Retailers Come Forth to say the IBMA Dropped the Ball while Hiding the Loot

Posted on March 7, 2012 Written by 1 Comment

 

By Paul Pannone

An ongoing eWedNewz investigation into the IBMA exposing wasted years of  doing nothing to fend off the growing aggression from China is getting reactions from around the wedding industry. Coverage of the story unveils a substantial amount of money, said held illegally in the organization’s coffers, was never deployed before the Chinese committed further damage to the market.

 

Patrick Kelly supports a move to get our government to put the clamps on China.

 

According to Nick Yeh of Impressions Bridal, too much time has passed and nothing was ever done to fight the culprits.

“They just sat and talked and wasted time when they could have been raising awareness to this issue,” he told eWedNewz this week.

Yeh, a manufacturer, says he supports a new campaigned announced by Steve Lang. Yeh added he supports any effort in the industry to help retailers, including any actions by the IBMA. Retailers reading the story are coming forward to support statements they agree with and express their feelings on what they don’t. Retailer, Patrick Kelly, responded to the story saying;

“I agree with Nick, the IBMA should get with our government and attempt to put the clamps on China. Will it be effective? That remains to be seen. It seems a conflict of interest to me. Why should the chairman stir up trouble with China? China is manufacturing the member’s product. If you want to be a leader at the IBMA’s level, start manufacturing your product here in the US. Then China loses it’s power over us. Then China loses the designers to copy from. Jim Hjelm does it, why can’t the IBMA? Also, I feel strongly that wholesalers should never be in the retail business, again a tragic conflict of interest. An issue I do not agree with Nick on.”

On Facebook,  Retailer, Bailey Judith Rieglhaupt of The Bridal Secret said she supports Lang’s efforts and feels he’s always been a strong supporter of the wedding dress industry. Bailey watches the story and how IBMA responds to eWedNewz questioning about how they handle their finances and the $250,000 dollars in their possession.

Bailey asked eWedNewz of the status; we were glad to say Peter Grimes, treasurer of the IBMA, responded. But when eWedNewz asked where the money is and what the plans to deploy the money included he fell silent.

Repeated attempts to reach Alan Dessy, president of the organization, remain ignored.

 

 

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Despite Opposition another Bridal Manufacturer Opens Retail Store

Posted on January 10, 2012 Written by 3 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

 

Following a growing number of manufacturers opening retail stores,  JLM Couture announces the opening of a flagship store on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood next month. JLM Couture is one of the few publicly traded companies in the wedding business.

 

In the Press Release, Joe Murphy of JLM Couture (Center)  said he envisions  the store will serve as a valuable source of marketing and display feedback  for the company’s wholesale customer base.

 

According to a public profile JLM Couture, Inc. and its subsidiaries engage in the design, manufacture, and distribution of bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses. The company sells its products to specialty bridal shops located in the continental United States and Europe, as well as through catalogs. JLM Couture, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in New York, New York.

This week JLM Couture released the following information:

 

JLM Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2012 | New York, NY - JLM Couture, a leading design house of luxury wedding apparel, announced today the February 2012 opening of its flagship store on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood.  The store will particularly cater to the discerning taste of the L.A. bride, while also serving celebrity and entertainment industry clientele.

Joseph L. Murphy, JLM Couture’s president and chief executive, said the store will showcase a full array of JLM Couture products, including Lazaro, Jim Hjelm, Alvina Valenta, and Hayley Paige wedding gowns, as well as custom designed couture gowns.  “We are excited about the potential to further enhance the allure of JLM brands,” said Murphy, he noted that its location will avail to JLM a myriad of promotional brand building opportunities while also serving as a source for new design and trend research for JLM designers.

The intimate 1650 square foot boutique will be an ideal setting for promotional events.  The company will partner with Los Angeles vendors on idustry cocktail receptions, as well as exclusive collection previews and designer appearances.  Murphy stated, “We also envision that the store will serve as a valuable source of marketing and display feedback to share with our highly valued wholesale customer base.”

About JLM Couture – JLM Couture, Inc. is a multi-label bridal house engaged in the design, manufacture, and distribution of bridal and bridesmaid gowns.  The company’s bridal gown collections are Alvina Valenta, Jim Hjelm Blush, Jim Hjelm, Lazaro, Hayley Paige, and Tara Keely.  The bridesmaid collections are Alvina Valenta Bridesmaids, Jim Hjelm Occasions, Lazaro Bridesmaids, and Noir by Lazaro.  JLM is traded over the counter.  For more information please visit www.jlmcouture.com.

 

In an ongoing poll over 70% of responses so far say manufacturers should not open retail stores. 21% said they should and 6% feel it doesn’t matter. What do you say?

 

 

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Mon Cheri Designers hit the Runway at Chicago Show; David Tutera Unveiled

Posted on September 26, 2011 Written by 2 Comments

 

By Paul Pannone

The Chicago Bridal Market became the central meeting place for everyone and anyone that is attached to the wedding business. Traffic was active all weekend, as hopeful dressmakers try to stay optimistic in a declining formal wedding business. 

Traffic at the show was good, especially at major manufacturer booths offering marketing and advertising to create consumer awareness and demand for specific products. Among the most successful is Mon Cheri, armed with a powerhouse line up of fashion designs covering the bulk of price points.

The line is divided and balanced but focuses on value in the following collections:

Mon Cheri Bridals, Destinations by Mon Cheri, Montage by Mon Cheri, Montage Boutique, Ivonne D exclusively for Mon Cheri, Social Occasions by Mon Cheri, Cameron Blake, Capri by Mon Cheri, The James Clifford Collection, Kathy Ireland, sub-segmented into several collections, Tony Bowls, also supported by several sub-segmented collections, Sophia Tolli, also broken into her own collections including bridal and social occasions, Joan Calabrese for Mon Cheri in children’s and the latest; David Tutera.

“They certainly have a lot of lines to support and a full plate,” said wedding analyst, Christine Boulton last week.

 Boulton and other wedding experts– including competitors of Mon Cheri– say they’re amazed at how the company manages to grow in the current environment. 

James Clifford (Jim Hjelm) designed wedding gowns for the daughters of presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.

 

The amazing Tony Bowls applauds his fellow Mon Cheri designers. Bowls had one of his dresses on American Idol last season.

 

 David Tutera is the latest addition to the growing Mon Cheri machine that manages to keep a family feel. Tutera’s contract with Faviana was bought over to bring his star power to Mon Cheri.

 

A very humble Steve Lang remains one of the supporting pillars of the wedding business, creating new lines, styling, innovation and jobs for talented people. Lang’s approach to helping retailers succeed is a sound business move that keeps the growth of Mon Cheri moving forward.

 

 

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Talk is Cheap but Litigation is Expensive; ask Steve Lang of Mon Cheri

Posted on August 10, 2011 Written by 1 Comment

By Paul Pannone

The price of just about everything is way up but the cost of litigation has always been expensive. Sometimes even if you win the case you still come out on the financial losing end. But to some winning in principle and fighting for what one believes is worth far more than monetary gain.

Steve Lang (L) with one member of his design team, James Clifford, a.k.a Jim Hjelm, at the 20th anniversary celebration of Mon Cheri. Lang gets set to announce another triumph on Monday that will raise the bar again for the wedding dress business.

 

The scrappy Steve Lang of Mon Cheri told eWedNewz he watches over his property like a hawk. In the wedding dress business Lang is well-known for his litigious trigger finger and love for cease and desist notices.

This week in the Wedding Water Cooler Lang even warned a fellow Coolie that joked they may be getting a line with David’s Bridal. ”As long as you do not copy my line; David’s has been sued by Mon Cheri twice and is under court order to stay away from our designs. If they break the agreement they would be in contempt of Federal  court. They have been good kiddies since the agreement and since paying us so they need to be careful. I watch like a hawk.

We have legal precedence on our side given we won that battle with them and the significant award we won in Federal Court against Wen Wu.  These are not the only wins; we have never lost a suit in this regard, that is why those on the losing end throw  stones (at us).

My word to the wise is to hire their own designers and to not poach. I have 8 designers and I will announce the  joining of a major new  name next Monday  that comes with a TV program.”

eWedNewz will bring you full coverage of Monday’s Mon Cheri announcement.

 

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Mon Cheri Celebrates 20-years of Business, as a Family

Posted on July 28, 2011 Written by 4 Comments

By Paul Pannone

Mon Cheri employees partied into the night celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary at  the Elkins Estate, located just outside the northern border of Philadelphia. The mansion exudes gilded age sophistication combined with historic charm and modern amenities with a backdrop of striking views of the 42 acre grounds.

Invited guests came from near and far to attend the 20th anniversary celebration of Mon Cheri.

“Can you believe this place was once a convent?” asked some of the guests. The magnificent building, bought in the early 1930’s by the order of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de Ricci, operated as a convent and women’s retreat for 75 year until sold again in 2008.

Led by Steve Lang, the Mon Cheri ”family” could have held their celebration in a barn, it would not matter. From a close, insider view, the company continues to grow in one of the most challenging economic times in world history. In an eWedNewz exclusive,Lang said he expects one of his biggest shipping year in history.

“With everything that’s happening, we are up 20%, year-ver-year, and are on track to keep building on that momentum; we could be up 30% by year-end,” according to Lang.

Lang is very proud of his accomplishments but told eWedNewz and a gathering og 150 people,”I am honored to be among each and every one of you. You’re the reason for success; each in your own way contribute to the success of the company.”

Since we began covering the story from a marketing standpoint, we’ve discovered that Lang has managed to foster a work environment build on human respect and decency. Loathed by his competitors– rightfully so; but there is no doubt, Steve Lang is loved by the members of his staff he calls brothers and sisters.

In a 22 minute speech, Lang thanked every segment of his company, from the highest executives, managers, staff members, assistants– to the newest, entry-level worker. In fact, Lang spent the most time praising the “people in the back that make us look great.”

“You’re the ones that we worry about this time of the year; it’s hot back there. We see you freezing to receive in goods and turn them around to get them to our customers. We value each and every one of you, first as friends and extended-family members, then as employees of the company,” said Lang.

“I’m shocked to see so many people travel such great distances to be with us this evening. I’m humbled by the loyalty and friendship I’m shown here this evening,” said Lang. 

Retailers like  Patrice Alberty of Catan’s in Ohio appreciates Lang’s no-nonsense approach to business. Alberty joins other retailers that deal with Mon Cheri, identifying themselves as direct, honest and truthful. Other notables in attendance included Jim Duhe and Peter Grimes of VOWS magazine.

At the event, eWedNewz learned of major news events in store for the wedding business. eWedNewz will announce the information here first, as confirmation and further details become available.

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