Friday went by very quickly, and I loved it because I only went out once to drop off the swatch request I had made on Thursday! The rest of the time I got to stay inside! :D Emily had me doing random office work, such as printing out resumes from applicants for a patternmaker job as well as a managerial one to replace Emily. She was flustered and overwhelmed by all the calling and scheduling and rescheduling for interviews, etc. I was pleased when she went over each applicant and listed pros and cons, and why she liked one person better than another. It gave me great insight into what to do for future intervies. I also went down to the 5th floor to check on Janie and Richie's production of the garments. I also had to call various stores because Emily could not find one of their dress samples. To her great relief, I located it, at Emily's Boutique. I then filed all the past orders and made files for new clients. I organized a list of trunk show inventories and filed them too. Emily wanted me to call each store and do inventory so that she could have a neat list for each store when the new manager came in. We didn't have the time so I'll probably be doing that next week. Finally, I packed 2 dresses to ship, and the 2nd one I had to pad a size 5 mannequin to fit the measurements of the actual customer. Then I pulled the beautiful dress over the mannequin and checked the production before finally tissue-wrapping, bagging, and packing the dress. So, Friday was pretty uneventful, but at least I didn't have to walk so much! The weather outside was also so beautiful. Finally!
-la vie en rose
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Day 7
So, today Emily informed me that she had put in her 3 weeks notice. She had already been working here as manager for almost 2.5 years and she figured it was time to move on and get back to designing, which was her original dream. I will miss her greatly because she was such a great but chill person! My errands for the morning included: buying an x-acto knife from Design Partners, another black flower from Charm Creations, picking up a beading sample from Rehka, and picking up swatches at Eastern Silk and C & J textiles. Eastern Silk had all the chiffon organized in cabinets it was so neat and beautiful, as was C&J: very organized and pretty. I have learned that all the real business establishments operate upstairs in some corporate building, haha!
Upon my return, I made a swatch request form for Rhonas with the 2 swatches I had collected (the fabric of the dress they ordered was no longer produced so we were sending 2 options of available fabric currently), checked on production downstairs, and also ran inventory. I also helped make press kits this time, and using the x-acto knife carved out the center of Pesavento letterhead, placing in order this season's collection pictures behind it in a folder. I also had to run to Home Depot to pick up tiles that Jamie had ordered for the office floor. They were so unbelieveably heavy that I had to bring my rolling suitcase and the 12x12 box even almost crushed my right wheel! But it's all good because they paid for my lunch this time, and I went and got Pad See Ewe at Pongsri.
Throughout the entire day Emily was running interviews for the new managerial position. There were some girls that didn't even finish school yet, some women who were way overqualified, and another few that seemed just right. It was a great learning experience to hear Emily's questions and the various responses of each interviewee.
Off to the workroom, and more tomorrow!
-La Vie En Rose
Upon my return, I made a swatch request form for Rhonas with the 2 swatches I had collected (the fabric of the dress they ordered was no longer produced so we were sending 2 options of available fabric currently), checked on production downstairs, and also ran inventory. I also helped make press kits this time, and using the x-acto knife carved out the center of Pesavento letterhead, placing in order this season's collection pictures behind it in a folder. I also had to run to Home Depot to pick up tiles that Jamie had ordered for the office floor. They were so unbelieveably heavy that I had to bring my rolling suitcase and the 12x12 box even almost crushed my right wheel! But it's all good because they paid for my lunch this time, and I went and got Pad See Ewe at Pongsri.
Throughout the entire day Emily was running interviews for the new managerial position. There were some girls that didn't even finish school yet, some women who were way overqualified, and another few that seemed just right. It was a great learning experience to hear Emily's questions and the various responses of each interviewee.
Off to the workroom, and more tomorrow!
-La Vie En Rose
Friday, April 17, 2009
Day 6
Whew! Thursday was flustery. Friday I had a mandatory Student Ambassador training. I learned to do inventory, which is to basically check up on how much we have of everything, ranging from office supplies to boning to number of copies of this and this document. I ended up needing to buy 33 gallon garbage bags, post-its, zip-loc gallon bags, BIC mechanical pencils, tape, paper plates (Jamie was complaining he had nothing to eat off of), black and white covered boning, black tulle, muslin, black hook and eyes, about 80 copies totaling from 7 different documents, and that's all I can remember for now. I noticed they sent me to the cheapest places for the most trivial things, like the dollar store for garbage bags and paper plates, but I had to go to staples to buy the name brand post-its and mechanical pencils, because the cheap ones always came apart. I went to Steinlauf for the hook and eyes, which is known for their cheap parts (even I go there) and a place called Excel to pick up their last two bonings. The Zip-Loc I couldn't find anywhere cheap so I had to run to the last resort: Duane Reade.
Afterwards, I stopped at Rehka to pick up more beading. My next mission was to go to the Upper East Side to a consignment shop to pick up a dress and a check. The lady in there seemed to really want me to do an internship there, and said lots of high school kids interned there to learn "the real business of fashion". Upon my return, I overheard Jamie and Emily discussing the pros and cons of having a fashion show. Jamie was very upset and wishing he could put on a show, but you can't count on anything, on any press or customers as a result. He would love to put on a show, but he doesn't have the funds, he can't expect anything in return, and stores never pay. Even today, the Rehka beading called to say the price for the beading they have requested every month for $30 is now randomly $45. Though Emily tried to argue, she settled for $40, and even Jamie admitted, after she hung up, that they get the beading done what they want, when they want, and if just said "goodbye" they would be screwed. They had no choice but to comply. This reminded me of a chapter in a book I recently finished (The Fashion Designer Survival Guide) about how as a small business stores and people just won't pay! It definetely scares and shocks me how hard it is to secure payment, even after dealing with discrepancies throughout the production process.
Another example was my last assignment for the day: go with the other intern, Dena, to Lining Club to pick up 32 yds of black acetate, 18 yds of pewter acetate, and 5 yds of navy acetate. The guy tried very hard to sell us the pewter for 30 yds, because he complained that he could not sell the leftover 12 yds to anyone, he is a wholesaler, not retail! However we only needed 18 yds, and since we do it dress-by-dress we have no chance but to order by order. We agreed on 20 yds even and he never stopped mumbling about he should never do this. From his point of view, I can definetely see how working in a cramped room selling random yardages to one company would break him down. The owner also wanted me to ask FIT if he could advertise his company for students to come buy muslin and lining, but they are a wholesale company! Why would they sell such small quantities? He said I was lucky to have a job, since no one hires anymore. It really is difficult times, and no one has any money to spare. In the end, it's all about bargaining so that both parties don't lose too much.
-la vie en rose
Afterwards, I stopped at Rehka to pick up more beading. My next mission was to go to the Upper East Side to a consignment shop to pick up a dress and a check. The lady in there seemed to really want me to do an internship there, and said lots of high school kids interned there to learn "the real business of fashion". Upon my return, I overheard Jamie and Emily discussing the pros and cons of having a fashion show. Jamie was very upset and wishing he could put on a show, but you can't count on anything, on any press or customers as a result. He would love to put on a show, but he doesn't have the funds, he can't expect anything in return, and stores never pay. Even today, the Rehka beading called to say the price for the beading they have requested every month for $30 is now randomly $45. Though Emily tried to argue, she settled for $40, and even Jamie admitted, after she hung up, that they get the beading done what they want, when they want, and if just said "goodbye" they would be screwed. They had no choice but to comply. This reminded me of a chapter in a book I recently finished (The Fashion Designer Survival Guide) about how as a small business stores and people just won't pay! It definetely scares and shocks me how hard it is to secure payment, even after dealing with discrepancies throughout the production process.
Another example was my last assignment for the day: go with the other intern, Dena, to Lining Club to pick up 32 yds of black acetate, 18 yds of pewter acetate, and 5 yds of navy acetate. The guy tried very hard to sell us the pewter for 30 yds, because he complained that he could not sell the leftover 12 yds to anyone, he is a wholesaler, not retail! However we only needed 18 yds, and since we do it dress-by-dress we have no chance but to order by order. We agreed on 20 yds even and he never stopped mumbling about he should never do this. From his point of view, I can definetely see how working in a cramped room selling random yardages to one company would break him down. The owner also wanted me to ask FIT if he could advertise his company for students to come buy muslin and lining, but they are a wholesale company! Why would they sell such small quantities? He said I was lucky to have a job, since no one hires anymore. It really is difficult times, and no one has any money to spare. In the end, it's all about bargaining so that both parties don't lose too much.
-la vie en rose
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Day 4 & 5
This week was not very eventful, I must say. On Thursday Emily had me pack up 5 dresses to ship, and then run errands to pick up lining at Guide Fabrics, beading at Rehka Beading, and buy more flowers from Lasting Art. I also spent time printing out various resumes in emails that had replied to Pesavento's new ad for finding a freelance patternmaker. I took a quick peek through all the 4 different resumes and saw a range of expertise and education. While a couple applicants had very impressive resumes with 25 years of experience both in China and America, another one included only a few years of experience at some place called "DJ Fashion". The way they worded their cover letters also revealed that some had forgotten to spell check! I listened to Emily and Jamie as they perused over which applicants to interview and which resumes to throw out. I learned that experience really is everything.
On Friday, Emily had me send swatches out to Hartly's, a store in PA, I believe. The girl who had purchased a dress was asking for a swatch of the gown fabric so that she could go and find matching shoes and bag. I cut out two swatches for two sheets, one to be sent out and one to be kept in our records. I named the fabric manufacturer, color, style, and price. Then I found Hartly's address in Pesavento's master list of patrons, copied it down, added a stamp, and stuck it in their "to-go" mailbox. Then Emily sent me to Rehka Beading again, this time to drop off 1 yd of tulle to be beaded. Upon my return, Emily did not know what else she needed help with. I ambled around for 1/2 hour before the long lightbulbs burnt out and Jamie sent me across the street to buy 2 (they were taller than I!). Thank god the store was only across the street, I was so afraid of cracking the light bulbs! Finally, Jamie gave me one last assignment, and boy was it nerve-wracking! He pulled out a few magazine clippings with names and faces of the top senior vice presidents and fashion directors of various department stores, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, etc. He then asked me to make a chart of their name, title, address, phone, and email, by "gathering information". That was all he said and since these people are high profile I was not sure how to call and ask. Emily suggested I pretend that X Director had sent us an invite to show our pieces for the Fall 2009 collection and could I get a contact number. Dumbfounded, I nervously called X Dept Store first, sure that they were going to find out I was lying and cause me extreme embarrassment. However, nothing of the sort occured. I was first hooked up to the customer service lady, who put me on a 3-way connection with corporate. The lady was very nice and asked if I needed the showroom's phone number. Then I politely said "actually, we were looking for _________"? And the lady immediately said "Ohhhhh ____! He's not in NY right now you see, but hang on, let me get his cell, would that be okay"? Totally amazed, I replied that that would be great, and just like that I was able to get his number. Then it was 1:30 pm and I had to go to class, but I left with a sense of accomplishment that I could in fact follow thru with this tricky business. Even Emily was suprised that her idea had actually worked!
Next week Emily let me have the week off since it was spring break and I asked for some extra time to catch up on sleep and schoolwork. Check back 4/16 for new experiences!
-la vie en rose
On Friday, Emily had me send swatches out to Hartly's, a store in PA, I believe. The girl who had purchased a dress was asking for a swatch of the gown fabric so that she could go and find matching shoes and bag. I cut out two swatches for two sheets, one to be sent out and one to be kept in our records. I named the fabric manufacturer, color, style, and price. Then I found Hartly's address in Pesavento's master list of patrons, copied it down, added a stamp, and stuck it in their "to-go" mailbox. Then Emily sent me to Rehka Beading again, this time to drop off 1 yd of tulle to be beaded. Upon my return, Emily did not know what else she needed help with. I ambled around for 1/2 hour before the long lightbulbs burnt out and Jamie sent me across the street to buy 2 (they were taller than I!). Thank god the store was only across the street, I was so afraid of cracking the light bulbs! Finally, Jamie gave me one last assignment, and boy was it nerve-wracking! He pulled out a few magazine clippings with names and faces of the top senior vice presidents and fashion directors of various department stores, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York, etc. He then asked me to make a chart of their name, title, address, phone, and email, by "gathering information". That was all he said and since these people are high profile I was not sure how to call and ask. Emily suggested I pretend that X Director had sent us an invite to show our pieces for the Fall 2009 collection and could I get a contact number. Dumbfounded, I nervously called X Dept Store first, sure that they were going to find out I was lying and cause me extreme embarrassment. However, nothing of the sort occured. I was first hooked up to the customer service lady, who put me on a 3-way connection with corporate. The lady was very nice and asked if I needed the showroom's phone number. Then I politely said "actually, we were looking for _________"? And the lady immediately said "Ohhhhh ____! He's not in NY right now you see, but hang on, let me get his cell, would that be okay"? Totally amazed, I replied that that would be great, and just like that I was able to get his number. Then it was 1:30 pm and I had to go to class, but I left with a sense of accomplishment that I could in fact follow thru with this tricky business. Even Emily was suprised that her idea had actually worked!
Next week Emily let me have the week off since it was spring break and I asked for some extra time to catch up on sleep and schoolwork. Check back 4/16 for new experiences!
-la vie en rose
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