9 to 5: Brandy, Children's Fashion Designer

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Tell us about yourself. 

I�m Brandy a 29 year old Mommy, Wife, and Fashion Designer (well those are my 3 most important jobs). I am the blogger behind Baby Blackbird where I write about my little fashion loving family and all things fashionable for kids. My day job is as a Clothing Product Developer, were I work frantically (and fashionably) to bring stylish clothes to the market. I�m a Mommy to, 2 amazing kids: a super happy one year old girl named Harlow, and hilarious two year old boy named Kingston. And a wife to my amazingly talented and loving husband Chris. My little family lives in Toronto, Canada, where me and my hubby are raising our little family in the heart of a busy city. Currently I am home with my two little�s; blogging, working freelance fashion consulting, and a few other exciting ideas that I hope to launch soon, but will be headed back to the world of retail fashion shortly.

Describe a typical day at work.

Currently I am at home with my kids, but when I was in the office�
My day never really had a typical setting, since fashion works in seasons and cycles my job and responsibilities would also. The one constant thing is every morning was spent answering excessive amounts (100-200 a day is excessive right?) of emails from overseas factories (negotiating prices, status reports, sending approval, and unfortunately dealing with daily issues). Then depending on the stage of the cycle or season: Shopping for ideas, fabric, and trims (it�s a pretty fun part of the cycle, shopping for work!). Check the sales of the current goods that are in stores, research and forecast for up and coming trends, develop and design the first (first of many) drafts of the line of clothing for the season (truly my favorite part of the cycle and what I enjoy most about my job). I work closely with a graphic designer (or in some cases I was my own graphic designer), pattern makers, clothing technicians and assistants to create specification packages outlining every tiny detail of each garment. And review and approve samples (of fabric, trims, color swatches, fit samples) for production of the garments.

This is just a short snippet of a few of the tasks; I know I am leaving a ton out. Really there is never a dull day, and rarely a day where I wasn�t working overtime or bringing work home with me.


Did you always want to work in this field? 

I actually didn�t even get the idea of working in the fashion industry till I was about 19. I had always loved fashion and the construction of garments (would change my outfit several times a day at the ripe age of 4), but never really thought growing up that it could take me to a career. As soon as the bug was planted in my ear (a lovely aunt offered the suggestion and I had a major �Uh Huh� moment) I applied for school (got accepted) and me and my husband (then boyfriend) packed up and moved across the country.

How did you get into doing this? 

After graduating from Fashion Design in College, I decided not to take the super creative route (a really tough choice) and work for designers or start my own line. I wanted to learn more about the business and retail side of fashion (also I wanted a steady salary with benefits so I could have the added security to have a family), so I went the route of mass market design (product development).

What kind of schooling or background did it entail? 

A degree or diploma in Fashion Design/Fashion Merchandising.

Is this what you hope to do for the rest of your life? 

Yes and no. I hope to one day be my own boss, but use my skills in fashion to do so. Currently I do some part time freelance consulting (in Fashion Design and Development) for new clothing business start-ups or design/technical advice. I would love to one day design my own line of clothes, or work full time as a consultant. I am also working on a few other projects, I hope to launch this year (I�m super excited to get these going). And Baby Blackbird, my kids' fashion blog which has turned into my little passion project/hobby it will for sure a big part of my future as well.

How do you see yourself growing in this career? 

The growth is never ending in this field, there are always twists and turns and newness around the corner (fashion changes at the drop of a hat, and the market is a roller coaster). So the growth is constant, but the ultimate goal would be to the head designer/creative director of a wonderful brand OR work for myself full time, bringing all my skills, experience and abilities together.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years, career-wise? 

To be honest I have not thought that far ahead, trying hard to enjoy to live in the moment (since I had kids� I don�t want to miss even a second). I do hope to be successfully working for myself, through consulting, my own line of clothing or a few other things I have in the works.


If you could tell your 17-year old self anything about your life today, what would you tell her? 

Doing something you love. Happiness is better then all the money in the world.
Relax, the pressure to find �what you want to do with your life� is overrated, you can change careers as many times as you want, nothing is concrete. Also don�t expect to make it rich working in fashion, it�s a ton of hard work and some of the pay is in satisfaction and passion. ;)

Was there anything you would have done differently as far as your career, setting yourself up for success, etc.?

I don�t wish I would have done anything differently, everything happens for a reason, and all the good bad and ugly has brought me to this wonderful place I am today. But If I have to think of something I think and the husband would have moved to New York and worked there for a year or so, more because we love that city and it would have been a wonderful experience working in the NY fashion industry.

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9 to 5: Elizabeth Jacob- Jewelry Designer, Vintage Shop and Restaurant Owner

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My name is Elizabeth Jacob and I�m the face behind Yellow Finch Designs and The Vintage Letter. I�m an artsy crafty, jewelry loving, coffee drinking, book reading, yoga running stay at home mom. In addition to my two etsy shops I also have a blog, Yellow Finch Designs Blog, where I post weekly about my life and family. When I�m not working on these adventures you can usually find me helping my husband in the restaurant the he runs and owns. I don�t get down there as often as I used to, but I still believe I play an important role. I help with marketing, decorating, special events and customer service. I pretty much handle the odd and end jobs that it takes to help make a restaurant function.

Our restaurant, Bender�s Tavern, has a very unique story. My husband is the fourth generation to take over this small business and next year we celebrate our 110th anniversary. We have been satisfying customers since 1902 with our traditional and unique recipes. While our menu is extensive, we specialize in seafood that comes in fresh from Boston and are also know for our distinguished wine cellar. We have been awarded the Wine Spectator�s Award of Excellence for five years in a row. It is truly an honor to be involved with such a historical establishment in our town.

Describe a typical day at work.

I must say, I don�t have a typical day at work, which really makes my life interesting. Each day depends on what needs to get done and what is high on the priority list. Most importantly, I never forget that my number one job is a stay at home mom.

My typical day starts when I wake around 7:30 with Jessica. We rise and head downstairs to make that much needed cup of coffee and she eats her breakfast. As my two other children mosey on down I get them settled in with breakfast too. My husband is usually the last to rise, but he doesn�t get home until late so we don�t mind at all. After breakfast, the boys play and I play with Jess. She takes her nap around 10:00 and this is when I check my email for the day. This is also the time when I catch up on any marketing that may need done for the restaurant. If I�m lucky, I get in a quick run before the baby wakes!

Jon heads into the restaurant and the rest of my day is spent with the children playing and tackling any other projects or errands that we have. In the late afternoon the boys are allowed to watch a show and Jess naps. This is when I can quickly (and I mean quickly) catch up on emails, post to my blog, work on etsy or use facebook to market for the restaurant or myself. Once my fifteen or twenty minutes are up I head into the kitchen. On most days my husband is down at the restaurant running the floor through dinner and then staying to close the restaurant and coming home anytime between 10:00pm and midnight. I make dinner for the boys, Jessica and myself. Once dinner is done it�s playtime outside while I clean the kitchen. After I join in for a little play time we head upstairs for baths. Then after bath time for all three kids we have bedtime snacks, brush teeth, go potty and books for everyone. Since Jess is the youngest, she is first to go down, and this gives me some extra reading time with the boys. After lots of cuddles, stories and kisses I head downstairs.

Now, this is when my work day REALLY begins. I first start by making a pot of coffee. Yes, it is usually 9:00pm at this point! I jump on the computer and get any work done here first. Marketing for the restaurant, editing pictures, writing blog posts, uploading new items to etsy. I usually get sucked into the computer for about two hours. Once I�m done with this I head to my studio, which is in our basement, and work on any orders that need packaged up and mailed out. I also try to make a couple new pieces for each night I work. Sometimes I get on a roll and will stay up late working on new jewelry. My typical work days, or nights rather, are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Jon is home Monday nights, Thursdays, and Sundays.

While this is my typical day there are also the days where I do need to be at the restaurant. On these days we have a sitter (and we have a wonderful one) come over and I head down to help with large events, which include our wine and beer tastings. I help set up and decorate the rooms, pour wine, package up wine sales and take photos throughout the evening. In the restaurant business socializing also plays an important role. Whenever I�m down there I try my hardest to make rounds and say hello to the customers I know.

If I have a jewelry event, which happens about once a month, I pack up all my displays and jewelry and head out to the location. It usually takes me about an hour and a half to set up my table displays. Most events (art shows, festivals, ect) last about four hours. Once the event is done I pack back up and head home to do a little inventory. While art shows are A LOT of work, it�s nice to get out of the house and display my jewelry.

Did you always want to do this? How did you get into this field? What kind of schooling or background did it entail?

I graduated from Ohio University in 2001 with a bachelor�s degree in English and Creative Writing. After graduation I knew that I didn�t want to stay in Ohio and tried my hardest to find a job�anywhere�especially a big city. Luck didn�t seem to be on my side. And then, everything changed. I met my husband. Jon had just moved back to Ohio to become involved in the family business. I knew the night I met him that I better start looking for a job in Ohio. I finally found a good job with Kaplan Test Prep, a subsidiary of the Washington Post. It was a great position for a young woman who wanted to travel, work out in the field with students, and publicly speak to large groups of counselors, parents and students. However, once I had my first child I knew that this wasn�t the position for me. However, I did take with me my marketing experience and people skills that I had developed over the five years with the company.

At this point I was making jewelry at home for myself and friends. It was my husband who encouraged me to take it to the next level. Once I had my etsy shop up and running it was easy to open my vintage shop. No, I just need to find the time to thrift, make jewelry, maintain my shops AND help at the restaurant.

Is this what you hope to do for the rest of your life? If so, how do you see yourself growing in this career? If not, what else do you dream of doing? Where do you see yourself in 10 years, career-wise?

I love what I do and I hope I am still doing these five, ten, fifteen years down the road. I have so much room to grow with my jewelry and vintage business. My ideas are constantly overflowing in my mind and usually make their way to paper in hopes for future adventures. With three small children I don�t have the time to be fully dedicated to these businesses. However, I know once they are in school I will have that time. I have even toyed with the idea of eventually opening up my own shop. I would love to have a modern meets vintage boutique with Yellow Finch Designs jewelry, fabulous vintage finds for the home, vintage and vintage inspired clothing and accessories. Perhaps one day�..

As the years pass, I also know I will take on more and more responsibilities with the restaurant. I�m sure my current roles will continue, but I also know I will become a regular face around our restaurant. I know that I will put my time in on the weekends with hosting, socializing with guests and selling wine. I actually look forward to these new leadership positions. I also look forward to working with my husband on a regular basis! We complement each other and I hope that our guests can sense this unique quality.

If you could tell your 17-year old self anything about your life today, what would you tell her?  Is there anything you wish you would have known back then? Was there anything you would have done differently as far as your career, setting yourself up for success, etc?

Expect the unexpected. Right out of college I thought I would land a great job in a big city and that I would be living the life I always dreamed. What I didn�t realize is that sometimes there are bumps in the road that take you in a different direction. While I never landed that great job in a big city, I found my dreams in a small town.

I would also give myself a little advice. Get involved! I was in a sorority in college and held a position which helped prepare me for the working environment. But I think I could have taken that even further. Volunteer in your community. Not only does it make you a better person but it gives you experience. Take on an internship or externship. Although my internship was very short (6 weeks) the end result was worth it, some of my writing was published in Ohio Magazine.

I encourage high school and college students to take classes that not only challenge you educationally but also socially. Public speaking skills are so important and that�s something that I always underestimated. When I first got my job with Kaplan Test Prep, I never thought I would have to stand in front of 200 people and speak about pre-college testing. And when I first started working at Benders, I never realized that I would actually be nervous approaching tables of strangers and talking to them.

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9 to 5: Mallory, Baby Shop Owner

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Hi everyone! My name is Mallory and I was born and raised in New Jersey...still living here. I am 25 years old, married to the love of my life, and am the owner of Seedling, A Baby Shop.  I will be celebrating a year in business on June 18th!  You can learn more about me, my life, and Seedling at my blog, Seedling Life.

Describe a typical day at work.

A typical day at Seedling is usually based around helping my wonderful customers, the best part of my job. I love seeing proud mama's and their babies, and I love helping grandparents, family, and friends choose gifts for the tiny ones in their lives. Other then customer service, you can find me merchandising the shop, updating my windows, searching online for the newest, cutest baby gear, placing orders, cleaning, and book keeping. I also spend a lot of time reading through baby blogs (this is how I found Sometimes Sweet!!) to see what products real moms are using, as well as working on my own blog. 

Did you always want to own a baby shop? How did you get into this field? What kind of schooling or background did it entail?

To own my own store was always a dream of mine. I'm not sure if I ever thought it would be more then that�I mean, how often do dreams become reality? To be honest, the opportunity to open Seedling kind of came out of nowhere; it wasn't something that was years in the making, not something I was sure would ever happen. Things just happened to fall perfectly into place right in front of me, and I decided I was ready to take this on, ready to try and make my dream come true.

My career leading up to Seedling began when I got my first retail job when I was 16 years old, and still in high school. I loved, loved, loved my job- loved the independence it gave me, the great friends I made, and the money was nice too. J  When it came time to decide where I wanted to go to college and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, I , like so many other 18 year olds, had no clue what I wanted to do. All that I knew at the time was that I was completely sick of school, and I was anxious to get out into the 'real world,' get a job, start working, start making money, and start traveling.   Although I did decide to go to college, it only lasted about half a semester before I decided that I needed to do what made me happy. So I dropped out of college, got a promotion to a full time manager at Banana Republic, and really believed that I could be happy with a career in retail.

I spent the next eight years fully immersed in the life of retail. I learned the ins-and-outs of great customer service; I studied and learned merchandising; I learned about daily/monthy/yearly sales goals; and I learned how to manage a business. I earned many promotions, worked for a couple different companies, and met tons of great people that taught me so much. Three years ago, I made my last move to a kids and baby company, and completely fell in love with all of the adorable tiny clothing and accessories (I mean, who doesn't love the cuteness of baby clothes?!) It was about this time that I also began to feel completely unfulfilled with my job and really started to brain storm on what other options I had as far as work. I wasn't sure what my next move would be exactly, but I knew that I needed a change�badly.

One of my good friends was in the process of opening a store of her own at that time, and I began to really pick her brain. I was curious how this was possible for her, and thought that just maybe, if it was possible for her, it could be possible for me too. After all, this was my dream! On top of quizzing my friend, I did an insane amount of research online, and also began to think about how I could financially pull off quitting my job and opening up my own business. Just for the hell of it, I went to look at t few locations in the adorable down town area of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. And I found the perfect location. For rent. Reasonable rent. I went into panic mode, knowing that this opportunity could pass me by at any second, and in my heart, I knew that this was it. I called my husband (my fianc� at the time) and my parents. They agreed that it was a sign, and it was time for me to take a leap of faith, and follow my dream.

A week later, I signed my lease, my husband started the renovations, I started buying merchandise, and on June 18th, 2010, Seedling, A Baby Shop opened its doors for business. Although this past year has been a scary and emotional roller coaster, it has also been the most rewarding year of my life, and I would not change a thing.

Is this what you hope to do for the rest of your life? If so, how do you see yourself growing in this career? If not, what else do you dream of doing? Where do you see yourself in 10 years, career-wise?

It would be easy for me to say right now that I hope I can run a successful business for the rest of my life, or at least until I am ready to retire. But, the reality is that a huge factor of being a business owner is the unknown. You can plan, and plan, and plan, but you cannot control the economy or how often people choose to go out and shop. The inconsistency of this business is something that I struggle with on an almost daily basis. I have a great day, and I am on top of the world, I have a bad day, and I question everything. Staying positive and focusing on my great days is all that I can do.

My ultimate, and maybe farfetched, goal for Seedling would obviously for it to be wildly successful and for it to allow my husband and I along with our future children, be able to travel all over the world while I pay employees to do all of my work. Hey, a girl can dream right ;)

 

If you could tell your 17-year old self anything about your life today, what would you tell her?  Is there anything you wish you would have known back then? Was there anything you would have done differently as far as your career, setting yourself up for success, etc?

If I could tell my 17 year old self one thing, it would be to not think so much. You do not need to have your entire life figured out at 17, you just need to do what makes you happy and try to stay focused on your future that lies in front of you. I was so concerned with figuring out what I wanted to so, and so unsure of which path to take, that I didn't act on so many things, so many opportunities. I would tell myself that with age, comes clarity�.when I look back, my 17 year old head was so all over the place, so cloudy. I would tell myself to not be so insecure, not to try so hard to find love- that when I least expect it, I will meet the love of my life. And I would tell myself, that in time, everything works itself out. Oh, and that the summer after your high school graduation will be the best of your life- you will find yourself and your friends for life-so savor every moment!

As far as my career goes, I really don't think that I would not change a thing except for the fact that I wish I had made it through college; for myself, and to save my parents from the disappointment I know they felt.  Other than that, my path so far has lead me to where  I am today, and I could not ask to be in a better place. 

 

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9 to 5: Sarah Fortune Gill, Public Relations Coordinator in the Funeral Industry

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This week's 9 to 5 lady is one of my favorite online friends, Sarah! I always love following along on all of her traveling adventures via her blog and twitter, and now her biggest adventure (she's about to have her first baby!) is the best yet. Trust me when I say that Sarah is one of THE cutest mamas-to-bes I've ever seen. Or, stop by and say hello and see for yourself! :)

 Tell us about yourself.

I�m Sarah, but I go by my first and middle name in internet land. Raised by hippies in Memphis, Tennessee I received the middle name Fortune, hence my blog, sarahfortune.com. Now thirty years old, I live with my amazing, curly haired husband, Todd, in the college town of Fayetteville, Arkansas. I have to say, I never thought I would end up in Arkansas, but I am completely in love with my sweet little town. We�re expecting our first baby, a girl, this October, so lately my blog (and brain) has been taken over with all things tiny and pink!

For the past three years I�ve worked as the Public Relations Coordinator at a non-profit organization in the (wait for it...) funeral industry. And that�s not even the exciting part. Truth be told, I don�t work directly with death, funerals, or even the deceased. My company, which has been around for over one hundred years, administers the exam people take in order to be licensed funeral directors across the United States. In my position, I help out around the office with typical day-to-day administrative tasks, but the best part about my job is that I organize our company meetings at various hotels. We typically hold these meetings across the country and it�s my duty to find the perfect location. Now THIS is the exciting part.

Describe a typical day at work.

During a normal week, I do the 8 to 5 thing in a small office. When it comes to meeting planning, there is a ton of research that goes into selecting locations before I ever set foot on a hotel property, which I do from my cozy office in Fayetteville. I�m fortunate to love the people that I work with and that I get to wear whatever I want to my laid-back office, which is a major perk if you ask me.

But probably the number one aspect of my job is that I am given the difficult task of trying out prospective hotels to see if they would work for our meetings. Is the food good? Are the beds comfy? How are the bath products? Yeah, it can be rough. Meeting Planning is a huge industry and hotels go way out of their way to make sure that you pick their property. The memories I�ve gained from the travel I�ve done are incredible. A champagne helicopter ride over Las Vegas, dinner on the beaches of Maui, and box seats at the 2011 BCS National Championship game in Scottsdale are just a few memorable experiences I�ve had so far in my career.

I often work closely with the Convention & Visitors Bureaus of prospective cities, who send out my request for hotel proposals and help me determine what might be the best fit for my group. Occasionally though, I�m invited to attend exclusive Meeting Planner �Familiarization Trips� which are designed to show off a certain city or hotel that maybe we haven�t considered before. These trips are intense, lemme tell you. It�s usually a few days of non-stop tours of hotels, where each one literally wines and dines you. I�m talking the best food, the best drinks, the best VIP concerts (I may have watched Ludacris perform by the Palms pool in Vegas once). While it all sounds like a rather lavish ordeal (and it is), experiencing a hotel first hand truly is invaluable when it comes to making a final decision. And for every fun-filled trip I take, there is a meeting that I meticulously plan out every detail of and then make sure it all folds out according to plan. The act of carrying out the meeting is far less glamourous, full of early mornings, late nights, and aching feet from running around in heels all day. But it�s a great feeling to see an event that you�ve worked so hard on for a solid year come to life, hopefully with no major bumps along the way.

Did you always want to work in this industry? How did you get into this field? What kind of schooling or background did it entail?

Honestly, before this job I had NO idea that the meeting planning field even existed. When people ask what it is exactly, I compare it to event planning, but more for the corporate world. I have to choose the room set-up, select the food and beverage, stay within my budget, book travel, line up speakers, and then help it all unfold seamlessly. Although many Meeting Planners went to school for hospitality, my major in college was Advertising and Public Relations. While studying, I worked for myself selling vintage clothes through my online shop, Bittersweet Styles. Knowing that I didn�t want to do that forever, I took an internship right after graduation doing public relations for a local performing arts center. Once that came to an end, I literally opened the newspaper and this job jumped out at me from the classifieds. I�ve been fortunate to have an employer that has been willing to teach me the ins and outs of meeting planning, plus allow me to attend classes and conventions where I gain continuing education credits in the field. So while I knew the things I was interested in, I never had a clear idea of what exactly I wanted to do with my degree. But as with everything else in my life, it all seemed to fall right into place.

Is this what you hope to do for the rest of your life? If so, how do you see yourself growing in this career? If not, what else do you dream of doing? Where do you see yourself in 10 years, career-wise?

It�s hard to say where I�ll be in 10 years, but I would love for it to be right here where I am now. With this career, I feel settled, yet I still get to experience new things all the time. Every day I think about how fortunate I am not only to have a great job in today�s economy, but to truly enjoy what I do. With a baby along the way though, I can see myself wanting to travel a little less and focus more on what I can do for the organization here at home. Beyond all of the exciting travel, it feels really good to work for an organization that, even though most people don�t know it exists, plays an essential role in maintaining a high level of standard in the death care field. Something we�ll all unfortunately have to deal with at some point.

If you could tell your 17-year old self anything about your life today, what would you tell her? 

I definitely took the non-traditional route, so this is a tough one. I was home-schooled for my last two years of high school and then took some time off to travel, work, and live in Washington D.C. for a couple years before concentrating on college. Part of me would tell my 17-year old self to go to college immediately after high school, but if I had done that I wouldn�t be where I was today - happy and content, with tons of great memories.

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