Brain Storm Sessions
Cassandra’s POV
“So what can we do then? To really set us apart?” Stella tapped her pencil on the table, a pensive look on her look.
We’d gone over most of the details for the collaboration. Since we specialized in women’s fashion, we decided to launch a collection that had the theme of ‘female power‘. We both thought was a great idea, since that’s what we both stood for. We’d created this company from nothing and we’d hustled hard to do it. We prided ourselves on empowering other women by offering internships and career advancement opportunities to women fresh out of school. We also contributed regularly to a number of ‘female–centric‘ charities and organizations.
So the theme suited us and our company’s vision.
But now that we’d come up with the theme, we were stuck. We needed to expand the brand’s influence and reach. How though? It was a saturated space. The same ole social media posts and I******m pics could only get us so far. Our designs had appeared in a few fashion magazines but we weren’t quite that established yet and we couldn’t compete with the mega–conglomerate fashion icons, like Gucci and Versace and the likes.
“How can we set ourselves apart from our competitors?” I asked. I walked over to the window. It was late at night and a lot of the office windows in the buildings all around us had gone dark. But the occasional one was lit up, like ours. People working late into the night.
Stella and I had been brainstorming for quite a while now. But we were both drawing a blank. We knew we had to do something different, something that would catch the eye of our target market. We just didn’t know what that ‘something‘ was.
“A magazine spread?” Stella
“Nah. Too plain. Plus, we don’t really have the budget. And I’m not convinced our target market is that into magazines anymore.”
“Good point,” she nodded.
We tossed out some more ideas but they were all the same. Been there. Done that. Or someone else had. I was trying not to get frustrated, but it was late and my head hurt. Why couldn’t we think of something new and unique?
“A parade?” I blurted it out without thinking.
“A parade?” Stella repeated, unable to hide the amusement in her voice. “Is that where we’re at now? We’re so desperate that we’re tossing out ideas like parades?” She burst out laughing and laughed along.
“Well we’re at it, why don’t we just throw a circus? Dress the trapeze artists in our designs? The clowns too? We’ll be the talk of the town.”
We were both a little punchy from fatigue at this point. We erupted into a ridiculous fit of giggles.
“Or a fashion show,” I said between laughs.
“Right! Can we SO afford models,” Stella giggled.
“Who needs models,” I scoffed sarcastically. “We’ll just round up other female CEOS and assorted women in power. Strap on some stilettos. Put them in our dresses and…”
Stella and I both stopped laughing. We eyed each other.
“Wait a minute,” Stella said. I was thinking the same thing. “That’s actually not a bad idea. Is it? Or are we both going crazy?”
“No, I think it’s good.”
We both started thinking. It was a good idea, wasn’t it? I mean, it was different. It showed off our designs. It aligned v. theme of female power.
the
PRESIONES
Cass, I think that could work.”
Tagree.” I said. “In fact, we could even open it up to other designers. New ones. Up and coming ones. We could have them submit their designs for our models to wear.
“Love it,” Stella said. “We could always use more designs as we build the company. So we can showcase our own designs AND find new designers.”
“All while creating buzz about our theme.”
“It’s perfect!” we both said at the same time. I turned my focus to ordyn’s company. There were a ton of ways his company could help us. Which was the best avenue?
“Jordyn’s company can sponsor the venue and funds for the event‘ I said, thinking out loud.
“And in return, Hot House Flower’s collection will be available exclusively on Jordyn’s company’s online platform.”
“YES!” I held out my hand and Stella high–fived me.
We kept brainstorming, hashing out the ideas and turning them into an action plan. We were giddy with excitement. We both had a second wind at this point and neither of us wanted to stop working. Not now! We were on a roll.
“Wait,” Stella said, her face turning serious. “What about Sterling Silver Limited? We’ve been working with them in marketing, but aren’t they Jordyn’s competitors?”
“Right,” I said. Stella was right. We’d had a loose collaboration with Sterling Silver Limited. Nothing set in stone. But they did occupy the same space as Jordyn’s company when it came to online marketing and sales.
“Should we maybe avoid them? For the time being? At least as long as we’re collaborating with Jordyn?” Stella asked.
“I think so. But I’ll check with our legal department to clarify. It might be a conflict of interest. But it might not be.” I shrugged. If it wasn’t a conflict of interest, then there was no reason we couldn’t keep doing business with Sterling Silver Limited. So far, they’d been very pleasant to work with. I wanted to maintain our professional working relationship with them if we could.
Sterling Silver Limited, I thought to myself. The company name kept running through my head but I didn’t know why.
Sterling Silver Limited.
Just then, I realized why!
The man I saw Ellie kissing on her front step? He was an executive from Sterling Silver Limited.
He worked for Jordyn’s competition!
