that are not always on everyone’s radar, and what the NRF has to say about them:


Marketing/Advertising: Be creative and strategic in developing plans for ads, social-networking, and everything related that world.

Store Operations: Oversee operations and profits in a single company across a district or region

Loss Prevention: Use your eye for detail to safeguard company assets

Store Management: Use your people skills and business savvy

Finance: Be at the center of any company’s decision-making and plans as well as its operations.
Develop the maximum of transferable skills that will be useful in any industry.

Human Resources: Recruit, hire, and train

IT and eCommerce: Support business as ever-changing technology pushes it forward

Sales and Sales-Related: Communicate product offerings and interact with the consumer
Distribution, Logistics, Supply Chain Management: Manage movement of product worldwide

Merchandise Buying/Planning: Develop and/or source product, plan sales, and drive profitability

Entrepreneurship: Call the shots. Single, independent, and privately-owned retail businesses account for 95% of the retail industry.

The word retail may make the selling-floor come to mind, but the industry goes far beyond that to offer many other well-paying and enjoyable jobs.

For additional perspectives on retail careers, check out: Go Retail!

If you’d like to get more involved in retail as a student, as I have, join LIM College’s Student Association of the National Retail Federation. Contact Professor Marla Greene at mgreene@limcollege.edu for more information.

Senior Co-Op Update

by Audrey Ong

This semester, I have been interning in the Public Relations department at Ann Taylor for my Senior Co-Op. Working full time, I hope to have a lot of hands-on projects and responsibilities as well as to develop greater insight into the public relations field more generally.

For the first couple of weeks, I was handed basic “normal intern” tasks, such as organizing the showroom, filing papers into folders and binders, and sample trafficking. Knowing my position in the workplace, such duties were expected, but I was eager to handle bigger projects.

Gradually, I was given such tasks. I learned how to track press (print/online/broadcast) credits through a program called Cision in addition to Ann Taylor’s particular way of creating a Press Report. At first, I was working on archiving past months’ press credits and reports. But I impressed my supervisors with how efficiently and quickly I could complete them,  and was given the opportunity to handle the responsibility for creating them for the current months. 

 

Recently, Ann Taylor announced Kate Hudson as the new face of the company. It was exciting getting to see such a big announcement ripple through the media and hear such strong feedback.

 

Another exciting event that occurred this month was our Summer 2012 Press Preview Presentation. Working alongside only one other PR intern, we assisted the department in the whole set up – shopping for candles/frames, dressing mannequins, steaming clothes, etc. The day of the event, I handled checking in editors/bloggers as well as escorting top editors from the lobby to the showroom. I enjoyed being so involved with the event and watching it happen from set up to break down. My supervisors also allowed me to take some photos for a post for my personal blog, Audrey Allure, and they were all quite happy to see such positive feedback from my followers.

Life Lessons NYC

by Samantha Jo-Rocco

As if I am comforting myself, I rub the chill out of my body and turn over on my side. The toss of my body causes my hair to slightly brush my nose, revealing the ungodly stench of cigarettes and my new Dolce & Gabbana perfume. My skin is musky. My conscience turns against me. I close my eyes and listen carefully to the rain battling the pavement. On this morning, I am able to relate to the rain; although it is polluted, it manages to wash away the sin of New York City. How contradicting this rain is. My newfound morals, they reveal the same contradiction -- seemingly pure with an appearance of doing all that is right. The irony of this city it that you can protest war and hate by day, and transform into these daemons by night. You can move in your new apartment clear-minded and goal-oriented, and quickly change paths to something less positive. Do I truly understand myself enough to survive in this city, the city that will eat you alive if you do not have a clear understanding of your self-worth and goals? It is hard to imagine that I know myself at all. My original naive ways gravitated towards the title of “socially unacceptable,” and my path changed as did my morals. New York City has taken me without my consent, but reminds me constantly that even the polluted rain makes the flowers beautiful.

Student Style

by Madison Manning

“Sweatpants are a sign of defeat”

-Karl Lagerfeld

As is well known throughout our school, each day is a fashion show and a chance to exhibit your inner style. So leave the sweatpants at home and take some inspiration from these styled students. The two girls below exhibit unique looks while remaining comfy on these not-so-cute winter days.

I love her take on the classic preppy look! The un-tucked undershirt and layered socks give her look some edge while the black skirt and blazer keep it polished.

This eclectic mix of accessories continues the blend of prep and edge.

This next fashionista exhibits a darker style, embodying rock n roll and dark glamour. The deep red valor leggings and the black boots remind me of the rock bands from the 60’s such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Doors.

Add a rosary and some heavy metal rings, and her dark glamour-meets-rock-n'-roll look is complete!

Senior Co-Op at the World’s Most Famous Arena

Some people need no introduction. I think the same goes for some places, and Madison Square Garden is one of them, because it has earned the tagline “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

I feel a smile spread across my face when I tell people that I am an intern for the Madison Square Garden Company, and that I’m supporting one of my favorite teams, the New York Rangers. An equally wide smile usually appears on the faces of those I tell. Then I get asked two questions:

“That’s awesome! I want to go to [insert name of any live sporting event or concert here.] Can you get me tickets?!”

The inevitable ticket question was funny the first time my mom asked it. Sadly, I have no tickets for you.

Then they ask:

“But I thought you wanted to go into fashion? Why aren’t you in fashion?"

I got tired of this question even quicker than the first. Just because I’ll watch an awards show only to see what everyone is wearing, or that I have a closet that will metaphorically burst if my sister or I attempt to put another pair of shoes in it doesn’t mean that I only live and breathe fashion. I do not need to be immersed in fashion 24/7.

More importantly, sports and fashion do not operate mutually exclusively. Everybody has to get dressed, right? Many athletes have expensive and stylish tastes. Look at David Beckham, or a personal favorite of mine (and of legendary photographer Bruce Weber), New York Rangers’ goalie, Henrik Lundqvist pictured left. The man is always in a slim-cut suit, and some of his favorite brands are Dior, Hugo Boss, and Tiger of Sweden! Who says athletes don’t have style?

Of course, I won’t be spending my days at Madison Square Garden styling the men on the court or the ice. However, I will be dressing some other important people – the fans. For the next few months, I’ll be joining MSG’s Merchandising and Licensing department, which is responsible for buying and merchandising all of the apparel and novelty items in the team stores at the arena (as well as the store at Radio City Music Hall). I’ll be working with the buyers and brand managers in the department to ensure that the fans have a great assortment of products to choose from and show their team pride.

Until next week, Let’s Go Rangers! Let’s Go Knicks!

Vente-Privee & American Express Bring Luxury to E-Commerce

Vente-Privee Makes Its US Entry with American Express

By Natalia Ignaczak

Founded in France in 2001, Vente-Privee is the largest flash sales site in all of Europe. The firm currently boasts about 13 million members and over $1B in annual revenue from its European market. It is currently France’s fifth favorite brand and was the second most visited website in France in 2010. This massive platform has caught the attention of companies like Amazon and eBay hoping to acquire this valuable asset, but it was with American Express that the firm entered the American market on Nov. 9, 2011.

Vente-Privee and American Express agreed that each company would maintain 50 percent of the US entity. This will be the first non-European stride in expansion for Vente-Privee.com, thus reinforcing its strategy in international development, and further wets the feet of AmEx’s standing in the online flash sales business. Vente-Privee will contribute its understanding of consumer desires paired with spotless customer service and logistics while American Express will provide the firm with its 40+ million member database along with detailed comprehension of the North American market.

This jointly advantageous partnership brings together two companies who focus on retail opportunities benefiting both the retailer and consumer. This will be a great step for both companies regardless of the saturated flash sales sector of e-commerce in America because although there is significant competition, the quality of product will shine through and sustain the business. American Express stands for quality whether that means US Open tickets or an overstock in stilettos, and cardholders know this. For that reason, members will at least glance at the site when it launches and definitely keep it in mind for future needs. I am excited to explore the offerings and will appreciate a European touch to luxury e-commerce.

Behind the Seams: Licensing & the American Fashion Industry

by Caroline Thompson

Would you be willing to spend four times the current price for your every day purchases? Despite being used to the high prices of Manhattan, most would resoundingly say “No!” without a second thought. Yes, New York City is already expensive enough. But without licensing, sourcing, and offshore manufacturing a quadrupled price tag would be featured on store shelves. Moreover, Consumers must be forced to ask themselves, at what cost do these less expensive products and services reach the shelves?

New York City is home to millions of people who work in various industries, live in different boroughs, and spend leisure time in different ways. Despite those differences, one thing New Yorkers often have in common is putting themselves and their city at the center of the world. That self-centered outlook undoubtedly extends to the fashion industry.

The Garment District of Manhattan extends from 34^th to 40^th Street between Broadway and Ninth Avenue. In 1995, that small area was home to over 16,000 manufacturing jobs. Today there are only 9,000 jobs there. Manufacturing is not the only sector of the industry whose employees are diminishing: wholesale and design jobs were also lost. The migration of the industry online, and the moving of jobs overseas are the main factors that opened the eyes of New York fashion employers, and forced them to widen their view Manhattan-centric geographical view.

Fashion has always been about appearances, which has ironically blinded a part of its vision of about keeping up the appearance of a healthy domestic industry. But the blindness to the downside of outsourcing and making price the crucial factor in business is not confined to fashion: electronics, accessories, and footwear are also often outsourced and manufactured abroad. Yet whatever the industry or brand, licensing to sub-par secondary sources of products, or the use of child labor, can tarnish a company. Therefore, brands keep licensing and manufacturing practices as quiet as possible. Couture designers, in addition to others, license their names and brands to various apparel lines, accessories, beauty products, and even home décor companies. The goal is to extend the brand, but often with a hands-off approach that reaps profits and brand exposure, but avoids the hefty time, effort and expense of a solid investment of money and monitoring procedures.

Fashion licensing is made to be invisible to the consumer by companies and designers. If invisible, retailers can charge prices equivalent to that of the designer’s other products. Couture designers may embrace a hands-on approach to the quality of haute couture items but leave alone the quality of their mass-market perfumes have never been touched. Sometimes entire high-end brands are mass produced and licensed to third parties, providing designers with unearned profit. Yet licensing does not have to been done so negatively either domestically and abroad. Responsible oversight of licensed partners can be achieved. Unionized companies and those with production in the United States can use fair-labor practices, and the employees, economy, and companies can all remain competitive, if not as profitable as they would be if they cut corners.

Consumers’ perceptions of offshore production can also sometimes be unfair. China’s late development as an industrial powerhouse has led to well-reported lapses in product safety and quality. However, China has been making progress on both fronts, and headlines about child labor, low wages, and contaminants in the manufacturing process can be deceptive. Moreover, workers within developing countries may be receiving the equivalent of our minimum wage within their country, excited to be employed at all, or happy to have businesses growing in their country.

Chinese production does not necessarily mean the product will be of poor quality. Yet in cases where that is so, more than one party is responsible. Americans seeking the lowest possible price provide an incentive for offshore manufacturers to skimp on materials and pay low wages. If that situation is to be reversed, that task is enormous. According to the Ethical Fashion Forum, “More than a quarter of the world’s production of clothing and textiles is in China, which has a fast growing internal market and the largest share of world trade.”

It is unlikely that American manufacture of apparel will rebound to compete effectively with such a market share, and perhaps the best that can be done is to encourage the highest craftsmanship and ethical standards for Chinese-made goods in our consumer choices (and to support U.S. government policy that is fair to our workers here and insists on fair trade agreements). The decline of New York’s Garment District is an opportunity for U.S. consumers to widen their outlook on global business not just to fully branded companies but to the secondary licensing and other agreements those companies practice. Consumers need to look deeply into the truth behind their favorite brands.

eBay's Fashion-Forward New Strategy

Designer Deals to be had 24/7 via Ebay.com

By Natalia Ignaczak

Forget the inevitable schlep to far away outlets come this holiday season. eBay has launched a new discount outlet channel for popular retailers. This shift in strategy from auction sales to traditional retail comes at a turning point in the firms’ business. Once doing most of its business through independent auctions, $9.7B is now done in fashion sales dominating the company’s annual revenue. Since 2008, 60% of users have opted for a fixed price purchase over bidding and nearly three quarters of customers are opting for entirely new merchandise and is being introduced under the eBay Fashions imprint. Fashion Outlet is entirely separate from eBay’s flash sale site Fashion Vault. eBay Fashion Outlet is what they are introducing, under the eBay Fashions imprint.

In addition, the opportunity lends itself to high-end retailers in that each brand maintains its image exactly as it wants on its page assuring that new customers with less discretionary income are not confused with mixed messages of luxury vs. cheapened merchandise. Furthermore, the majority of merchandise is not time or seasonally sensitive meaning no one will know which Spanx are last season’s or what Brooks Brothers tie was from fall or winter.

To date, over 200 brands have affiliated themselves with the site. Factory stores online at the Fashion Outlet include Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Fila, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Reed’s Jewelers and Tommy Hilfiger. Shoes are represented by Donald J. Pliner, Frye, Stuart Weitzman and many other favorites. The apparel sector is likely the most inclusive featuring a variety of designers from BCBG Max Azria, Elie Tahari, Elizabeth and James, and several department store veterans. Likewise, men are not forgotten either. The site includes Seven For All Mankind, Emporio Armani, and Hickey Freeman, among others. Some items are made exclusively for the outlet, just as in brick and mortar outlets, but the majority of merchandise was at one point sold for its full retail value.

eBay Fashions is making strides in becoming a destination for the astute online shopper. By employing the growing “pressure-to-buy” strategy, site users recognize the opportunities at hand and act upon them in a timely manner. The format presented is also simple to navigate and appealing to each brand. Operating costs are far less and online retailing is not affected by inclement weather or the time of day. In addition, each retailer can maintain their desired image with ease and show their entire inventory clearly. As an added bonus, site users can see clearly the original price, current price, and savings in dollars and percent. On the toolbar of each window, users can indicate selections my garment type, color, size and brand further simplifying navigation. All of these combined elements create a winning formula for the soon to be powerhouse of Internet discount shopping.