British Designers Collective – Vanessa’s BLOG
29-03-2010
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Welcome to Vanessa’s BDC BLOG…
Every week I will be delivering updates on this amazing project set to launch on the 31st March 2010 for six weeks.
Date: Monday 22nd February
Visit to Bicester Village
Today, I went to visit BV to check out the stock that has been coming in from the designers. I am very excited about this project, it is a fantastic concept! Here is a list so far of who we can expect to see at Unit 34…
Atalanta Weller – Bora Asku – Emma Cook – Erdem – Felder Felder – Fiona Paxton – Goat – Hannah Marshall – House of Holland – Julien MacDonald – Maria Francesca Pepe – Maria Grachvogel – Marios Schwarb – Marcus Lupfer – Osman – Preen – PPQ – Rupert Sanderon and Sykes.
Click here to visit the Village
It was exciting looking at all the designer clothes, as I have a bit of OCD I set about tidying the storehouse so that everything was in its proper place even the dust! I spotted a really cute pink skirt by House of Holland and now can’t stop thinking about it – I’m sad I know…
Interviews were held and we are now planning a recruitment day on the 6th March. We may have already found an Assistant Manager – Megan Cook who is on fire for this six week project.
Bicester Village is a great place to shop and with reductions of 60% standard with all the designer brands there you can find some amazing finds! I’m a HUGE fan of Emma Cook, Bora Asku and Preen so will be in la la land when I see them all in the boutique. The spot that has been allocated couldn’t be more perfect as it’s right infront of Starbuks and a seated area. Currently unit 34 is Miss Sixty and that is where we will be going into…
Tommorow I will set about arranging stock collection from the designers to the secure warehouse – must dash lots to do!
Until next time!
Vanessa x
Date: Thursday 25th February
We have found our AM!
I am delighted to confirm that we have found our Assistant Manager for the Bicester Store. Her name is Megan Cook and you can read Megan’s Profile here.
Date: Monday 1st March
Elle Magazine/Recruitment Day/Designers Day
Today I have been contacting designers that have been chosen for Elle Magazine which comes out this month. As final details have not been confirmed we are not permitted to unveil the shoot but as soon as we can I will upload here…
I am also in the process of finalising the recruitment day on the 6th and 7th March where Jenny and I will be interviewing prospectus candidates for the pop up shop. At the same time we will also have a string of FE designers pitching for their chance to sell at the boutique.
A unique opportunity for Fashion Capital members at Bicester Village
We also now have five confirmed designers for our stock collection which will take place on the 4th/5th March. Designers who have confirmed are:
on 4th March…
Emma Cook
Fiona Paxton
Hannah Marshall
House of Holland
Rupert Sanderson
On 5th March…
Julien MacDonald
Date: Thursday 4th March
Stock Collection Day
ERDEM
Today, was the day that designers stock was to be collected. The first pick up was from Erdem and I was meet by Bethan Clarke the Production Coordinator. The garments were absolutely amazing in the most beautiful prints. Colours were inky blues and pale pinks very much on trend. I just can’t wait to see how they will look once in the boutique. I’m sure these garments are going to fly out of the boutique.
www.erdem.co.uk
EMMA COOK
Our second pick up was from Emma Cook. I’m a Big fan of Emma Cook’s work and it was a pleasure to meet her. It was great to see her at work, adding finishing touches to a graphic printed T-shirt. I loved her studio, very ecentric and unusual. Abbie Shaw, Emma’s Assistant was there to greet me as well and she kindly helped me with the boxes down to the van. Then off to our next pick up…
www.emmacook.co.uk
FIONA PAXTON
As I approached the door to her beautiful house I was greeted by her little dog which was nice (me being a dog lover!) Fiona’s work is amazing her jewellery is beautiful and very unusual. Check out her website here…
www.fiona-paxton.com
GEORGINA GOODMAN
Wow any woman would feel like she’s on cloud 9 when you see these shoes by Georgina Goodman they are pretty amazing! I was greeted by Cynthia De Maria – Store Manager who showed me all 22 boxes of shoes totalling 272 shoes! It was great to see the studio that was below us through a perspex floor and watching a lady create a work of art! I am so excited now – once you see all this amazing stock!
www.georginagoodman.com
JULIEN MACDONALD
And finally, our last stop of the day was Julien MacDonald. I was again kindly shown by Tina Patel – Production Manager the stock which was totally mind blowing…If I only had the money I would buy a few pieces. After everything was packed away carefully we headed off to Oxford and made it just before it closed! All stock is now safely at the DHD warehouse.
www.julienmacdonald.co
So, now Jenny and I are preparing for tomorrow at Bicester to orgainise all the stock and prepare the swing tags as well as a whole load of other things!
Until next time
Vanessa x
Date: Saturday 6th March
Weekend at Bicester Village
It’s Saturday morning and today I set off bright and early (5.30am to be precise) and drove to Bicester Village picking up Jenny along the way, so that interviews could commence for 9.30am at the Management Offices.
The interviews were as follows:
9.30AM – ELLIS ROPER
10.00AM – OLIVIA ALLEN
10.30AM – HARRIET ROBERTS
11.00AM – TIFFANY LAUREN NOGUEIRA
11.30AM – PAUL KITCHING
12.00PM – STEFANO LAWRENCE
We were very impressed with the level of applicants that we received and could instantly see that there were some candidates that would suit the role of SA very well.
Paper work commenced throughout the day, resulting mainly in mounds of photocopying and letter writing, emailing and faxing. Each designer received letter informing them of their stock and further updates.
The next half of the day was for designers to ‘pitch’ to us and show us their stock. All the garments were of a very high standard. Stock and samples were left with us and then transferred over to the DHD warehouse where their fate will be decided by Value Retail.
This was the line up:
12.30pm – ZOE BOOMER (ZOE BOOMER)
01.00pm – JANE AMAKA (EVA EVANAVITCH)
01.30pm – CAITLIN BLODANS ( SWAGGA & SOUL)
02.00pm – CLAIRE MISCHEVANI (MISCHEVANI)
By this time it was 3.30pm and then off to the DHD warehouse to check on the stock that was dropped off on the 4th. Once a quick stock check was done it was back to the Management Offices
To finish off the paper work by now it’s 7pm and Jenny and I are at the point of melt down – however it has been a very productive day indeed.
Having driven from Kent we decided to stay at a B&B which was lovely the owners even gave Jenny and me a left to the local Chinese where we had a well deserved meal! Then back to the B&B and off to bed ready to be up bright and early for the next round…
Date: Sunday 7th March
First thing was to have a full English breakfast and then straight off the DHD warehouse to start the stock counts. We had arranged to meet with Megan Cook who will be acting as the Assistant Manager at the pop up shop.
Looking back on it now it seems quite funny but at the time it was no laughing matter as boxes were pushed up and down, clothes being counted left right and centre and time was against us as the unit shut at 2pm. Thanks to Megan for her help! Jenny and I frantically sorted through what we could making notes of stock and putting things into boxes where everything now stands proud and is fully labelled.
Time disappeared and before we knew it we were being asked to leave (in a nice way) well it was by this time 3pm an hour over closing time – many thanks to Darren for being so patient here. We had decided that the shoes were taking up too much room so Darren will be moving them out into another locker on the 15th March ready for the next set of designer stock to come in on the 18th March.
Jenny and I then set off for the long journey back home having to go through central London on a Sunday night was not what we wanted but hey we did it – next week is a new week let’s see what it brings?
Until next time!
Vanessax
Date: Wednesday 10th March
Stock Count Day
It’s back to Bicester to finish off what we never got round to finishing on Sunday. This was a challenge! All the rails needed to be organised with the correct designer.
Every designer was checked through and they included: Emma Cook with 102 garments, Georgina Goodman with 275 shoes to go through Goat with 165 garments, Sykes with 42 as well as Maria Francesca Pepe and Fiona Paxton. Then all Fashion Enter designers has to be double checked and sorted. I got there at 9.30am – and left at 6pm so you can imagine I was pretty tired at the end of it! But it’s great to see all the amazing stock from these designers…All designers were notified of their stock and there were only a few minor discrepancies.
Date: Friday 12th March
Grazia Magazine shot
Today, I set about arranging the final pick-up of designer stock for the 18th March. They include:
Atalanta Weller- Bora Aksu – House of Holland – Hannah Marshall, Louise Amstrup and PPQ.
I also was asked to collate the credits for the GRAZIA magazine shot that will be out on the 23rd March which was very exciting!
Have a good weekend!
x
Date: Saturday 13th March
Interviews
Yes, it’s back to Bicester for further interviews – We are delighted to confirm the following cadidates have been selected as sales assistants they are: Tiffany Nogueira – Harriet Roberts – Olivia Allen and Stefano Lawrence. Today it was also confirmed that we have three more LFW designers – Jean Pierre Baraganza, Markus Lupfer, Graeme Black and Mark Fast. Dont forget to buy the April Edition of Elle and Grazia where you will see what we have been working on with the designers.
Date: Thursday 18th March
Stock Collection day part 2
Today is the day Andrew and I set off for London for yet another round of designer collection to be picked up. We started off nice and early and was on route to Bora Aksu when Andrews Sat Nav decided to die…We were only 5 mins away but without that sat nav it became almost impossible to find this street! Tensions were rising and then after heading wrongly through Limehouse tunnel we were back on the right road but then a dog ran out in front of the van…this dog did four circles around the van with it’s owner desperately trying to catch it! On we drove and arrived at Bora Aksu where I meet Fella who counted through all the stock with me. It was a lovely little studio situated in E14 set three floors up. The garments that Bora Aksu have given us for the pop up some are amazing, I wont give too much away you will have to come and see for yourself.
Onto our next designer: PPQ in EC2A this time there were 8 boxes of stock – thanks to the girls that worked in the studio for helping me bring down the 8 boxes..PPQ’s garments are really funky and they have some great styles – Ii can see all this flying out of the boutique.
House of Holland was our next destination and this time I had 10 boxes ram packed with his colourful T-Shirts…you have to see them they are totally out of this world, not my cup of tea. Henry was kind enough to help with the boxes.
Hannah Marshall another favourite designer of mine. Hannah was at the studio and introduced herself to me. Her assistant Ada showed me the collection. Georgeous chiffon and leather dresses at great prices. She really does have some amazing pieces!
Onto Atalanta Weller’s studio to pick up three pairs of shoes which are again fab!
And lastly onto Louise Amstrup who was there to greet me and hand over her garments.
Then we headed for Bicetser. We arrived at 4pm and then I had to leave Andrew to sort the boxes and head straight over to meet Megan so that we could conduct interviews. Thanks to Andrew for all thet driving and map reading too! We were both delighted with Elena Kitsi, Francesca Nimmo and Gai Tashiro who have all been put through to work at the pop up shop – well done everyone. We now have 8 staff including Megan herself. On the 27th March we will all meet once again for breakfast and this will be a time when the guys and girls can really get to know each other…. Then I headed home it was a very long day but was worth it, lets just hope that on our third collection the sat nav stays awake…
Until next time! x
Date: Saturday 20th March
Stock Count Day
Today I decided that I would count in the stock that was dropped off on Thursday. All stock is correctly allocated now and the stock room is bursting at the seams now. We now have over 3,000 units of stock. In my last update I mentioned about House of Holland and I couldn’t resist showing you what you can expect to see from him…So, what do you think is it a winner?
This Friday I’m off for our very last designer collection and they include so far: Jean Pierre-Braganza – Mark Fast – Markus Lupfer and Gwendolyn Carrie.
Back soon! x
Date:31st March
The Launch Party
On the 31st March saw the opening of the British Designers Collective Boutique. The opening was a grand success and key players from the industry were on tap. They included: Harold Tillman (Chairman of the British Fashion Council), Caroline Rush (Cheif Executive BFC) Erin O’Conner (Model) who both opened the boutique. Others included: Stacey Duguid (Executive Fashion Editor Elle Magazine). The lovely Felder Felder twins were at the opening as was Louise Amstrup, Todd Lynn, Lindy Ross of (Anonymous Clothing), Reza Kanani or (Behnaz Kanani shoes) Laura Macintry (Fiona Paxton) and Cynthia Demaria of (Georgina Goodman shoes)…Celebs were on hand as well and left with some delightful goodie bags.
To watch the video click below
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CONTACT
Vanessa Isaia – Project Manager
Fashion Enter Ltd – Fashion House – First Floor – 28 Station Approach – Hayes – Bromley – Kent – BR2 7EH
Email: vanessa@fashion-enter.com
Tel:020 8462 9620
Mobile: 07704553840
