FGI Beauty Buzzes on Social Media

Fashion Group International's Beauty buzz discusses the impact of social media on Chicago beauty business. Attendees sipped on great wines and nibbles while panelist discussed the role of SM in their business practices. All declared that the use of social media has been positive for them. There is the occasional wayward tweet or customer service issue, but all in all, the tone was that social drives business. People want to build community with the brands they use. Customers want to feel that they are apart of a movement, or something special. Social Media is the way to keep connected before, during, and after a business interaction with customers. Potential customers can see how responsive and informative you are with your own current clients and can decide to buy just from a social media interaction.

 

 

 

 

 

The panelist included greats like Stacy Koerner-Roney, Founder and Publisher of Glossed and Found (the online beauty mag), Kate Leydon, the Founder and President of the Ruby Room, Amber Wallor of The Left Hand Marketing group and and beauty extraordinaire Richard Class from Blue Mercury.

 

   

  

The Blue Mercury team was so gracious and the selection and space was amazing. I will be making a return trip for a spa treatment! Be sure to check out all of our great panelist on their social media channels. Tweet them and join their beauty community. Glossed and FoundBlue MercuryRuby RoomLeft Hand Marketing

And a special thanks to Lisa Ackerman, the Regional Director for the Chicago chapter of Fashion Group International. Thanks to her you will be seeing this lovely face around the FGI group more often as I am the newest FGI social media manager and blog writer. Thanks Lisa for the amazing opportunity. You can find out more about my fashion and social media experience at dbabetta.com  XO, @TerezBaskin 

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The New Beauty Buzz: Exploring Social Media's Impact on the Business of Beauty

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New Member: Jessi Sheehan

New Member Jessi Sheehan Helps Chicago’s Fashion Industry “Evolve”

A Chicago native, Jessi Sheehan’s passion for fashion began at a young age when she would change her clothes four-to five times each day to be certain her look was perfect for every occasion.  Today, she holds a certificate in Apparel Merchandising and Fashion Design from Indiana University and is an accomplished personal and editorial stylist having worked for the industry’s who’s who, such as Jillian Lewis of Project Runway.

Jessi recently moved back to her hometown of Chicago after a year in New York City and founded Evolve in January 2012, which specializes in a variety of services from closet organization to complete wardrobe styling for women and men, as well as personal styling for weddings and other special events.  Her talents are also sought by fashion-forward leaders including Harper’s Bazaar and Liz Claiborne. 

Jessi is excited about getting involved in FGI-Chicago and hopes to collaborate with local boutiques, photographers and designers to help Chicago’s fashion scene evolve to international esteem.

For more information about Jessi and Evolve, visit www.evolvechicago.com, follow her on Twitter @evolve_chicago or contact her at info@evolvechicago.com

Jessi’s fashion “must have” this summer:  White skinny jeans.  She suggests pairing them with a boyfriend  tee or sheer silk blouse.

Jessi’s fashion words of wisdom:  Don’t take all trends so literal.  Take what you see and make it your own.

Retailing on the Edge, featuring Gwen Morrison

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A Portal of Gold: Gilt Groupe Founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson Shares Her Entrepreneurial Inspirations

FGI-Chicago members who attended the April breakfast event featuring a discussion with Gilt Groupe founder, Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, left with a bit more entrepreneurial brilliances as she shared highlights from her new book, By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop, which she wrote with co-founder, Alexis Maybank.   Held at Chicago’s hip new PUBLIC hotel, the event was sponsored by CS and attended by nearly 70 FGI-Chicago fashion industry leaders.   The inspirational morning featured a delicious breakfast, followed by a discussion with Wilson and a book signing. 

If you missed the event, following are three key learnings I took from the discussion:

• The leaders of an organization should not all be visionaries, as the Gilt Groupe’s five co-founders learned after investing in the personality type and cognitive style Myers Briggs test.   To achieve success, process people must be a part of the executive team.
• Learning to recognize  when your stress load is affecting you mentally, emotionally and physically is something she couldn’t “stress” enough.  Deal with stress by taking time off to recharge your mind and body. 
• The relationship between business partners is fundamental to the success of the company.  (The book includes a business partner check list.)  How do you fight?  And, how you work things out?  Communication is key to a successful business partnership and you can’t over communicate in Wilson’s opinion.  

The book is filled with many more business start-up tips, words of wisdom and inspirational stories and can be purchased at Amazon.com and BN.com  for $27.95.

Welcome to the FGI-Chicago Blog

Welcome to the FGI-Chicago Blog, a forum that is open to all members to share fashion and design trends, news, events and other information of interest to your associate industry members.   We encourage all of you to utilize the new Blog to promote exciting new happenings at your business and to offer your expertise on contemporary issues in the business of fashion through by-lined articles.  The FGI-Chicago Board members also will post weekly event news, new member profiles and additional content that will help your careers and businesses flourish. 

If you’re interested in being a guest Blogger or would like to post a business announcement, please contact Denise O’Handley at denise@wkprchicago.com.  All submitted content is subject to editing by the FGI-Chicago Board of Directors in accordance with the established writers’ guidelines.  Approved content will be posted within three business days of your submission.