Trade shows, that is. Trade shows put buyers and designers in the same room (or, more accurately, convention center). Here, our denim buyer Jennifer gives an hour-by-hour account of what, exactly, happens at one of these. Hint: A lot.
6:30 am Awake, rise and prep for the day: Yoga stretches and meditation in the room.
7:00 am H2O and coffee. As a return buyer for this particular trade show, I know what to pack and travel for a week away. My one-bedroom suite is equipped with a Keurig coffee machine. Therefore, I travel with my favorite coffee to get an early start on my caffeine intake while checking emails before my work day really begins.
8:00 am The outfit is an important part of any buyer’s day. Do you represent your company, do you look cool or do you put comfort over all? All important questions. I settle for a little of all three, and go with a cool linen & leather jacket, a black skinny jean from the vendor I am dining out with tonight and a great pair of flats.
9:00 am I meet the rest of the MYHABIT team for a power breakfast of egg whites, toast and fruit at the VIP suite at the top of our hotel. A perfect time to talk shop and share highlights from the day before (and, of course, great stories from the night before).
10:00 am Arrive at my first trade show of the day. I meet with the owner and creative director of Earnest Sewn, and talk new denim trends and strategize our game plan for 2013. Then it’s on to DL1961, where I take a peek at new product (Lots of colored denim!) and discuss our upcoming lookbook. I say hello to James Jeans and Habitual, and spend the next few hours checking out new and upcoming brands and trends.
1:00 pm Arrive at tradeshow number two. Head straight to VIP lounge to sit down, eat lunch and check emails while catching up with old and new industry friends.
2:00 pm Time to pound the carpet to find some new brands. I start on one end and walk up and down the aisles, shaking hands, saying hello, aligning our next event, setting up appointments for NYC and/or pitching to new brands. This is when the magic happens—when I find and secure new talent or finally land that one brand that was not ready to play the game.
6:00 pm The shows close for the day. Thank goodness for flats, Purell and coffee. But: the day is not over.
7:00 pm Grab a quick drink with LA industry colleagues to get the update on news and industry gossip.
8:00 pm Dinner with one of my favorite (and most successful!) denim brands with MYHABIT, Henry & Belle. I learn about their latest project: The Right Amount of Give, which entails a portion of every sale going to the charity of the customer’s choice.
11:00 pm Head back to my room, exhausted but happy with what’s been quite a productive day.
