Week 10 EOC: Dream Job

Product Developer - San Francisco, CA 94102
Company: Levi Strauss & Co.
Status: Full Time, Employee

Job Category: Other Location: San Francisco, CA 94102

 The purpose of this position is to manage the execution of all product development and sourcing activities required to deliver manufacturing ready products.
-          Oversee the seasonal development activities for a product category as outlined in the Go To Marker calendar, troubleshoot & problem solve as required  
-          Lead and coordinate development activities with cross functional partners, field resources and vendors
-          Travel to vendors 2-4 times per year for onsite style & finish development
-          Partner with Manager to ensure development & final placement strategy are aligned and meet the costing, capability and lead time requirements
-          Lead costing process including the issuance and negotiation of RFQ’s throughout the source base
-          Ensure all pre-production requirements are identified and communicated to the field.
-          Ensure all cross sourcing activities are initiated in the appropriate source locations to ensure successful execution of commercial samples and bulk production.
-          Provide cross functional leadership on a daily basis
-          Train and mentor a Product Development Assistant
 Qualifications
 -          5-7 years apparel product development experience working with overseas vendors
-          2 years development experience working with denim products
-          Knowledge of garment construction & product costing
-          Thorough understanding of the product development process including design, sourcing, development and merchandising
-          Effective verbal and written communication skills

-          Strong organization skills, time management, and attention to detail

-          Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a diverse group of people to achieve optimal results

-          Proficiency with MS Office, including Excel

-          Knowledge or experience working in PLM

Tag Line

"We are currently in a phase of emotionalisation in branding. Brands are attempting to engage with us through emotional connections – to establish a closeness and understanding between the audience and the brand." The Soshel Tag Line; "Coming Together, Working Together, Succeed Together." when using the brand logo the 'ant', name or both together. "Brand messages should capture the spirit and aims of the brand – they are not things that people would say, but should help employees and external parties who work with the brand to understand its values and direction." When the Soshel flag is used the Tag line would read; "Growth, Change, Reflex" begin the meaning for each color used in the flag, green,blue and white.

    Coming Together .Working Together . Succeed Together 

Growth, Change, Reflex 

Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing 

Specialty and Five Key Talents

Soshel Clothing began when I desired to have a logo of my own, one that was both likable and could spark brand statues. I approach the challenge with an open creative mind, taking the time and patients to understand what I wanted to achieve and bring to the fashion industry. "A brand without guidelines can become diluted over time. Most brands now operate across a number of different media, and if no rules are established at the outset regarding brand consistency, the brand can look completely disparate, compromising the brand and its values." Doing something different and taking that risk by choosing the ‘Ant’ for the logo for the brand Soshel. along with identifying the values of it. To universally inspire people from our youth to the elderly that we are indeed a 'social people.'



Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing 

Statement Of Your Specialty

I remember wanting to design and have my own clothing line that everyone could wear. A unique style of clothing not commonly seen among my peers; it was a style distinct of New York City. I liked the style so much I continued dressing in this particular way even though I was the only one in my neighborhood. Of course my style evolved, but my originality caused my peers to admire and sometimes question my fashion sense. "The experience of a brand is a series of interactions that, over time, can encourage brand loyalty or marginalise a product or service. The consumer is buying something larger than the product or service: they are buying into the philosophy and the spirit behind the brand." So when I decide to create Soshel Clothing I new it had to deliver something more than just a shirt; it is a way of life was the way I seen it. I should represents us as people living and working together throughout our day to day lives. "Experience matters to every brand and just how the audience interacts with the brand must be consciously developed across every interaction. The designer is the creator and translator of the brand experience – they are often involved in conceptualising the brand and turning the brand promise into a tangible reality, acting as the link between the audience and the brand." Deciding to go with a mobile pop-up shop rather then a brick and motor store would bring a different experiences to the consumers.    


Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing 

Top Five, Talents

What would be my top five talents, would have to be having a creative talent the patients and understand that is a be key to success. Being flexible in all situations at the same time a great listener to be able to direct my self in the best direction for change. "While clever brands set trends, many brands react and respond to trends. If a brand can recognise, predict and drive a trend, then it will have a stronger connection with its audience. However, branding is long-term, while trends are often, by their very nature, short-lived." In all not scared to be a risk taker, I feel that is a talent all people not just a business should have with in them.


Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing 

Talents

As a kid and growing into my adult hood I been recognized for my creative process taking something from nothing and making it my own wither it was a unique style of clothing not commonly seen among my peers and making it my own that they admire. "Today’s brand audience is elusive and fickle. We earn more and borrow more than our parents or grandparents ever did. We have high expectations, and demand more choices. We are brand-savvy, ever more discerning, less loyal and more informed than any audience before us." I was always known a the Observer and loner, the one that stands alone and not sacred to do something new and different. Being organized neat and clean within my own space and the clothing I choose to wear. I was always know for having that attitude if the next person can do it why not "me."



Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing (page 103)

Passions

 Soshel Clothing is more than just a shirt; it is a way of life.  The ‘Ant’, being the logo for Soshel Clothing, represents us as people living and working together within our communities. "Stories can be used at any stage of brand ideas generation. The creation of a brand must start with a story: ‘The future’s bright, the future’s Orange’ was the main strapline for mobile phone operator Orange’s launch created around the idea of optimism; Nike’s ‘Just do it’ – one of the most successful straplines in branding – is about self-realisation." We participate daily at the places we shop for our necessities such as Shopping centers and food stores.  Those who have established these companies are examples of a “Mr. or Ms. Soshel” since they are providing places for us to purchase goods needed to live our social ways of life. "Stories can be used to create a scenario describing how people will interact with the brand in a particular environment, or used to understand a different audience. Think in terms of the one central idea that you are trying to tell people, then the one key message and how this can be communicated, and work within the boundaries of the values of the brand." Soshel can be looked at as something positive we can all wear, share and talk about. In other words its a way of life not just clothing.   

 Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing (page 75) 

Core Values

Soshel Clothing is a statement to universally inspire people from our youth to the elderly that we are indeed a 'social people' living and working together throughout our day to day lives. Us as people coming together, working together, we can succeed together in all areas of life. "A more recent debate is raging over whether the key to successful branding is more heart-felt and emotional than that of business-school strategies – branding is, after all, the packaging of emotion. Whichever method is applied, any brand message must be authentic and true in its expression, and that is the starting point of the graphic design." I chose the ant as my logo to represent this, since it is an ancient representation of working together within its own community. "As our lives become more complex and full of choice, branding is starting to change business by making the intangible, tangible. It offers more than a frill around a product or service – when people are passionate about particular brands there is an emotional connection that goes beyond the appreciation of the product or service."

Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing (page 57)

Primary "Product"

The primary product for my brand is clothing a ready-to-wear collection design for the youth (13) to the young men (25) an everyday casual wear wither work or play. "Brands today represent more than a product, service or brand identity (the name and logo, design and voice of the brand). A brand is synonymous with the business and the style behind the product or service; it encompasses the people working for the company and a philosophy and spirit that sustains it." The ‘Ant’, being the logo for Soshel Clothing, represents us as people living and working together within our communities. “It is about creating an entity in the consumer’s mind so that they can see it. They can see a representation but behind this representation what they actually have is a whole series of images, beliefs and actions. Effective branding is the means by which a brand can stay in a market longer and more profitably because it’s been created properly” Soshel is the brand that looks to the future of the youth coming of age. not to discredit the brands that stood the test of times and are still very much successful in the fashion industry. Soshel brand is here to bring the next new and exciting brand to the industry. The new logo along with a new reinvented style of clothing for the next generation.

Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing (page 27 & 31)

Week 7 EOC: Retail PEST Control

Retail PEST Control "Home Depot" let's analysis this company and determine the Political, Economic, Social and Technological environment. Home Depot, based in Atlanta, is expected to generate sales of $77.6 billion this fiscal year ending Feb. 2. Home Depot declined 43 percent from the end of 2006 through 2008, as the U.S. housing market was falling. There is a possibility that higher mortgage rates due to the fall could slow down Home Depot sales. Despite all external pressures, Home Depot produced the highest risk-adjusted return among peers over the past three years after store improvements preceding the housing rebound sparked stronger sales.

http://ir.homedepot.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=63646&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1827243&highlight= 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-14/home-depot-is-best-retailer-on-housing-riskless-return.html 

BOC Week 7: Who Is The Biggest Retailer?

Who is the biggest retailer? To find this out let's divide this up in groups like Fashion retailer, Music retail and Home improvement retailers. According to Bloomberg.com Home Depot is the world largest home-improvement chain.
"Home Depot, the world’s largest home-improvement chain, gained 9.6 percent as of Aug. 12 when adjusted for volatility, best among the 32 retail stocks in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Home Depot, based in Atlanta, is expected to generate sales of $77.6 billion this fiscal year ending Feb."
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-14/home-depot-is-best-retailer-on-housing-riskless-return.html
When looking into the fashion retail you will find that the company Zara is the largest fashion retailer.
Zara is one of the largest international fashion companies. It belongs to Inditex, one of the world’s largest distribution groups.
"When we open a market, everyone asks, ‘How many stores will you open?’It depends on the customer and how big the demand is. We must have the dialogue with the customers and learn from them. It’s not us saying you must have this. It’s you saying it."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/magazine/how-zara-grew-into-the-worlds-largest-fashion-retailer.html?pagewanted=all
The music retailer iTunes has sold over four billion songs and features the world's largest music catalog of over six million songs. with second being Wal-Mart. 
"We launched iTunes less than five years ago, and it has now become the number one music retailer in the world."
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/04/03iTunes-Store-Top-Music-Retailer-in-the-US.html 

Week 6 EOC: Rocky Ford- Restrong The Brand

"The bigger challenge facing Colorado melon growers may be restoring public confidence in the cantaloupes. So far, the growers' investments seem to be paying off."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/13/colorado-cantaloupes-retu_0_n_1670660.html
Then the farmers overhauled their production practices to restore public confidence. They hired a full-time food safety manager to monitor melon-picking and started paying the seasonal pickers by the hour, not by the amount of cantaloupes picked. The farmers also built a new central packing shed where all Rocky Ford-labeled melons will be washed with soap and a chlorine oxide, then rinsed with well water tested for contamination.

After being washed, the melons will be cooled to reduce condensation and then packed into boxes labeled with codes traceable to the fields where the melons were grown. The boxes will be packed with slips that interested shoppers can scan using a smartphone to read about where their melons originated.

Week 6 BOC: Tylenol Scare 1982

"For those who lost loved ones or investigated the case, pain, anger and frustration remain. Part of the reason is that nobody was ever charged, much less convicted of the crime."
In 1982 that triggered  national scare that had people throwing away and stores taking Tylenol from the shelves after seven people died in Chicago and four people that died in the suburbs  after taking cyanide-laced Tylenol. Since then The company had no chose but to rebuild the trusted brand.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-09-29-tylenol-poisonings_N.htm
"The Johnson & Johnson Tylenol crisis is an example of how an organization should communicate with the various publics during a crisis. The organization's leadership set the example from the beginning by making public safety the organizations number one concern. This is particularity important given the fact that Johnson & Johnson's main mission with Tylenol is to enhance the public's well-being or heath."
http://www.ou.edu/deptcomm/dodjcc/groups/02C2/Johnson%20&%20Johnson.htm
Tylenol provided the victim's families counseling and financial assistance even though they were not responsible for the product tampering help Tylenol seek forgiveness from the various public's that turn to acceptance for the crisis.
"Straddling a thin line between resuming sales too soon and offending consumers, and waiting too long and allowing competitors to snap up market share, Johnson & Johnson decided to strike back quickly." 
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/17/business/tylenol-s-rapid-comeback.html
First by recalling 31 million bottles of Tylenol capsules from store shelves and offering replacement product for the customers who already had it in their households.Before they relaunch Tylenol back on the shelves the took consumer surveys. They found out that 59 percent of regular users said they were likely to try the pain reliever again.Tylenol  inserted 80 million coupons in newspapers good for $2.50 off any purchase of Tylenol with their new and improved triple-sealed containers. over all Tylenol spent $100 million from this crisis to save their brand. "It illustrates a strength of Johnson & Johnson that is nearly unique, their expertise in medical devices and in pharmaceuticals, and their convergence,"
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/your-money/23iht-mjj_ed3_.html 



                                           

Week 5 EOC: Trend Prodiction

"We will be going back to the basics in a more sophisticated way. Brands now need to be authentic and real; it’s about honesty and sincerity."
Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing (Page 152) 
This is the direction fashion companies seem to be going. they are looking to get in to a more causal all day but still up scale sophisticated look, but at a price that the average consumer can buy. Stores Like H&M  Zara, forever 21 for him and her are all going into this kind of direction with their fashion. I don't see it as a trend but more as the new fashion statement, leaving the hip-hop style and  the Euro fashion style a thing of the pass.  

Week 4 EOC: McDonal's Respons to Supersize Me

Week 3 EOC: Rolling Stone Magazine

"is not just about the music, but about the things and attitudes that music embraces. This has become the de facto motto of the magazine."

http://cecilbuffington.com/photo3_40.html

The magazine was known for its political coverage beginning in the 1967 by Jann Wenner in San Francisco. Rolling Stone magazine was initially identified with and reported on the hippie counterculture of the era. By the 1970's, Rolling Stone began to make a mark with it's political coverage.Then made its shift and focus towards being a general "entertainment" magazine during the 1980's do to the increasing coverage of celebrities in television, movies and the pop culture. Rolling Stone magazine changed it's format tin the 1990's to appeal to younger readers, focusing on film and pop music. in recent years the magazine resumed back to it roots of mix content, including in-depth political stories.
"Whether the subject is music, TV, movies or politics—over 12 million young Americans trust and turn to Rolling Stone every two weeks to keep them up on the subjects they care about most."

http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/RSdigital.html#adopp

Rolling Stone is doing this by creating their digital content, things like breaking news music and movie reviews, blogs, photos and videos. The Rolling Stone of today is the pulse of the youth with Bold stories insightful commentary that is delivered a point of view that defines its audience.  

Week 2 EOC: John Varvatos

“Our philosophy is about reaching back to move forward. We have something different to say with a sensibility that is both old and new.”

John Varvatos is a fashion designer form Detroit he been inspired by icons like Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper, with that he brought a musical rock like with him into the fashion world in 2000. He stared with his “black-less collection” a tailored menswear that gained him a 2001 CFDA newcomer award and again in 2007. Varvatos has teamed up with sneaker company Converse to create a laceless sneaker that became a big hit.  Varvatos lunched his first line of fragrances in 2005 and his eyewear in 2006. In the spring of 2007 GQ magazine named him the designer of the year in the 12^th annual men of the year issue. John Varvators Company is now worth over $80 million. Before lunching his own clothing line John Varvatos Work for Polo Ralph Lauren in 1983 and later was recruited by Calvin Klein In 1990. He was appointed head of menswear design and oversaw the lunch of the cK brand. Varvatos return back to Polo in 1995 as the head of menswear design for all the Ralph Lauren brands. While their he created the created the Polo Jeans company.

http://www.nbc.com/fashion-star/about/bios/mentors/john-varvatos/

http://nymag.com/thecut/fashion/designers/john-varvatos/

http://www.askmen.com/celebs/men/business_politics_60/93_john_varvatos.html

 

Week 1 EOC: How to Make It In America

What I felt the two charters did right in how to make it in America was not given up on being successful. They found ways to make the money they needed to clear their debt with and investor, by using the resources that was tangible for them. The selling of the fake leather coats and helping a friend out, and in return him giving them the money the needed to pay off their debt. Where I think they went wrong was investing in ideals and products without really knowing if there is a market for it. For example the skate board decks that they had custom made and they was going to have a while known local skate rider help promote these skate boards was an ideal gone bad. They had no real marketing concept and or brand type concept that could help push this product. Were they also went wrong was in the investment of the jean fabric. The two did not do any research on what it will take to have this material turn into a pair of jeans how many pairs can the get out of the material how much will it cost to make one pair and who where and when will they sell it.
Davis, M., and Baldwin, J. (2006). More Than a Name: An Introduction to Branding. AVA Publishing       “Many brands may succeed in communicating to an audience, but fail to engage. Engagement happens by identifying and exploiting the magic in a brand: the insight or idea that connects to the audience. It can be an intuitive process and requires a mix of strategic business thinking and creative ideas. The thinking and creative process must never stop.”  

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

Soshel Clothing is a statement to universally inspire people from our youth to the elderly that we are indeed a ‘social people’.  The original premise was to create an everyday casual style of clothing catered for work or play. 

Soshel Clothing is more than just a shirt; it is a way of life.  The ‘Ant’, being the logo for Soshel Clothing, represents us as people living and working together within our communities.  We participate daily at the places we shop for our necessities such as food stores.  Those who have established these companies are examples of a “Mr. or Ms. Soshel” since they are providing places for us to purchase goods needed to live our social ways of life.