Shopping
Can you elaborate a bit on: "How did you fund it, with how much money, and what is the business model? This is for a lot of people great to read, how you did it, what route you chose, which hurdles etc. as for many this is a thing to consider when starting out. Also, on how you are dealing with the growth is interesting.
This is what I asked Charlotte Semler-West, serial entrepreneur and founder of Charlotte & Co, and prior thereto, founder of Myla. She replied:
I chose the fund the business start-up myself. I had previously founded and run a VC backed business start-up and I really didn’t want to go that way again. I can say the following….(probably more than you wanted!!!) (see further down in the interview, ed. SGB)
When Monif Clarke initially launched her plus size clothing range in
2006, she would pitch her design ideas to the major retailers, only to be told
again and again that no-one would purchase her clothing: it was too trendy, too
colorful, too sexy and their plus sized customers weren’t that fashion conscious.
The NextWomen DWEN Interview Series features Michelle
Madhok, Founder, CEO & Chief Editor at SheFinds Media, which publishes SheFinds.com, Bridefinds.com and MomFinds.com.
Distributed via e-mail and blogs, these online publications help millions of busy women everywhere shop the web for the latest fashion and style finds.
A widely regarded shopping expert, Michelle has shared her expertise through channels such as The Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show, The Chicago Tribune, The New York Post, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.
Prior to launching SheFinds, Michelle was the Director of Entertainment
Marketing for CBS Broadcasting New Media, then Group Director of
Editorial Products for women at AOL, where she oversaw all women's content.
Her book Wear. This. Now. will be published in August 2012.
Shopping
meets social this Christmas with introduction of innovative new Facebook
application
With the Christmas season well and truly upon us, last week saw the launch of Shopcade, an unique, fun and interactive Facebook application which, for the first time, combines the elements of social media and shopping to create a truly social shopping experience that consumers can begin enjoying this Christmas.
Regardless
of your political opinions and views on why our economy is tanking, we all have
that favorite restaurant we still frequent, that favorite store we always love
to shop, that hobby that we spend too much money supporting, or that
indulgence or addiction we just can’t
give up. We, as America, are making
choices every day where, and for what, we are spending (or wasting) our money.
As successful businesswomen, we must be savvy as to how we capitalize our business dollars. As a small business owner, I feel strongly about the responsibility we have to economically support our colleagues, community, and country.
A remarkable recent movement is the 2nd Annual Small Business Saturday occurring on November 26th.
Sponsored by American Express, Small Business Saturday occurs during the heaviest shopping weekend of the year. Its purpose is to direct shopping towards your local small business rather than the large chain retail stores. Then, in turn, these businesses can invest back into the community and possibly even your business. “When we all shop small, it will be huge.”
Buy Tracey & Damien Online: Launch of S[Edition], the High Browse Art e-Commerce Site for Low Prices
Just in time for your Santa Claus and Christmas shopping: Mat Collishaw, Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin, Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, Isaac Julien, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Bill Viola and Wim Wenders are among the first artists on s[edition], a revolutionary digital platform for collecting contemporary art, launched in London on 17 November 2011. Limited edition works specifically for the iPhone, tablets, laptops and monitors.
Heather Russell, founder and CEO of Rinkya is in London to join the Entrepreneurs Festival; she discusses her experience so far:
I am Heather Russell, founder and CEO of Rinkya Inc, and director of our Tokyo, Japan branch for 11 years.
What does Rinkya do? We help anyone in the world get what they want from Japan. Need a car part? An entire car? A guitar? Kimono? Hello Kitty? A Limited edition Louis Vuitton bag? How about a Godzilla toy, or Bon Jovi’s Japan Tour album from 2001? We got you.
Nike does it, Adidas does it, and Upperstreet does it: Design your own Shoes.
Julia Grinham is Co-Founder of Upper Street (with her sister Katy Chandler), the luxury shoe label where you can design your own shoes. The business was launched in spring 2010, and has since gone on to win hundreds of loyal customers, has won huge support from the media and fashion industries, and has been shortlisted for the Drapers Smaller ERetailer of 2011.
Here Julia gives us her Top 10 of Why Customization as a Business Model is a Great Route to Take:
Your co-worker has gone on holiday, the other is off
with flu. Suddenly, you're drowning in a sea of sticky notes while frantically
trying to type a letter before hopping into a cab for that meeting and wait, is
that your boss heading this way? Don't crawl under your desk with a sympathetic
chocolate bar - Lady Geek TV have found the apps to keep you productive under
pressure.
Upcoming Events
21 May 2012 - 09:00 - 23 May 2012 - 19:30New York, US
22 May 2012 - 09:30 - 24 May 2012 - 19:00Astana, Kazakhstan
