“When Pucci mannequins was looking for a young designer who will ‘dress’ their mannequins, they called me because they saw the work I did at the UPS Hub,” Tomer said. “And I cannot believe the exposure I got from that,” he added.

A little known fact to fashion people, New York’s Market Week is attended by thousands of retailers around the country, from big department stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and JC Penney, to specialty boutiques and retail outlets.

To an emerging designer, the ‘publicity’ garnered by just being worn by ‘mannequins’ that retailers are looking at cannot be measured in terms of advertising dollars. It is an endorsement of sort that seldom happens because new mannequins are unveiled only once a year.

“So, how are you holding up with the faster pace of business in New York,” I asked. I’ve known Tomer since he started his eponymous menswear line in Austin, TX. He moved to New York during the middle of 2005 to expand his business.

“It’s the usual headaches when you are already in production for your collection and need to deliver to the stores,” Tomer answered. “Delivery is always crucial, more so during the holiday shopping season. We need to send the merchandise and deliver on time.”

I understood his position very well. Knowing that the Tomer menswear line is actually manufactured in Italy, plus of course, the fabric is also ordered from Italy, Tomer is actually at the mercy of shipping companies about 50% of the time.

“A reliable shipping company is not only a need, but an imperative must-have for the fashion business,” Tomer continued. “When you are just beginning to be recognized, as in my case, I need to be able to show retailers that I can ‘deliver’ literally and figuratively.”

And with Tomer’s finished products crossing the Atlantic and passing U.S. Customs, there are a lot of variables that surrounds a shipment.

“I know that I am sounding like a spokesperson for UPS already,” Tomer said with a laugh as he kept on talking about the shipping company.

“But I have to admit that I don’t have any complaints about their service,” he continued. “Once a shipment is sent, I can track everything on their website. And if there are any problems, like at U.S. Customs for instance, UPS sends me an email describing the problem and how to fix it. If it is paperwork, I can download the necessary forms so that when I go to Customs, I have everything ready.”

Previous: [1]  [2]   Next: [3]