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In This
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Gozooko
Nude
Prude
Studio Time
Tia
Lyn
Lingerie
Interludes Lingerie
La
Lame, Inc
Shirley
of Hollywood
Coconut
Grove
Tony Shoes
International
Lingerie Shows
McPete
Sales
Questfinder
Quick Commerce Credit Cards
Internetgazette
Styles Fashion
Articles Of Interest
Kirk named US Trade Representative
Page 1
China's Export Tax Rebates Increase
Page 1
EJF Campaigns Against
Child Labor
Page 1
180 Sexy Halloween Show
Page 2
Retail Renovations
Page 2
McPete Sez
Mailbag
Page 2
180 Sexy Halloween Show continued
Page 3
Business & Technology
Page 3
Ask Kevin
Page 3
Ask Andy
Page 3
180 Sexy Halloween Show Continued
Page 4
UK Retail Price Index Hits Zero
Page 4
Orange County Hash House Harriers' 23rd Annual Run
Page 5
The Buzz
Page 5
Reps Corner
Page 5
Shows & Events
Page 5
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BioNeutral Tackles Textile Toxins
Life Science firm BioNeutral Group Inc has set up a new subsidiary to
market a chemical technology that can be used to treat fibers and textiles with anti-chemical and antimicrobial properties.
The new unit, Advanced Bio-Fiber Treatments Corp, will sell the company's Ogiene and Ygiene treatments which help prevent chemicals
and pathogens from attaching to clothing.
Ogiene eliminates many dangerous chemicals including formaldehyde, which has been found in lingerie and other garments.
Ygiene eliminates dangerous microorganisms which, when found in garments, can cause the wearer to become ill or even cause the spread
of infections.
"For people who are prone to sores, allergies to certain textiles, chemicals, and pathogens found in garments and for those who come into
contact with bodily fluids, the ongoing protection provided by Ogiene and Ygiene could prove an important element in maintaining personal
and family health," said Stephen J Browand, BioNeutral Group's president and CEO.
"There is an existing market selling garments to diabetics, athletes, students, children and those who are recuperating from medical
treatments and this is a billion dollar market which we intend to enter."
3/13
The 180 Sexy Halloween Show
written by Sam
The East Coast now has a show to call their own - The 180 Sexy Halloween Show. After a surprisingly strong turnout the 180 Madison Building Management has agreed to host the event again in 2010.
Show organizers have been asked by several additional companies if there will be room available for them next year. The vendors believe the turnout was so strong because of the great timing and the convenience a having a show on the East Coast.
People came from The New England area, Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C. and of course the five boroughs of N.Y. Customers got to work in a very friendly relaxed atmosphere and were treated to complimentary food and beverages. On Saturday guests even enjoyed complimentary margaritas. It was a great way to work: drinks, food , models and salespeople to wait on you hand and foot. Let’s not forget added incentives.
Note: by clicking on the photo's below, it will bring you to
their web-site. or to their e-mail if no web-site exists.
Remember
to tell them you saw them here.
Eddie Goldstein of Elegant Moments with Lina of Empire
Exotics
Mark Behar of Delicious Sexywear explaining to Kris of
Kinematics the value that wigs bring to a store
Jeremy of Forum Novelties with Kris of Kinematics
Mark Behar of Delicious
Sexywear and Neal Fersht of
McPete Sales with models
Models showing off their Ellie Shoes
Continued on Page 3
Retail
Renovations
Four Merchandising Ideas You
Can Put To
Use Today
By Libby Dowd
When it comes to lingerie, retailers across America have learned one important lesson: Pretty little things are usually sold in pretty
little spaces.
With not-so-spacious boutiques cropping up all over the map, storeowners are looking for effective ways to merchandise product,
making do with the space they have. An entire store makeover can be a daunting task, but there are certain areas of your store that you can
re-do for an immediate impact.
Here, four successful storeowners pick out the parts of their boutiques that help drive traffic in.
Send a Message
In order to run a successful lingerie store, you must have a clear brand
 message, says CEO of Kramer Design Group, Robin Kramer. Before
making any changes or adjustments to the design and layout of your store, she advises retailers to ask themselves, “What is the message
of my brand?” Understanding what you want your brand to relay to the consumer is the fastest way to built customer loyalty. “We always work
closely with our clients to create a cohesive story,” she says.
Once your message is clear, spin it through every element of your store and its design. At New York-based lingerie boutique
Journelle, owner Clare Chambers worked with Kramer to develop a theme that
revolved around everyday luxury. The concept is reflected in the 1,800-square-foot store’s product selection—moderately priced styles
range in price from $70 to $100—and through regular e-mails featuring suggested “daily luxury items”.
Boseman, MT-based Suelto Boutique caters to adult women who know the value of a good bra. Owner Jolee Barry wanted everything about the
865-square foot store to appeal to these women. “My tagline is: Elegant. Sexy. You.,” she says. “I started with a philosophy for my
store, which I bring into everything I  do—what I buy, how I train my employees, how I design the store.” Barry caters to smart, sexy women
with an aesthetic that’s a little bit funky. “I wanted a boutique not a brightly lit business,” she says. “When I envision a boutique, I
think of a funky little, imperfect, creative space,” Barry has her brand message displayed down to the last detail. “I searched high and
low for the perfect scented candle which I burn everyday,” she says.
“In the summer when I have my door open people are lured in by the smell and they always tell me how great it is.”
Create Perfect Privacy
According to Kramer, an intimate apparel sale is made in the fitting room. “It’s the nature of the product,” she explains. “Dressing rooms
have to be comfortable, very clean and warm. There should also be enough space for two people, [the customer and the sales clerk] with
shopping bags and product, to undress and see themselves in the mirror.” Kramer, who’s worked with intimate apparel brands such as
Ralph Lauren, Donna Karen and Calvin Klein, urges retailers to consider their customer when designing fitting rooms. Not everyone
will feel comfortable inviting a sales clerk into the changing room.
For this reason, Kramer created three levels of privacy in the fitting room area at Journelle. The areas suit every type of woman from the
modest to the shy. “We also placed armoires in the fitting room so there is an immediate stock for someone who needs a different size,”
she says.
Prior to her store opening, Chambers spent a lot of time in dressing rooms around New York City. She found that the rooms with the best
lighting, made the best impression. “The lighting in our dressing room is a mixture of
florescent and incandescent,” she says. “We used warm, neutral taupes and beiges. We also put down carpet and added benches
to make it more inviting.”
Even the smallest bit of extra space will go a long way when it comes to designing your fitting rooms. Kramer feels that an extra 15 percent
of your total floor space is ideal. For Patti Symons of Nightengals in Zionsville, IN, allowing extra space for the fitting rooms was a major
priority. From the 800 square feet of retail space, Symons created three 6’x7’ fitting rooms. “There is enough room for women to bring in
a baby carriage,” she says.
Alison Rubke, owner of Faire Frou Frou, a 900-square-foot boutique in Los Angeles, CA, paid a great deal of attention to the design of her
dressing rooms. The look reflects the soft, sweet style that Rubke and her mother Gale were looking to create. “Pale pink satin drapes spill
onto the floor and are tied back with a huge satin bow,” she says.
“And each fitting room has a mini chandelier, it’s very sweet.”
Adding bathrobes are an inexpensive way to immediately make your dressing room more comfortable. “This isn’t like shopping for denim,”
says Kramer. “She’s basically naked in there and is not going to walk around the store looking for a new size.”
Save Some Space
Operating an intimate apparel boutique can sometimes feel like living in a New
 York City apartment. If your shop feels more like a shoebox,
you may be tempted to order smaller quantities of items. This is one of the most common mistakes made by retailers, says Kramer. “If you
don’t have it in stock and have to place an order, it’s a turn off. Your customers can do that on the internet.” She often recommends that
stores display only a few sizes per style and store the rest in draws similar to those used in department stores. For Journelle, Kramer
designed draws that resembled a library’s catalog system.
Rubke learned that keeping her stock stored on the sales floor was the best way to make a quick sale. “We were storing extra pieces in
plastic storage bins in the office and it took us too long to get to them,” she says. Rubke now keeps her stock close at hand in ornate
19th century antique pieces and custom-made bead board cabinets.
Shake Things Up
Sales may be slacking because your products are not effectively grouped or displayed. When Chambers—who groups merchandise based on
price—noticed customers were promptly leaving the store before making a purchase, she did some investigating. She found that the area people
were drawn to first—the front left of the store—was where she displayed her most expensive items. “People were leaving because the
first items they saw were very expensive, and that intimidated them,” she says. “Everyday fashion is what we are about, so we are catering
to the customer looking for that. I don’t want them to encounter really expensive items right away.” The store’s displays were
revamped, and immediately, Chambers noticed a difference in shoppers spending attitudes. Color also plays an important role in her product
grouping.  “We arrange by color group, things that work well together,”
she says. “Each tell a different story or help highlight a trend or mood people may not have noticed.”
Bras at Nightengals are arranged by color along the wall, while sleepwear and loungewear are displayed on racks in the center of the
floor. According to Symons the wave of color creates a unique look that customers are drawn to. “On one wall are pinks, reds and blacks
and on the other side are purples, blues and jewel tones, and these displays are always changing,” she says.
When determining your product grouping, first understand who your customer is, says Kramer. “If you’re about serving all shapes and
sizes, then arrange by size. Or if your audience is all about fashion and less basic, group by color.” No matter what method you choose, be
sure to continually re-arrange your merchandise and displays as the change will catch customer’s attention. With this recommendation,
Kramer refers back to her initial advice. “You have to do some soul searching up front,” she says. “The retailer must know who their target audience is, and what makes their store special.”
**Libby Dowd is a writer and editor based in New York City.**
9/24
Playboy Inks Deal with Rubie’s Costume Company to Create New Line of Halloween Costumes
Secret Wishes™ and Delicious Sexywear™ Divisions of Rubie’s Awarded License for Official Playboy Halloween Costumes.
Playboy Enterprises, Inc. has awarded an official license for North America distribution of Halloween costumes to Rubie’s Costume Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of Halloween costumes and masquerade products. The announcement was made today by Howard Beige, Executive Vice President of Rubie’s.
Under the agreement, Rubie’s will assign the Playboy license to two of its divisions, Secret Wishes and newly formed Delicious Sexywear of New York, to create fun and sexy Halloween costumes for adults. “We are extremely pleased to be the exclusive costume licensee working with Playboy. Our main objective is to design and develop a line of fun, quality costumes that will retail at a reasonable price,” said Howard Beige, Executive Vice President of Rubie’s Costume Co.
Secret Wishes will introduce a limited collection of Playboy costumes at the
 2009 International Lingerie Show at Las Vegas’s RIO Convention Center in April. These affordably priced costumes will be available for Halloween 2009 in a wide range of specialty stores and national retail chains. In January 2010, the expanded line of Playboy costumes will be unveiled at the Halloween and Party Expo in Houston, Texas.
Delicious Sexywear will also be announcing a selection of fashion-forward products at the Halloween and Party Expo in 2010. This high-quality collection priced at mid-tier levels, will be available at specialty and boutique retail chains starting in 2010. “We are excited and honored to have the opportunity to develop a collection of Playboy branded costumes. We are confident that anyone who sees this product will be thrilled with our creations,” said Houman Salem, Head of Delicious Sexywear.
“Playboy Halloween costumes have long been a widely popular item for consumers,” said Adrianna Chinnici, Vice President, Global Licensing, Playboy Enterprises, Inc. ”Playboy is thrilled to be working with Rubie’s, experts in the Halloween costume industry, to create a new line of sexy costumes for our customers.”
About Playboy:
Playboy is one of the most recognized and popular consumer brands in the world. Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is a media and lifestyle company that markets the brand through a wide range of media properties and licensing initiatives. The company publishes Playboy magazine in the United States and abroad and creates content for distribution via television networks, websites, mobile platforms, DVD and radio. Through licensing agreements, the Playboy brand appears in more than 100 countries on a wide range of consumer products, entertainment locations and retail stores.
For more information contact:
Jessica Art Sigelbaum
Office: 212.261.5037
About Rubie’s Costume Company:
Rubie's Costume Company, Inc. is the largest Halloween and Masquerade products manufacturer and distributor in the world. The company utilizes worldwide licenses from some of Hollywood’s leading entertainment companies (including Warner Bros., Lucas Film, Disney, Nickelodeon, DC Comics, DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures, Fox Films and NBC/Universal). Rubie’s specializes in the creation, design, manufacture and sale of costumes, make-up, wigs, masks, hats, prosthetics, and accessory items. Rubie’s products are sold wherever Halloween and Masquerade Costumes are retailed including National Retailer Chains, Toy Stores, Costume Shops, Variety Stores, Party Goods stores and other specialty retailers located throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Asia. For more information about Rubie’s Costume Company, please visit
www.rubies.com
For more information contact:
Patricia Cacciola
516-326-1500 Ext 188
516-326-8546 fax
About Delicious Sexywear:
Delicious Sexywear of New York™ is a division of Rubie’s Costume Company and a designer and manufacturer of sexy costumes and intimate apparel. The company specializes in New York inspired fashion and apparel targeting modern and trendy women who radiate self-confidence, individualism, and style. The company’s products are sold at National Retail Chains, Specialty Stores, and Boutique Retail Shops throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Asia. For more information about Delicious Sexywear of New York™, please visit
www.deliciouSexywear.com
For more information contact:
Jaclyn White
516-326-1500 Ext 160
516-281-2800 fax
jwhite@deliciouSexywear.com
What Would You Do?
A guy was trying to console a friend who'd just found his wife
in bed with another man.
"Get over it, buddy," he said. "It's not the end of the world."
"It's all right for you to say," answered his buddy. "But what if you came home one night and caught another man in bed with
your wife?"
The fella ponders for a moment, then says, "I'd break his cane and kick his seeing-eye dog in the ass."
Buyers' Best Sellers
Attention
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and Online Store Owners
McPete Sez wants to know what is your hottest selling garment. What is selling out
because McPete Sez readers want to know. Please send an email to info@mcpetesez.com
and include your name, your store's name, city and state along with a phone number
and email, stating your best seller, and who the manufacturer is.
If you would rather keep your best selling item a secret..... please
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If your email is chosen, you will be contacted and
your email will be posted in McPete Sez, along with your store
information.
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From our Readers
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The McPete Sez Lingerie Newsletter
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