I plucked up the courage and asked Anne if perhaps I could accompany her to a buying meeting one time - she said yes! I am so excited for this, I'm not sure when it'll be, but I'm going to remind her if she forgets as it's an opportunity not to be missed out on!
In other news, Anne has offered me more work - she wants me to stay on at Young Ideas until at least the end of July now, instead of June, and maybe longer. I am thinking about trying to stay on on a Saturday when we go back to Uni, kind of as a part time job, but also as invaluable learning. I am so glad I got this placement, and, although I'd like to be doing more writing, that's something I can undertake under my own steam throughout the summer.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Young Ideas 4
I'm not waiting a week to blog as tonight we had a staff meeting at Anne Wright's house. Everybody was there from both stores, including Tara, the data marketing woman, who I hadn't met yet, but will be working with from next week.
The meeting was basically for us all to be involved with deciding what brands to stock etc. We got to look at all of the buying photographs that Anne and the other girls who travelled with her had taken from Paris and London. It was amazing to see the clothes and accessories, and how they were presented for business's to buy. I am very interested in buying now, and would love to learn more, so have been researching graduate schemes and internships online, perhaps for when I finish uni next year. All the shop assistants have amazing brand awarness - they definitely know fashion! And it's obvious that Anne only employs someone with experience of high fashion retail to work on the shop floor.
The meeting was basically for us all to be involved with deciding what brands to stock etc. We got to look at all of the buying photographs that Anne and the other girls who travelled with her had taken from Paris and London. It was amazing to see the clothes and accessories, and how they were presented for business's to buy. I am very interested in buying now, and would love to learn more, so have been researching graduate schemes and internships online, perhaps for when I finish uni next year. All the shop assistants have amazing brand awarness - they definitely know fashion! And it's obvious that Anne only employs someone with experience of high fashion retail to work on the shop floor.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Young Ideas 3
I've been working with Steph, the e-commerce marketing expert! Lots of things are changing around Young Ideas backstage - we have cleared out one of the stock rooms and there are now 3 desks there and LOADS of computers (Steph and Tara, who hasn't started yet, need 2 monitors each!) one of the desks is for me... I feel much more part of the team now, and have been mainly reporting to Steph who has given me so much work! She has taught me the basics of Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO to us in the know!) and now I am attempting to implement it in my work of uploading and description writing. Between us, we have also come up with a new way to present the garments online.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Young Ideas 2
I've been so busy at work - I really need to catch up with uploading current stock to the website, before we start getting the Autumn/Winter deliveries in! It's summer, but I love autumn fashion, so I can't wait!
I have changed all the designer profile pages on the website so that the pictures are more uniformed and professional looking, and I think Anne is pleased with my work! She works so hard running between Ashbourne and the newly opened Derby store, as well as running the business from behind the scenes, and attending shows. She also, obviously, buys all the fashion, so that means going to the studios to buy. She wants to expand the business, not in bricks and mortar, but online - so I'm going to be a big part of that! It's exciting! She has also just employed two marketing people who will be working with me. This is great news as it means I can get some really good experience in all different areas.
I have changed all the designer profile pages on the website so that the pictures are more uniformed and professional looking, and I think Anne is pleased with my work! She works so hard running between Ashbourne and the newly opened Derby store, as well as running the business from behind the scenes, and attending shows. She also, obviously, buys all the fashion, so that means going to the studios to buy. She wants to expand the business, not in bricks and mortar, but online - so I'm going to be a big part of that! It's exciting! She has also just employed two marketing people who will be working with me. This is great news as it means I can get some really good experience in all different areas.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Young Ideas
I've had my first (allbeit very short, due to so many bank holidays!) week at Young Ideas, Ashbourne. I have my own little studio, with an Apple Mac, digital camera and mannequin (who's very heavy...) so that I can photograph and edit pictures of garments to be sold on the website. I am also in charge of uploading the relevant information onto the website. I've already noticed quite a few issues with the site - I feel that it needs to be more uniform in the way that the writing and pictures are laid out, and also, there are many grammatical mistakes. My friend who lives and works in London told me that if you know the right people, you can freelance as a copywriter, for editorials. Apparently it's well paid, and I need to find out more!
Back to Young Ideas, and I'm working hard to learn the ropes! I have a lot of responsability, and I'm being paid, so I want to make an excellent impression.
UPDATE:
At work yesterday I received a phone call from Burberry head office in London! I had uploaded my C.V. to their website a while a go, and they wanted to talk to me about a temporary role in their head office! I would have loved to have gone for it, Burberry head office is AMAZING, but it clashed with my Young Ideas internship, so it was a no for now. Hopefully I can try again afterwards.
Back to Young Ideas, and I'm working hard to learn the ropes! I have a lot of responsability, and I'm being paid, so I want to make an excellent impression.
UPDATE:
At work yesterday I received a phone call from Burberry head office in London! I had uploaded my C.V. to their website a while a go, and they wanted to talk to me about a temporary role in their head office! I would have loved to have gone for it, Burberry head office is AMAZING, but it clashed with my Young Ideas internship, so it was a no for now. Hopefully I can try again afterwards.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
What to do now?
This is the question I've been asking myself since leaving The Trend Boutique. I am revved up and ready to learn more - there are just so many ways for me to get experience - it's hard to choose which direction I want to go in! So I've just been applying for as many internships and placements as I can, in all different areas, from writing for magazines, to e-commerce on websites. I feel as though I need to really build up my portfolio in terms of written work, as magazines and fashion blogs always ask for "examples of recent work". I am definitely going to get in touch with Dusted magazine (the University of Derby student mag) when I return after the summer, as it would be excellent to get some of my work published. I've also been looking into any creative Derby based magazines, and am going to set myself mini-projects for the summer period.
UPDATE:
All that writing of cover-letters and endless emails have paid off! I have been offered a PAID placement at Young Ideas Fashion, based primarily in Ashbourne. The owner, Anne Wright, got in contact with me inviting me for an interview. It went wonderfully, and the shop in Ashbourne is simply stunning. So many beautiful clothes, bags, shoes... It reminds me a little of the shopping experience you would get in L.K. Bennett, where I worked for over a year. I could see myself fitting in at Young Ideas, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I'd also heard back from the Glass Boutique, London - I received this email:
Hi Alice,
Thank you for very much for showing interest in our position for an Online Fashion Intern. If you are receiving this email..smile as it's good news because it means you have been shortlisted.
The next stage is for us to get a feel for your writing skills and tone as well as a chance for us to get to know a bit more about you.
1.In no more than 750 words who is your favourite designer and why?
2.Pick any product from the Glass Boutique site and write a blog post on it.
3.In no more than 750 words take a look around the Glass Boutique site and tell us what you like about it and any improvements you think can be made.
Deadline: 19/04/2011
We look forward to your reply and good luck!
P.S Nice C.V layout!
Regards,
Melissa
When I had applied for the Glass Boutique, I desperately wanted to get the placement as it seemed perfect for me - it would be a little bit of e-commerce along-side updating their blog and undertaking some other editorial work.
However, after two interviews and Anne advising me she had lots of applicants, I was told that I had got the position of the e-commerce intern at Young Ideas!! I had to take it, as not only was it a great place, an easy bus ride from my flat in Derby, but it was paid, which is very unusal for a placement. I wrote to the Glass Boutique as I felt there was no point in wasting their time as they needed someone ASAP, and then gratefully accepted the Young Ideas position!
UPDATE:
All that writing of cover-letters and endless emails have paid off! I have been offered a PAID placement at Young Ideas Fashion, based primarily in Ashbourne. The owner, Anne Wright, got in contact with me inviting me for an interview. It went wonderfully, and the shop in Ashbourne is simply stunning. So many beautiful clothes, bags, shoes... It reminds me a little of the shopping experience you would get in L.K. Bennett, where I worked for over a year. I could see myself fitting in at Young Ideas, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I'd also heard back from the Glass Boutique, London - I received this email:
Hi Alice,
Thank you for very much for showing interest in our position for an Online Fashion Intern. If you are receiving this email..smile as it's good news because it means you have been shortlisted.
The next stage is for us to get a feel for your writing skills and tone as well as a chance for us to get to know a bit more about you.
1.In no more than 750 words who is your favourite designer and why?
2.Pick any product from the Glass Boutique site and write a blog post on it.
3.In no more than 750 words take a look around the Glass Boutique site and tell us what you like about it and any improvements you think can be made.
Deadline: 19/04/2011
We look forward to your reply and good luck!
P.S Nice C.V layout!
Regards,
Melissa
When I had applied for the Glass Boutique, I desperately wanted to get the placement as it seemed perfect for me - it would be a little bit of e-commerce along-side updating their blog and undertaking some other editorial work.
However, after two interviews and Anne advising me she had lots of applicants, I was told that I had got the position of the e-commerce intern at Young Ideas!! I had to take it, as not only was it a great place, an easy bus ride from my flat in Derby, but it was paid, which is very unusal for a placement. I wrote to the Glass Boutique as I felt there was no point in wasting their time as they needed someone ASAP, and then gratefully accepted the Young Ideas position!
Monday, 11 April 2011
Leaving The Trend Boutique...
I have made the difficult decision, after 2 weeks, to leave Sally and The Trend Boutique boys and girls... It's been great, but due to illness, and a chat with Claudia and the doctor, I feel it's the best decision, and, if I'm honest, I probably got all I could out of the placement in terms of learning.
I would have been interested to learn more about Sally Denton, and perhaps other fashion roles she's personally had. Unfortunatly Sally is obviously very busy, and couldn't give me much time. Perhaps if I'd stayed longer I would have had an opportunity to find out more!
After having handed in my notice, I received an e-mail from Sally to say that if I want to return to The Trend Boutique later in the summer, or ever work from home for her, I am more than welcome. It feels good to know that I have built this bridge, and have started to network for my future career.
I would have been interested to learn more about Sally Denton, and perhaps other fashion roles she's personally had. Unfortunatly Sally is obviously very busy, and couldn't give me much time. Perhaps if I'd stayed longer I would have had an opportunity to find out more!
After having handed in my notice, I received an e-mail from Sally to say that if I want to return to The Trend Boutique later in the summer, or ever work from home for her, I am more than welcome. It feels good to know that I have built this bridge, and have started to network for my future career.
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