Craig Stephenson-Buyer for a popular boutique in Charlotte, NC

I have known Craig for many years. We have supported each other through the ups and downs of working in the fashion industry as well as in our own personal relationship. Our friendship like our careers has stood the test of time.  I know that his boutique, in Charlotte, NC always had about a $250 price point for their shoes. Craig called me while he was stomping around Magic and said “Oh my, I just saw the cutest line called M.I.A.! I said you mean MIA? He said, “Oh well whatever, yes! We just wrote a bunch of orders.” haha  I was shocked and asked him what he was doing buying MIA shoes (they are a great brand that I actually know quite well and even own a few pairs, but they’re at a lower price point than he usually buys) and he said “Times have changed honey! We are shopping for a different women!” Well said!  Craig is creative, passionate and quite hilarious. Thank you for the contribution Craig! You rock!!

 “Shopping for the Recessionista!!”

Long gone are the days of frivolity when buying for our fabulous women. On numerous previous trips to trade shows it felt like a walk in Paris Hilton’s shoes.  Ever since the gas prices rose our eyes widened as we saw the global response as well as the changes in the way our women were buying, and when we realized these changes we were quick to jump!  We cancelled orders with more expensive brands and hurriedly started scouring high and low for those jewels in the rough… brands with PERCEIVED VALUE over a brand with a hot name.  It seems that our ladies’ taste for fashion is unchanged, but her pocketbook has lightened, along with our expensive inventory. 

Its been awhile now since I’ve heard the stories of women snatching an extra $50 cash back with each grocery visit… the husbands are onto these shenanigans nowadays and the crafty fashionistas have to come up with a new plan to satisfy their cravings for the fabulous!  They have put down the Neiman’s Card and started looking for brands they can trust, but with prices that won’t make their husband tailspin into the nearest dive bar and drown his financial sorrow with Jim Bean.  Emerge… the RECESSIONISTA!!  A fashion savvy woman who knows what she wants and who will find the best deal for her desires.

 I have to trust my instinct as much as listen to my clients in order to stay on my toes as a buyer.  The occasions are endless that I get a feeling in my gut to move in a particular direction, trust it, abandon a trend, and it has once again taken me into the safety zone and ahead of the demand.  So, again we jumped into a direction that was not ENTIRELY foreign.  “Chinatown” (as I like to call the Asian section at MAGIC) has always been a little favorite of mine.  We can find the coolest brands that knock off the “big leaguers” and do it with quality, function, and best of all, affordability!  Here we have found brands that simply sell themselves as well as ones that we can achieve fabulous margins on!! 

Here are some of my favorite new finds, and a few of my favorite old ones as well.

Sergio Zelcer!!  Not only is Jason the most high energy rep this side of the Mississippi, but probably one of the most knowledgeable as well.  His understanding of his product is so vast and (best of all) his is the FASTEST shipping company around.  WE LOVE THEM!!!  Their shoes are inspired by the hottest trends on the runway and I have heard the consistent comment from my clients, “They look JUST like the new Loubuitons!!”  In which I respond, “Honey yes… but for a fraction of the price!!”  (cha ching!!)  Retailing anywhere from $120-$250 (or so) they’re not the bargain of the recession… but damn if those divas don’t look fierce in them when they show them off to the wallet-clenching hubby!! 

Next is a new found lovely that we have yet to receive in our shop but I can’t WAIT for our ladies to get their manicured hands on these babies.  MIA Shoes is a fun, fashion-forward brand that will appeal to your lady on a budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice her style in the process.  We picked up several styles at MAGIC and at the price we bought them for, even the most conservative penny pincher will let the change dribble into your register.  The rep working the booth was so helpful and fun, to prove his commitment it seemed as though he was prepared to sign his soul over to the devil if they didn’t sell.  Now that’s the kind of conviction I like to hear from a sales rep! If it seems as though they would give up their first born if the product doesn’t sell, then I’ll take one in every color!! 

Lastly is a wonderfully stylish and hip line that we picked up at the Atlanta Market.  We discovered them on the premium level and almost fell over our down the nose purveyance to salivate on these puppies.  Seriously, if the shoes were any more attention-getting they would have been thrown at us (take aim at Georgie B please). Dolce Vita’s chic brand is a no brainer… their quality is apparent without breaking the bank and they offer a pretty nice range of selections.  We found some fabulous flats for the summer, delicious little thong sandals with embellishments, and all of them have a serious perceived value (we are talking MARGINS here people!!).

At the end of the day, I have enjoyed the challenge of buying for our new breed of fashion scavengers.  I kind of feel like Indiana Jones in search for the holy grail.  Sometimes I even carry a whip. The fun these days is in dodging the temptation of lovely-but-dangerous ‘expensive’ items, and finding the true gem in a humble (but damn fabulous) beauty of a product.  Who ever said, “Quality over Quantity” wasn’t shopping right… I’ll take both thank you very much!! 

 http://www.shopdolcevita.com/shoes.aspx

http://www.miashoes.com/

http://www.spanishleather.com/index.html