A New Fast Fashion Category Retailer

I'm writing this post in the last 20 minutes I have at Nautica, taking my time to extend the precious moments I have left. Starting to think about the possibilites of coming back and how to decorate a future apartment that is the size of my bathroom back in Athens, but 5x the rent. Then I come across a God-send article on WWD that is the answer to my decorator prayers (and can be my 6th and final current event this summer)! Ready for it? In 2013, the US H&M is adding on a HOME CATEGORY!!!! Taking pieces from designer showcase rooms and making it that beautiful H&M price. Now different rooms of the house can now be up to date with all the trends. There will be 3 main collections every season, with new pieces every 2 weeks, staying true to their apparel menu. Lauren (merchandising assistant) thinks its "extremely exciting because she lives across Macys and H&M and is excited about not having to face the crazy crowds to go buy new sheets and towels. I'm also excited because my apartment will now look trendy and it will be good quality just like the clothing that they already provide!" And personally I know I'm pumped because I graduate in 4 months and will be looking for a new place to live, with no furniture, so I need cheap. However, the fashion side of me doesn't want it to look that way so IKEA and H&M will be boosting in sales from any future paycheck that this girl gets (Yes, I know I exaggerated with "boosting" and future paycheck)!

Edelson, Sharon. H&M Entering Home Category. Womens Wear Daily. 2 Aug 2012. Retrieved from http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/hms-home-front-6132535?module=Fashion-Fashion%20Scoops-main

The Apple May be Falling from their Tree...

Samsung Galaxy compared to Appe iPhone

Everywhere you look it seems everyone has an iPhone in hand but competition may be surfacing especially this September. The iPhone 5 is destined to hit the store on September 12 and according to BuisnessInsider, it may be bad news. With pictures of the new models on the internet the complaint is that the model looks the exact same and is nothing special. Samsung has created a new phone though that has been called "jaw dropping" and that "a lot of those faithful will be dissappointed." A universal complaint with Apple products is that they always make you regret your last purchase since something new comes on the market months later. Skeptics have stated that "each new generation of the iPhone offers less and less improvement over the prior generation, and, thus, gives customers less reason to upgrade." With Apple continuing with small improvements has been allowing competitors to gain ground, "Samsung sold 52 million smartphones in Q2, twice as many as Apple, and is now the clear worldwide smartphone leader." So the basic question is their tactic really smart for customer service? Well apparently not since many people still go buy the new product to have the add-on features and more memory space. I asked Lauren, Merchandising Assistant, her opinion on the new iPhone and her response what that she was happy there was a new one coming out because she needs a new phone. Then I asked Jessica, Outlet Merchandiser, and she wasn't surprised that a new product was coming out, "it's something that assumed Apple will always do." With the economy now, not many people are rushing for the new upgrade, if gets the job done, great! If not, you still have a smartphone that gets you around. From a merchandising perspective I can see it from both angles. On one point you are trying to have a constant rush of money to make stocks grow. But on the other, from a customer relationship end, it almost instills a hint of distrust in the company. Sure they have great ability and a great product, but why do they keep limiting me and giving me a glimpse of what they can do, selling me this as the next best thing when in reality, they have a better product. It's an ongoing process, "buy, regret, repeat." Personally I am a buyer of Apple products, they make great technology so it's not that aspect I'm critiquing, its simply the customer trust.

Blodget, Henry. If the iPhone 5 Really Looks Like This, Apple May Be Screwed... BuisnessInsider.com. 30 Jul 2012. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/if-the-iphone-5-really-looks-like-this-apple-may-be-screwed-2012-7#ixzz22E3mVajv

Good things don't end, they continue in new form.

Well tomorrow is my unexpected last day at Nautica and when they told me that Friday was off so I could pack, out of nowhere my eyes filled up with tears. I guess it hit hit me that when I wake up tomorrow morning it will be my last time getting ready for work this summer. As I took the subway all the memories started to flow in. If you know me, you know how much I hate to cry in front of other people so with all my power I was trying to hold back the tears. It wasn't tears of sadness, it was definitely tears of happiness and thankfulness of this summer and all the great things that have happened. I can honestly say that I have grown so much this summer in knowing who I am. And I'm so at peace. I think that's the part that makes me the happiest, is being so comfortable and confident in who I am. I don't know where I will be in 4 months or exactly what position I want or for what company. But I know it will work out and I'm excited that I don't know. Literally anything and anywhere is an option right now and I consider that to be very lucky. Obviously right now I'm filled with so many mixed emotions. I'm happy to be going home and seeing everyone, finishing up my last semester at UGA. But at the same time there's a sadness of seeing such a great summer coming to an end and saying goodbye to a so many people who have taken me as family the past 10 weeks. But here's to one chapter closing and the next beginning!

"I hate to do go and leave this pretty sight"

I can't believe that this is my last weekly blog plost and that a week from today is my last day..it's been one of life's top experiences where I've grown so much in knowing who I am and in my confidence. This isn't my last post, leaving for the Hampton's in a few hours to see my first polo game so you can be sure that there will be pictures and a post from that event. But below is a review of this amazing summer at Nautica.

• Rate yourself on the quality of your performance.  Include the following: Knowledge of work, image, communication skills, and professional judgments
• I feel very confident in my overall performance of my internship. I can say that I gave it everything I had and tried to make the most of all situations. Working with the people here though definitely made things easier, they became another family in New York. UGA definitely prepared me for going into the fashion industry, while every company is different and uses different terms and software, I was taught the key items that can allow me to connect the dots with unfamiliar information as well as thinking critically to address a problem. It's true what they say that the best experience is hands on! I feel like internships should be mandatory because you observe others in the industry and most importantly you get to be apart of it and grow in confidence in so many areas especially in how you communicate with collegues.
• In what area of your internship do you feel your greatest abilities lie?
• I felt that my greatest ability lied in working with others and being apart of a team life. I've also come to the realization that I don't have a hate relationship with numbers which surprised me a lot.
• In what areas do you need improvement?
• Definitely in attention to detail and skimming over things. I had to get in the habit of going back a 2nd time to check all my work because I would mess up a letter in the Style Numbers which could make a sweater into a swim trunk.
• What was your best experience?
• When the company went fishing and cleaned out the Hudson River. It gave me a glimpse of the company culture and what they stand for, that its more than just making clothes. It also made me realize that they don't see their job as something from 9 to 5. That was also probably the best thing to experience in the beginning because it allowed me to get to know the team outside of normal setting and really see who they are.
• Worst experience?
• Seeing someone on our team being let go. Since he was in a high up position and he was out in 5 minutes and it made me realize how much it's sink or swim.
• Biggest “fashion lesson learned”?
• You need to be adaptable and flexible. The hours are uncertain and you may be doing the same thing over and over again or something completely new but the best thing to have is a good attitude while doing it.

Oh Facebook, you've done it again!

Facebook is always growing and constantly having new ways of improvement. It has gotten to the point of "what can it do next?" New York Times recently posted an article that now Facebook is a great way for small buisnesses to grow! Buisnesses, such as "Got What It Cakes," a single woman cake baker, have grown exponentially by just putting their page up. They said the best part of going on Facebook is that people will start to tag the company in their photos which spreads the word amongst their friends. Payvment, is the method being used for transactions is growing with about 1,500 stores a week. This has been something unanticipated by Facebook and little comment has been given on the growing "F-Commerce" [newly coined term in 2009] phenomenon. This is soley for and small buisnesses since a shopper for a large retailer, such as Gap, wants something for sophisticated. Jessica, the Outlet Merchandiser said that she thinks it's great and that it's less invasive than having an email sent to you. The Facebook is not only growing in people now but in many more ways and small buisnesses are signing on now too!

Zimmerman, Eilene. Increasingly, Small Buisnesses are Running Their Buisnesses on Facebook. 25 July 2012. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/business/smallbusiness/small-businesses-win-customers-on-facebook.html?_r=1&ref=business

Lawsuit on Fakes

The simple mention of the word "Chinatown" brings another word to mind..."fake." But now fakes have been found in another part of New York, the internet. Just recently Coach, Inc. sued a mother-daughter [Linda and Courtney Allen] teamed website that sold fake purses for $44,000,000. This case was particularly interesting because it was federal case since it was based out of NY when it's usually a foreign website that is hard to track down. Coach not only got the money from the lawsuit but shut down their websites, Bellafashions.net and MyClassyFashion.com. This is not the first time either that the woman has been caught selling fakes on the internet, in 2007 she was caught selling on eBay. Coach's comment on winning the case was that "The decision in Coach v. Linda Allen, et al. should serve as a warning to defendants in all pending Coach lawsuits that courts consider counterfeiting a serious issue and are prepared to order defendants to pay large sums of money. This decision should also serve as notice to all who traffic in counterfeit goods that Coach will vigorously pursue you, and will win.”

"Good for them" was the resounding comment on the news in the office since it something very illegal and its stealing of someone else's work. The counterfeit industry is something that not only makes the company itself lose sales but the production of the goods is usually done by children in overseas factories which makes the product cheaper and steals thousands of jobs a year from stealing buisness from the companies. So think next time you buy and don't even think about selling!



Steigrad, Alexandra. Coach Reels in $44 M Judgment Against US-Based Counterfeits. 22 July 2012. Retrieved from http://www.wwd.com/business-news/legal/coach-reels-in-44m-judgment-against-us-based-counterfeiters-6103186?module=hp-topstories

A look behind closed doors

Here are more pictures as promised! I'll explain along the way 

NAUTICA SPRING 2013

Typical hallway at Nautica since everything is designed to look like the inside of a shiip

Staircase connecting floors 

What's on display when walking into the lobby, it's changed out every season. This is currently set up for Spring 2013 and since it's Nautica's 30th anniversary that is why you will see 1983 everywhere

This room definitely holds memories from last week! This room has all the merchandise on display for Spring '13 and it was set up for the merchandising team to present to the President, CEO's and sales team. So as Jodie and Chris (Creative Director) talked about the merchandise Lauren and I ran around the room gathering the merchandise. It was a 6 hour meeting that went non-stop so it was a lot of running around and needless to say exhausting but everyone is excited for this season!!

Some swim trunks being creatively hung

This is my favorite item that is coming out, not for fashion reasons but for the coolness factor! In the pocket there is a connector for your iPod or smart phone and in the drawcord are headphones!! Better yet it's machine washable and has an awesome contrast underside in the sleeves and hood.

This would be the "Newport" fashion group which is more performance wear. The blue jacket in the middle actually has LED lighting the piping of the hood that can be turned on, off, constant or flashing for those out in the woods or skiing.

This is in the Showcase room that the buyers walk through to get excited and a preview of all the merchandise. For this season they added TV portals to make you feel like you are at sea.

The "Open Seas" fashion group which is more relaxed and beachy

This is the "99 Wharf St" fashion group or also NJC which is the fashion group geared to a younger demographic.

A typical sales room with merchandise inside for the buyers to see.

Another staircase

History room which holds everything Nautica has ever created

So change of topics, my whole family came up this past weekend and we went sightseeing!!

World Trade Center Memorial

The new World Trade Center being built

The "survivor tree" which survived 9/11 and big storms

:)

Had drinks with my family at the Rockefeller Center

Being able to show my family around Nautica and New York has definitely been one of the highlights of my summer! Nothing warms the heart more than hearing your parents tell you how proud they are of you! I was so blessed to have my aunts and uncles come visit too! Here's to many more trips for the Dittmeier's to NYC! Waiting for more pictures taken from the weekend to upload :)

"it's a small, small, small, small world"

As the song goes on and on until it gets stuck in your head it echoes as a constant reminder to always be mindful of your trace.

Today at lunch we found out the name of a new position that is being filled. Right when the name was mentioned 2 out of the 8 people sitting at the table knew the name immediately. Turns out that they had been in meetings with the guy at a past job. Then Craig, the men's outlet designer, gave me some great advice. He told me that it's a small world but in the fashion industry it's extremely small and everyone knows everyone so no matter where you go, how bad your job is or how rude someone can be to you it's important to never burn bridges or leave on a bad note. When he said this everyone at the table agreed. So I thought I'd share this tidbit of advice.

take me out to the ball game!!

It's been another fun weekend filled with food and friends! Saturday was about 100 degrees, so in opt of exploring Central Park and checking out some concerts I went back to Rockaway Beach with Bernadette. The day was relaxing soaking up the sun/heat, watching movies and going out that evening. Sunday was a new experience where we met up with Allison Beach to go to a Met's game! Bernadette's brother has season seats in the outer left field, right under the shade so it was absolutely perfect! A guy 3 rows in front of us caught one of the balls and we enjoyed hot dogs and french fries while singing the classic "take me out to the ball game." Unfortunately they lost badly to the Chicago Cubs but it was a great girls day. Afterwards, Bernadette and I joined granddad at his favorite restaurant, London Lenny's, where I ate my weight in food! But below are some pictures and questions that reflect on my 5th (!!!!) week at Nautica....

• What type of merchandise does your company sell? Discuss

Men's apparel, home furnishings, luggage 

• Are these trends, fads, classics, etc. 

Within our seasonal lines there are sub-lines that we do fashion groupings but is only known from within. So our line known as "1983" would be our classic pieces, adapting the pieces over time with what is recent but here is where you find your classic polos, woven shirts, pants, etc. Then we have "99 Wharf St" which is our NJC (Nautica Jean Co.) line, which would be younger. So you would see it on a guy in college and it simply has a younger vibe to it. Then we have "Open Seas" which is would be looking at current trends and adopting it to the Nautica brand image. Again, if you were to go into a store you would not see these labels, this simply allows us to seperate color paletes and distribution. Once everything is complete we look at the sub-lines as a whole in room but categorized by wall sections which is actually what I spent all last week doing with Lauren and will post pictures of sometime this week. 

• Take pictures of your favorites & post

Next post :) 

• How does your company set prices?

We look at the price it takes to make the garment and have it shipped. This final cost is referred to as our LDP. Our goal is to raise our gross margin to 51-53%. But sometimes after the LDP comes in and raising prices that high we have to look at the product from a buyer's perspective and see what it would actually be bought for so we may only do a 48% gross margin. 

• Did you receive any new training this week?

I received and I also gave! We have been setting up for market week so I've been learning about the whole process of set up and checking in new lines for market week. On Friday a girl from a local school came in as part of a mentor program and she's interested in interning at Nautica so I trained her the same way I was when I began my internship. 

• Experiences you had in dealing with co-workers, customers, boss?

Lauren and I got a lot closer this week because we were in a showroom together everyday setting up and grabbing lunch everyday. 

• Value of time spent in comparison with experience & knowledge gained?

Definitely learning more and more everyday. Having the hands on experience has been the best way of learning and learning how to be in a working environment. My body has gotten adjusted to working so it's going to be difficult to go back for a semester and get out of rhythm again and then adjust all over again. 

• What are you looking forward to next week?

Market Week! Monday is a meeting with all the CEO's where we review all the merchandise that Lauren and I prepared last week so I'm excited to sit in on the meeting and see all that's discussed before all the buy's start coming in for the next 2 weeks. It's apparently going to be crazy. My parents, aunts and uncles are also coming in on Friday for a visit so I'm really excited to see them and show them around the city!

Bernadette :)

 

Citi Field!! First baseball game not at Turner Field

Getting the field prepped

Allison bought a Diet Pepsi (as substitute for Diet Coke)...finished in 5 mins

Cutest kid announcing the baseball players

Bernadette & Allison

View from our seats!!!

Great girls day!!