Shopping the LA Fashion District!

Women’s fashion merchandise is an emerging category for many collegiate retailers today. In response to this opportunity, ICBA developed a buying program in May 2011 with ApparelOffPrice.com, a company that focuses on your particular market to find current fashion apparel and accessories at 20 to 60% below wholesale. ApparelOffPrice emails the buyers a catalog of current styles, available for at once shipping, 2-3 times per week.

ApparelOffPrice.com was started by Bob Libby, a fashion industry veteran in Los Angeles, who also started The Insiders Buying Office. At The Insiders Buying Office, Bob and his staff take buyers directly to major manufacturers, contractors and jobbers in Los Angeles to shop for Junior and Contemporary Apparel. Buyers pick from the racks the most current styles of clothing in all categories: Junior, Missy Contemporary, Plus Size Women's Clothing and Men's.

On August 7 & 8 I, Marty Duncan, ICBA Program Manager, along with 14 buyers from nine ICBA member stores, traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Bob and his team and shop the LA Fashion District and San Pedro Market. ICBA members who participated were Abby Coan, Auburn University, Laura Anderson and Cari Callahan, Central Washington University, Kristin Bonetati and Lily Lopez, CSU Long Beach, Shandra Van Berkum, Iowa State University, Kelly Morlock and Sarah Castro, San Diego State University, Liz Simpson, University of Kansas, Amanda Butler and Cristy Phelps, University of Missouri, Diane Wirth, University of Oregon, and Pam Loignon and Richard Karlinsky, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

The group met with and viewed lines from 12 different sources. Items included sweaters, jackets, leggings, basic & fashion tees, blouses, dresses and more. We also visited one of the largest accessories showroom in the San Pedro Market and the buyers walked away with jewelry, handbags, scarfs, hats and even some display fixtures.

Most of what was purchased was for immediate delivery, so many of the items will be in the stores for Fall 2012 Rush sales.

Kelly Morlock, San Diego State University, commented: “Bob was great; he got great pricing, had a variety of things to see, and I loved that there was no pressure. The fashion was all current and on point, and I liked that he listened to our needs. I truly enjoyed spending time with other (ICBA) stores, listening and seeing what they have done that works and what doesn’t.”

We finished the two days of buying with a trip to the University of Southern California Bookstore, where they have a spacious fashion department on their lower level that features both men’s and women’s fashions and accessories. Natasha Kuzmanovic, Senior Apparel Buyer, gave us a quick tour of her department.

Kristin Bonetati, CSU Long Beach, summed up her experience by saying: “The group of buyers was awesome! We learned so much from talking to them and hearing what they do and how they display.  It was really collaborative. We really liked the trip to USC at the end.  It not only gave us a chance to see how the product could be displayed at its best, but also some really great product and merchandising ideas.”

ICBA will be planning future trips to Los Angeles to meet with The Insiders Buying Office and shop the Fashion District and San Pedro Market. Please contact Marty Duncan, ICBA Program Manager at MartyDuncan@ICBAinc.com if you are interested in joining the group. Actual dates have not been set, but the plan is to go in early November 2012 and late July 2013.

In the meantime, I encourage you to join the ICBA Fashion Group Facebook page and follow the successes of these schools and others and see how they are selling fashion merchandise and accessories. Simply search for “ICBA Fashion Group” on Facebook and request to join. This is a private Facebook site and the postings and discussions are limited to ICBA member stores only.

At ICBA, we are committed to bringing our stores the latest fashion styles and prices that help them expand their own fashion departments and increase their profits.

Contact ICBA for more information, 800.888.9222 and Insiders Buying Office at sales@appareloffprice.com

Blogged by Marty Duncan, ICBA Program Manager