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Risque Wigs

Shirley of Hollywood Specials

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Studio Time

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Interludes Lingerie

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Coconut Grove

Tony Shoes

International Lingerie Shows

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Styles Fashion

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Another New Addition to McPete Sez
Page 1

Floods Continue to Disrupt Exports
Page 1

Waterless Fabric Dyeing Process
Page 1

CurveNY
Page 2

Intimate Graphics
Page 2

Business and Technology
Page 2

McPete Sez
Mailbag
Page 2

CurveNY Continued
Page 3

The Addict Expose
Page 3

Ask Kevin
Page 3

Ask Andy
Page 3

Lipgloss & Lace
Page 4

CurveNY Continued
Page 4

Pretty Polly Unveils New Website
Page 4

CurveNY Continued
Page 5

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                                      Page 3      
Frederick's of Hollywood To
  Consolidate Distribution
Frederick’s of Hollywood is hoping to save around $2m in annual costs by consolidating its distribution facilities and outsourcing its remaining manufacturing.
As part of its plans, the company said it had stopped production at its facility in the Philippines, which is expected to reduce annual costs by $1.5m.
It is also in the final stages of consolidating its retail and wholesale distribution operations into its 168,000 square foot facility in Phoenix, Arizona – a move that will save around $500,000 a year. The Phoenix facility will serve as the firm’s US distribution, customer contact and information technology center.
As part of these changes, operations will cease at the wholesale distribution facility in Poplarville, Mississippi by November 30. 
“The latest changes to our manufacturing and distribution capabilities are in line with the strategy we have implemented over the past 18 months, which is aimed at streamlining our operations and reducing costs,” explained CEO Thomas Lynch.
As well as helping to reduce total costs and lifting operating margins, the strategy “will allow us to dedicate more resources to the marketing and design of our products in order to strengthen our brand,” Lynch added.
Frederick's of Hollywood Group, which sells women's intimate apparel and swimwear through 126 stores nationwide, also designs, manufactures, sources, distributes and sells women's intimate apparel via its wholesale division.
The company in June delivered its first quarterly profit since revamping its corporate strategy, posting a third-quarter profit of US$0.2m compared to a net loss of $2.1m in the same period last year.
But sales remained depressed, with net revenues dipping 7.2% to $43.4m, and comparable store sales falling 7.7%.

                    
9/12     
The Addict Expose
       The Curve Report, Day 2: 
Shapewear, Sleepwear, and Swimwear
                 by Treacle of The Lingerie Addict
Today was my second day at CurveNY, the semi-annual lingerie tradeshow held every summer and winter in both Las Vegas and New York City. Yesterday, I mentioned some overall trends I noticed as well as a few designers specializing in plus-sized and small-busted women.

Today, I want to point out two more designers (one specializing in curvy chicks, the other in petite ones) that I didn't mention yesterday, along with some exciting new things in shape, sleep, and swim. Full disclaimer: I am truly, horribly jetlagged so if there's a typo or two in this article, please forgive me. Now let's get started!

I want to start off with Kris Line, a lingerie company out of Poland that carries bras up to a K cup. Yes, a K cup. As far as I know, they are the only brand making pretty, feminine bras for ladies of size. Best of all, their maternity bras go up to a K cup as well, which is great news for my expectant mothers who are struggling to find lingerie that works for them. The model in the photograph to the left is a 34JJ, and as you can see, the bra she's wearing fits her perfectly.


On the other end of the spectrum, The Little Bra Company is bringing the gifts of glamour and great fit to small-busted women everywhere. Her bras range in size from 28A to 36B with matching knickers available in XS, S, M, and L. The prices are reasonable too and comparable with midrange lines from stores like Figleaves and Bare Necessities.




Moving on to shapewear, color, color, and more color is the name of the game. No longer is shapewear only available in black, white, or nude. Now you can purchase forest green slips from Cass Luxury Shapewear, lavender corsets (meant to be worn on the outside!) from Squeem, soft peach teddies from Yummie Tummie, polka dot chemises from Body Wrap, and lipstick red bodybriefers from Rago. (Photos left to right: Yummie Tummie, Squeem, Body Wrap)


Designers aren't slacking off on fit either; they're adjusting seams, experimenting with breathable fabrics, and putting old staples together in new ways. I'm especially impressed with Rago's latest creation, the corset dress, which combines a longline bra with a full crinoline slip. It's only available through American Shapewear for now, but I sincerely hope a few more stores grab this style to keep it from being discontinued. On a more "high-end" note, you're going to love the new Bordelle line; I was sworn to secrecy at the table, but some of the pieces literally made me gasp aloud.

In the world of sleepwear, I saw several designers who I believe are worth paying attention to. The first, Ombrato, is doing beautiful things with silk charmeuse. I thought the black nightie with cream ruffles (pictured below, far left) was one of the most graceful and elegant pieces in the show. Toute la Nuit (bottom photograph) a brand both designed and manufactured in San Francisco, was another favorite. Finally, Linda Hartman's sleepwear (right) was not only pretty but accessible; I could see the average woman (i.e. one who isn't all that into lingerie) buying her chemises off the rack without feeling intimidated.
                      
                      

Finally, as someone who doesn't usually talk about swimwear, I'm afraid I only have one designer to share in this area, but I was very impressed with her. Anna Maria La Bianca's swimsuits, especially the "nude/tattoo" one, are made more for looking at rather than swimming in, but oh are they delight to look at. What do you think of her?


I'm going to close with a few more designers who didn't fit into any of these categories, but who all had a signature piece I positively lusted over.

Zinke's version of the classic romper is young, flirty, and fresh. You know I love anything, and I especially love how they opted for sheer purple rather than the more typical black. I hope they make this piece a part of their permanent collection and produce it in more colors (like a lime green or coral, perhaps?).

Dirty Dolls Lingerie has been on my radar for awhile, and I'm happy to see that they're continuing their line in the retro/burlesque/pin-up tradition. This high-cut garter panty just might be a wardrobe staple when it's released this holiday season. And oh my goodness, isn't their model gorgeous?





NuBra specializes in strapless, backless, seamless bras (along with some very realistic-feeling mastectomy prosthetics) but what impressed me most was this sequin covered bra and string bikini. My love of burlesque is no secret, and I can see this being a big hit with performers. 



***Treacle is a 25 year old knickers junkie who started writing because her  friends threatened to tape her mouth shut if she didn’t stop talking about her underwear. As a blogger, she interacts constantly with the people this industry needs most—customers. The Addict Expose is all about bringing you, the lingerie store owner, the perspective of the lingerie consumers.  She welcomes lingerie lovers of every nation and persuasion to her blog, The Lingerie Addict. ***
  The first installment of The Addict Expose 
                - The Curve Report, Day 1 
available in the August 15th issue of McPete Sez

   CurveNY Continued 

         Dennis Murphy of Softies helping customers. 
                       info@paddimurphy.com 


   The busy Mary Green booth.  lili@marygreen.com 


                 Matt and Courtney model Skineez.  
                  business@legendsandheroes.com


   The busy Va Bien booth.  glg@vabienlingerie.com 


            The Spanx booth.  answers@spanx.com 

            
      Angelina models The Natural.  info@thenatural.ca 


       Persiana shows off Hollywood Fashion Tape. 
                jdailey@hollywoodfashiontape.com 


John Souaid is showing garments by Diamond Tea to a
customer.  johnsouiad@diamondtea.com  Ph: 514-842-3921


              The busy Sassybax Shapewear booth.
                           lorraine@sassybax.com 


Louis Van Leeuwen and Joy Van Leeuwen of Bamboo Nights. 
                     louis@coolblossom.com 


Santa LaBellman holds a garment by Les Jupons de Tess.  
                        labellaintimates@hotmail.com 
    
          CurveNY Continued on page 4

     Merchandising Success 
Retailers can attest that effective merchandising is an essential tool for increasing sales. Grouping items by color or use, creating vignettes, adding playful or unusual articles, re-merchandising weekly, and giving “spot light” to certain products or lines are all means of helping to draw the attention of customers to particular items; aiding the customer to “find” something that appeals to them. 
Point of Purchase (POP) displays are another means of helping retailers merchandise products in a way that promotes impulse buys, creates lasting brand impressions, and in Eucalan’s case, cues staff to speak about garment care while the customer is ready to purchase. Retailers have been asking for a POP display for several years and Eucalan is pleased to announce that a table top POP is now available.
If you’re not already familiar, Eucalan is a premier no rinse delicate wash. Scented with pure essential oils of eucalyptus, lavender, grapefruit or natural/unscented; Eucalan is an eco-friendly, non-toxic product that has a natural lanolin-enriched formula which helps to condition and reduce static. Eucalan is free of bleach, phosphates and dyes, and comes packaged in an easily recycled hdpe plastic bottle. Good for top and front-loading washing machines, Eucalan’s unique ‘no-rinse’ benefit allows the user to cut down dramatically on water and energy consumption, so a win-win situation for the environment as well as the consumer. 
Tests of the POP prototype in both a linen/gift store and ladies wear boutique were favourable, with 10-293% growth in Eucalan sales during a 1 month period. Retailers sited that they liked the look of the display and felt it gave the Eucalan products a real presence in their store. 
Eucalan is offering the unit stocked at a price retailer’s can’t refuse - no charge for the POP display, just the wholesale cost of the products. Fantastic value considering the POP display is worth over $100! “We are certain the POP display will increase sales for our retailers and have invested in the R&D and production of the units. Offering them at no cost to our retailers was important as we know that even small costs can affect the bottom line each month. We’re certain the investment will pay off in the short-run” said Jennifer Edgar, Managing Director of Eucalan.   www.eucalan.com 
Chelsea Manor Receives Funding
    from Prominent Investors
Chelsea Manor, a retailer of fashion lingerie, intimate apparel and related products, announced today that the company has secured capital from a group of San Francisco Bay-area investors and plans to build a world-class e-commerce website. The announcement was made by Houman Salem, Founder and CEO of the Salem Holdings Company, the parent company to Chelsea Manor.
Chelsea Manor opened its flagship retail store in late 2009 at Westfield Fashion Square, a popular mall based in Sherman Oaks, California (a city in the Los Angeles County). The store offers a European-inspired boutique retail shopping experience with products that are characterizes as entry-level luxury at affordable price points. Chelsea Manor was launched with an initial investment made by the Salem Holdings Company and began initial talks with outside investors in March 2010.
Chelsea Manor’s new investors are icons of the San Francisco sports and business communities; including retired NFL star Ronnie Lott and apparel industry and licensing executive Joel Kleinfeld. Ronnie Lott won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2000. “I believe strongly in the long term business plan of Chelsea Manor,” commented Lott.
The investors in Chelsea Manor also agreed to bring value-added connections and resources to help the company grow and expand rapidly. “The importance of the investment was not only the money, but also the resources that our investors can bring to Chelsea Manor,” commented Salem. Chelsea Manor’s investors all hold an equity position with the company, with Lott and Klienfeld both taking a seat on the company’s Board of Directors. The investment made in Chelsea Manor is earmarked for the development and launch of the company’s e-commerce website, which is expected to be launched by late September 2010.
About Chelsea Manor:
Chelsea Manor is a mall-based retailer of fashion lingerie, intimate apparel and related products operating out of its flagship retail store at Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks, California. The company specializes in entry-level luxury products at affordable price points including, lingerie, corsets, babydolls, teddies, chemises, camisoles, bras (from 32A to 42DDD), panties, masquerade masks, sexy costumes, and romantic gifts. Chelsea Manor designs its own collections and also carries products from such reputable brands as Cosabelle, Falke, NuBra among others. 
About Salem Holdings Company:
Salem Holdings Company™ owns and operates businesses in the fashion, apparel, and retail industries. Headquartered in Downtown Los Angeles, California with offices in New York City, Salem Holdings Company™ is committed to building a diversified company of leading lifestyle brands in the United States. We aim to establish our leadership position by continuously developing unique and cutting-edge brands that have a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace and that offer consumers a compelling brand experience.
Salem Holdings Company™ is comprised of a number of independent subsidiary companies, all of which are established either through a direct investment, an acquisition, or through a licensing arrangement. Our core business strategy relies on launching and growing well-differentiated brands in markets that are either not served or are underserved by current competition, markets where competition is fragmented, or markets that show a significant opportunity for sustainable growth. We focus on building brands into profitable business enterprises and ensure that each brand creates considerable value for our partners, stakeholders, consumers and our communities. 

Yoobies Inflatable Bra
Fact: Every woman wants better boobs. Reality: Many products exist that offer either more lift, more cleavage, or more va-voom, but there hasn't been anything that lets women have it all. Until now...

Now, with Yoobies' patented technology, women can go from business hour to happy hour with the push of a button. Simply locate the small button on the outside edge of the cotton-covered pad and gently press. Watch the Yoobies inflate in just seconds. Too much va-voom? Press the same button while gently squeezing out the air.
For those women conscious about having different-sized breasts or post-mastectomy, Yoobies allow the wearer to choose how much air goes into each side. As light as air, Yoobies never weigh women down and are safe to wear in swimsuits.
Celebrities and costumers have already gotten wind of these new figure enhancers, and they are demanding more Yoobies. Look for them on “Hot In Cleveland,” “Weeds” and many more upcoming movies and series.
Yoobies inserts, available in four sizes and two colors, will be available for $24 exclusively at yoobies.com starting July 5th. The Yoobies Bra ($69) will be available shortly thereafter and features special pockets that hold Yoobies in place.
Yoobies Inc. is a new company founded by a mom, two daughters (who are now moms themselves) and one of their sorority sisters. They are four women who love adventure and believe that women can truly have it all.

Sudden Death Final 
A man had tickets to Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final right at center ice. As he sits down, a man comes down and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him. 
"No," he says. "The seat is empty." 
"This is incredible" said the man. "Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the Stanley Cup and not use it?" 
"Well, actually," the man responds, "the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Stanley Cup we haven't been to together since we got married in 1967." 
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone, a friend or relative, or even a neighbor to take the seat?" 
The man shakes his head, "No, no one. They're all at the funeral." 

ASK Kevin
      For all of your website questions...
Kevin and his wife have been retailing lingerie and adult products since 1988. They believe that a large portion of their business success came from the  addition of their websites to their retail store and that in today's fast paced market, internet marketing goes hand in hand with any business.
Kevin's personal site design experiences include all levels of internet marketing and design including secure server ordering processes, merchant account integration, HTML editing, photo editing, graphic design and banner advertisements. All of which are needed on a business style website.
Kevin also designs websites and consults clients who want to do more business online.
Kevin welcomes your questions and comments regarding website design, internet marketing, photo editing, domain registrations hosting and more. For serious website entrepreneurs, he recommends this course for complete Internet marketing training. Internet Marketing & Site Optimization Tips: http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/848190
You can ask Kevin your questions at Kevin@mcpetesez.com

The "Ask Kevin" Column is an opinion Column and may not necessarily  reflect the views of  McPete Sez. 

                       "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  


     The McPete Sez Lingerie Newsletter & Women's Wear Journal           
                                
                          End of page 3