I won't just hire any Martian!

I got this comment from an anonymous poster. I thought the comments posed were worth writing about in an actual post:

Anonymous said...

Hi there, im a big fan of tru drama but sometimes i feel intimidating to shop there, because it possess an "asian only vibe." I Just think it would be nice to see a range of different race working instead of just chinese asian, because i dont always understand what they're saying .But i do understand that you prefer to recruit within family and friends.

A couple of years ago AE got sued for hirinf caucasian surfer like guys only, just giving you a heads up to avoid this.

February 3, 2008 10:04 PM

We certainly don't strive to have an "asian only vibe". However, I can see your point of view. We do our very best to have a diverse team and we've had visible non Asians working for us in the past. The mix of the store may be not as intimidating once I share some information with you.

It would be a dream if I could staff my store with family. I could pay them very little and work them like dogs! Alas, none of the staff are related to me. The store staff might have a very homogeneous look to them it but in reality the store is quite diverse. The countries currently represented are Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, China and Vietnam. We may all be Asians but that's like saying Italians are really the French... a comparison both would deny and despise.

Even I can only communicate with one other staff in my own store in my native language! Both of my past assistants share only one language with me. I can't speak either Mandarin or Korean so English was it. Our store policy is to speak English at all times unless the customer needs help in a language one of our girls speak. I'd like to think most of the girls follow the policy.

I hire on the basis of ability and attitude, race has never been an issue. The applications the store gets a majority are Asians. The ratio of non Asian resumes is probably 1 out 20. I believe that's got something to do with the neighborhood we're in. So the choices I have are pretty narrow. We also have low turnover, I think we have 1/3 the normal industry rate. Combine all that with the the limited amount of actual hours available for new staff... well it's pretty tough for anyone to crack the team.

I would love to have a more diverse team at Tru Drama. However, I will hire the best candidate regardless of their background. I'd hire a Martian if I thought he/she/it had the right stuff! Right now I've got an opening for a full or near full time staff. So send your resumes to jobs@trudrama.com.

The Store Today

The store is transitioning into Spring. A bit slow due to the Superbowl. You'd think we'd be unaffected due to us being a women's store but you're wrong!

Things Parents shouldn't do on Boxing Day

Don't leave your kids outside unattended! I know there were (and still are) some killer deals at Tru Drama yesterday but we had 4 instances where parents left their kids outside. Fortunately my partner was outside doing security and kept a watchful eye on the kids.

In the early morning, this sweet little guy was outside for 20 minutes!
Good thing he had some reading material!

These two at least had each other for company.

Boxing Day was a great success yesterday, it was our best ever! Thanks to all my staff and their efforts, some were working sick and I appreciate them even more! Thanks also to all the customers for making our store their first store of choice on Boxing Day. The little lineup we had was quite flattering at 8:30 in morning! For those of you that couldn't make it down, we still have lots of great items.

Almost Everything 50% Off - Boxing Day

Pretty much everything is 50% on the Boxing Day, Dec 26th. The only exceptions is the stuff that has arrived in the last two weeks. Those deliveries are for Holiday and Pre-Spring arrivals. For those items, we'll do a one day 15% off.

The very best deals will be really on Boxing Day proper. We'll still have stuff on sale afterwards but it'll be the best prices you'll see prior to final clearance in February. This applies to both the Tru Drama store and Kris + Cris Shoes stores.

Sorry we won't be able to do exchanges or really anything other than sell stuff on the 26th. If you've got an issue, bring it in on the 27th. We'll be better able to help you then.

Holiday Windows at Tru Drama & Kris + Cris

I love our new windows! Don't forget if you know someone to do windows contact me at girls@trudrama.com!

The Kris + Cris Shoes with it's burnt orange zebra stripes. Oh yeah we've started doing our sale already. 20% to 30% off most items.

The Tru Drama window is fab with gold accent pieces on a pink background.

Lonnies are better

We've probably had some inquiries about what we're doing about about the strength of our dollar. I haven't been asked till today though. Other retailers have tried to address it but realistically most of those efforts are nothing more than a public relations exercise. Here's our situation:

• Many of the items we get from the US are actually bought from agents and wholesalers out of Eastern Canada. Those guys in Toronto/Montreal purchased the goods months before we ever get it. We pay them in Canadian currency and have asked them to have the exchange rate for future orders be reflective of the current situation.
  
• Items that we buy for immediates from the LA and NYC show markets have the most current exchange rate and is already reflected in the price.
• European goods, the Euro has risen in step with our currency. So no effect.
  
• Items we paid for already... well the rate would be as of when we paid for it. So if we bought it 3 months ago (I hope we don't have too much of that stock left!) then that's the rate. Even so, 6-7 months ago the exchange rate was $0.93 cdn to 1.00 usd vs. now of $1.03 cdn to 1.00 usd. New items ordered recently will have the current rate applied.
  

The items where you'll get the best deals are on cars, flat screen TVs or any other big ticket item. Items that would have been manufactured when the US dollar was highest 9 months ago. Fashion may be designed far in advanced but production is just weeks before a delivery date. There are many variables but ultimately it's not the kind of differences that you would see in other products. Unless you're the GAP, their business is about production efficiencies and not really fashion, so it's different.

We've done our best to pass the rate difference savings where we can. I guess with the few inquiries we've had, probably most people understand. Mind you the customer I was talking to today wasn't doing a fair comparison. I'd like to see her get that same Ed Hardy Sweater cheaper anywhere else in this city.

What's interesting is how some retailers are dealing with the situation. I was in a store today (starts and ends in an "A") and they were making a point of showing that they were reacting to the exchange rate difference by offering a 20% discount on certain items. This was an obvious gimmick, since most of their items are Asian made and have never passed thru the US. Their business model would also make it that they paid for it before our strong dollar had happened.

So how or maybe more importantly why are they offering this discount? Looking at the items, I can tell right away the discounted items were their poor performers. They were probably getting discounted anyways since it's about the right time for markdowns. It does sound better to say that they're offering you a break on the exchange rate. I've got some sale items too, you can receive the benefits of a strong loonie in my store too! hahaha

Vancouver Weather. Figure it out, it's fall!

This is crazy. Forecast for the week was all about rain in Vancouver. Instead we probably had some of the nicest weather this fall. Which illustrates an old belief of mine that the fashion retail business is always first and foremost affected by weather.

Whenever business is slower than normal, I always think about what may be the cause.

1. Competition? Nope, everyone seems slow whether you're in a mall or on the street.
2. US dollar? If I was in the business of Plasma Screen TVs I'd be worried.
   
3. Merchandise Mix? Last week when it rained we had a record week.
   
4. Staff? My team is the best!
   

Nope it's all about whether it's raining or shining. It's not that people are all out enjoying the sun. Rather it's people not being in the right frame of mine to be getting the season's fashions. It's hard when people are still walking around in flip flops on tuesday!

Baby Phat looks better on the body

I was reading a magazine in the office this afternoon when I hear this giant "ewwww" coming out of my partner. He was downloading some pictures for me and had just hit this picture of this black and gold Baby Phat hoodie dress. He thought the hoodie looked bad... "like a bag bad" I believe he said. He's pretty narrowed minded about what looks good.

To him all he saw was material hanging limply on a the wall while to me I saw the cut, trim, print... possibilities! I set off to the store to prove him wrong. Enlisting my super staff Jen (she's awesome), I got her to show the hoodie dress to best effect. The moment my partner saw the new pics his opinion immediately did a 180.

Pictures from Tru Drama

Just some pictures from the store.

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Ed Hardy Spring 08 Fashion Show

I found this little clip while I was posting an image for the last post. It shows in way better detail the fashion show we attended in August. I think I made the clip mistakingly when I thought I was taking a picture but I was actually shotting a video.

As you may expect from an Ed Hardy fashion show, lots of skin and super hyper models. The show was great!

I'll work you hard but you'll look good doing it

Want to get a job at Tru Drama? Most applicants fail to get very far because of problems with their resumé or on their interview. So here's a quick guide to help you get further.

On your resumé:

• When emailing your resumé, please send it in a text or Microsoft Word format (please not the Vista version). Why send a file that isn't in a format everyone can read or is in the world's most common word processor format?
  
• State the hours and days you're available to work in a week.
  
• Take the extra step to find out who you need to address your resumé to, that's a positive!

At the interview:

• Be pleasant and have a professional manner when you hand in your resumé or when you show up for the interview. All the girls write down notes for me or my assistant. Because they may be your coworkers, consider them to be your first part of the interview process. The notes help me decide who we get to interview. Some of the more interesting notes on resumés from staff have been: sloppily dressed, smells weird, was sleepwalking and the always popular rude.
• Be punctual. If you're late, I can pretty much guarantee you're not getting the job. Someone who can't come to an interview on time is unlikely to show up to work on time. So show up 10 minutes early.
• Understand what company you're trying to work for. You're at this website, use it to understand our clothing brands and what we're trying to achieve for the customer.

This above information applies to us but really applies to any situation where you want a job.

Our annual Christmas dinner is always a blast.
Last year it was at Watermark at Kits beach.

Most of the girls have been with us for a while so job spots are always hard to come by. However, we're always open to exceptional individuals joining us. So besides great coworkers there are some fringe benefits that not many other stores can offer:

• Snacks galore! We all love to eat, so don't get it in your mind that we starve ourselves, far from it! Snack wise, I have my favourites, but my girls have introduced me to a world class spread of snacks and candies. Some really weird yet delicious stuff. Want some menthol preserved plum? Come on over!
  
• You'll never be the last one to get your hands on that Dereon hoodie! Unlike other places we have an extremely generous employee discount program.
  
• Be a buyer! Over time if you show some ability and scheduling issues aside, I often go with one of the girls from the store to markets or trade shows. So cramped economy flights, long hours, (if we can't avoid it) mediocre food and insincere clothing reps... yup it's glamorous!

Although experience is important, I value enthusiasm, hard work and a bit of brains even more. If I haven't scared you off, apply at the store or e-mail your resumé to us.

Seoul, I hear you calling

What a rush of a day, I'm in Seoul! Arriving in the afternoon yesterday, I head right to the Dongdaemun Market. It's origins dates from the original market of the city. It houses huge malls, wholesale markets, manufacturers and street level wholesale vendors. The place is supposed to be the world's largest wholesale/retail market. It very well could be, friends tell me there are tens of thousands of vendors and shops in the area. Tourists, locals and buyers all converge to this massive zone of commerce.

Prepare to wear out some shoes and spend a few days if it's your first visit. The wholesale market operates from noon onwards to late at night. I've got a few favourite suppliers that I like to hit but even today I got lost finding them again. At that time, If I was in the retail parts of the market it'd be a mad crush of people.

Afterwards I head over to Myongdong to meet up with a friend. The area is Seoul's Ginza district. It's not quite that but it has that vital vibrancy and energy of it's Tokyo counterpart. There's nothing to describe what a main Asian street shopping district is like. It's so far from what Robson is, it'd be insulting to really name it in the same breadth. The density sets it apart from streets in Europe and the neon signs really give it an outworldly appearance. I love it here.

Dereon Fashion Show with Beyonce

Having nothing to do before I landed, I was poking around on my laptop looking at pictures. I came across some pics in August from the Canadian launch of the Dereon line. Beyonce attended so it was a big hubbub.

Being a fashion buyer has it's perks and this was one of them. The store sells more Dereon than anyone on the westcoast so we were invited to attend the Dereon launch with Beyonce in Toronto. It was at the swanky Ultra Supper Club on Queen St. Appetizer wise: Super yummy giant seared scallops, tasteless giant thai prawns and cold mini turkey burgers.

We stood in the club for an hour and half before Beyonce arrived. It was wall to wall people in there. Even Canadian fashion staple Jeanne Beker was in attendance. The models and the clothes were stunning, featuring this current season's looks. The fashion show was really well done and better than anything I've seen in Vancouver.

A major embarrassing moment was averted that night, I nearly wore the same gold snowflake dress that Beyonce was wearing!

After the show, Beyonce spoke a few words and then she ducked out the back. There were some gift bags, nothing very flashy but some absurdly huge XL Dereon tank tops.

Aimless thoughts at midnight before the airport

I've got a 3AM flight to Asia tonight... errr... tomorrow morning. I've got 30 minutes to kill so here I am with my new blog. I didn't expect to have so much to say or to have such a good time saying it. So I hope you're all enjoying too!

I'm off to Hong Kong to see some family and friends. One of my long time key staff has moved back to help out in the family business. So we'll do lunch. I'll also shuttle over to Japan for funky new designers and Korea for knitwear and accessories.

I was flipping channels and saw the on SNL the "Iran So Far" digital short with Andy Sandberg and Maroon 5 guy sing a gay love song about that Mahmoud guy. Funny stuff. I also caught most of an Elise Estrada video on Muchmusic. It wasn't bad but more interesting was that clearly it was filmed in Coal Harbour. So I take it she's a local. I wonder if she's ever shopped at the store. We certainly would welcome her if she wasn't!

Sudden realization just dawned on me! I haven't watched TV in ages. I watch a lot TV shows but it's been ages since I watched it on a TV. I do all my watching on either streaming media or via downloads. This is a superior way to watch shows, no commercials and where else would I be able to watch Next Top Model from Britain or Australia? The NTM show, even the US version isn't about fashion or modeling... it's about catty women living together. Gawd, I love that show. In the current ANTM I like the girl with autism. She's so different and I like an underdog.

Opps got to fly, literally!

Hot Looks for Fall

Since I'm out of the store so much, I rely on the team at the store to keep things together. The girls have really excelled at wardrobing and it's reflective of the skills of how well the mannequins and the windows are put together. Our mannequins are those bolt joint types that are a pain to pull apart, but the girls make short work of them.

I'm very proud of how independent and skilled team is. They have put together the following looks:

Look 1 (top left): Lady Dutch sweater, Antik Denim skirt, black leggings

Look 2 (right): Lady Dutch with detachable faux fur collar trim, Free People baby doll tunic top

Look 3 (bottom left): Golddigga faux fur trim hooded 3/4 sleeve sweeter, Faith Connexion stripped race back tunic tank, Free People crochet leggings

Christian Audigier - So Hot it BURNS

While I was away, we had gotten in a delivery of Christian Audigier hoodies.
For you not in the know, it's Ed Hardy with even more attitude! The gorgeous Heart Breaker design with the torso wrapped barbed wire and gold Christian Audigier monogram really set this piece on fire. We've got in black and ivory. I originally wanted one of these for myself but found today that all my sizes had not only a hold but a second hold on them (actually all the sizes have holds). Oh well, customers first! Looks like I'm gonna see if I can get a reorder.

Welcome!

Hi All! For modesty sake, I'll refer to myself "M". I know it's a bit dramatic but when you run a store it's a neccesity! Anyways, I run a little fashion boutique in Oakridge Centre in Vancouver called Tru Drama. Everyone believes that having your own clothing store is a dream job. In many ways it is but at the same time it's loads of work.

I've started this blog to give everyone a small window into our world.

The picture is when we first opened the store 2 years ago. It's changed a lot since then!