Finance Workshop I’m Hosting January 28th

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Hey Fashion Designers-Be Vocal &Give Your Opinion, It Counts

Ms. Paula Patton is stunning and rocking all the hot fashion trends at the Golden Globes!

This is a shout out to all the fashion designers who create clothing, jewelry and accessories. It’s the day after the 2012 Golden Globe Awards and a fabulous opportunity to give your opinion about one of the most important fashion shows of the season-Hollywood style. If you haven’t already set this marketing tactic in motion it is time to travel to cyber space and tweet, blog, email and discuss who wore what and your likes and dislikes and the trends of the nite. This is also a good time for hair stylists, make up artists and other stylists to get your voice out there too because your digital voice is the best way to communicate and marketing is all about communication.

Blatant fashion trends abound this year at Sunday’s Hollywood Foreign Press Association awards ceremony. Lots of jewel toned gowns with colors like garnet, ruby, teal, amethyst, and citrine (which i adore) plus the “no color” color that was a big thing too but which I didn’t really care for. The fishtail silhouette was all over the place paired with a skin-tight strapless bodice. This definitely was the silhouette of the evening.  Too many, if not just about everyone on the best dressed lists had on some version of this dress with a different color and a different texture.  Lace here, beading there and a few feathers here and there. Fancy hair like the finger waves on the young lady from Modern Family in the pretty purple age appropriate tea length dress and lots of chignons/updos was a sure nod to old Hollywood glam and bold jewelry-a lot of cuffs and bracelets which I adore! were two accessory trends on the red carpet. Some made sure the backless look was on full view too. Classic tuxedos are a standard for the men but unfortunately a few were sloppily accessorized. Sneakers-no please. Last but not least, so disappointing-Reese Witherspoon had on a really fabulous ruby-red dress but I did not like the hair. Too big and too CMA.

Forget Gervais. Yawn. The show was boring after so much hype about him the second time around. I, thankfully, was too tired to care after spending the day at the fancy food show with entrepreneur Laura Forst of Laura’s Nuts where we happily sampled way too much food. I just put my feet up and watched the red carpet shows with a cup of tea followed by a glass of pinot noir.

One predominant focus was old school Hollywood with Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Spielberg and Scorsese.  The most classy acceptance speech was from Morgan Freeman awarded by Helen Mirren and Sidney Poitier (I was worried when I saw him because this legend looked a little frail didn’t he).

Ok, that’s my dish. List your top 5 best dressed and your worst dressed.  Here are mine.

BEST DRESSED

Idris Elba  is so handsome! So Fine! Whatever he wears is OK with me.

Paula  Patton was Stunning with a capital S! That yellow was such a vibrant, fabulous color on her. She is not playing it safe and that is a good thing. Sophia Vergara was in a great fitting dress and a standout  color.  This particular blue was seen in various shades. And she was rocking the mermaid look. Rooney Mara was perfectly edgy in a little black dress with strategic cut outs. Black was the other color trend. Julianna Margulies is always very classy and I love the color of her jade earrings paired with her purple dress.

 WORST DRESSED

Natalie Portman in a satiny pepto bismal pink prom dress with a huge bow on the side. She is too tiny for all of this and must get back on track.  Sarah Michelle Geller should have understood the silhouette did not fit the tie died look. So wrong.  Maybe a tank dress shape. I liked her ponytail though.  Elle McPherson looks great but I do not understand the raves this dress is getting. It reminds me of a saloon gal’s dress with all that crinoline. Kelly Osborne Wow! Although she was on point color wise the shape had a space cadet and matronly vibe.  And I could not understand the strange color of her hair. Maybe it was my TV-it is old. Depp Didn’t like what Johnny was wearing but he was his usual self.

Cheers,  Gwendolyn

Desiderata

According to Wikipedia Desiderata ( which is Latin for “desired things”) is a prose poem written in 1927 by American writher Max Ehrmann (1872-1945)

These words are timeless and very appropriate when looking at a new year.  This is when I like to read this poem and I hope you enjoy it too.  Happy New Year!

xoxo,

Gwendolyn

………………..

Desiderata

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

So long 2011 Hello 2012

My resolutions for the new year

1. learn new veggie recipes
2. take more risks
3. spend more time with family and friends
4. take time for daily meditation
5. practice grace under fire
6. pay it forward
7. listen to music daily
8. learn a new skill
9. visit museums and art galleries  more often (not just first Thursday)
10. paint my place with the help of my wonderful neighbor Joe  (my new skill?!)
11. blog more
12. be impeccable with my word

Thea Grant’s Top Jewelry Trends for Spring 2012

I had a great conversation with top New York Fashion Stylist and Jewelry Designer Thea Grant of the hot fashion/lifestyle company Bazzani and Grant.  She was referred to me by our mutual friend Suzi Johnson of Souchi Inc.,  (the worlds finest cashmere!!! and another client of mine,  a fierce retail mogul and accomplished fashion designer/life-stylist).  I have had the pleasure of working with Bazzani and Grant since July and as the newest member of their management team I look forward to all we are set to accomplish in 2012.

Back to Thea-wife, mother, business owner and business partner, entrepreneur and visionary.  We talked about jewelry trends past, present and future and as a noted fashion trend setter Thea is always on the forefront of design and dares to go where some competitors fear to tread.  According to Ms. Grant there is “a lot of ambiguity in the marketplace with a lot of designers and retailers playing it safe”.  She also feels there is a bit too much monotony in design today with a continuing repeat of the past like punk, spiky jewelry, trending “granny sparkle” and a mish mash of color and bling.

She and her husband/business partner Nico Bazzani instead are inspired everyday to collaborate with passion and fearlessness creating fresh, current and sexy jewelry.  Thea Grant pieces are adored by fashionistas globally as more than just an accessory item, their jewelry is considered new heirlooms, collector’s items and fashion art.  visit their website at www.bazzdegrant.com

Her top 5 trends for Spring 2012

No. 1 . Bright, big, bold jewelry-necklaces, earrings, rings, bangles with visual impact.  This look keeps on trending through spring.

No. two.  “The exact opposite of no. 1″  Petite pieces with a dark patina, made of unique little treasures and real, sourced collectibles.

No 3.  The classic look. Always in style for the sophisticated lady. Charm bracelets in particular.  Feminine. (my classics are diamond studs, black pearls, signet rings and gold hoops)

No. 4.  Masculine jewelry for women. Yang to the Yin. Military flair, royalty: crests, pins and medals,  influenced by Boy Scout regalia and a definite anglophile touch.

No. 5. Art Deco Sparkle: Inspired by old objects, “a shabby chic/diamante style” the sparkle is pretty yet subdued with a weathered metal texture and lots of tiny rhinestones.

Some thoughts about sales

Personal branding means being impeccable with your words.

Who knows you?

Who do you know?

Position  yourself as a beneficial person to know

What motivates you right now?

Relationships matter.  A lot.

Participate in a minimum of 3 networking events each week.  Be social in person, real time.

Set quantitative and qualitative goals

Expect positive outcomes

Believe in your own power to manifest what you want to experience in life this go round.

Be cool and consistent

Understand your own fears and do something about it

Move forward in the face of fear-the definition of courage

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change

Radiate intelligence

Mind your manners

Make waves

Why meditation is so good for you

I recently listened to this poem being read during a guided meditation ( a 21 day challenge which i met, gratefully) and just wanted to share the beauty of the words.  Hope you enjoy it!

Namaste.

Saints Bowing in the Mountains

Do you know how beautiful you are?

I think not, my dear.

For as you talk of God,
I see great parades with wildly colorful bands
Streaming from your mind and heart,
Carrying wonderful and secret messages
To every corner of this world.

I see saints bowing in the mountains
Hundreds of miles away
To the wonder of sounds
That break into light
From your most common words.

Speak to me of your mother,
Your cousins and your friends.

Tell me of squirrels and birds you know.
Awaken your legion of nightingales—
Let them soar wild and free in the sky.

And begin to sing to God.
Let’s all begin to sing to God!

Do you know how beautiful you are?

I think not, my dear,

Yet Hafiz
Could set you upon a Stage
And worship you forever!

-Hafiz

Five Ways to Build Business Credit by Kelly Spors

A year after launching her printing business, Sherry Stewart Deutschmann began leasing a new facility and needed large printing and sorting equipment. She had a business credit card with a $5,000 limit, but it would take hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance the kind of fast growth she saw for her business.

It was 2003, and she was generating about $2.5 million in annual revenues at the time, yet several banks and equipment suppliers all turned down her credit requests. “Nobody explained to me why,” says Deutschmann, the 51-year-old founder and CEO of Nashville-basedLetterLogic, which prints business statements and invoices. ”They just flat out said no.” She suspected it was because she was still a new business with little track record.

Finally, later that year, she was introduced to a venture capitalist who offered $350,000 in exchange for a 25% equitystake in the business. He also guaranteed a $500,000 line of credit. Today, LetterLogic generates about $21 million in annual revenues with 33 employees. Banks now contact her regularly to see if she needs loans or new credit lines, Deutschmann says. “The interesting thing is we don’t need it anymore. We don’t really have any debt.”

As she learned, getting credit is much easier when you don’t need it. But there are ways to build your business credit to avoid the same rejections Deutschmann faced early on. Here are five options to get started.

1. Mind your personal credit rating. The biggest factor in many banks’ decision to initially lend businesses money is the owners’ personal credit ratings and they typically look for a personal credit score of at least the mid-600s, says Ami Kassar, co-founder and chief executive of MultiFunding LLC, a Broad Axe, Pa.-based company that helps businesses connect with lenders. To boost your credit score, be sure to pay personal bills on time, keep a low ratio of debt to available credit on personal credit cards and credit lines, and make sure any balances remain under 30% of your limit on credit cards. Moreover, lenders will also often check the personal credit of any investor or business partner with more than a 20% stake in the business, Kassar says.

2. Apply for credit before you need it. To begin building a credit history for your business, apply for at least some sort of credit soon after starting up, Kassar says. A small business will often have to establish itself for two years before a bank feels comfortable offering a sizable credit line. But there are ways around that, such as getting a business credit card or applying for a small bank loan. If you have trouble scoring even a small loan, consider opening a store-based credit line or getting a small secured credit card with a low limit. Some major retailers that supply to small businesses, such as OfficeMax or Home Depot, offer commercial credit accounts that can help build a credit history for your business.

3. Grow your credit and use it. Many businesses with enviable credit histories applied early for business credit cards and credit lines and used them as early as possible, says Wayne Sanford, owner of New Start Financial Corp., a credit consultancy in Allen, Texas. Once you’ve established a payment history, request an increased credit limit — even if you don’t need it right away. Also, check to see if you have a profile with Dun & Bradstreet, a business data and credit reporting agency, suggests Gwendolyn Wright, a San Francisco business consultant and former first vice president of the Bank of San Francisco, a community bank. If not, it may be worth paying a fee to set up a profile. You can then add credit references, such as suppliers you’ve worked with, to elevate your credit profile as a business.

4. Forge relationships with more than one lender. Banks can change lending policies on a moment’s notice and cut your credit limit overnight, so it can help to not have all your financial eggs in one basket, Sanford adds. You might instead choose to have a credit card through a major bank and your credit line through a locally-owned bank or credit union. “With the smaller banks, you can actually speak to the one person who will put your [loan] package together and go to the board” for approval, Sanford adds. On the other hand, a big bank can offer more products and more locations.

5. Consider alternatives. Remember that traditional banks are not your only shot at credit, Wright says. There are a growing number of other options, such as securing investors, like Deutschmann did. Other resources include asset-based lenders, which focus more on collateral rather than credit worthiness, factoring — which lets you borrow against your accounts receivables — and peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding sites, such as Prosper.com andKickstarter.com. Using these alternate channels can at least indirectly improve your chances of getting credit in the future. “If people know your business and that you’re good for the money, it can only help you,” Wright says.

111 entrepreneurial traits and characteristics

1. Adventurous
2. Achievement oriented
3. Able
4. Adaptable
5. Ambitious
6. Bodacious
7. Bucks Trends
8. Brave
9. Beautiful
10. Benefactors
11. Bold
12. Brilliant
13. Candid
14. Charming
15. Clever
16.  Curious
17. Creative
18. Daring
19. Dedicated
20. Diligent
21. Driven
22. Demanding
23. Doer
24. Efficient
25. Energetic
26. Enthusiastic
27. Expansive
28. Fighter
29. Free thinkers
30. Focused
31. Friendly
32. Fun
33. Gambler
34. Generous
35. Global
36. Glorious
37. Gregarious
38. Goal oriented
39. Grateful
40. Gutsy
41. Happy
42. Healthy
43. High energy
44. Hilarious
45. Idealistic
46. Influential
47. Innovative
48. Intense
49. Inquisitive
50. Joyous
51. Knowledge
52. Keen
53. Kind
54. Kindred Spirits
55. Leaders
56. Loyal
57. Loveable
58. Manifestation
59. Motivator
60.  Mover (and Shaker)
61. Navigating
62. Optimistic
63. Overachiever
64. Opinionated
65. Opportunistic
66. Passionate
67. Perseverance
68. Persistence
69. Planner
70. Positive  
71. Prepared
72. Problem solver
73. Profitable
74. Quantum Leaper
75. Quirky
76. Quixotic
77. Realist
78. Relationships
79. Resilient
80. Resourceful
81. Responsible
82. Risk Takers
83. Self Confidence
84. Self motivated
85. Seekers
86. Seer
87. Strategic  
88. Spiritual
89. Thinker (sideways)
90. Thorough
91. Trendsetter
92. Tweeters
93. Ubiquitous
94. Universal
95. Unusual
96. Unrealistic
97. Unique
98. Victorious
99. Visionary
100. Vocal
101. Visual
102. Wise
103. Wonderful
104. Worldly
105. Whimsical
106. Wily
107. Winsome
108. Xtreme
109. Yelpers
110. Zany
111.  Zealous

Retail Sales Presentation 13 Lucky Tips

1. Start with a graphic of your company name and logo. Include the date of the presentation.  
2. You will want to keep your slide deck to no more than 10 slides or your video to 90 seconds.   Use 90% graphics and 10% text.  Photos, charts and graphs work well.
3. Company Overview – very brief history and background information about you and your company. How long have you been in business? Why did you create the product(s)? Just a few sentences, no more.
4. Product Overview – What is the purpose of the product? Discuss the top 3 features, functions and benefits associated with the product. Show packaging graphics.  Include amounts, sizes, and varieties.  Show Point-of-Purchase display options. What is it about your product that is better and different from other products?  Have a sample of product and packing available.
5. Industry Analysis-Discuss current and future trends. Note the current size of the market in $.  Who are the largest wholesalers within this industry?
6. Target Market Analysis- Quantitative analysis of the size of the prospective buying market to provide proof of the potential for a large sales volume.  Demographics and psychographic data on targeted consumer. Should align with those of the retailer.
7. Discuss consumer research including testimonials from prospective buyers. What are users saying about the product?  How much have you sold or given away?  What other retailers currently carry your product? Does your product fit a demand just waiting to be tapped?
8. Competition – Note 2-3 competitors.  Discuss your advantage over the competition.  Compare feature(s) pricing, quantity, etc. Let the buyer know you recognize the competition and are ready to compete effectively.
9. Opportunity- Why is this retailer a good fit for your product? Discuss sales terms, delivery, minimum orders, availability, installation, direct to store or distribution centers, and ongoing sales support for the stores.   How does the retailer benefit from this product on their shelves? Make sure that your product aligns with their current merchandising plans.
10. Manufacturing Capabilities-What volume are you capable of delivering?
11. Marketing Strategies- Discuss your social media and promotion plans, including in-store demos, point-of-sale displays, advertising and publicity. Have brochures, etc. available. How will you help to sell this product in store and away from the store?
12. Pricing –State the suggested retail price that you believe consumers are willing to pay for the product.  If you don’t know the profit margin the buyer requires just state your wholesale price and have the discussion. Most accounts will also want an average 5% MDF (marketing development funds) which decreases or discounts the wholesale price you are asking for.  The MDF is the price you pay the retailer for putting your product on the shelf mostly to help fund circular ads or other promotional activity.  
13. Thank You and Q & A