Circular Fashion Movement Gains Momentum at Paris Textile Salons - WWD

Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:02 PM PDT

Forever 21 is newly bankrupt, but the fast-fashion retailer has had legal troubles for years.⁣ ⁣ Designer and other brands continually dragged the retailer into court for churning out knockoffs of runway looks and trademarks. ⁣ ⁣ Wherever the line between design inspiration and outright theft is, Forever 21 regularly tiptoed up to it, legal experts said. For more than a decade, Forever 21 has faced off with challengers of all stripes, including Gucci, Anna Sui and Puma, and it was still facing litigation with Adidas and Ariana Grande at the time of its bankruptcy. Most ongoing civil suits against a company are usually paused when it files for Chapter 11 protection.⁣ ⁣ Tap the link in bio for more. ⁣ ⁣ Report: Sindhu Sundar and Evan Clark⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #wwdbusiness ⁣ #forever21⁣ #bankruptcy

Global Fashion Authority Rachel Zoe Expertly Curated Selection Of Style Obsessions At Box Of Style - Forbes

Posted: 01 Oct 2019 09:57 AM PDT

Rachel Zoe

Christopher Patey

Spending lots of time on shopping is fine if you enjoy it and it makes you feel better. In today's modern times however, many women have very busy schedules, which makes shopping sprees more and more difficult to achieve. Prestige has its price.

Despite a move toward greater e-commerce shopping with greater diversification, producers and retailers still have to think and work like specialists. For instance, a celebrity designer must of necessity choose a way to reach the market segmentation with a personal touch. Customers of course, realize these distinctions. They think of them as interconnectivity with a brand. These distinctions are vital, impacting heavily on the profits and offering differentiation in an era when customers complain of the sameness of the goods they offer.

Designer labels carry a name of the designer; they have grown enormously in number and importance since the last decade. Designer names are no longer limited to apparel. They are frequently found on accessories of every kind, on fragrances and cosmetics, and even on home furnishings.

Fall Box Of Style

Christopher Patey

Every designer has his or her own particular way of conducting business and the celebrity designer industry is no exception. Rachel Zoe is a distinguished designer, editor, author; TV personality and entrepreneur renowned for her effortless take on glamour. As a designer, Zoe makes her exceptional taste and expertise accessible to the fashion savvy as Creative Director of the Rachel Zoe Collection, comprised of ready-to-wear, footwear and accessory lines available at shoprachelzoe.com and in over 200 stores worldwide. Zoe is Founder and Chief Curator of the luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle subscription service, Box of Style by Rachel Zoe. She started her career as a world-renowned stylist revolutionizing the styling business and inspiring future generations of stylists. Zoe is committed to philanthropic organizations both locally and globally, serving as an Ambassador for Save the Children and on the Board of Directors for Baby2Baby. In addition to being recognized as an avid philanthropist, Zoe has been on countless most influential lists from virtually every domestic and international fashion and financial publication. Rachel and her husband, Rodger Berman, run their global lifestyle brand all while being parents to two young boys, Skyler and Kaius.

Dannijo Elisa Necklace

Christopher Patey

Box of Style is a premium subscription and membership curated by leading global fashion authority Rachel Zoe. Filled with an expertly-curated selection of style obsessions, Box of Style delivers coveted, trend-forward fashion, beauty and lifestyle products. Each edition is valued at over $400 and members pay $99.99 quarterly for one box or $349.99 annually for four boxes. Members have access to a year-round marketplace offering products at up to 70% off retail, styling tips and content from Rachel Zoe, and exclusive offers from featured brands.

The Fall Box of Style boasts wide partnerships with brands such as Marc Jacobs, Shani Darden, and many more. It includes JJ Winters Ivey Leather Crossbody ($148), Dannijo Elisa Necklace ($245), Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi Shine Lip Lacquer Lipgloss ($28), Shani Darden Texture Reform Gentle Resurfacing Serum ($95), and a Rachel Miriam Leather Card Case ($50).

I recently had the privilege to speak with Rachel Zoe, Co-CEO Rachel Zoe, Inc. about the history and development of her eponymous brand, details about the current Box Of Style and why she believes consumers everywhere will love Box of Style?

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Gloss Lip Lacquer

Christopher Patey

Joseph DeAcetis: Talk to Forbes about the history, launch date and DNA of your brand?

Rachel Zoe: My passion for styling started at a very young age, helping a family friend's son look more put together by choosing outfits for him when I was seven. After working as an editor in NY I moved into styling full time thanks to a great opportunity from Tommy Hilfiger for one of his massive campaigns. From there I worked with everyone from musicians to actresses. While I loved styling, I wanted to connect more directly with my followers, which inspired me to launch The Zoe Report to provide my editorial perspective, Rachel Zoe Collection to provide my design perspective and finally Box of Style, which provides my curation perspective. Each arm of my business serves the same general purpose, but through a different medium, which I love.

JD: In your words, what is your competitive advantage in the market?

Rachel Zoe: My competitive advantage in the market is based off my diverse experiences that have made me not only attuned to trends, but also understanding the shifts in the business landscape of the industry. Since I've worked on every aspect from designing and selling clothes to cultivating a subscription service, I feel I'm especially aware of my clients' preferences. I also have an extensive network within the worlds of high fashion and beauty, which makes collaborating with top brands — and introducing them to the subscription market — an opportunity that is very unique. It's something we hear constantly from our members, that they love receiving high-end, luxury products in a subscription format, and I feel we're really leading the charge on that front.

JD: How do you intend to market to Millennials and Gen Z with advertising dollars?

Rachel Zoe: We market to them by being where they are. So the majority of our advertising spend is on paid social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. We also have a robust influencer program, tapping into influencers who relate to a younger demographic. Millennials and Gen Z are also doing the majority of their shopping on their phones. So we have a mobile first strategy when it comes to advertising.

Fall Box of Style

Fall Box of Style_ Christopher Patey

JD: In your words, what is the consumer seeking today with respect to your product category?

Rachel Zoe: Versatility, quality and timelessness. Our clients come to us for glamour, but they want it to be easy to wear and versatile enough to use in multiple scenarios. They're also not interested in receiving products for the sake of it; they want value from every item. My team and I pride ourselves on providing our members with covetable, well-made items they'll enjoy time and time again, rather than flash-in-the-pan pieces. We have many members who have been subscribers to the Box for years, and it's amazing seeing how they style their newest items with pieces from our very first boxes. The goal is to build a foundational wardrobe of timeless essentials so members can feel glamorous every day with minimal effort.

JD: Talk to Forbes in detail about the current box and why it is important for consumers to be aware of this brand?

Rachel Zoe: Women live busy lives and with Box of Style, I wanted to create a service that helped women feel more beautiful and stylish in an easy and accessible way. The latest box is intended to transition our members from late summer into fall with luxurious pieces they can incorporate into their current wardrobes. The box includes a chic leather camel crossbody bag, which goes perfectly with your Fall layers and easily transitions from day to night; an amazing skin serum by celebrity esthetician Shani Darden; a gold statement necklace by Dannijo that can be dressed up or down, a sleek leather card case in rich bordeaux; and lastly our choice item is a lip gloss lacquer by one of my dearest friends and mentor, Marc Jacobs.

JJ Winters Ivy Leather Crossbody, Rachel Miriam Card Case

Christopher

JD: Talk to Forbes about how technology aided you in the development of your subscription business both product make-up and e-commerce? Please provide details.

Rachel Zoe: We recently re-platformed our Box of Style site to Shopify Plus which has made such a positive difference for us in creating a streamlined experience. We were able to scale and automate our operations better, offer a personalized on-site experience for our members, and make it easier than ever before to manage their subscription and discover new products and brands. We also recently launched a new on-site chat feature which lets our customers speak directly to a Member Experience team member or through a more detailed customer profile questionnaire that we just launched so that each member has the opportunity to share her style preferences with us, how she uses the products in the box, and her sizing so that we can make everyone's experience as inclusive and relevant as possible. I am such a big user and believer in social media and love using the platforms to ask questions and run polls letting members weigh in on the merchandising and product decisions every season. My team is also always testing product and style imagery so that we have a read on what is resonating with our member community, which helps guide, my curation process.

JD: What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

Rachel Zoe: Internally we have multiple product review meetings...It's a constant stream of new brands and tweaks on products we're close to selecting, so I'm reviewing items daily. There are also a lot of additional initiatives that require my attention weekly, like upcoming creative for the campaign, press events and influencer collaborations.

JJ Winters Ivy Leather Crossbody

Christopher Patey

JD: How do you select your brand partners and what is the selection process?

Rachel Zoe: First and foremost, it must be a brand and a product that I use. My team and I test-run every potential product for at least a month before it is added to the Box, often collaborating with the brand on specific facets of packaging and design, until it is perfect for our members. We source brands through multiple avenues, ranging from tradeshows to press appointments to social media.

JD: You have the floor: Talk to Forbes readers about why they should try Box of Style?

I think the Forbes readers should try the Box of Style for its convenience, value and to discover new products and brands. I do all the styling for them, curating 5 luxury items I know will easily elevate their wardrobe. It is truly filled with my favorite style items and for our subscribers –– the items always become their newest obsessions. We never disappoint.

JD: What are you future projections and growth strategy for the next few years?

Both of our ecommerce businesses, ShopRachelZoe.com and BoxofStyle.com have had double-digit growth over the past 2 years. For Box of Style, will recently go from an agency to an in-house team to help us accelerate for growth in the next 2 years. We are also our expanding our membership benefits in the coming year to really strengthen our relationship with our customers with an equal focus on retention as well as acquisition. Additionally we are launching SMS shopping in the near future.

Shani Darden Resurfacing Serum

Christopher Patey