Monday 6 December 2010
Evaluation
I have enjoyed my major project preparation unit, as I feel that for the first time I have really created a project which I have interest in taking forward as a future career. I have become even more passionate and determined about becoming a buyer throughout this process, as first hand insights into the role from my industry mentor and guest lectures have made me confirm that this is what I want to pursue further.
I feel I have gained a much greater insight and knowledge into what it takes to become a buyer, and I have been able to work on my decision making and communicative skills and also my weaknesses.
I have enjoyed taking on the processes and role of a buyer, although it makes me realise how much they have to juggle with at any one time, which has taken me a while to get used to.
Although I was very unsure what my final outcome would be at the start of this project, I am pleased with the end result. I would still say it is in working progress as it is just a prototype, however I am pleased that I managed to get my magazine printed in time for the deadline, as it gives the overall outcome a more professional complete finish.
To become a buyer, I have learnt that I will need to work on my fabric knowledge, as I admit to it being very basic at the moment and that could be something I might struggle with in industry.
Overall, I think this project has given me valuable experience of the buying industry, and I have really enjoyed making industry contacts and hearing their feedback and opinions of the job. I definitely want to continue the buying element for my final major project, however I am not yet sure of what direction to take it.
I feel I have gained a much greater insight and knowledge into what it takes to become a buyer, and I have been able to work on my decision making and communicative skills and also my weaknesses.
I have enjoyed taking on the processes and role of a buyer, although it makes me realise how much they have to juggle with at any one time, which has taken me a while to get used to.
Although I was very unsure what my final outcome would be at the start of this project, I am pleased with the end result. I would still say it is in working progress as it is just a prototype, however I am pleased that I managed to get my magazine printed in time for the deadline, as it gives the overall outcome a more professional complete finish.
To become a buyer, I have learnt that I will need to work on my fabric knowledge, as I admit to it being very basic at the moment and that could be something I might struggle with in industry.
Overall, I think this project has given me valuable experience of the buying industry, and I have really enjoyed making industry contacts and hearing their feedback and opinions of the job. I definitely want to continue the buying element for my final major project, however I am not yet sure of what direction to take it.
Monday 29 November 2010
Final Outcome!
This is my finished prototype and final outcome for this project. I am happy with the outcome of my In store guide, although there are things I would definitely improve, if I had more time.
I am also going to upload this pdf onto the website MagCloud, so I can have a physical copy of the in store guide sent to me. With this hard copy, I will be able to show how the mix and match section will work and can put it into practice, once I have sliced the pages in half to create this interactive feature.
MagCloud is an excellent service where you can order and print copies of you magazines and get them delivered at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, as my deadline is so close I don't want to risk not receiving my magazine back in time for deadline, so I have ordered my magazine on express delivery, which cost me $47.88 in total. Fingers crossed it comes in time!
I am also going to upload this pdf onto the website MagCloud, so I can have a physical copy of the in store guide sent to me. With this hard copy, I will be able to show how the mix and match section will work and can put it into practice, once I have sliced the pages in half to create this interactive feature.
MagCloud is an excellent service where you can order and print copies of you magazines and get them delivered at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, as my deadline is so close I don't want to risk not receiving my magazine back in time for deadline, so I have ordered my magazine on express delivery, which cost me $47.88 in total. Fingers crossed it comes in time!
Unfortunately, you can't view my magazine digitally on my blog as the file size is too large and doesn't load up properly. However, I have received the hard copy of my magazine from MagCloud, so please view this copy to see the complete guide.
Friday 26 November 2010
Title Page layouts
I have included these various title pages to show the experimentation and development process I have gone through to achieve my final front cover. Like any layouts, I have tried a variety of font sizes, text placements, image sizes, colour way. Overall, I think the pages that are most effective are the ones where the image is bigger and the text is smaller, so that the image isn't crowded with text.
Thursday 25 November 2010
Live Element: Industry Mentor
I have been trying to find someone with buying experience who would be willing to be my industry mentor, as part of the live element of this project. For weeks now I have been contacting buyers in the industry, but unfortunately with no success.
However, as luck would have it I have just been given a contact for a buyer who works on the Kate Moss collection at Topshop, and she has agreed to be my mentor!
Although Amy and I haven't been able to meet in person, as we are both tight on time, we have been in correspondence over email. Amy has agreed to give me any feedback and advice on my progress, so I have emailed her copies of my final outcome (my range plan and in store guide) so she can take a look and give me her opinion.
Here are the emails containing the feedback I have received.
Hello Beth,
I am so sorry for the delay.
So I have had a look over your Range Plan and it looks great, I have just a few comments below:
- Think about the weighting of the departments, the category mixes ie how many bottoms you have compared to tops and then compared to dresses
- Is this going to All of the stores or just one store or selected stores? If only 1 store then think about the volumes on each line, if it is going to more than 1 store think about if each store will receive the same package? or will they look slightly different?
- Always think about the margin overall, if some styles are making a much lower margin then you will not be able to place as much volume on them and this could then affect the look of the package.
Does this help?
Pls let me know if you need more feedback?
Ax
Hello Beth,
Hope the feedback so far was useful and relevant!?
I have looked over the in store guide too (don't know why I didn't include this on the initial email!?) - pls see my comments:
- again looks fab - professional, clear, concise. Well throughout and thorough - its good to give stores as much information as possible so they can get excited about new things and also interpret it how you have envisaged it too.
- could the outfit build pages be condensed slightly, maybe 2 on a page as that section feels quite lengthy and you do loose interest.
- again if this is going to more than 1 store and stores are receiving different packages that are more town specific maybe mark on which items are going/not going to the relevant stores?
- other information that is good to include is if/when they will be receiving new options/styles or if this is a one hit thing?
Hope that helps.
Let me know how you get on and if you need more help?
Ax
Amy has been a fantastic help to me and I have found her advice really useful and relevant. However, as I have received this feedback at such a late stage in my project, I will unfortunately not be able to act on all of her advice, as I have already had my magazine printed and delivered due to time constraints.
Although I am definitely going to take her advice on board and consider these issues in any future buying projects and later in my career.
However, as luck would have it I have just been given a contact for a buyer who works on the Kate Moss collection at Topshop, and she has agreed to be my mentor!
Although Amy and I haven't been able to meet in person, as we are both tight on time, we have been in correspondence over email. Amy has agreed to give me any feedback and advice on my progress, so I have emailed her copies of my final outcome (my range plan and in store guide) so she can take a look and give me her opinion.
Here are the emails containing the feedback I have received.
Hello Beth,
I am so sorry for the delay.
So I have had a look over your Range Plan and it looks great, I have just a few comments below:
- Think about the weighting of the departments, the category mixes ie how many bottoms you have compared to tops and then compared to dresses
- Is this going to All of the stores or just one store or selected stores? If only 1 store then think about the volumes on each line, if it is going to more than 1 store think about if each store will receive the same package? or will they look slightly different?
- Always think about the margin overall, if some styles are making a much lower margin then you will not be able to place as much volume on them and this could then affect the look of the package.
Does this help?
Pls let me know if you need more feedback?
Ax
Hello Beth,
Hope the feedback so far was useful and relevant!?
I have looked over the in store guide too (don't know why I didn't include this on the initial email!?) - pls see my comments:
- again looks fab - professional, clear, concise. Well throughout and thorough - its good to give stores as much information as possible so they can get excited about new things and also interpret it how you have envisaged it too.
- could the outfit build pages be condensed slightly, maybe 2 on a page as that section feels quite lengthy and you do loose interest.
- again if this is going to more than 1 store and stores are receiving different packages that are more town specific maybe mark on which items are going/not going to the relevant stores?
- other information that is good to include is if/when they will be receiving new options/styles or if this is a one hit thing?
Hope that helps.
Let me know how you get on and if you need more help?
Ax
Amy has been a fantastic help to me and I have found her advice really useful and relevant. However, as I have received this feedback at such a late stage in my project, I will unfortunately not be able to act on all of her advice, as I have already had my magazine printed and delivered due to time constraints.
Although I am definitely going to take her advice on board and consider these issues in any future buying projects and later in my career.
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Finished Illustration
Since Rachel has agreed to collaborate with me for this project, I have meet up with her several times to discuss and review the progress of the illustrations she is working on for me.
In my opinion, we have worked very well together, as throughout this process we have communicated well and she has taken my feedback on board as to the style I want to achieve, and anything that may of needed changing along the way. Rachel also helped me with my design selection and gave me her opinion of what she thought would work in the collection and which garments would work well as illustrations.
I am really impressed and pleased with the final illustrations, as she has done a much better job than I could of ever done, in less than two weeks as well! Rachel has really brought the clothes to life and effectively shown how the collection is intended to look together.
These are the final eight illustrations:
In my opinion, we have worked very well together, as throughout this process we have communicated well and she has taken my feedback on board as to the style I want to achieve, and anything that may of needed changing along the way. Rachel also helped me with my design selection and gave me her opinion of what she thought would work in the collection and which garments would work well as illustrations.
I am really impressed and pleased with the final illustrations, as she has done a much better job than I could of ever done, in less than two weeks as well! Rachel has really brought the clothes to life and effectively shown how the collection is intended to look together.
These are the final eight illustrations:
Friday 19 November 2010
In store Guide: What to include?
I am familiar with these types of guides, as pretty much every retailer issues them for their sales team. I have seen a variety of guides, from boring print outs to more sophisticated magazine styles.
With Oasis, I definitely want to show off my range in the best light and therefore I am aiming to create a sophisticated and professional guide which has a feel of a magazine, but still maintains all the important information in a clear and concise way.
I wanted to get hold of an in store guide to see what I need to include. However they are very hard to get hold of, as it is their nature to contain exclusive information on products which are classified to customers at the time of issue.
So I have checked with Caroline to see what types of features I need to include within my in store guide:
With Oasis, I definitely want to show off my range in the best light and therefore I am aiming to create a sophisticated and professional guide which has a feel of a magazine, but still maintains all the important information in a clear and concise way.
I wanted to get hold of an in store guide to see what I need to include. However they are very hard to get hold of, as it is their nature to contain exclusive information on products which are classified to customers at the time of issue.
So I have checked with Caroline to see what types of features I need to include within my in store guide:
- Trend Overview - collection name, collection description, inspirational images, colour palette,
- Key Looks - key garments, detailed close ups, fabric swatches, description, prices, style tips
- Floor Plan - where to display range in store layout
- Wall Plan - How to visually merchandise range, VM tips
- Window Display - How to style and display garments in window
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