You Better Work!

 While working at Bagir International there were multiple opportunities for me to propose, develop, implement and evaluate major projects within my work environment. I was able to do so using my apparel, merchandising and textiles expertise. The following are the projects that I accomplished during my time in New York City and my input and accomplishments for each project:

Celebrate Manhattan Chic VIP Event

Designer Macy's Matthew Ossenfort, Six time Stanley Cup Winner Glen Anderson, VP Marketing Bagir International Tim Danser, Designer Jay Godfrey, Sr. Account Manager Bagir International Tina Birica

Goal: Host a world-class reception at the Atelier Sky Lounge in New York City to promote designers Simon Carter, Jay Godfrey, and Bagir International as a global brand.

Tasks:

·      Worked with every department of the company to help put event together.

·      Designed graphics for Step and Repeat that was used for photo opportunities at event.

·      Helped design invitation for the event.

·      Sourced a Gelato catering company to come and serve at the event.

·      Prepared all necessary items to be shipped to location prior to event.

·      Helped set up and break down event.

·      Prepared nametags for Bagir employees to help with networking at event.

·      Served as one of the hosts for the event, escorting people from the ground floor up to the sky lounge, making sure that all guests were enjoying themselves and all necessary tasks were being accomplished.

Accomplishments:

·      Over 175 guests were in attendance.

·      Positive press exposure and featured on PRWeb and MR Magazine’s website.

·      Multiple new business connections and possibilities were created.

Male Super Model Zenel (Center Left) and models dressed in Jay Godfrey, Simon Carter London and Simon Carter West End

To learn more about the success of the events and see more photos, please visit the links below: 

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/07/prweb4286104.htm

 

http://www.mrketplace.com/schmoozing/index.cgi?&insidealbum=True&reference_albumtitle=348

  

http://geminijono.wordpress.com/ 

MRketNY

Goal: Prepare, construct, and work at the Simon Carter Booth at MRketNY in New York City, the largest Menswear Market Expo in the United States.

Tasks:

·      Artfully and efficiently catalogued, set up/broke down, and merchandized booth at expo for a high level presentation that was critical for sale pitches at event.

·      Filled out order forms for customers.

·      Took those orders and then compiled them into an excel spreadsheet to be sent to UK offices to process and fulfill customers’ orders.

Accomplishments:

·      Gained many new clients and customers because of presentation of booth.

·      Created a more recognizable and prestigious image of the Simon Carter line in the United States.

Cintas Marketing Boards

Problem: Boards that were originally assembled and sent to client arrived damaged due to weakness in assembly process.

Goal: Develop a new process that would allow a safe shipment of boards without damage during travel or arrival to client.

Tasks:

·      Developed new process of assembly.

·      Manually combined over 800 pieces for boards.

·      Ensured that there were enough materials to fulfill task.

·      Affixed balls to over 160 posters.

·      Managed supplies for assembly by continually replenishing and monitoring them.

Accomplishments:

·      Successfully reassembled marketing posters and gained approval from and satisfaction of client.

Eco-Experience Presentation

Problem: Current packaging of uniforms was dull and reflected poorly on the market campaign for client.

Goal: Recommend a new packaging strategy to make the customer feel “empowered” that they were helping the environment by purchasing the item.

Tasks:

·      Created a presentation for new packaging strategy.

·      Provided own input into the overall concept for the new strategy.

·      Designed packaging and elements of packaging to be presented to client.

Accomplishments:

·      Bulk of my creative concepts were adopted and presented to client.

·      Received positive feedback from client, and concepts are now to be reviewed for implementation on company wide packaging program.

Getting To Know You

Bagir International's US office may be small in numbers, but it is gargantuan in the affect they have on the fashion industry. It is an Israel based company, but the American office has many responsibilities of their own. The following are the individuals that I worked with, their responsibilities, and the career path they chose to get to the position they were in:

President/Vice President:

o   In charge of marketing, PR, sales, merchandising, while also serving as the liaison between the US office and the Israel office.

o   Made all final decisions as far as product development, marketing/PR campaigns, and any other major decisions that needed to be approved before being presented to Israel for international approval.

o   Careers that they had before joining Bagir included being a buyer for Sears and JC Penny.

Senior Account Manager:

o   In charge of specific clients and accounts.

o   In charge of pricing and sourcing of orders requested by clients.

o   Creates their portion of the tech pack that includes finishes, findings, trims, etc.

o   Oversees Product Development after it has gone through creative (factory-samples.)

Account Manager:

o   Have many of the same responsibilities as the Sr. Account Manager, but on a slightly different level and with different types of clients.

o   Studied Fashion Merchandising at FIT and started out as an Executive Assistant at Bagir before becoming the account manager.

Creative Director:

o   Develops the concepts/moods/colors/themes and possible fabric choices and presents them using concept boards.

o   Begins creating sketches that are then turned into flat patterns and digitized with the help of the Pattern Maker.

o   Creates specifications for construction of garment for tech packs that is then passed on to Sr. Account and Account Managers and they collaborate on fabric, lining, trims, piping, finishes, etc.

o   Plays a part in the approval process of final sample of garment.

o   Served as designer for Sears before coming to Bagir.

Fashion Marketing Specialist/PR:

o   In charge of marketing and PR.

o   Writes press releases.

o   Develops marketing campaigns.

o   Designs graphics for various purposes, such as packaging, labels, etc.

o   Serves as liaison for company between celebrity stylists, media, other organizations and companies.

o   Began doing marketing for the pharmaceutical industry with Duane Reade.

Office Coordinator:

o   Organizes office and employees schedules.

o   In charge of all incoming and outgoing shipments.

o   Answers phone calls.

o   Assists wherever needed.

o   Attended FIT and worked for multiple PR organizations before coming to Bagir.

Controller:

o   In charge of all the finances.

Logistics Manager:

o   Keeps track of all orders, units, warehouses and shipping details.

Interns

o   Assisted and completed tasks and provided input when needed.

    Though each individual had their own set of responsibilities, we all worked together to make sure that not only the company succeeded, but each individual did as well. In the end they became my new family, and I grew to love each and everyone of them.

http://www.bagir.com/

Laying My Yellow Brick Road...Brick By Brick

I began my endeavor of obtaining an internship six months prior to actually having a face-to-face meeting with any individual in the industry. Knowing that I wanted to get the most out of my experience, I defined my career goals so that I knew exactly what I wanted the internship to provide me. Those career goals ended up being broken up into two different categories, which are as follows:

 ·      Visual Merchandising:

o   Fashion Director

o   Creative Director

o   Stylist

·      Textile Product Development:

o   Forecast Analyst

o   Trend Specialist

The after extensive research of the above goals, I concluded that the skills needed in order to obtain a job in these areas are as follows. Be able to:

o   Keep the company updated on latest fashion trends.

o   Direct company/retail storewide visual merchandising in creating overall theme.

o   Create window displays and outfitting of mannequins according to these trends and themes.

o   Work closely with entrepreneurs or market researchers in developing products keyed to specific end uses.

o   Utilize high technology fabrics and processes in engineering products with special performance features.

o   Feed a constant stream of fabric, color, texture, pattern, and product style trends to designers, merchandisers, promoters, and advertisers across the textile and apparel industry.

After I had established exactly what skills I needed and wanted to obtain, I began to research what companies in the industry would best satisfy these needs. Apart from my career goals, I knew that obtaining an internship in New York City was a definite. With that in mind I knew that the University offered a Study Tour to New York City during Spring Break. I contacted the advisor over the trip and obtained a list of contacts and their information and began to narrow down the companies I wanted to contact and initiate a relationship with. After the process I had decided on two companies in which I would pursue: Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger.

Over the next six months I established and maintained a dialogue with the two companies. Doing this allowed for when a meeting in person took place we knew whom the other was and then only needed to put a name with a face.

Simply gaining contacts in New York I knew was not all I had to accomplish before my arrival in New York for the study tour. With strong encouragement and guidance from one of my professors I created a professional portfolio along with business cards and a pristine resume.

In New York I was able to obtain an in person analysis of the companies I found an interest in. A new company, Bagir international, caught my attention when we visited their office. They were one that I had never heard of before and I found what they did to be astounding so I added them to my list. During our visit I made sure to ask as many questions as I could in regards to their company so that way I could possibly add them as a candidate. Upon leaving their office I made sure to exchange business cards with both the President of the company and the Fashion Marketing Specialist.

By the time I had left New York at the end of the week I had accomplished obtaining three interviews with two different companies. Upon returning to Washington State, I hand wrote and sent off thank you cards of my own design to all the companies that had shared their time and that I had an interest in. Within the next two weeks I had two offers for internship: Bagir International and Tommy Hilfiger USA.

After being offered the internships, I sent each company the Internship Agreement Form pages to obtain the specifics that either internship would entail. When I had reviewed what each company was proposing, I made my decision on what company would best fit my career goals, interests, and the environment I would feel the most comfortable working in. The company that I chose was Bagir International.