I think I'm starting to get to grips with what needs to be done and have figured out where we stand (where the two girls that were running Baby Issa before I arrived had gotten to) and slowly slowly, I'm starting to instinctively do things my way...
My vision for Baby Issa is to treat it like a very very small start-up with very very big dreams.
By this I mean, as much DIY as possible. Not just because that keeps costs as low as possible (always a good move when you have zero budget), but mainly, because that makes it as "us" as possible... I think it is evident when you look at any issue of The Face or old ID or Dazed, enter any designer's studio who is just about to hit the big time: the energy is INCREDIBLE. TANGIBLE.
And that is because everyone is involved in everything. Communication is flowing, everyone knows what everyone else is doing, gets involved and helps wherever possible. Nobody is ever bored. Exhausted yes, bored never.
Once you become a big company, it is easier, cheaper and more efficient to outsource a lot of things - most things in fact that aren't your "core" activities... This is a mentality which is obviously prevalent at Issa, which today is a large company.
Baby Issa on the other hand, is not.
We luckily have access to a lot of their infrastructure, but apart from printers, stationary, contacts and the kindness and help of their staff, I feel it is better to ignore everything they can offer us and instead "make do" - because that is when magic happens.
It is also when you learn how what needs to be done in your company, the energy involved and what kind of results can be expected - and I am sure this is invaluable knowledge and experience, when one finds oneself in the position of hiring someone or managing people...
To give you a little idea of what needs to be done at this stage in production / press / sales, I'm going to lazily post my To Do List and let you imagine the rest for yourself.
Pipi Stinki (told you I was feeling juvenile)
To Do Tuesday
- TRADEFAIRS
- find cheap / make own Orderbooks (go to ryman / viking etc - try different options with carbon paper, lighter than 80 gsm paper / get quotes for that special carbon-style paper in yellow and pink)
- contact buyers for Bubble London, Pitti Bimbo Florence, Playtime Paris, ENK New York, Kidsmarket LA
- Convince Playtime to give us a space (ask Saskia or Mark to charm them in their best French)
- organise cheap and good quality mannequins for Paris (no freaky looking ones! see image)
(copyright 2ememain.be, 3B scientific, Puces d'Oc)
- get design company's budget for display plinths for mannequins and vinyl stickers for stand personalisation approved - find own shipping company, their quote much too expensive!!
- try and get an answer from Pitti whether our design is okay (find alternative phone / fax numbers to the WRONG ONES provided in their email!! ARGH!)
- decide on pricing for all dresses (include ribbon and packaging and tissue paper in cost)
- find showroom to take on our collection at kidsmarket (they don't rent out temporary space)
- make appointments with buyers to see Baby Issa
- LOOKBOOK
- write contacts page for press and sales inquiries
- write accompanying text including all style names and numbers
- find studio to shoot individual looks
- burn all print files on a CD (too big to email)
- and send to Philippe to add to the lookbook
- compare all quotes from printers and decide
- contact cool friends for "mother & daughter" shoot next week
- find location for "mother & daughter" shoot
- send pics of collection to NYC showroom
- ask Alice to send all pics to her press contacts (Vogue, vogue.com, style.com, vogue bambini, Junior mag etc)
- ask Philippe to make prints on dresses stronger in pics
- Return all unused goods bought for photoshoot (can do any time next week)
- Thank all mothers for their patience, kindness and help with our photoshoot!!
- LOGO
- what is our final logo??
- M
- take M to doctor re cough
- find a new nanny as new one wants more money :(
No comments:
Post a Comment