The Week of April 29th in Review

By Paul Pannone

The top story for the last week of April involved a new charity partner for FLOW Formal Wear called Heroes in Transition. “HIT” joins the growing number of military causes benefiting from the sale of new, selected merchandise supported by the tuxedo rental business.

A trending story about wedding planners made its way up the chart last week, as concerns about hiring unscrupulous wedding professionals grows among unsuspecting couples planning the most important day of their lives. Couples looking for new trends and ideas are associating with planners who will help make their day memorable and unique, avoiding planners who want to make the day about themselves instead of the client they’re supposed to be representing.

For the first quarter of 2013 brides were on the internet doing their homework finding out how much wedding goods and services are before talking to any providers.

 

 

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Chinese Get more Aggressive while American Gown Makers Look on

By Paul Pannone

On the first anniversary of an unprecedented meeting in New York the American Bridal and Prom Industry Association convened members of the wedding media to update them on the progress of efforts to slow down the rampant piracy of American goods and conceptual property. Members of the ABPIA board gave the gathering a realistic assessment of the current status saying the campaign enters another phase of an expected long, arduous process.

Bob Cahoon of Maggie Sottero gave the media gathering in New York his honest assessment of a very difficult situation. Steve Lang looks on.

Steve Lang took his usual place at the start of the meeting but yielded midway to Bob Cahoon, president of Maggie Sottero and board member. Cahoon reiterated what Lang has been telling eWedNewz and the wedding industry for over a year staying consistent with the message. Both Cahoon and Lang went beyond the usual rundown of what’s been done so far and stressed how the battle becomes more difficult with each win.

“They’re not going to just sit still and allow us to gain any ground; to the contrary they’re becoming more aggressive and tenacious in their efforts, ” Lang told eWedNewz.

According to Lang the battles won so-far were only preliminaries of what is to come. The illegal use of imaging and explaining how it hurts manufacturers is a difficult legal battle. Now the greater use of technology changing the face of models, creating an entirely different image, makes convincing a judge of a crime more difficult.

Exuberance of a year ago turned serious this time around, as Lang and the ABPIA fight an uphill battle for support from an industry whose nation is under siege. Lang cited a  New York Times story of how the middlemen and layers of overhead are being stripped away from the chain supply of manufactured goods. Lang and Cahoon admitted retailers are part of the traditional structure and conduit between their products and consumers. But rising cost of operation inflates prices  and is forcing some stores, including Vera Wang, to figure out how to stay competitive while boosting revenue.

“We know all the challenges that exist; they’re not going to go away. All we can do is adjust our businesses to the realities that are out there. The best we can hope for is to slow down the deterioration that is taking place,” Lang told the gathering.

An ongoing poll shows 71% of combined replies so-far think the chances of beating online piracy are fair-to-excellent. 26% of combined replies say chances are poor-to-impossible.

 

Only 5% of current replies say they would not join an industry organization. An overwhelming majority say they would support an organization that was well-run, offered good benefits and was not too expensive to join.

 

An appeal to the gathered media to spread the word about the organization was reinforced by board members. Cahoon told the members of the media he keeps track of the perception of the organization’s effort by having Maggie Sottero sales people ask accounts what they think. The results of the surveys were not clear or available for review, but Cahoon mentioned the $100 dollar membership fee was sometimes an issue.

On his own, Lang brought up plans to provide affordable healthcare to the broader  wedding industry beyond dresses. But while poll results so-far show a strong sign of support, actual membership does not show the results.

 

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IBMA gets new President | Hedy S. Lapkin Executive Director, IBMA

 

By Paul Pannone

The IBMA has risen again and lives but eWedNewz once again asks: for how long?

 

The ABPIA was formed by a former member of the IBMA group called Steve Lang. Over a year ago, Lang left the group and formed his own organization, ABPIA, to wage war against Chinese pirates.

 

The IBMA is trying to re-launch their organization naming Hedy S. Lapkin as Executive Director. Hedy and her husband, Ed, owned a big bridal shop in Richmond, VA, reportedly one of the best stores in the country.  Ultimately, the store went bankrupt in the late 80′s or early 90′s.   Hedy took a job with David’s Bridal and successfully transferred from David’s to Priscilla of Boston, selling Priscilla to bridal shops.

Hedy touched base with former members of the Bridal Manufacturing group saying:

Dear Former Bridal IBMA Member,

A new and exciting time is presenting itself to all the members past and present of the manufacturing and related industries for the Bridal Industry.

I am Hedy Lapkin, newly appointed Executive Director of IBMA. As your executive director I have challenged myself, with your support and the support of the existing Board to create meaningful ways to utilize your funds that the organization is holding in reserve.

We can and will be a strong voice with your support for the Wholesale Bridal Industry and be responsible for the funds you helped to create. We will provide benefits for our members and at the same time gain recognition as The Trade Association. It is our desire to listen to your needs, create a call to action, and deliver on the most pressing and beneficial needs and wants to benefit our members.

Many of you as former members paid annual dues while other members were involved and participated in the Las Vegas Market.

The Industry is confronted with a wide variety of challenges, and presently the IBMA is in the best position to represent many of the needs of Manufactures of the Bridal Industry.

eWedNewz has learned that Lang congratulated Hedy in her new role and wanted to continue his membership with IBMA. An e-mail to Hedy reads as follows:

Dear Hedy,

Congratulations on your new position.

I sent you in my application several weeks ago when this mailer came out.  As a previous contributors to the funds sitting in IBMA coffers I want my firm to be a member.

Please email me back a confirmation that we are now members and we will be copied on all meeting dates, happenings  and mailings. Mon Cheri was not sent the email about free membership for those that rejoin by May 1. Another manufacturer sent it to me.   Thanks for including me in future emails and, as requested already, please confirm we are now members again.

I stand ready to help you any way I can if you tackle counterfeiting. The more the merrier.

Sincerely,

Steve  Lang

 

According to ongoing polls so-far:

27%  feel there is a poor to impossible chance of beating online piracy.

71% feel there is a fair to excellent chance of beating online piracy.

 

91% of replies so-far say they would support a wedding industry organization if it offered good benefits, value, isn’t too expensive to join and was properly run.

6% say they would not join an industry organization.

 

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The Week of March 25th in Review

By Paul Pannone

Vera Wang made top newZ this week getting U.S retailers hot and bothered over the prospect of charging brides to try on merchandise and fitting-room shopping time. But, as quick as it came, the Vera Wang organization scrapped the policy, succumbing to internet pressure and bad PR created by the move.

Celebrity wedding planner, Samantha Goldberg, issued a Press release announcing a long-awaited and talked about show . Goldberg made her rounds publicizing the show and has already started calling out organizations and people she alleges are misleading people and pocketing the profits. eWedNewz investigates further.

 

 

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Vera Wang Scraps $500 dollar Try-on Charge

By Paul Pannone

Because of a global outcry, Vera Wang has scrapped plans to charge Chinese shoppers a $500 fee. A Day after eWedNewz covered the story about Vera Wang charging the fee and negative global media coverage about their Shanghai store, a Vera Wang spokeswoman announced the charge was being scrapped as of today.

Fitting rooms are still free at Vera Wang and most bridal boutiques for now; but for how long?

 

“Please kindly be informed that Vera Wang has abolished appointment fees at her bridal salons worldwide starting from March 27, 2013,” the spokeswoman said in an email to the Reuters news agency, without elaborating.

The Wang organization claimed the fee was imposed to curtail some of the copying taking place. Their PR department also reported limited knowledge of the fee but quickly shuttered the plan as criticism grew along with media coverage.

Whatever the true reason, the prospect of Vera Wang’s policy sticking was music to the ears of retailers and some manufacturers we spoke with. Most say the Internet has disrupted their business, increasing meaningless store traffic, creating overhead and more cost to accommodate shoppers who want to physically see the merchandise, obtain SKU numbers and style information and then make their buy online for less money. But the rise of knock-off merchandise continues to plague the wedding dress business.

In 2012, China was the top source country for counterfeit goods entering the United States and the European Union (EU) with more than 70 percent originating from China, according to the latest customs seizure reports from the U.S. and the EU. According to the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau (CIB) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), counterfeit goods make up 5 to 7% of world trade.

Currently, Steve Lang, owner on Mon Cheri, is embroiled in a battle to offset knock-off and online piracy. Lang’s effort includes forming an organization called the ABPIA that is gathering support in and out of the wedding dress business.

 

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Vera Wang Chinese Try-on Policy Gets American Retailers Excited

By Paul Pannone

Vera Wang is making headlines again but this time not with a new dress design but for the honor to try a dress on. According to reports brides-to-be (in China) are being charged almost $500 dollars for an hour and a half appointment to try on Vera Wang merchandise. The fee gets deducted from the price of the dress– if they buy– otherwise the money is forfeited.

We wonder if stars like Angelina Jolie get charged to simply try on a dress before the actual sale. Or do they get paid for mock-up publicity?

 

Reports say the company is trying to keep from getting knocked off, protecting its brand and designs, much like American manufacturers who’re in a fight for survival against dress piracy in China. It’s unknown whether the Vera Wang company is serious about supporting the fight that was recently backed up by a New Jersey judge or if times are just tight for everyone, including the Vera Wang company.

So far the practice has not hit the United States but sources say Vera Wang is watching the PR and backlash. Last year Dolce & Gabbana drew criticism on Social Networks for disallowing picture-taking by Hong Kong natives but not tourists. The unclear guideline raised some issues that no company can afford these days with the rise and instant reprisal brought on by bad publicity over the internet.

In the United States, eWedNewz bridal sources say they’re thrilled at Vera Wang’s attempt to charge consumers to try on merchandise. Facebook responses included store owners who feel they’re losing sales to online dress companies who undercut their prices.

“Bridal Salon professionals spend a lot of time giving “professional advice” what is in style, how to accessories, negotiate, all these girls, not all, but the majority all they want to do is “showroom” your salon, take pictures, and won’t commit to buy, and they have already tried on 50+ gowns. You mean to tell me a gal can’t walk into a beautiful Bridal salon with boutique quality gowns( not you know who)and can’t find anything in their budget?? This is nonsense, because every store has gowns that should be falling off the racks in sales every day!!! Price…it is what it is…you can’t expect to buy St. Pucchi for $1000 including the veil,” said one retailer.

Similar thoughts given by all responding store retailers shows the deep frustration they feel towards the internet and how it’s affected their operation and ability to charge the needed mark-up to stay in business.

The discussion spilled over into the Wedding Water Cooler where we omitted statements from retailers in the group but focused on those given by sources not in the retail end of the business.

“A few bridal retailers in the US have instituted try-on fees in the past.  However, I’m not aware of any fee that’s as high as the fee that Vera is charging.  The retailer applies the try-on fee toward any merchandise purchased in the store.  It’s a practical and logical policy for name brand retailers.  I could be wrong about this but I believe that Kleinfeld’s has a try-on fee.   It prevents show rooming for internet sites.  In the long run, it may be the only thing that will prevent consumers from going to a retailer to try on a gown that they plan to purchase online.  I doubt that this policy will fly in small markets but I can see the benefit it provides:  it separates the lookers from the buyers; it allows the retailer to concentrate efforts on consumers who definitely will purchase at the store,” according to one WWC member.

Kleinfeld told eWedNewz they do not charge to try on their gowns but do take credit-card and other personal information to book the appointment. But, according to Kleinfeld in New York City, no money is charged to try on their merchandise and there is no obligation to buy from them. It clearly states on their website, picture taking is not allowed during the shopping appointment.

May I take pictures of the gowns while I try them on?

“We do not allow cameras in the fitting rooms while you are shopping. Once you have purchased a dress, you may take as many pictures as you’d like.”

 

eWedNewz will continue to follow this story. We ask for your thoughts and opinion.

 

 

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The Week of March 18th in Review

By Paul Pannone

In an ongoing story coverage eWedNewz watches as David’s Bridal updates their systems, moving towards reaching today’s consumers digitally and away from standard, traditional methods. The move leaves many disgruntled independent, small business owners shaking their heads wondering how in the world they will ever be able to compete.

David’s Bridal issued a Press Release that basically rubbed the nose of competitors into the challenges they face. Sources near the story told eWedNewz it’s just another chance for David’s Bridal to make noise and headlines , part of the new strategy to leverage online free publicity and grab the attention of brides.

28% of current, ongoing poll says small businesses will not be able to prevail against big box operations like David’s Bridal.

Pascual Ortiz, who married his long-time love a little over a year ago, lost his battle to cancer this week. Samantha Goldberg who helped plan the event told eWedNewz,  ”It’s a gift to have met Pascual he had such joy that day.”

 

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David’s Bridal Banks on Digital as Print Continues to Suffer

By Paul Pannone

In an ongoing story a Press release by David’s Bridal gives strong indication they’re shifting more focus and resources to online, digital formats; going where today’s brides are. The move is consistent with eWedNewz reporting citing the outgoing CEO’s lack of prowess in the digital age and greater desire to make the necessary changes to keep David’s Bridal in their leadership role.

 

A Press Release from David’s Bridal includes findings from their 7th annual What’s On Brides’ Minds Survey. David’s Bridal found that the 2013 bride will plan, chronicle and culminate all of her wedding details with the help of social media, ranging from Pinterest to Facebook to Skype, banging the steady beat of declining use of print for wedding planning even louder.

According to David’s Press release;

“The big news is that everything has gone digital, and the new tools of the trade are a smart phone or a computer instead of a wedding binder.”

eWedNewz reported David’s Bridal was on the auction block last June, under mounting pressure as a giant leader in a declining market. After shedding losing parts of their business while adding designer brand Vera Wang, sources near the story tell eWedNewz the shift to digital is a natural progression and plan execution to stay in the leadership role in a changing market.

Current poll results show 62% of replies feels Leonard Green was smart in dumping their majority stake in David’s Bridal, 12% say they weren’t. Undecided, 23% say it remains to be seen. With the current Press release we will be watching the poll results very carefully.

 

 

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PRESS RELEASE: Saying “I Do” In The Digital Age

Saying “I Do” In The Digital Age

David’s Bridal “What’s on Brides’ Minds” Survey Shows Brides Strive to be Social Media Stars on the Big Day

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., March 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — As we approach the March 20th celebration of National Proposal Day, David’s Bridal, the nation’s leading bridal and special occasion authority, gets to the heart of how newly engaged women will start planning their trip down the aisle. The big news is that everything has gone digital, and the new tools of the trade are a smart phone or a computer instead of a wedding binder. In the company’s 7th annual “What’s On Brides’ Minds Survey,” David’s Bridal found that the 2013 bride will plan, chronicle and culminate all of her wedding details with the help of social media, ranging from Pinterest to Facebook to Skype.

David’s Bridal found that these platforms not only streamline the wedding planning process, but also serve various functions for the modern bride. Pinterest allows her to assemble an inspiration board fit for a fashion showroom, Skype makes it possible for family and friends that can’t attend the wedding to be part of the festivities and Instagram and Twitter enable the creation of special hashtags for guests to photo share during the big day.

Though the typical bride’s nuptials might not get televised, like those of Kate Middleton or the next “Bachelor” winner, social media is also allowing the average newlywed pair to broadcast their wedding to the world in what’s becoming a prominent industry trend. Last month, TheKnot.com held the first-ever live-streamed, crowd sourced wedding, and Brides magazine is following suit with an upcoming live-streamed Facebook wedding. Companies like I Do Stream and Marry Me Live even offer webcasting services to couples looking to go “live” on the big day. What might have seemed “over the top” years ago, is now becoming a common practice as brides look to say “I do” in unique ways and on multiple platforms.

“Through our more than 300 stores nationwide, it’s becoming evident that brides are using social media through every step of their wedding process,” said David’s Bridal Chief Marketing Officer, Brian Beitler. “Our bridal consultants have reported women ‘skype-ing’ their relatives in-store as they try on their wedding gowns and hearing brides’ stories of how they plan to live stream their nuptials so guests that can’t attend will still be present. Going digital is the new norm for brides and we’re seeing it firsthand.”

In the brand’s annual “What’s On Brides’ Minds” survey of newly engaged and married women, David’s Bridal cemented these in-store findings even further – weddings have officially become digitalized!

The social network of wedding planning

Brides are pinning, posting and texting their way to the altar!

The online bride: 59 percent of brides say online resources like Pinterest, Facebook and blogs are the best places to find wedding inspiration.

Pinterest dibs: With Pinterest celebrating its third anniversary this month, it has quickly become the ultimate tool for brides-to-be. Nearly half of brides (46 percent) wouldn’t use an idea they found on a friend’s Pinterest board!

Fittings on your phone:  Dress shopping isn’t confined to the fitting room anymore!  In fact, 68 percent of brides use technology during their fittings, from texting pictures to family to posting videos on a social media site.

RSVP’ing for the Skype wedding…with a plus one

Can’t make the wedding? No problem! Just pull up a laptop and watch from there.

Virtual wedding guests: Now trending, nearly half (49 percent) of all respondents say they would consider “skype-ing” their wedding.

Social media should come with a handbook

Wedding guests beware! Think twice before hitting send on your mobile!

 

Digital rule of thumb: 56 percent of newlywed women think it’s important to have social media rules at the wedding.

The dress is off limits: 61 percent forbid their bridesmaids from uploading pics of the bride donning her dress before the ceremony

My wedding, me first: 52 percent say the bride and groom must be the first to post a picture of their wedding to a social media site.

Status update: Sue Smith went from being “engaged” to “married”

So much for waiting for the paperwork to go through! Brides want their “friends” to know they’re hitched – pronto!

 

Facebook official: Up 11 percent from 2011, 59 percent of brides will update their Facebook status to “married” or update their new name within a day of walking down the aisle.

To find out more about David’s Bridal wedding resources, notably the new “My Event” wedding planning app, a social media tool for brides-to-be, visit www.davidsbridal.com.

Methodology

The David’s Bridal 2013 Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.WakefieldResearch.com) between November 16th and November 27th, 2012. For this research, 500 interviews were fielded using an email invitation and an online survey among women ages 18 and older, who are engaged to be married or were married within the last two months.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation.  The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results.  For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About David’s Bridal:

With more than 60 years of experience dressing women of all ages for life’s special occasions, David’s Bridal understands the importance of providing brides-to-be with a vast selection of exquisitely crafted bridal gowns and bridal party dresses. Known for outstanding value, fashionable designs and the ease of one-stop shopping, nearly 60% of all brides in the US choose to shop at one of more than 300 David’s Bridal stores located across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Working with a knowledgeable bridal consultant, a customer can enjoy trying on a wide selection of gowns and dresses in her size with the added convenience that most styles are available to take home the same day. To learn more about David’s Bridal, visit www.davidsbridal.com.

CONTACT: Stacey Tropeano/Danielle Morrone, Coyne PR, +1-973-588-3000, stropeano@coynepr.com / dmorrone@coynepr.com; or Charly Rok, David’s Bridal, +1-610-943-6583, CRok@dbi.com

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Fading Florists Blame the Internet for Direct Sales

 

By Paul Pannone

In a progressing eWedNewz story direct sale of products by manufacturers to consumers that cut out the middleman (retailer) is no longer affecting just the apparel business.  The Internet links consumers, wholesalers and buyers directly to the source, decimating the streams and layers of business.

Organizations like 1800flowers make it easy for consumers to send flowers but make it impossible for independent florists to compete.

 

Private discussions stemming from a current eWedNewz story say Alan Dessy should be run out-of-town on a rail because of his practice of selling consumers direct. Privately some manufacturers and sources say they admire his brilliance to execute where business is eventually heading anyway. But along the way retail stores and business owners have another view.

Lisa Marie Dwyer of Creative Ambiance told eWedNewz the following:

 ”Just want to give you my 2 cents today about the direct sell thing.

As a florist I have recently come face to face with this in my own business. As you know florists are fading and there are fewer and fewer each month (around here it seems. ) I was at the flower market to pick up my order last week and discovered that a local hotel was no longer purchasing flowers from florists, but direct from the market. I was shown that the casino in CT was doing the same. Worse news came when I discovered that one of my competitors for a job was a local grocery chain.

Big business is going to kill us all eventually. It has not stopped with dresses, shoes or accessories. This big business = $ saving mentality is killing America. Do these consumers care that I have a family to support? NO- I spoke with the caterer later in the day about the client she referred to me using the grocery store for her wedding and soon discovered that the store would not be providing set up but expect the caterer to do it. I felt like asking the bride if she was purchasing a meat platter from the store for the caterer to arrange and display as well. Where are people’s heads???  They are certainly not thinking of who has their best interests at heart. We put our heart and soul into everything that we do. The grocery store is going to drop and go.

Dwyer included the post on her own Facebook page, garnering statements from her friends, including Annmarie Therriault of Couture Bridal .

“Four bridal shops in Rhode Island in the past 8 months have closed due to people using us for dressing rooms and then ordering online. Soon there will be no places to go to try on dresses, feel fabrics or make those memories with their families trying on dresses in a fully equipped store with knowledgeable stylists if this continues. SHOP SMALL BUSINESS>SHOP LOCAL.”

The battle cry of smaller operators against Box Box stores is not new. But, painfully, small independent businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to fight off the growing advances of large operations in their fight to win over consumers.

What do you think? Will independents ever win against big stores?

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