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Sensual Mystique
Studio Time
Tia
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Lingerie
Interludes Lingerie
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Shirley
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Delicate
Illusions
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Intimates
Tony Shoes
International
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Internet Gazette
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Tax Rebates Boost May Retail Sales
Page
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US Loses WTO Cotton Subsidies Dispute
Page
1
UK's Online Spending Still Growing
Page
1
April International Lingerie Show
Page 2
Intimate Graphics
Page 2
Buyers' Best Sellers
Page 2
Ask Andy
Page 2
McPete Sez
Mailbag
Page 2
April International Lingerie Show Continued
Page 3
Cotton Traders Customer Information Hacked
Page 3
Ask Kevin
Page 3
April International Lingerie Show Continued
Page 4
Moss Dumped Again
Page 4
Protesters Use Youtube as Deterrent
Page 4
International Lingerie
Fashion Show
Page 5
The Buzz
Page 5
Reps Corner
Page 5
Shows & Events
Page 5
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Page 2
Fight Competition
The shopkeeper was dismayed when a brand new business much like his own opened up next door and erected a huge sign which read BEST DEALS.
He was horrified when another competitor opened up on his right, and announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading LOWEST PRICES.
The shopkeeper was panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign of all over his own shop-it read... Main entrance.
10/13
The April 2008 International
Lingerie Show
Photos by Heather Briggs
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.
In the iBasic booth, Jennifer Hu and Tony Lam smile for
the camera. tony@ibasicintima.com
Vanessa is modeling a babydoll from the Seductively Floral Lace
Collection by Milili. sales@milili.com
Maureen Williams and Bryn Thomas are in the Lolita-Girl
Clothing booth, where there is a wide selection of retro lingerie
and
dresses. info@lolitagirlclothing.com
Tushell Lieberman and Judy Nantais are surrounded by
beautiful corsets
by Corset Creations.
info@corsetcreations.com
Mirco Santini and Luca Staiano have sexy clubwear in the
Modamerica. modamerica@tiscali.it
Adriane stands by her display of sexy clubwear, bikinis and
dancewear by Sexxy Brazil. sexxybrazil@yahoo.com
Isaac Shalom can't wait to show his line of sleepwear,
loungewear and lingerie by Bed
of Roses.
sales@bedofrosesinc.com
Prasanna Peries of Vandre
smiles for the camera.
prasanna1@sbcglobal.net
Rhonda is modeling a Wild Rose Tattoo
Shirt.
rhonda224@verizon.net
Ph: 214-529-0355
The International Lingerie Show continued on
page 3
2/12
Intimate Graphics
Error 404:
What customers believe when your website goes down
by Luis Paredes
When customers see a storefront closed for a few days, they assume the worst - gone out of business!
Customers also assume the worst when they see a business's website down even for a day and that can do immeasurable damage to a company's image.
For intimate apparel manufacturers, especially those just starting out and/or without a showroom, a website is their online storefront and they have to make sure their website(s) stay up and running. Buyers are fickle and when they can't access a site they move on to someone else they believe is still in the game.
Three of the most common causes for website failure are:
Failure to pay the monthly hosting fee
Failure to renew a domain name
Server crash
To prevent this from happening, manufacturers need to take a few simple preventative measures:
Pay the Hosting fee on time, every time.
Hosting companies make this easy to do: they sign your credit card up for auto payments. The mistake most people make is not keeping their account with the host updated. If you change credit cards, make sure the most up-to-date card is relayed to the host. Otherwise, they will take down your site until you pay. Or, some hosts will actually wait until a few months have passed and hit you with a gargantuan bill with fees attached. If you refuse to pay, they'll take down the site.
Secure your domain name and renew it each year
When you sign up for a domain name take advantage of the multiple year rates that offer. If cost is an issue, then renew your domain name each year. Again, domain registrars make this easy to use by offering a service called "auto-renew". They will charge your credit card automatically each year and secure your domain name.
If you don't pay, your domain name goes up for sale again to the public. Many company's have had the unfortunate experience of losing their .com domain name and have to shop around for a new one.
The cost isn't limited to just buying a new domain name. Now the company has to change its letterhead, business cards, sell sheets, advertisements, and anything else the old domain name was printed on to accommodate the new one. Plus, you'll have to spend the time and money to advertise your new website address so that customers don't think you've gone out of business. The costs in time and money quickly build up.
Back up! Back up!
Make sure you have a back up of your website stored locally at your company and on your web hoster's server.
Server crashes are rare and most reputable web hosters will take care of everything to bring your site back online very quickly. Most of the time, you and your customers will never notice that the site has gone down. But, it's still a good idea to keep a backup of your files. You never know.
Again, all you really need to do avoid your website from going is down is to keep on top of your accounts, update your credit card information and back up your files.
**Intimate Graphics is a column by Luis Paredes on graphic design, business and marketing for the intimate apparel industry.
Paredes is a freelance journalist and graphic designer with extensive trade experience in the intimate apparel industry. His work focuses on the marketing and communication design efforts of intimate apparel companies. His design studio,
Seven Hills Graphic
Design, creates Catalogs, Ads, and Brochures with a focus on attracting buyers.**
Sensual Mystique is looking for sales reps. Please
contact us
4/24
Buyers' Best Sellers
Attention
All Buyers, Boutique
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
just tell us who the manufacturer is.
If your email is chosen, you will be contacted and
your email will be posted in McPete Sez, along with your store
information.
"Ask Andy"
Andy Weinstock has been in the fabric and textile business all his life, but professionally since 1969. 
"I love what I do, selling fabrics around the globe. I've met lots of interesting, creative, dynamic
folks; some have become dear friends. I love to help new businesses find the things they need to become successful. It works for everyone."
You can ask Andy questions about Fabrics at
Andy@mcpetesez.com
The "Ask Andy" Column is an opinion Column and may
not necessarily reflect the views of
McPete Sez
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The McPete
Sez Mail Bag
From our Readers
To our Readers
For our Readers
Inquiries:
Some of our readers will have the answer.
Remember, our readers are in the same
Industry.
Retailers, Manufacturers and Sales Representatives
From a concerned buyer-
I wanted to write to let you know what retailers have been dealing with since this adult costume industry has exploded into the market………….,….
Three seasons ago there were manufactures with great designs that were made with quality material and good workmanship. These were a pleasure to sell and created excitement in our customers for the next season’s costumes.
As retailers our concerns buying from manufactures are; price point, desirability, and quality.
During the next season we had a few companies that had major problems with assembly and workmanship and many returns. We really thought there would be improvement in the next year.
In everyone’s frenzy to be the biggest and have the most it has only gotten worse and I have now learned also to ask if their products are manufactured in the USA or overseas, and if overseas did they have someone supervising the production. I ask this because it seems that this is where the biggest problem lies.
While I will not name specific manufactures (and there were many) some issues were jewels on crowns falling off or missing completely, rows of lace which had been cut so badly it almost resembled “ric rac”. This “ric rac” was sewn on in terrible uneven lines around the bottom of dresses. Some of these ruffles were not even ruffled and just lay flat around the bottom of the dress. Many companies did not have elastic thread at top or bottom of dresses so some costumes would not even go over our customer’s shoulders or hips to try them on. If the customer were to wear these outfits the stitching would snap and strips of fabric would begin to fall off and drag behind them when they walked, sat or reached.
We had a beautiful costume that had a corset style top that the boning worked its way right through the fabric and out onto the floor of the dressing room as they tried it on. Some of the dresses and tops have lace in front and back but no way to get in and out of it alone. A zipper might have been good thought. This makes be wonder if the designers have ever tried to dress themselves in one of their own designs. Speaking of zippers, how can they can think that a sexy, curve hugging, form fitting costumes with fitted waistlines only need the smallest nylon zippers. We have paid to have more than a few dozen broken zippers replaced that never made it out of the dressing room. We’ve had to scrap a few designs that faded on themselves inside the package and have had patent leather costumes stick so badly to themselves that they cannot be separated….snaps that don’t un-snap but instead pull through the fabric….dozens of packages that have assorted pieces missing. Oh and here’s a funny…..Boot covers that don’t even pull over a size 5 foot! Ha, the highlight of the defective outfits was the costume that would allow for automatic flashing at Fantasy Fest because the shirt was cut too short in error and would not stay down over the smallest of bra size.
My thoughts to manufactures that are going to continue to have their products made outside of the USA are that I would like to see them send at least 1 if not a few employees overseas to supervise the sewing and assembly, as well as inspecting the finished product and packaging before the product is shipped to us. Without this supervision the only winners during the season are UPS and FedEx as costumes are shipped and returned over and over throughout the season.
How many times have we all put on a new pair of jeans or slacks and reached in the pocket only to find a little round inspection sticker. Has anyone ever seen one of these on a costume?
I would like them to consider the outcome of the costume and not just set a price that the costume has to be made within. Zippers should be tested for stress before it is considered for a fitted waist costume. Fabrics should be tested for colorfastness or they will never last the season in a plastic costume bag and production through packaging should be carefully monitored.
I would also like them to understand that for many of us the “Season” starts in August and sometimes sooner. Costumes that are promised in July and not shipped to us until October are not acceptable. Please do not make promises you cannot keep.
Did I mention Quality? Last season several companies seemed to expanded so fast and have moved into massive production that they cut corners by no longer hemming or rolling the edges on the majority of their costumes. While some costumes such as Tinkerbelle, witches and pirates can justify torn or raw edges as part of the overall characteristics, we, in the meantime must explain to our customers why the costume this year looks like a sexy discount store costume (or as one customer put it ‘paper dresses’) and costs much more. Please tell me what to tell my customers. Why should they buy these costumes?
While I understand the idea of saving money by manufacturing overseas maybe they should consider keeping the manufacturing in our own country where they can oversee the entire process of making and packaging a quality costume. Yes, there was a day not long ago where finding employees in this country to manufacture outfits was a slight challenge, but I believe times are changing. People today have gas and houses to pay for and during these trying times I believe priorities are being re-evaluated. I would hope that all manufactures pay as much attention to our citizens here and their desire to work as they do their bottom lines. Many Americans would love to have jobs that these manufactures can supply and I would really like to sell a more consistent product as well.
If
you have the answer.....Give
it"
If
you have something to say..
"Say it".
If you have a question......"Ask
it"
Do you have any show dates for
2002
Do you have any show dates or events that you would like posted for
2008? If so please e-mail them to me for posting
in our show section. Thank
You
End of Page 2
 
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