Comments on: How fashion designers break into boutiques http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2009/01/15/how-fashion-designers-break-into-boutiques/ Editors from FSB magazine answer your pressing small-business questions. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:52:55 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: john http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2009/01/15/how-fashion-designers-break-into-boutiques/#comment-2037 john Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:28:40 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/?p=884#comment-2037 Yes, the hottest styles and trends in women's clothing, including shoes, swimwear, perfect wear-to-work looks and accessories. <a href="http://www.blessd.com" rel="nofollow">Bra Solutionss</a> Yes, the hottest styles and trends in women's clothing, including shoes, swimwear, perfect wear-to-work looks and accessories.
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]]> By: Vanessa Cooreman Smith, Granger, Indiana http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2009/01/15/how-fashion-designers-break-into-boutiques/#comment-2035 Vanessa Cooreman Smith, Granger, Indiana Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:51:04 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/?p=884#comment-2035 I totally agree with Catherine; Working with local or new designers can be a great experience, as its always good to get FRESH new things in your store...but manufacturing, and production timing issues can also be troublesome. To me, the timing one can be worst of all: you order something and it takes so long to get it produced that it is past season by the time its done. I have had the best luck by supporting small, new designers when it comes to jewelry and accessories vs. clothing collections. Then we are not as dependent on fit and timing... for example we have carried beautiful handmade feather hairpieces, handmade belts and more with great success. That being said, a great relationship with a showroom is critical for true growth: an individual designer dropping by boutiques is simply not going to "hit" as many stores: plus it will take away from time they need to be designing...by placing their work in a well chosen showroom, they expose their products to many more clients, and leave themselves time for what They are good at...designing:) Lastly, though I will say to aspiring designers...I use etsy.com a lot to look at new designers and handmade goods...you may consider placing your work on etsy! Warm regards and best of luck to aspiring designers; Vanessa Cooreman Smith Owner, Flourish Boutique & Gallery www.FlourishBoutique.com I totally agree with Catherine;
Working with local or new designers can be a great experience, as its always good to get FRESH new things in your store…but manufacturing, and production timing issues can also be troublesome. To me, the timing one can be worst of all: you order something and it takes so long to get it produced that it is past season by the time its done. I have had the best luck by supporting small, new designers when it comes to jewelry and accessories vs. clothing collections. Then we are not as dependent on fit and timing… for example we have carried beautiful handmade feather hairpieces, handmade belts and more with great success.

That being said, a great relationship with a showroom is critical for true growth: an individual designer dropping by boutiques is simply not going to "hit" as many stores: plus it will take away from time they need to be designing…by placing their work in a well chosen showroom, they expose their products to many more clients, and leave themselves time for what They are good at…designing:)

Lastly, though I will say to aspiring designers…I use etsy.com a lot to look at new designers and handmade goods…you may consider placing your work on etsy!

Warm regards and best of luck to aspiring designers;

Vanessa Cooreman Smith
Owner, Flourish Boutique & Gallery
http://www.FlourishBoutique.com

]]> By: Catherine Wood Hill Los Altos CA http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2009/01/15/how-fashion-designers-break-into-boutiques/#comment-1889 Catherine Wood Hill Los Altos CA Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:31:33 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.cnn.com/?p=884#comment-1889 As a boutique owner, I love working with small designers IF they are organized and have their manufacturing kinks worked out. We have made the mistake of picking a designer with beautiful clothing but no established manufacturing relationships and we had to have the items made twice for fit problems, and they we still had to send them to our own tailor to fix finishing problems. Needless to say, we will not be working with that designer again even though we love his designs. If you have questions I suggest you reach out to boutiques that you love and ask them how they like to be approached. Catherine Wood Hill http://www.lagrandedame.com "Making Skinny Women Jealous" As a boutique owner, I love working with small designers IF they are organized and have their manufacturing kinks worked out. We have made the mistake of picking a designer with beautiful clothing but no established manufacturing relationships and we had to have the items made twice for fit problems, and they we still had to send them to our own tailor to fix finishing problems. Needless to say, we will not be working with that designer again even though we love his designs. If you have questions I suggest you reach out to boutiques that you love and ask them how they like to be approached.

Catherine Wood Hill
http://www.lagrandedame.com
"Making Skinny Women Jealous"

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