You guys all know I am a sucker for new
clothing lines and designers, so with the assistance of RBCPR, I
have decided to introduce the world to this newfound brand by retail mogul Doug Pecore- NYNE.
I personally had a
chance to talk with Mr. Pecore about the brand and his career in
clothing. This brief interview proved to be very enjoyable and gave
me a broader sense of the NYNE brand from the business perspective.
Take a look:
JJ:
Hello Doug nice to meet you!
DP:
Hello thanks for calling.
JJ:
What are the responsibilities and duties of your job?
DP:
My position is VP of sales and apparel marketing at Capital Mercury
Apparel. I am also the inventor
of the NYNE sportswear line.
JJ:
How did you prepare for entry into this field?
DP:
I had 20 years worth of sales and marketing experience and 17 years
with Levi Strauss.
JJ:
What are the opportunities to advance in this field?
DP:
The apparel industry is perfect for entrepreneurial spirit and
creativity.
JJ:
What skills are most important in your work?
DP:
Communication, presentation, understanding a retail map, and the
ability to listen for customer needs.
JJ:
What is rewarding about your work?
DP:
The apparel business is a lot of fun because there is something
always changing and things to look forward too.
JJ:
What advice would you give a person entering this field?
DP:
Ha ha, there is no substitute for working hard!
JJ:
What lured yo
u to the fashion industry?
DP:
For me it was about as close as I could get to rock and roll and
still have a real job.
JJ:
When you launched NYNE in Fall 2004, did you undergo any obstacles?
DP:
Yes, many we were unheard of, unknown at the time, the industry was
facing many mergers and consolidations from retailers and there was
enormous pressure for lower prices and items that have profit
potential.
JJ:
Describe the NYNE design team for me
DP:
We have a terrific design team headed by Howard Marks from Lord and
Taylor. We also have Robert Rogers for woven sportswear, Amy Ladden
for men's dress shirts, and Michelle Phillips for knits and sweaters.
JJ:
What kind of man is your brand targeting?
DP:
Our specific target is the 35-year-old male, yet our style reaches
men 25-70 who continue to be youth oriented and inspired by fashion
with an appreciation for value.
JJ:
So it is mentioned in the press release that your brand targets
itself towards men. Why did you choose menswear?
DP:
There are fewer choices for men, and we believed they needed a little
dressing up, there are many options for young men, from vintage looks
to jeans, but many dads look a little boring and mediocre. Therefore
we felt they needed a face lift, so we saw the opportunities and went
for it.
JJ:
Do you feel you will ever introduce womens wear?
DP:
We would love to in the future, but we have no specific date in mind.
JJ:
Your company is expanding quickly from shirts to trousers, sweaters,
and blazers. What's next after this?
DP:
Dropping the same looks for men a few sizes as to make a great boys
wear collection- a look seen in many other retail stores, without the
high price points.
JJ:
Have you ever considered making men's grooming items such as a
fragrance or face products?
DP:
We would be open to that as a natural extension of the brand.
JJ:
Where can a person purchase NYNE? Is it carried by any major
department stores?
DP:
Were in about 300 Macy's stores, we're carried at Boscovs department
stores and many regional department stores. For the larger man,
Casual Male carries our bigger sizes.
JJ:
Thanks a lot for allowing me to interview you, best wishes with
everything!
DP:
Sure no problem!
What
a delightful interview indeed! Regarding the clothing, NYNE's
luxurious casual items are priced between $59.50
to $72.50. Compared to other department store brands this is truly a
bargain. Thought-out designs mixed with contemporary fabrics such as
silk gives any man a modern opulence for a reasonable price. Did I
mention they produce other menswear items such as trousers, jackets, and sweaters? With the sweater being my "it" item for the impending winter, NYNE's new
sweaters named the “New Age Sweater” is different
from anything else of its kind. I definitely want one in my closet. NYNE's SNITS (Sweater/Knits)
are very soft sweaters and knits made from intricate fabrics such as fine gauge cotton, lightweight bamboo/nylon, and wool/acrylic.
By incorporating advanced technology within fashion, NYNE stays ahead of the game. All in all, simple,
casual, affordable, and sleek, are only a few characteristics of the
NYNE label. Be ready to stock your closets with many items from them! You
can purchase items from NYNE by visiting their website at: www.wear-nyne.com. NYNE is also
found in select retailers mentioned above in the interview.
Photo
credit: RBCPR/NYNE
--
Jared Johnson
Fashiontribes Fellow .
