Chloe Capital’s Post

Great article on brand and brand collabs and how all things intertwine with how your brand is viewed from consumer to other marketers

The lack of funding for Black-owned beauty brands, despite their market potential, exposes a frustrating disconnect. Investors, now risk-averse, prioritize profitability over innovation, leaving these brands—often solving unique beauty concerns—struggling to scale without adequate financial backing. The demand for proven success and retail traction creates a catch-22, where Black founders face higher barriers and fewer resources. While grants help, they’re not enough. Investors need to reconsider their approach and recognize the long-term cultural and financial value these brands offer, rather than just focusing on immediate returns. https://lnkd.in/eTThfM2U

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝? I had a very successful handbag company called Sarah Shaw Handbags. Over 5 years we grew to over $1M in annual sales, were in 1200 stores in the USA, including Bloomingdales, Saks 5th Ave, Nordstrom Barney’s, Henri Bendel, and Bergdorf Goodman. I had handbags in the movies Legally Blonde, Ocean’s 11 and America’s Sweetheart as well as on TV shows like Friends and Will & Grace. Celebrities Sharon Stone, Jennifer Aniston, and Oprah had all used my bags. I was on the TV shows Access Hollywood and E! Entertainment. I had investors, 5 employees, did 3-5 trade shows a year, and had showrooms in NYC, LA, Atlanta and Dallas. Life was great. After 9/11, when things were very dark in America, and there were virtually no sales in Q4, and I lost my investors in January of 2002. This was the beginning of the end for my company. Click to read the article https://lnkd.in/gGYjP2DA #sarahshawconsulting #entreprenette #beyourownboss #femaleentrepenuer #femaleentrepenuerlifestyle #womaninbusiness #bossbabe #productresearch #productdevelopment #mistakeshappen #smallbizcoach #businessgoals #businessstrategy #growyourbusiness #businessplanning #momsinbusiness #mompenuers #solopenuer #entrepenuerwoman #businessbuilding #coachingbusiness #businesstraining #leadership #femalebusinesscoach #onlinebusinesscoach #leadersinheels #ceoofmylife #thehustleisreal #confidencecoach

In #QuantumProgression, I wrote the chapter "Detach From Your Job Title" because of the important role forward, backward, and lateral moves play in your career progression, particularly if you need to improve your #GenAI acumen. Of course titles matter but when considering new career opportunities that can propel your career, up-skilling (entry or executive) is more important in the long run. Get ready: https://lnkd.in/gfnA9yhj

INDUSTRY NETWORKING: People Who Changed My Life   By Mike Todaro, AAPN Managing Director Who have you met that changed your life, your career, even your very being? I met my list at AAPN events. For example:   Lynsey Jones is a proven industry icon. With a Bachelors and Masters in Textiles from the NC State Wilson College of Textiles , she truly “walked the walk” all the way up to a C-Suite apparel industry executive. Like so many at the top of our industry, Lynsey began her career at Abercrombie, then spent over 10 years at VF, Crop. including opening and running their Americas sourcing office in Panama.    She spent five years at Carter’s as a vice president, including running their Hong Kong sourcing officer of over two years. When she returned to Atlanta, she had five departments reporting to her.   Once Sue Strickland and I realized that Lynsey was “the one,” the right person for us to transition the AAPN to for the future, we got to work – together. Yet, it all started when we first met, shown in the bottom photo, in Miami at our 2013 Annual Conference. Lynsey is sitting with Tom Nelson of VF corp.   THE CHANGE? You know when you know. At first blush, Lynsey was tough, strong, fast and focused – a natural C-Suite, big picture exec. We never dreamed she was the one to take us to the next level – until one day we did. #ProAmericas #AmericasTextiles #WesternHemisphere #Fibers #Yarns #Fabrics #SewnProducts #Apparel #Fashion #Knitting #Weaving #Sustainability #ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #WesternHemisphere #CAFTADR #USMCA

Black Box Thinking ◼️ This philosophy, inspired by the aviation industry’s practice of learning from every failure, underscores the importance of iterative improvement. Our forward-thinking strategic design and branding think tank ‘THROUGH BLACK’ is built on the pioneering principles of Black Box Thinking. "Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent." – Joe Sparano At THROUGH BLACK, we are firm believers that every design element carries its own unique thought and individuality, crucial for revitalizing a brand. By bringing together a team of diverse talents and perspectives, we enable companies and brands to forge meaningful engagements with their audience. Our mission transcends mere communication. We are dedicated to fostering genuine connections with consumers and delivering fresh perspectives within existing categories. Our philosophy is rooted in continuous learning and relentless innovation, ensuring that every brand we collaborate with evolves and prospers in the dynamic market landscape. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." – Steve Jobs I feel humbled to work with my amazing team of visionary thinkers and creators at THROUGH BLACK. Together, we will push the boundaries of design and strategy, crafting brands that are not only distinctive but profoundly engaging. Join us on this exhilarating journey as we set new benchmarks in the world of design and strategic thinking. Stay tuned for exciting updates! #ThroughBlack #Leadership #DesignExcellence #StrategicInnovation #BrandStrategy #ContinuousLearning #BlackBoxThinking https://lnkd.in/gRJxu4MS

I often question the assumption that the customer is always right. When leading a company, it's crucial to establish strong values and a firm ethical foundation—these principles should be non-negotiable. In the case of Harley-Davidson, it's important to note that customers aren't being harmed by the company's DEI policies; they simply disagree with them. On the other hand, the absence of such policies would have a genuinely negative impact on people who need inclusion. This situation highlights a conflict between the backlash against so-called "woke" attitudes on social media and the real needs of individuals who benefit from inclusive policies. It's disappointing to see the company adopt this stance. As social entities, companies have a responsibility to contribute positively to society, even if not everyone agrees. Companies are made up of people, and those people shape the values and actions of the organization. #DEI #inclusion #leadership #responsibility

Do Won "Don" Chang and his wife, Jin Sook, moved from Korea to California in 1981 with hardly any resources. Chang worked various jobs, such as gas station attendant and janitor, to support his family. Observing the success of those working in the garment industry, Chang and Jin Sook ventured into retail. In 1984, they opened their first clothing store, "Fashion 21," in Los Angeles. Strategic growth: Despite modest beginnings, Fashion 21 was a quick success, prompting the couple to expand. They rebranded their chain as "Forever 21" and opened new stores every six months in the United States, until they reached a worldwide presence with more than 600 stores. Family-owned business: Forever 21 remains a family business, with Chang as CEO, Jin Sook overseeing merchandise design and his daughters managing various aspects of the company. in fact in one of his speeches he made the following clear: "For me, family is the most important thing. When people talk about the American dream, they talk about a better life. However, if the business is doing well but your family is broken, to me that's not success." Recipe for success: Forever 21's success is attributed to its low prices, its commitment to staying on the cutting edge of fashion and its agility to adapt to changing trends. Chang emphasizes customer focus and timely execution as key factors. Despite its immense success, Chang keeps her feet on the ground and values the immigrant narrative behind Forever 21, considering it a symbol of hope for those who start small. #casestudy #forever21

A perfect example of what happens when the inside of your company doesn’t match the outside. Integrating strategies for the inside such as DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) with the outside such as product marketing, or better yet aligning everything to a strong purpose, strengthens the success of a company across the board and help a avoid risks like this one. #avoidable #purpose #equity #socialimpact

With succession as one of the perennial weaknesses of corporate governance, the approach of Levi Strauss & Co. is notable — as is the approach of Michelle Gass to take a demotion on the road to succeeding to CEO. It’s a great leadership lesson company- and career-wise.