When Risk Turn into Fashion

 “The worst is not as bad as it seems” are words from the owner of Zou Zou boutiques.  I had the privilege of interviewing Wendy Ricchi at her Downtown Orlando location.  With a family of 3 children and a husband, her words of inspiration warmed my heart as she explained her journey in entrepreneurship, which has been her passion since she was 5 years old. 

In support of her passion for entrepreneurship, her grandparents allowed her to sell items from their store that seemed “unsellable”. Even at a young age, her mind sit was on running a business.  Can you imagine a cute blonde head 6-year-old girl owning her own store? What a sight to see, right?  Her creativity as a child expanded her desire to be involved in different roles such as merchandising and entrepreneurship. 

Although Mall of Millenia had not yet been established, she wanted to create a store that offers a great customer experience and new fashionable clothing; hence Zou Zou Boutiques was born. “There was a need for fashion at the time”, she mentioned.  Wendy shows us that faith is driven through action.  She further states, “In order for people to take you serious, you must take yourself serious…take risks, and start your business.”  The more you sit on the idea, the more you will give yourself the thought of giving up.  Many people allow their dreams to be hung on the shelf with the hopes that someone would notice.  Fear of rejection or fear of failure will keep you from taking risks.

She allows her competition and clients (clients are also known as her boss) to continue to motivate her in pushing the boundaries of taking more risks.  This is the reason why she opened a new location in 2009 in the area of Dr. Phillips and Bay Hill in Orlando.  Never allowing limitations and negatively to destroy her motivation, she continues with the success of owning 2 boutique businesses.   

Thorton Park Location 

To close the interview she shares a few fashion rules that she suggested:

1.     Update your look with angle boots with a dress during the fall season. 

2.     Be comfortable in your skin.

3.     Understand that confidence and style changes attitudes.  Dress like where you want to go in the future. 

With an enthusiastic and “down to earth” attitude, Wendy inspires others to pursue their dreams and go after what they believe in.  Fashion is all about taking risks and pushing the boundaries.  So why not believe in yourself by recreating and re-inventing something new.  Wendy is the example of taking risks and producing great results out of those risks.

Purposeful Business Plan: Rage on the Runway

The previous blog discussed the common nature of changing the original vision of product of business plan.  That many times it’s important to implement now and perfected as you go along.  This expert advice was incorporated in a recent event at Full Sail University.  Rage on the Runway is Full Sail University’s first ever fashion show on September 27, 2013.  Group of team members, Fusion Festival and myself produced this show.  Our primary goal was to successfully implement organization and create a successful event through artistic design.

One of the things that Chuck Blakeman suggested for business success was to recognize that “How” is a strategic question and that we must use “how” for all short term planning.  This generates a strategic strategy in the pre-production process of the fashion show.  By asking “how” towards our short-term goals, we were able to accomplish those small goals and furthermore, completing the task of an organized event. 

As an event planner for live performance, there might be moments where things won’t go according to plan but that doesn’t mean to give up on the overall vision.  There were many things happening in the event that didn’t go as planned.  However, we were able to think on our feet and accomplish our short-term goals.  This helped toward the main objective in of a successful event. 

The end accomplishment resulted in more than 400 people. The venue was full to capacity and we had to shut the doors.  Although, the goal wasn’t to send people away but it’s great to know that we reached our marketing goal.  There were moments where we didn’t reach goals but we understand that we’re human and mistakes happen. There were other moments in the process where it seem like the event wasn’t going to happen and people told me I should give up.  By implementing these short-term goals and encouraging last minute changes, our dream became a reality. 

Shine Bright in Event Planning

A lot of people think that life is like a box of chocolates.  Well, at least that’s what Forest Gump said.  He also said “You never know what you’re gonna get”.  Which is true, even when you plan thoroughly.  In planning a fashion show, event planners are excepted to surprise or “Wow” the audience.  The pressure to do so can be intimidating but very possible to do.  However, with event planning with a live performance, we must plan for the worst by identifying risk factors. We must make the audience come back for more.  

What makes a great and entertaining fashion show, you may ask?  Well, some people say that the models make the show.  Models are a huge factor in entertainment in a fashion show.  However, without event planner, the completion of the production will be compromised and ultimately sacrifice.  Event planners can be recognized as executive leaders that are able to manage a group or team of people to accomplish a common goal.  A complete production with satisfactory results should be on the minds of an event planner.

Live performances such as a fashion show comes with it’s challenges but Jessica Willis from TLC suggested to create an engaging atmosphere.  Using production material such as energetic music, proper stage lighting design, and engaging marketing material helps with maintaining the function of creativity.  Once the audience sees the level of creativity, the value of the show increase. 

As I continue to plan my fashion show, Rage on the Runway, I understand that choosing the right people for the team and the right models for the show is very important.  Picking the right people will help dress rehearsal to run smoothly and ultimately the show to be successful.  Rage on the Runway can be compare to Victoria Secret Fashion Show that has live performance and extreme scenes that are full of creativity. Which it’s important to recruit the right people to carry the vision to another level of excellence. 

Sited photograph: fashionclothingguides.blogspot.com

Fear of Business Owners

What if it doesn’t work? Where is the money coming from?  How will I build a fan base?  How long is this going to take?  Am I dreaming too big?  These are questions takes up the mental space in a beginning business owner.  Forming a business is always a risk factor.  It’s always a scary thought to overcome rejection and step out on faith.  Success is not easy to come by.  

What if I told you that we as future business owners and future artist can reach any goal of success?  Would you believe me? Would you believe that you are meant to succeed? That the power of success lays in your hands? That failure is not an option or an excuse to minimize your goals of success?  Many business owners are scare of the thought of failure.  However, failure sometimes makes us successors and people of endurance.

However, we must realize that in order to reach success, we must take risks.  Risks that are practical and logical will help business owners to be prosperous in business.  You must reach towards your dreams.  I learned from my readings to consider it joy when we are faced with various situations of fear because the testing of our faith produce courageous endurance.  When we allow courageous endurance to have its complete result, our business will not lack in success. 

“Don’t be distracted my small foxes because you’re called to greatness”.  This is a quote from my poem that I recite often in Orlando.  What this simply means is to never allow small distractions and fears to keep you from reaching your fullest potential of greatness.  Fears are not suppose to distract you from reaching success but further more help us to gain wisdom in order to endure to weight of success.  The most successful business owner will take the biggest risk.  Be the success you want to see.

Here is a video of the Spoken Word "Dem Small Foxes" by Rachael Garrett

Market Yourself

Who says that it’s impossible to market yourself?  When we think of new businesses and artist, we think we have to pay an arm and a leg to do so.  I recently listened to a very informative lecture about distribution and how she was a form example of how you market on your own.  She made it look so easy and in her eyes, it is. 

Marketing is not what is it was in the old days.  We use to depend on experience marking representatives that will charge for their services.  Now that we have the different avenues such as social media including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Social Cam, Instagram and Tumblr. It becomes easier to promote yourself.  Business owners, artist, musicians, entrepreneurs, producers and managers have a chance to expand their brand through social media which in this case is more affordable.

Marketing and advertisement in the 21^st century is not as hard as it use to be.  It’s easy to pick up a phone and post of picture for the fans to see.  These consistent marketing trends can expand the business and furthermore create success.  Kevin Smith and Ed Burns are great examples of self-distribution and marketing.  Both are well known in the film industry and have taken their chance to complete self-distribution through iTunes and Netflix.   Marketing through social media and self-distribution has helped filmmakers and artist to cut expenses and cost in half. 

This type of marketing can have pros and cons for business publicity.  One might not have the major marketing or distribution company push that a normal filmmaker, book or screenplay would have.  However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t step out on faith and make your dreams a reality.  There’s no limits on anyone visions and dreams to be successful in their particular art.  Sometimes it take believing in your vision enough to do the impossible but have the practical intelligence to support it.