I met Brian a few years back when I was in the wholesale business. We’ve recently reconnected since his launch of cut & SHOW. Being back in the retail sector as a Buyer, I’ve found his website very helpful and I think it’s a step in the right direction by bringing people in the fashion industry together - Buyers, Reps, Retailers and everyone in between.
Tell us a bit about your history and experience in the fashion industry: My name is Brian Jenkinson and I have been involved in the fashion industry in Canada for close to 15 years. My experience has been mostly on the sales and distribution side. In the early 90s I began my career as a sales rep in Western Canada and then eventually started importing and distributing brands for the whole country.
Most recently, I was asked to be involved in a start-up clothing brand where I was in charge of the sales and distribution internationally. Over the years I’ve meta lot of great people and have seen a lot of great places.
I recently left that side of the business to start up a new business called cut & SHOW. In short, cutandshow.com is a directory for the fashion industry. It is a website that retail buyers can go to and search for information about clothing brands, sales reps and trade shows. In addition to the website, we have a successful newsletter, blog and buyers guide.
How did cut & SHOW come about?: cut & SHOW was one of those businesses that was born out of necessity. As a sales rep, I was constantly being asked by my customers, “Do you know where I can find the rep for this brand?” Also, as a sales manager, I found it hard to find reps not only in Canada, but abroad as well. I said to myself, “There has to be a website that I can find this information on!” But there wasn’t, so I made one myself.
I launched the site in November 2007, and so far the industry’s reaction has been amazing. Buyers are happy because they can find information quickly and easily. Sales reps are happy because they can now promote their businesses efficiently and make sales using the internet.
What, in your opinion, are going to be some big trends for fw 2008?: Most people who know me know that I am huge sneaker fan. I am obsessed with shoes, and it shows through the content we write about on our blog and newsletter. My closet is currently busting at the seams with kicks from Cr8tive Rec, Alife, POINTER and Adidas. Believe it or not, I just got my first pair of Chucks sent to me by my good friend who works at Converse in Boston.
Trend-wise…it’s hard to say. I see so many trends going on right now in fashion. Personally, I stay away from the MMA and emo trends. When I am not wearing board shorts and skate tees, I’m into clean looks from Modern Amusement, Paul Smith, WeSC, and Lifetime.
Your most favourite purchase this season: My favorite purchase of the year has to go to the Paul Smith sneakers that I picked up at Barneys in LA. I try to make an annual pilgrimage to the L.A. or NYC Barneys in January for their end-of-season blowout. Mad deals happen at that time.
Favourite local resto and what do you usually order: I live in Kits, so I have some of the best eateries at my doorstep. I’m going to throw a curve-ball at you and say that my favorite local restaurant is the Taco Shack on Cornwall. I am a huge taco fan. What sealed the deal for me is when I stopped by on the rare occasion that Dave Benefield (CFL Football player and owner) was working, and he told me he wouldn’t put cheese on my tacos because “this ain’t Taco Bell.”
Word out there says the Canadian retail sector has been soft. Where do you see it trending next season?: This is a topic that I could talk about for hours, so I will try and keep it short. I feel that retail in Canada is in the midst of a major shakeup. A lot of independent retailers are going to find the next year extremely hard. Take away the rising fuel costs, absent American tourists, plummeting US economy, etc. It’s going to become a battle of the margin and who can pay the insane costs of rent in the major centers. With stores like H& M, Forever 21 and the like moving in, it is going to get interesting.
Prime example: Independents are getting forced out of the malls and the trendy streets that they helped pioneer, and are now forced to inhabit destinations spots in the less desirable areas in these cities. Look at Robson, 4th Avenue and South Granville in Vancouver– it’s turning into a big box world.
I have to give it to stores like Livestock, Dutil, The Block and One of a Few. They are really kicking ass and creating their own shopping destinations out of sheer necessity. It really reminds me of what happened in L.A. a few years back. Malls are for chain stores and cool trendy stores flock together on the street on off beat paths.
Your favourite all time movie? And why?: Swingers. I have retraced a lot of the places that Mikey and Trent went to in the movie. The Dresden is my favorite place to visit after business hours in Los Angeles — if you don’t know it, look it up. Marty and Elaine do not disappoint.
What are some of the assumptions that are made about what you do, working in the fashion industry?: Whenever I interview staff or interns, the common thought is that the fashion industry is all about runway shows, models and HUGE budgets. In reality, it is hard work, and road trips through the Rockies to Edmonton and various small towns. I don’t want to deter anyone from choosing a career in fashion, because the exotic travel and fashions shows do come after a lot of hard work!
If you could change one thing in the world, what would that be?: That everyone would use Apple computers. I’m known as the computer tech support amongst all of my friends, and luckily they are all on Apple. I really don’t understand why anyone would use a Windows machine.
Sunny Shum, Your Industry Insider
