Friday 30 August 2013

70's a good decade to start a business

So I have hit a common thread with my last few topics and that thread is the 70's
 

1973, 1975 and 1978 all years great brand started.
• 1973 Pepe jeans
• 1975 Zara
• 1978 UGG Australia 
So what was hot back then lets take a look! 








And so much more, my next brand is much older watch this space for more 

Thursday 29 August 2013

Zara


  • Zara is owned by Inditex SA, which is second only to Gap in worldwide sales

  • Despite the fact that consumerism is dropping, Zara is expanding their operation by making their manufacturing, distribution, and in-store strategies more efficient

  • New collections are brought into the stores twice a week, and because there aren’t many of each item, it makes them seem “exclusive” unlike H&M that mass produces each item

  • Each collection often sells out

  • Zara is setting an industry standard for expansion and efficiency even with major labels (Gucci, LV, etc) that now ship in new designs quicker 

  • At the headquarters in Spain, sales of each piece are monitored, designers create new things according to the sales, and window displays are created on a mock storefront that is on a life-size street

  • The first Zara store opened in 1975 in La Coruña, a port town near Arteixo in a remote corner of northern Spain. Its two key traits were an eye for customer tastes and a production process that started with the final price and worked backward to the most-efficient production. In the mid-'80s, local business-school professor José Maria Castellano, a technophile, joined Inditex as right-hand man to founder Amancio Ortega Gaona, and the company became a world-class logistical outfit, peddling "fast fashion." The first foreign store, in Portugal, opened in 1989, followed by New York. In 2001, Mr. Ortega took Inditex public and its stores are now on prime shopping streets around the world.

  • At "the Cube," as employees call their futuristic-looking headquarters outside La Coruña, sales managers sit at a long row of computers, monitoring sales at every store around the world. When a garment sells well -- or flops -- they quickly tell designers sitting nearby to whip up fresh designs. In the basement, stylists decide store layouts and window displays. One room is built like a shopping street, its walls lined with lit and decorated store windows that dictate how storefronts will look from New York's Fifth Avenue to London's Regent Street. Every two weeks, new decorations are photographed and emailed to stores to replicate.

  • On average a new Zara store opens everyday.

  • Zara’s founder built the chain upon two rules: give customers what they want, and give it to them quickly.

  • To this end Zara stores refresh their stock twice a week. The logistics building that delivers customized orders to stores around the world has a 24 hour turnaround deadline for Europe and the US.

  • Each designer creates three items a day. The designers don’t go to fashion shows which happen too infrequently. Rather they track bloggers and important fashion districts to see what’s popular.



  • The success of Zara has made the founder – who was born into poverty – the third richest man in the world.

  • He has never had an office. Instead he sits on the open floor with everybody else where he can be engaged in the production process.

  • He is also incredibly private. Until 1999 no photograph of him had been published. 


Well done to susie so so for getting this so fast but she is a big fan of the brand check out her blog 

susiesoso.blogspot.com/

Iconic trivia 2

Zorba the Greek, 
a film that help name a giant fashion retailer, again the 70's was the decade another massive brand was born and named after the Founder saw the film Zorba the greek, but he changed it soon after! What is the brand can you find out?

Wednesday 28 August 2013

UGG Australia, 35 in five movements

http://youtu.be/eN8q5M1L0l8

Check out this link for a true touch of UGG heritage 35 year of growing and still a baby with so much more to come, 

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Pepe jeans



The pepe key ring.
In 1973 it was originally just a weekend roadside stall on the Portobello Road Market located in west London established by three brothers where pepe jean was born. It became a brand in the late 70's, It was named "Pepe", because it was a short word that could be written without much trouble.
The key ring was introduced early 80's and became a must have, with people especially teens collecting as many colours as possible and this lead to the Multi coloured key ring that was made by taking these apart and rebuilding with mixed colours. Pepe became the brand leader with 25% market share in the UK (being knocked off by Levi's re-birth in 1985) The brand grew in to Europe, then India making it a international brand.
supermodel Kate Moss’ first advertising campaign was for Pepe Jeans advertising grew as the brand did, in the early 90's the company was sold and became-

Which still has a strong fashion presence especially in Spain, 

Monday 26 August 2013

Iconic trivia



One simple name missing!
how could a simple key ring become such a iconic symbol for a brand, the bold move to add it to the product made a family of three brothers very rich and made the brand become the market leader, do you know the brand? 
Let me know, if I get a good response I will give you some interesting facts about the brand and will do more trivia if it is liked.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

A new start for Bicester




An olive branch, the sign of a new start for Bicester town, this historic market town had became over shadowed by Bicester village this past decade, but with the designer outlet bringing a spot light to this developing residential area of villages and reclaimed air force land, this has meant lots of interest has fallen on to the town, when one of these interested parties happens to be Sainsbury's things can't be bad. 
This interest has lead to a redevelopment of the town centre which now boasts a large Sainsbury's store, a state of the art Vue cinema and the possibility of new stores and restaurants. This is only the start of the changes Bicester is to go through, what exciting times, not only will this town be famous for its number one retail destination know worldwide in the form of Bicester village but it will grow and become a key place to live, relax, learn and develop. We are truly on the map and I'm glade to be part of the locals that call Bicester home. 


Friday 9 August 2013

UGG classics the three gremlin rules apply


What a great classic film Gremlins, I must have seen it 10 times at the cinema and as many on TV, so it not a surprise that I would relate to aspects of the film in real life, that can be true for many experiences, a film, show or just a moment you recall that you can fit in to that moment and match aspects of the real and surreal together making a new experience or manifesting a new word or meaning for that point in time, wow heavy stuff and I have strayed off the path some what, (a slap to the face a deep breath) I'm back, 
So what am I going on about? 

          

Well there is three key rules to follow when looking after both UGG boots and gremlins and they are very similar in importance, hence the link to the film and  my babbling, so lets remember the three specific instructions in caring for the Mogwai: 
1, never expose it to bright light
2, never get it wet 
3, most importantly never, ever feed it after midnight
Those that have seen the film will understand the concerqueces of not following these rules. If you have no idea then it's a must see movie, old but truly a great fun film.
So what are the rules for UGG classics you now ask! well just as important and with true concerqueces if not followed, they are!
1, never get them wet
2, never wear socks with them
3, always rest them after each wear
I have sold thousands of classics and have always explained these rules and the new owners have had great relationships with their boots, enjoying the luxurious comfort, fantastic style and a natural ability to look after their feet.
Many more have not been told these rules and have been devastated when their much loved and expensive purchase has not delivered what was expected or has been ruined by the poor weather. Remembering that the UGG boot is a warm weather creation being born in Australia, then being bought up and developed in California, rain is not as common over there, as it is in Europe.
So lets look at these rules in more detail !
• Sheep skin is like a sponge being pourus it soaks in water, this will stain the boot but also will effect the thermostatic quality of the sheep skin, messing with the temperature control and comfort.
• with the fur being on the inside of the boot this offers unequaled comfort in feel and temperature the fur draws moisture from the foot like thousands of straws sucking away water, this keeps the foot dry and cool regulating the foot keeping it to body temperature, this adds to the comfort and is what keeps your foot, warm in winter and cool in summer, socks interferes with this natural process but also effects the temperature and will speed up the deteareation of the boots balding the fur and thining the toe leading to toe holes at the front of the boot, size is also the key to stopping the holes to many customers wear their boots to small.
• A UGG boot is like all women, they need their beauty sleep to look great and to function right, ( I will pay for that comment LOL ) 
But like all footwear sheep skin needs at least 24 hours rest to dry and recover shape, constant wearing brakes down the structure and will lead to your boots premature dilapidation, so rest them and your be rewarded with a longer use and better look from your trusted new foot friend. 
So follow these few rules and your enjoy and benefit so much more from your investment, and last point needed to be mentioned is nail control, keeping your toe nails tidy and short will help you from the dreaded toe hole I covered earlier. 
Enjoy your boots and remember look after your boots and they will look after you.