A stylish fashionista that I went to college with has found her self living the high-life out in Beverly Hills, California working for a high-end PR Company. When I heard she got this job, I knew that I had to contact her for an interview! And from what you’ll read below, you will understand why.

GIYC: So, you’re working for P3R Publicity inn Beverly Hills (awesome). What do you do?

Nicole: Yes, right off of Beverly Drive! P3R has three different departments: talent, fashion, and events. The talent department is more like a personal publicist for our celebrity clients while the fashion department does a lot of stylists pulls, wardrobe department pulls, celebrity gifting at our showroom, and set-up paparazzi shots. I work in the events department here and we specialize in on-site media coordination, event production, and coordination of celebrity attendance for things such as product launches, editor events, beauty breakfasts, movie premieres, fashion shows, editor and consumer events, press conferences, and in-store events.
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GIYC: Have you been to any fabulous events yet?

Nicole: My first week here we had an event in Westlake Village for a restaurant opening called 9021PHO. It was one of our smaller events but a lot of fun nonetheless. Both Sofia Vergara and Kevin Connolly were there eating along with a few other celebrities who were all extremely nice.

Last night we had another event that we had been working on for the past month. This was a Pre-Grammy Event at Supperclub here in Los Angeles and it was for one of our high-end jewelry clients, as well as for The Breast Cancer Charities of America. The venue is unbelievable and everything came together nicely. It was really cool being able to work the red carpet and deal with celebrities first hand. Katie Cassidy from Gossip Girl was one of the celebrities there and we had Eric Roberts (Julia Roberts brother) son perform for everyone. Overall I definitely have enjoyed working in events although sometimes you don’t realize how much hard work is put into everything!
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GIYC: What are your daily responsibilities?

Nicole: Our daily responsibilities always change from day to day. Recently, I had been doing a lot of emailing because we were sending the invitation out to all kinds of celebrities for our Pre-Grammy event and they each had to be personalized and sent to their specific publicists. We all sit in an office together and do everything on our computers from press releases to finding sponsors to events. They heavily depend on their interns so it definitely is a hands on job.

One thing I have been doing a lot is any of the design work, since I am the only one there who knows how to use the Adobe Design Programs (thank you AI).

For those that haven’t gone to AI, our school gives us more than a few classes on the Adobe Programs. I feel as though I could have graduated with a degree in the Adobe Programs as well. But, I’m definitely thankful for the extensive teaching on the subject, because it has become beneficial in more ways than one.

This is fun because I get to be creative and kind of do what I want. For example, the recent event we had I designed the invitation and for the restaurant opening I made a gift certificate to give to someone and then they wanted me to make more because Ryan Seacrest was going to give them away to more people.
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GIYC: What is the best part about your internship?

Nicole: The best part I would say is all of the networking we get to do. Everyone knows so many people and always has an in somewhere, which is great to have! Working these events we are constantly surrounded by so many successful people of all ages who can potentially help us out in the long run.
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GIYC: Working at P3R, has it made you ultimately want to work in PR?

Nicole: I knew I wanted to work in PR/Event Planning before this, which is why I felt this was such a perfect internship for me to gain experience and knowledge in this field. Now that I am actually doing it, I really enjoy it and definitely want to pursue a career in this area.
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GIYC: What is a day like at the office?

Nicole: A day at the office is very long to say the least. I am not used to working 50 hours a week and sitting at a computer all day long so this is definitely something new to me. Everyone is very friendly and tries to lighten the mood when people are stressed, which is good to have. There are also always people in and out of our office because we have stylists pulls and celebrity gifting that goes on all the time. We usually all try to go and get food together and if you ever need to go grab a coffee or anything they are pretty nice about that too.
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GIYC: Do you have to be available for events basically every day?

Nicole: When it comes to events, we typically only have 2-3 at the most a month because of all the planning that goes into it. Some interns have tried to get out of working the event in the evening and my bosses reply is always if you don’t want to work the events then you shouldn’t even be here to begin with.
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GIYC: What has the internship taught you thus far?

Nicole: I think it has taught me a lot about what PR and Event planning exactly is and what makes for success. It is definitely a lot of hard, tedious work to pull off a great event but to me it is all worth it in the end!
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GIYC: Your job deals a lot with events and night life of LA, what is your favorite restaurant and club you have been to this far?

Nicole: I am very lucky to have a wonderful boss who has taken me out to a lot of awesome places! I would have to say two of my favorite clubs have been Roxbury and Eden, which are both brand new places here. The atmosphere was great as well as the decor and venue itself. Definitely places to check out if you are looking for a good club. As for a restaurant, I haven’t been doing much eating out lately because of how busy my schedule is but my boss did take me out for an early birthday dinner to a sushi restaurant called Izakaya who is owned by Katsu-ya (a well known sushi restaurant here). The food was UNBELIEVABLE to say the least. I don’t think I have had better sushi then that!

I’m glad everything is going well, Nicole! Thanks again for taking the time to do this and I’ll definitely get in touch with you on my next L.A. trip! Enjoy your time out there!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

I stumbled upon Kelli Diane Designs through an industry friend of mine. She gave me her website and told me to check it out. I was immediately inspired by Kelli’s entrepreneurial skills and talent. Being a successful entrepreneur is something that takes more than most people can even comprehend. It can take years to start a successful company. From having a product/service you can sell, to sketching out the basics of the business, forming a solid business plan, having start-up funds or financial backing, locating a manufacturer to produce your product or a space for your service, and ultimately a marketing and promotional plan to effectively deliver it to your consumers. It gets much more detailed than that. I really enjoy getting into the minds of other entrepreneurs besides myself, so here is a look into Kelli’s from Kelli Diane Designs.

GIYC: As a designer and entrepreneur, what was the hardest obstacle to overcome when starting your own company?

KDD: One of the hardest obstacles that I had to overcome when starting my own company was finding a manufacturer. It took me over a year to find one. There were times where I didn’t think I would find one, but I didn’t give up. There were times when I thought I found one, but then pricing was way over my budget or they were too far away. I am proud of myself for not giving up on that.

GIYC: Your logo is very unique. Do the wings represent anything in particular?

KDD: I have always liked angels; I feel that the Angel wings signify being free. Free to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, and free to soar above all of your obstacles and ultimately follow your dreams.

GIYC: I love that you will custom design wristlets and clutches for bridal parties-what a great idea! How do you come up with your own designs for your line?

KDD: Thank you! When coming up with designs for my line, I think of purses that I have owned that may have been missing something. For example, the clutch. Many clutches that I have had in the past have not had a wristband, and I find it so much easier for a night out on the town to have the option to wear the clutch around your wrist instead of under your arm or in your hand. I have made it so that you have the option to remove the band if you prefer to hold the clutch under your arm etc. I added the zipper on the inside so that a woman can put her money, credit card and ID in the zipper pouch without it showing, but it’s still easily accessible. This way she doesn’t have to try a fit a wallet in the clutch and it also frees up room for other items such as a cell phone, lip-gloss, and camera.

GIYC: How often to do you design and produce new bags and clutches?

KDD: I try and design new bag each season.

GIYC: What bag are you looking to design for Spring/Summer 2011?

KDD: I am looking to designing a patent leather hobo bag! (Love, love, patent leather)

GIYC: What is an average day like for you?

KDD: An average day for me is very hectic. I work a full time job on top of running Kelli Diane Designs. So, my days start early and ends late. Before I go to work I am working on KDD and then after work I work on KDD. It is a very busy day, but I don’t mind because I am doing what I love - following my dreams.

GIYC: What is the most rewarding part about having your own company?

KDD: The most rewarding part about having my own company is that I am following my dreams and making my dream a reality by designing my own bags. It’s also very rewarding to see other women, like and carry a bag that I created.

GIYC: Where do you see your company in 5 to 10 years?

KDD: In 5-10 years Kelli Diane Designs will be, world wide, available in stores, and have store fronts in Los Angeles and New York.

GIYC: Do you have any advice you would like to share with entrepreneurs like you?

KDD: I would advise other entrepreneurs, like me, to follow their dreams and never give up on them -  no matter how many obstacles get in your way.

GIYC: How do you keep up on current trends, fashions, etc.?

KDD: I keep up with current trends and fashions through social networks like Twitter and Facebook. I also have subscriptions to Instyle and Elle Magazine which also help me keep up with everyday trends and fashion.

GIYC: Ultimately, who inspires you and your work?

KDD: Other entrepreneurs inspire me. Anyone who has followed or is following their dreams, despite of what others say, do, or think. That is enough inspiration for me right there. People who did not give up no matter how strong the storm. There is a quote by Robyn Allen that says: “Many of us are afraid to follow our passions, to pursue what we want most because it means taking risks and even facing failure. But to pursue your passion with all your heart and soul is success in itself. The greatest failure is to have never really tried.”

That quote is extremely inspiring, I’m adding it to my favorites. Thank you for letting me rack your brain and get to know the entrepreneur behind Kelli Diane Designs. You can shop Kelli Diane Designs at www.kellidianedesigns.com and follow her on Twitter here!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

I love digging into the fashion lives of others whom are in the same world as me, just have chosen a different career path. To be honest, all aspects of the fashion industry immensely interest me, but I’m only one person and can’t do everything (ha).

With that, I’d like to introduce Ms. Meia Walton to The Girl in the Yellow Cab. Meia is the CEO and Owner of GlamRock PR based out of Seattle, Washington. This girl is the epitome of networking.  She knows everyone. But, that all comes with the simple fact that she is great at what she does, and a no-brainer as to why she owns her own PR firm. You will never see her walking around without her business cards and full-blown networking skills. So much in fact, when we were in Europe together she had us VIP into some of the most exclusive clubs and events. She’s brilliant.  And I’m so glad she took the time to do this interview with me!

GIYC: What made you decide to start your own PR firm?

GRPR:I’m a natural when it comes to promoting. I get really excited about a great product. So, I decided that I wanted my own PR firm and I wanted it to be different than any PR firm out there. My goal is to focus on smaller brands and companies that aren’t Calvin Klein, Baby Phat, etc. There are so many talented people in the world and I want to be the person they come to.

GIYC:  What is an average day like for you?

GRPR: Well, my day starts at 4am. Yes, you read that right. But I kept my corporate job, so I work there first. At noon, I get to the Glam office with my amazing interns and we bust out events and promotional ideas.  Meetings, meetings, and more meetings and much of time I’m at the the airport three to four times a month.

GIYC: What is the hardest part about owning your own business?

GRPR: Wow, the hardest struggle is getting clients to pay for the services my firm provides. For some odd reason, people  think this service should be free. But, they love to charge for their own business.

GIYC: When a client books you, what are the typical services the client wants?

GRPR: Normally the client wants everything from marketing material, image control, to press kits. They also want my interns to work for them which is so funny to me!

GIYC:  Say someone in Chicago wanted to hire you as his or her PR Company; do you work out of state?

GRPR: Yes, I love out of state clients. It’s the best and the projects seem to be so much more exciting for me. GlamRock PR is currently producing trunk shows around the US and Canada. Sooner than later, we plan to expand to Europe.

GIYC: When an emerging company is looking to market themselves effectively, what steps or actions do you believe are most important?

GRPR: Branding and getting the bottom line from the designer or business owner. You have to have a bottom line, a brand, and/or image to become successful. Consumers love consistency, so you can’t change your look and message.

GIYC: When you are working with a client, how long are you usually with them?

GRPR: I normally stick with my clients over their business venture. I have amazing relationships with my clients and I love watching their growth.

GIYC: Where would you like to see GlamRock PR in 5 to 10 years?

GRPR: In 5 to 10 years I see GRPR as a very successful Internet PR firm. 24 to 30 employees and continual growth. I also own  Seattle Shoe Chic as well, so growing that business to its full potential is my goal as well.

GIYC:  How much should an emerging company budget when hiring a PR firm to do their promotional activities?

GRPR: For smaller budgets, $3,000 is a great start and will get you pretty far. You can also build your brand piece by piece and pay as you go. In my opinion, this is a great way to go to ensure you keep on budget, especially during this economical time.

Thanks again for taking the time to do this Meia!

You can find Meia at www.glamrockpr.com and follow her on Twitter here!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

Alex Chapman is a friend of mine who is currently in New York working for Halston. She agreed to do a little interview with me for my blog, so I hope you enjoy it!

1. What is your position at Halston?

Officially I am an intern in the sales department, however, our showroom and our offices are all in one space so I kind of help out in all areas including PR (which is fun) and Finance (which is definitely NOT fun).

2. What is the image of Halston and what are you seeing a lot of in their collections?

Halston is definitely known to everyone as an American designer who created beautiful pieces that were minimalistic, chic, and really were made to fit a women’s body. He experimented with draping in a way that no one had before him and basically created the bias cut and became the look of the 70s and Studio 54. In this upcoming collection, designed by Marios Schwab, really draws inspiration from Halston’s previous collections with lots of skin showing through cut-outs, cut-away backs, and large slits. The inspiration behind the collection also draws upon one of Halston’s biggest inspirations which is orchids and that can be seen in the beautiful prints in the collection. Color blocking was a huge thing as well in the presentation.

3. What do your job responsibilities consist of?

My job responsibilities are a little bit of everything and can get very hectic! I am basically responsible for all samples and maintaining the showroom and most importantly, the available-to-sell samples as these are the ones we show potential buyers that come into the showroom. I also do a lot of tasks for the sales team including researching target stores and contacted them to schedule an appointment with us in the showroom. This doesn’t sound too hard but I literally have over 200 stores on my list that I have to try to call on a daily basis, not so easy!

4. What’s a normal day like at the office?

A normal day at the office is never normal. We get there around 9, earlier during market, and usually don’t leave before 8 at night! There are always a million different tasks going on at once and you really have to know how to prioritize and get it all done.

5. So, I know you have had the chance to officially meet SJP. Tell us everything!

She is sooooo nice, I can’t even say how nice she is! And tiny! She is soooo tiny! She comes into our offices quite frequently and is very involved in the collection for Halston Heritage. Unfortunately, we (the interns) are not usually around when she is in as she is usually in the CEO’s office or the Product Development Director’s office.

6. Do you get any fabulous discounts?

I don’t really get a discount but I can order things that are available to sell (meaning in stock) at wholesale costs. Since we are a wholesaler that’s the price buyers and everyone else pays so it’s not really a discount. But it usually does equal to about 50-60% off retail, which would be fabulous if I could afford it! Luckily, I was interning during the time of our sample sale so I was able to pick up a few things then.

7. What’s the biggest thing you have learned in the industry thus far?

I came to New York knowing the fashion industry is not glamour but I really did not understand all of the work that goes into everything in a fashion house. There are people that work there that look like they never leave the office, you can still be at work at 8pm and it will look like high noon in our office! I also learned that no matter what you want to do in this industry you will always have to do math, sorry girls! Every department from PR to design to merchandising and obviously sales and finance use math it’s just a fact. Also, a little piece of advice…brush up on excel because I use that every day at lease once an hour and I’ve learned things about Excel I never knew in all my years in high school or using the program at school

8. Did you participate in New York Fashion Week?

I participated in Halston’s presentation, which is when models are not walking on a runway, they are just standing. It was on Monday the 13th and was AMAZING!! The looks were all color-blocked (even the skin color of the models were color blocked!) to add to the importance of colors and the inspiration behind the collection. I got to see a lot of people including Emma Roberts, Alexis Bedel, Andrew Mulkamal (from Kell on Earth), Joe Zee, Linda Fargo, Anna Della Russo (who wore a crazy watermelon on her head with an attitude to go with it!), and of course SJP herself!

Thanks again Alex for doing this! Keep up the good work at Halston, I know great things are going to happen for you!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB

I was first introduced to Lisa Tam, my boss, when I began working at Marie Claire in NYC. We spent countless hours in the closet together and to be honest, I don’t know how she stayed sane. Phone calls coming in every second, hundreds of e-mails, deadlines, and many, many 10+ hour days. Now, after I’m back at life in Chicago, Lisa also started a new endeavor as a member of the buying team at Bloomingdale’s NYC. When I heard the great news, I knew I had to contact her for an interview. As many of you know, it has been one of my greatest desires to become a buyer, so I couldn’t wait to propose the idea. Of course, Lisa agreed to it!

GIYC: As a merchant assistant, what are your responsibilities?
LISA TAM: Some of my main responsibilities are:
- Keying in purchase orders that my buyer makes
- Updating purchase orders when changes are made on vendors side
- Reaching out to vendors on getting samples to be shot
- Communicating to the creative team on how samples are to be shot for the website
- Making sure UPC’s for vendor styles are correct
- Keying in re-orders/replenishments

GIYC: What’s the best part of your job at Bloomy’s?
LISA TAM:Usually when you work in the buying offices, you normally do not see what the buyer purchases unless you see the line during market week, but working with the online division, I’m able to see what we’re purchasing for the website first hand. It’s also exciting to be involved in how things get shot for the website.

GIYC:What made you decide to become a buyer?
LISA TAM:I graduated with a degree in Merchandising so I definitely had knowledge on what buying entails. I worked in editorial and although the experience was great, I was ready for something different and more challenging. Very happy I’ve made the change!

GIYC:Do you get fabulous discounts?
LISA TAM: Most definitely!   (Lisa was nice enough to share a VIP designers sales site with me! She definitely shares the goodies!)

GIYC: What type of qualifications do you think are important for anyone interested in becoming a buyer?
LISA TAM:Must be very organized and willing to work hard. It’s a fast paced industry so you must be able to multi-task and have to be ready for those challenging moments. And you also must love numbers!

GIYC:What’s an average day like for you?
LISA TAM: I don’t really have an average day– every day is a different day for me! Something I do all day, every day though, is check my emails! I get tons every hour!

GIYC:I know you worked long hours at Marie Claire, does the same go for the assistant buyer position?
LISA TAM: Definitely not. Bloomingdale’s is great about work- life balance and do not want their employees staying too late!

GIYC:How many times a year do you go to market and where?
LISA TAM: Market week is every season. As far as how many times, it depends on how many vendors you order from.

GIYC:  In terms of trends, what are you seeing out there for upcoming seasons?
LISA TAM: For Fall, just to name a few– I’m definitely seeing tons and tons of hosiery and socks of all colors and textures. Corduroy is making a combat. More military inspired clothing. Leather jackets. Lace up booties. The slouchy, oversize silky blouses.

Thank you so much Lisa for taking the time to do this! I truly appreciate it and wish you nothing but the best in your time at Bloomy’s!

Sincerely,

THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW CAB