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Someone asked in a prior post how I started in the biz, so I decided to give you a bit of insight on what I did to get here, and how I've navigated these treacherous yet stylish waters.
In the very beginning, posing with Andre Leon Talley ca. 2005 (?). I had a thing for J.Crew. Andre said he liked it! He was probably just being nice.
In my mind, I'm far from successful (I'm trying to get that Oprah), but there are few things I've learned along the way. Behold, my 6 Breaking into Fashion tips.
1. Intern, intern, intern.
Something I wrote for Upscale Magazine. People refuse to spell my name correctly.
Did I mention interning? There is no other way to break into fashion. Why intern? You learn the ropes, learn how to write 'magazine' copy through small tasks (writing captions), and start to build a network of peers that will last you through the duration of your career. My first internship was with Upscale Magazine down in Atlanta. I applied on a whim. After graduating from college, I actually had dreams of working in TV, but couldn't find a job at all, even with internships at PBS and ABC under my belt (yes, interning starts early. Try to get summer internships during college). At any rate, I was out of work, so I told myself, "I like to write, why not work in magazines?" I was in Kroger one day and saw Upscale on the newsstand and picked it up. I looked on the masthead for a contact and address, then sent my resume, cover letter, and a copy of the first chapter of my college thesis (I wrote about the Venus Hottentot for my final paper. More on that in another post). Long story short, I was called in to interview, and they loved me (duh!). I wanted to write about news, but they only had an opening in the fashion and beauty department. And thus my journey began.
One of my first published pieces.
I wasn't paid a red cent, which is normal in media. People really don't get it: you have to work for free or for minimum wage to break in. If you don't do it, please believe there is someone else who will! Thankfully, I was living at home at the time, so expenses weren't super high. I made a little money on the side by correcting college essays, and got a part time job at Ann Taylor (which I hated. I really can't do retail). I made it work until my next internship, which was New York Magazine. There, I was paid $5.15 an hour, but made ends meet by staying with a friend and by making frequent visits to my aunt, who cooked lots of delicious food that I would happily eat (I'd then wrap up a few plates to take home with me and eat throughout the week). Back when I was making $5.15 an hour (4 days a week), I remember looking at J.Crew sweaters that cost $50, and calculating how long it would take me to buy it. My clothes weren't always up to snuff.
But look how skinny I was!
One day I walked into New York magazine in a woefully wrinkled wool coat (it could've used a good steaming or dry cleaning), and one of the ladies asked if I worked there–perhaps she figured I was riff raff off of the street! But I learned so much from all my internships, and still keep in touch with many of the people I started out with, who now have plum jobs at big media organizations. While at New York Magazine, I remember going to get British magazines for Joanna Coles, Editor in Chief of Marie Claire, who was then a senior writer at NY Mag. You never know who you'll meet along your path, so do great work and try to stay in touch! I'm not so good with the staying in touch part, but the experience of working for a magazine will prepare you for all your future writing endeavors.
After all my internships (I also interned for Newsweek), I found the holy grail: a great full time job that was lax enough to let me do what I wanted, for the most part, as long as I got my work done. Still…I was unhappy. For 4 years, I worked at a magazine, researching, writing, and fact checking stories, but my real goal was to work in the fashion department. But, I kept getting passed over for promotions, and requests to switch departments were denied. Not one to stay in an unsatisfying situation, I decided to move to Paris (revisit my announcement post here), and put my French Degree to some use.
Did I have a job? Did I know anyone there? Not really! But I knew I couldn't stay in New York if I wanted to move to that next stage in my career. Paris is known for fashion and I had a degree in French I hadn't used yet, so it seemed to make sense! I quit, dropped everything I knew, and moved across the ocean. My goal was to work at Women's Wear Daily or Vogue (I always shoot for the stars). How I'd get there, I didn't know. I eventually ended up interning at Paris Vogue, which was a miraculous act in itself, but I can say that the Universe rewards risks. I think many editors I wrote to after my move to Paris were impressed by my gumption, and by my willingness to do what I needed to do to get where I wanted to be. If I needed to start from the bottom at a fashion magazine and intern to break in, I would intern! In Paris! Moving to France was awesome, also, because I was able to experience fashion week, even a little. Men's Fashion Week, Womenswear, Couture…I was in town for it all!
3. Stay Humble.
I'm smizing here
My internship at Paris Vogue was a humbling experience. I went from having a full time job with vacation, benefits, and an office to an internship that paid 350 Euros a month. I had more experience in media than my boss, who was several years younger than me, but it didn't matter. I was suddenly the lowest on the totem pole. While at Vogue, I was called a 'nobody,' made to stand outside of shows with a camera in hand and take pictures of people for the site, and relegated to doing the tasks most people didn't want to do. But, I did it happily.
I knew that the experience was what I needed to break into the upper echelons of the fashion industry. So even though I was poor, overworked, and sometimes undervalued, I came in early and I stayed late. I pitched ideas, and swallowed my pride when my ideas were rejected or passed over. I ate my little baguetttes with butter and did my best. And Paris Vogue led to Italian Vogue; working for both entities have continued to contribute positively to my website and my career.
4. Don't be too sensitive. Develop thick skin. Don't take anything personally.
So I'd be all dressed up for work, and I'd write news stories during the morning, then switch into my flats for the afternoon. I'd walk along Avenue Montaigne, Rue St. Honoré, and Rue de Rivoli looking for stylish passersby, so I could tell them, in my American accented French, that I worked for Vogue and that I wanted to take their snap. French people don't like to have their pictures taken. For Vogue, I was instructed to take pictures of people dripping in high end labels. Most Parisians with money don't want to flaunt it–hence a big difference between American and French culture. Americans are flashy; the French like to promote a more egalitarian outlook (people are supposed to be equal, but they aren't). So if someone is rolling in the dough, they don't boast. At any rate, I heard, 'Non,' a lot. And expect to hear NO all the time in fashion. No, you can't come in. No, you're not on the list. No, no, no. Just let it roll off your back and keep smiling. If someone tells you no, find a way to get a yes.
All you need is one yes. Maybe ask in a different way.
5. Try to be nice to everyone.
For some reason people believe that being a b*tch is just what you do in the catty world of style. I'll let you know: it won't get you far. People won't like you. They'll plot your demise. People talk. The world is small. And all that negative energy? Ain't nobody got time for that! And while it's a given to be nice to your peers, I can't overstate it enough how important it is to be nice to security guards, members of entourages, publicists, the list goes on. Be professional at all times. If someone says they can't invite you to a show, say thank you, curse them out in your head, and plot for next season. Noone likes a sore loser. And I'll tell you one story of when being nice helped: I saw Rihanna at the Margiela show in 2009, and of course wanted to meet her! All the press were swarming her like flies, but noone was paying attention to her best friend, Melissa, who was right next to her. So I went up to Melissa (who is now a star in her own right) and started chatting with her. I told her about the site, and about how much we loved Rihanna–and loved her style. I gave her my pink card, then we parted ways. Later on, I was milling around by the entrance, and Rihanna came up to me! She asked about the site, and seemed genuinely interested. Then we took a picture.
I'm sure Melissa had spoken to her backstage and encouraged the pop princess to come say hi. So that said, you don't always have to go the obvious or most direct way to get what you want. If the front door is slammed shut, try the side door. Be creative. Start a blog. Take a risk. You won't always be comfy, but that's just the world's way of testing you; and the industry's way of seeing if you really want this. And once you've paid your dues, the pay off is quite grand.
6. Look the part.
I initially was only going to provide 5 tips, but decided to make it 6 so that I could include this very important piece of advice: Dress and look the part. Fashion is a superficial industry. Find a way to stand out. My way was to dye my hair platinum blonde and always have it done! If I can't do my makeup, I get it done. An upgrade in wardrobe also helps;) While I was slaving away getting all the juicy experience, I honestly couldn't afford to do much of anything (as the pictures above undoubtedly display). But once my hard work started to pay off, I began investing in myself.
If you're not a woman of color, you can get away with just being cute and having nothing to say. Black women have to be smart, well dressed, well traveled, speak languages, deal with nonsense, smile…a lot will be demanded of you. Just do it. It might take you a while (I still have not reached the promised land), but don't give up. As one of my favorite mentors once said, "Keep on keepin on!"
That does it!
I hope that was at least somewhat helpful to someone out there.
And thank you for reading my new site!
*I actually have even more tips, but think this could be a book. Once I get my millions in 2016, expect a book deal to follow shortly thereafter!
**Last tip: Say what you want to achieve, and tell everyone. You never know who might emerge who can help you reach your goal. Please believe, I told everyone who would listen that I wanted to work at Paris Vogue (read the story on the picture below here).
And Voila! It happened.
119 responses to "Started from the Bottom: Claire's 6 Tips on Breaking into Fashion"
Claire, this post is so inspiring so thank you for taking the time to write it. The beautiful thing is that these tips are not just for fashion. They can and should be applied to all aspects of life and I intend on doing just that.
i really do think you should write a book, you are a self made, successful black woman ONLINE and off. I would be first to pre-order a copy.
Have a blessed year.
This is a really great piece and a testament to working hard. So many people dont want to intern or work really hard. They just want the lights flashing and to be known with nothing.
It is rare that actually happens. These are all great tips. We have to start on the bottom and work our way up. We have to be ten times better because to be pretty and white mediocre is okay.
Kudos to you for chasing after what you want. Go the self publish book wrote! You have a base already. No need to wait for someone else to come swoop in and only give you 40% when you deserve it all.
I loved this article, especially the expectations of women if color. This is why I always try to keep up with my reading, watch educational television, travel and experience different cultures.
I agree with you on this and totally believe being worldly is very important.
Love the story and outlook Claire! Also your outfits (in blonde) are so ridiculously on point I don't even know where to start. Girl your shoe game is tight!
What an inspiring post… I found your website over a year ago and visit it everyday, sometimes 2 or more times a day. I love to see black women doing it well!!! My hats off to you and I wish you continued success.
Claire you are such an inspiration! Before reading this I admired you and your website and have been reading it from the beginning (back when I was in middle school!). To see the growth of your success and empire is what I use for my inspiration all the time! Being a black girl in college who's aspiring to get into the beauty/fashion industry through writing and cosmetic science, it's next to impossible to find anybody to relate to or admire similar careers let alone believe that it's possible to have a promising career in the beauty/fashion industry. I have dreams of working in Paris and following a path that I respect for myself through hard work and dedication just like you. This post just reminded me why I can't quit. To see the evolution of your career in these pictures is truly amazing and it reminded me that things can't just happen overnight. Can't wait to witness the bigger and better things you have in store because your story inspires me everyday girl! xoxo
As a junior in college with dreams of landing a job in the fashion world, this story is so inspiring. You give me hope that even though I may have to travel to NYFW to volunteer for free and intern for a little bit of money, it is all worth it. Thank you very much and I will continue to read all these different tips. They really help and I'm glad to see one from your after reading most of the other ones on the FashionBombDaily. One of my intern dreams is to one day intern with you all. Good luck in all that you do.
This was so inspirational and came at a perfect time for me. I'm about to quit my job and start my own business and only today I had real last minute nerves and for the first time considered forgetting the whole thing so thank you so much for telling your story. You are so right about women of colour needing the whole package. Great post and thank you again.
I really love this post Claire!! People mistakenly assume that success just happens overnight. It's always refreshing to hear about the grinding that went on behind the scenes as inspiration.
Thank you Claire! This is exactly what I needed on a crappy snow day in New York. I aspire to work in either Fashion Magazine or PR and every now and then I fall into a rut and start to feel like I can't make things happen. Yesterday I felt exactly like that, but this post was the push I needed to lift my spirits, so once again Claire, thank you!
Awesome piece, Claire! Great to see the evolution in your pics… you have definitely come a long way and deserve all the fruits of your hard labor.
I've always wanted to break into fashion, and it's proven difficult, especially when you don't begin early and end up with bills to pay. But these are all great tips, and as someone stated earlier, can be applied to many aspects in life. I have been a looong time reader of FBD and I am always so proud when I see you taking it up a notch… "Keep on keeping on!" (also one of my father's lines, lol)
Great post! It's nice to see how far you've come. Keep up the hard work!!
This is truly what determination is all about. Kudos to you Claire.
This was a very inspirational story. Much needed. It seems like starting at the mail room or the bottom isn't that bad after all. Merci Madame Claire!
[…] someone on TheBombLife.com asked me how I got my start in fashion, so I decided to write a little essay about my […]
Claire you are an inspiration, you've come such a long way. I have no interest in going into the fashion industry, but you've given tips that are great for any career.
The motivation that I just received from this post is indescribable. Thank you so much Claire for taking the time to write about your journey. I will be looking forward to your book!
Thank you so much for the advice Claire, I am so determine to work hard and push forward through all the bull they throw at me… I'm glad I got to hear it from your point of view.. I am currently a fashion merchandising student, hoping to be working in London once I graduate.
This was a very enlightening, very inspiring post. Great job, Claire.
Your story is so inspiring! It's amazing to actually see your journey through pictures, and now see the fruits of your hard work/determination. I am a 20 yr old college sophomore and this article made me realize no dream is too big! Hopefully I'll see you one day at Fashion Week :)! xoxo
I have been a fan of this site from the very beginning. I even remember when you use to have clothing exchanges in your apartment. Needless to say it has been a pure pleasure to watch your growth. While I am not looking to be in the fashion industry your growth inspires me to keep on keeping on. As a small business owner it is very encouraging to see the pay off from working hard. Looking forward to the book.
This has given me SO much hope. Thank you for sharing your journey. I'm in awe of you! I can't wait to see what you do next!
Loved this- it seemed to be one of your most transparent pieces yet. BTW..I found your site by reading your work on Black Vogue Italy about 4 years ago and have been a faithful reader of your blog ever since!
Congrats on the great work and I'm sure so much more is coming for you!!
i am transitioning into the fashion world as a grown woman and it is hard. thank you for the tips! you are an inspiration!
GREAT POST! You are truly an inspiration…….I totally needed this today
i am transitioning into the fashion industry as a grown woman and it is hard. thank you for taking the time to write this. you are an inspiration!
so inspired love it!
WOW, I'm so inspired by your story! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing this Claire! Awesome and inspiring.
This was an awesome piece Claire! So informative and inspiring. Gives me some much needed motivation! *SMILES*………
Great read Claire!! VERY inspiring! I've had my shares of ups and downs trying to make it in this industry and it's refreshing to hear this type of advice!
This is wonderful, and not just for people aspiring to be in the fashion industry. I'm about to graduate and have been having unecessary panic attacks about where I will be in a few months/what I'll be doing & this is so motivating.
P.S. do YOU offer internships?
Loved this !! You are very inspiring. It's really great to see how far you've come and how far you'll go.
Thank you Claire for sharing your inspiring story and I can't wait to buy and read your future book!
Claire, I loved the tips!! You have a great brand and are an inspiration to me!
These are really great tips. They apply to life in general and not just the fashion industry.
Thanks for sharing.
So inspiring and you're beautiful.
You are so inspiring Claire. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your story and I can definitely relate to some of it. I love your ambition and work ethic. The sky is the limit for you. I hope I see you around during LFW, would be lovely to meet you.
Claire this piece was long overdo! Thanks for sharing your journey and driving home the point that to have true and lasting success is to work hard for it. You are an inspiring – amazing- bombshell indeed!
Your story is so inspiring Claire!!! Thank you so much for sharing. XoXo
claire this is inspiring to say the least. we have spoken about advertisement over the past week claire and i swear to you i'll be sending you a payment very shortly. you have just inspired me so much. i dont even know what else to say. just know for the lil chocolate girl whose had dreams of being in the fashion industry since a baby is doing her best to get there. thank claire. i will reach out. its melissa from sense of style boutique. thank you
Well done Claire!
Very true and inspiring post. This, in essence, is how a sister should be on her "grind". Especially. With point #6. A black woman needs to be better inorder to get ahead and establish her self in any field. I'm looking toward to purchasing your book!
Great post Claire! I'm an avid FBDer, going on 6 years almost and I truly admire your strength, determination tenacity and humility.
While I'm not in the fashion industry, nor have plans to work there, I think you are still highlighting VERY important tips for life and the pursuit of a career especially for Black women. I'm pursuing my PhD in math education and while my work/credentials are going to speak for itself, the impression I make on people, and who I meet can (and do) still factor in heavily into getting into the career I want.
I'm going to show this to some of my young mentees who want break into fashion. I want them to understand that dressing the part is one thing but working towards something is so much more important in the beginning.
A friend told me to come by and check this out. Neither one of us has fashion as a main focus on our blogs, but this post has so many gems in it – pleased that she recommended it! My mom told me a lot of this, but when you are grown and IN it, sometimes you need someone else's perspective to refresh your thinking.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this, you won't even know how helpful this is for a lot of people. I studied fashion styling and interned for so many established stylist that are lit of years younger than me and I have the accent issue which makes it more harder.Instead of pressing on like you did I started my own personal style blog which is even harder. But your story is top notch, so inspiring. Thank you for sharing it once again
This was so awesome. I really changed my outlook on somethings…
Amazing post and so very nice of you to share your story Claire, the good and the bad. Bravo!!!
So I must admit .. Your post gave me an engery boost . I feel like I can run an extra mile now . Keep up the good work ..
Wonderful article and great testimony. For a recent college graduate with a degree in fashion, these were the right words that I needed to hear at the right time. thank you
Hi Claire reading this article or short bio has given me so much hope for the future and also drive to continue following my dreams in fashion of course.I was so drawn into each word and advice,i must say THANK YOU for sharing.Alot of people forget where the starting point was,when they have climbed the ladder to a certain point,let pride set in and never acknowledge another person trying to make it.Actually one of my dreams was to meet you in person, and ask you how you manage to keep up with the day to day details on your blog.Truth be told,i can't even keep up with you if i tried..Smiles. I needed a life coach and i found one.Thanks again and hope to meet you in person someday.
This is undoubtedly one of the best stories about breaking into the fashion industry that I have heard in a while! Thank you for being so transparent and inspiring with your life and story. Lord knows it takes a lot of heart, dedication, and faith to go through the trials and challenges of accomplishing your dream. I went from having 2 internships, a work study job, and full time school schedule my last semester of college to being unemployed and just blogging and being "poor" for a year. But best believe I was at fashion week in my home town of Miami using my last coins to pay metered parking because fashion is what I love. Now I'm a copywriter for a men's grooming company and spend all my extra time in grad school and working to expand my blog. Your story hit home for me and was such a necessary boost of encouragement. Thank you so much Claire! xo
I loved reading this, I can take away so much from this and apply it to my own dreams. Thanks so much for writing this.
Hi Claire,
This entry was very inspiring. Thank you. I met you a couple of months ago at the Time inc. event. I told you I wanted to start a blog and start writing about fashion. You said Do It! Just write! And so I did… Thank you for the brief chat. You also said I may send you something to read for your feedback. If that offer still stands, I would like to email something I'm working on. I hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks again!
Shetira Urquhart
luvv Rihanna's nipple ringed boob resting every gently on your bossom, bot in black turtlenecks, and your always warm and winning smile
ahhh, this was awesome
i work in the fashion industry as well, but on the design end, and there are many similarities in your journey
This Post was extremely inspiring. I am looking forward to your book. I admire your drive and tenacity to create a job that you truly love. I have a back ground in fashion design and merchandising. I have recently started a line specializing in pencil skirts. I would one day love to have you wear one of my designs. Keep smiling and dreaming big. Thank You for the wise advise.
Very great tips
Thank you so much for "keeping on, keeping on" if it wasn't for that I would be miserable most days as i visit it each day in order to feel better and plan outfits. Mostly your entries are inspiring.
I love you claire!
This is beyond amazing claire! I admire you a lot and your journey proves that "it always seems impossible until its done" -Nelson Mandela.
And also a reminder to all that nothing good comes easy.
What a great article. I love your journey to your passion of fashion. Your smile tells it all on how happy you are doing what you love. Such an inspiration
Such an inspirational read! This has probably been said already (62 comments in) but these tips can be applied to any career. I work in corporate communications for a FTSE 100 and being black and female, my game, all aspects of it, has to be 100% tight all the time.
You're a credit to our race sister; I'm looking forward to what the future holds for you. x
Awesome post Claire!
Amazing, inspiring, and encouraging all in one. Watching you progression makes new bloggers like myself "keep Keepin on" as you said! I get a little discouraged at times when I don't see as many views or comments as I like, but I have to understand that growth is necessary. Starting from the bottom is what humbles a person once they do get to the top. This post has really touched me and gave me numerous ideas on where to go from here!
Man oh man! This is what I needed this morning as I sit here at my Probation job feeling down and out because apparently my sense of style is not for this job and one young lady always has an opinion and feels as though she has to comment on it. I felt like I took the wrong path in life and studied Criminal Justice when my true passion lies deep in fashion and jewelry/accessory design. Your story speaks volumes to young women like me who feel as though they have no hope and we have to just settle for an 8-4 and give up on our passions and dreams. It is so true with what you said about taking a risk and stepping out of your comfort zone to achieve what you want and getting to the "Promise Land." You are truly an inspiration and you just gave me the drive to focus on what I have to do, to wake up to a career that I love.
Chuqqy you said it best nothing good comes easy. Truth!
I know that everyone has probably already read and responded to this post, however, i'm still leaving a comment as it was truly inspirational to me! All points have been written down and I will use this as a daily reminder to continue pursuing my dreams. Thanks Claire!
Awesome article, Claire!
Very enlightening, encouraging, and uplifting no matter what industry one aspires for. So happy for you. Can't wait for that book in a couple years!!
Inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Please write a book. I would be the very first in line to buy it.
Great read Claire! Very inspirational! I'm happy that you have accomplished so much and chose even greater goals for yourself in the coming years. Best of luck!
I almost stood up and clapped after reading this article. You've been an inspiration to many of us for so long, and I love how open and humble you were in this post. Your hard work and determination is very clear. I'm so happy I had the chance to meet you and write a couple posts for TFB. That truly meant the world to me. You rock Claire Sulmers, can't wait to get your book when it comes out! *claiming it*
Great tips. I've been reading since the beginning and I love seeing you on the come up. I feel like I know you!
Claire, I would just like to say this post is amazing. I have literally been reading your blog since 2007 when a friend of mine first introduced me to the site in undergrad. And I have to say seeing you evolve over the years is truly inspirational. You have come a LONG way girl and I wish you all the success in the future and I'll be reading while you do.
I love this article Claire! You have given me much to think about… A lot of your advice just doesn't apply to the fashion business, but business period. S/N… I wanted to continue reading the piece you did on blind dating. lol
I like this article. I'm super happy you posted this. One of my goals was to meet you and ask you most of these questions lol so kudos on truly writing from your experience and sharing your story!
That was a wonderful post Claire. I recognize myself in your earlies. I live in Paris and I'm currently at the "intern, intern and again intern" stage and being humble and nice is for sure the key to success.
As you've mentionned in your post being nice to everybody is way important, the assistant may be editor in chief one day and will remember your name for sure aha. Ironically I look to move in NYC soon I have completed my internship and achieved my degree
Your journey is very inspironnal and I hope you will reach your "promise land"
I just want to say thank you. As a fashion student, graduating in December, I am definitely nervous about what to do or where to go. This really helped. I love your blog and I will continue to read and be inspired by your spirit and your style.
Wow. This was an amazing read, Claire — completely inspiring.
These tips are applicable way beyond the fashion industry! That book would be a "Must Have" on my list any day.
Keep doing what you're doing and investing in the surest thing you can, yourself.
Your story and your journey are inspirational. I love you platinum locs and your eye for style. Thanks for this post.
I loved this post, Claire! I have been following your blog for years now and it was a major source of inspiration in starting my own blog, which in turn led to pursuing my fashion writing career. Never in a million years did I anticipate turning my passion into reality, working my own hours, writing about what I love for a living, all from a small town in Texas. Thanks for continuing to inspire tons of young fashionistas! Keep doing you, Boo.
This was so on point! It was so nice to hear your journey. I graduated last May and 8 months later…I've still been searching for a job. I completed 7 internships while in college. SEVEN! Even with all those contacts I still couldn't find a job and have been temping…after all that…I thought well maybe my path is meant to be different. I started a celeb blog in the summer…haven't seen instant results and haven't been consistent since there is way too much going on in my life BUT THIS advice right here…you have shown that if you want to accomplish something, you can NEVER give up! Luv it Claire!
Very inspirational and insightful post…I am a firm believer of speaking things into existence along with following through ! Gorgeous woman with such great experience may you be Blessed to continue to pursue all your dreams and goals reaching the level of success your heart desires. I enjoy your reading your blog and classy style, thank you !
Claire – You truly are talented, beautiful, humble and an inspiration.
Loved it!
Thank you Claire for this post!
I am actually struggling and feel a bit (-a lot-) discouraged but your words were very encouraging and inspiring.
Since you speak french: 'Merci beaucoup et bonne chance pour la suite de tes projets'!
I am a french speaking woman and I apologize if there are some mistakes in my message
God has a way of speaking to you through people. Thank you Claire, I'm sure you've inspired so many individuals with this post! I, being one of them. Thank you, thank you thank you!
P.s. When did you return to the states?
Claire, this was soooo on time for me! Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring myself and others. I am a freelance wardrobe stylist and fashion blogger, I have been hitting a lot of [career] road blocks lately, and it's hard to stay encouraged. But it will come together in due time I have to continue to work.
You are a true inspiration!
You definitely almost had me in tears Claire! Thank you for sharing your testimony! This just made me love you even more! Definitely assures me, we are heading in the right direction! -Edwina from Edwina LaShan ❤ Thank you! You inspire me!
Hi Claire that information was very helpful but I am too old to intern do you have any suggestions on how to get started a little later in life because this is my passion Claire
This almost brought me to tears…very inspiring article. Congratulations to you and job well done!!!
Thanks so much for sharing your story. Very moving & inspirational! Your humility is refreshing. You're truly a divine being!
Simply Beautiful
[…] and for those of you who are thinking of breaking into the fashion industry, check out this super inspiring post by Clare Sulmer. It is so very informative and full of information and behind the scene images […]
[…] She continued, "With Rihanna, it wasn't like she requested the service. I offered it. Most people didn't know personal shopping was even an option. But I offered, went over and above, and cultivated a great relationship." Wise words from a successful industry fixture! Well, I hope this interview was as informative and fun for you as it was for me! We'll be doing a lot more of these–my goal is to have one every week (or every other week). Is there anyone else you'd like to read more about? Let me know in the comments. *Want to know how I got my start? Read my Breaking Into Fashion tips on The Bomb Life! […]
Wow! I enjoyed reading your story. I often have to remind myself to keep moving forward. "Follow your dreams", "Don't get too comfortable" , "Never give up" Those are the things that I have to keep in mind. You are living proof that hard work pays off! Congratulations! God Bless!
That was really inspiring, especially since I'm getting ready to go to fashion school.
At 39.
Changing your life as an adult is hard but harder would be to look back and regret. So thank you for that. I will be looking back on this post when I have a down moment and remind myself to get off my butt and keep plugging away.
LOVED reading this! I'm not necessarily trying to break into the fashion industry, but this was inspiring for me nonetheless. I've been following you and your work for a while now. You're such an inspiration!!! <3
Wow, admire you for being so persistent. You seem to be so genuine I wish nothing but the best for you.
I am very proud to be a part of your blog I have seen you in so many different areas in fashion and I had to know who this chick is? Not in a bad way. Fashion knows Fashion and I know you will achieve those millions!!!
Continue to be Fab and Humble you have a Beautiful Spirit.
LOOOOVED your story and I wish you nothing but the BEST such a Humble Sweet Spirit.
Thanks for your inspiring story and words of wisdom! Has an educated woman of color in her 50's, that is changing careers of an elementary teacher to a writer, blogger, online global teacher… you have inspired me with your global ambitions. I will continue to follow you
I cried reading this. I am not into breaking into fashion, however this post urged me to go for my dreams regardless of what they are. You are truly an inspiration, and I pray that God continues to bless you beyond measures!
You are truly an inspiration. I myself, am having a hard time breaking into the fashion industry living in Toronto, Canada and as a black woman. Your honest words have restored my inspiration and faith.
VERY inspiring story. Just graduated from NYU in May w/a degree in film & tv production and I am going through the same thing that you went through post-grad. I think this story might've changed my life. God Bless.xx
So inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
Geesh Claire. The smile on my face reading this was so grand. So inspirational. I so love from where you've come and to where you are going. Thanks for sharing and always being true to yourself. Peace, Love & Blessings!
Fantastic article! I am older than probably most who are following you and your site, or maybe I am being presumptuous. I have loved fashion since I was a child, my mom and aunt showed me the beauty of black women and Essence help to teach me the beauty of black women in fashion. I am an actor, its my number one passion, but I often think of becoming an editor of a fashion magazine, but then a little voice in my head tries to speak to me and say it's to late I am to old. Let me tell you all, that you are NEVER to old to achieve your dreams and passions, go for it, push yourself and remember to do as Claire has instructed and be nice to everyone. Cheers! Thanks Claire.
Bookmarked and revisited every time there is an inkling of doubt. Dreams are real and do come true. Plans and preparation go hand in hand. And honestly, I'll be the first to buy your book — you already know. Thanks again.!
oh woow woow that is so inspirational and l cannot wait to read that book,you are amazing!!! God Bless you and keep on keeping on.
I love your blog and this post just brings it all together. From the outside looking in, people just assume that you just have this gorge closet, a cool writing voice, and so forth. But beyond all of that you have more than paid your dues. People need to read this regardless if they want to be in fashion or not because these tips are useful for breaking into any industry!
Thank you for my morning inspiration!
you beam! your truth is motivating and sexy. I'm a supporter #teamclaire
Hi Claire
I'm new to your site, I just happened upon it; And I'm Loving It!
This was such an amazing truthful storie. Much continued success to you!
Hi Claire,
Thank you for sharing your highs and lows. It is an inspiring story and it makes me believe that anything in life is possible. Smile…everyone is watching.
Thank you Thank you Thank you.
OMG you are such an inspiration!!! This really really helps me believe that I can have it all with hard work and positivity every step of the way. I wish you the best.
hey Claire, I just stumbled on this post and i must say I'm really inspired. I'm also a blogger and I'm trying to get to my dream. thanks for sharing. You are a role model. Check out my blog when you have time
[…] a post titled "Started from the Bottom: 6 Tips on Breaking into Fashion," editor of Fashion Bomb Daily, Claire Sulmers dispensed tried-and-true tips for upcoming […]
[…] maintained a proprietary attitude towards the wisdom they've gained, Claire makes it a point to share hers. Additionally, she's given a slew of college students and grads their first taste at working […]
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William Brooks Elementary recently celebrated its golden anniversary.
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William Brooks Elementary recently celebrated its golden anniversary.
El Dorado Hills' first elementary school was Park Village Elementary when it opened its doors to 120 kindergarten to fifth-grade students in January 1964. John Taylor served as both principal and Buckeye Union School District superintendent.
The school's second principal, William N. Brooks, was killed in a car accident on El Dorado Hills Boulevard in 1968 and the school was renamed in his honor.
In 1964, the Mountain Democrat reported Park Village opened with a "first" in American education techniques referred to as "team teaching."
"It was an open concept where you didn't have walls separating classrooms," Principal Kathi Jensen said. "Until I read that, I didn't realize it was innovative at the time."
In 1964, the school was one building, known as C building today. "It was totally surrounded by fields, horses and livestock," Jensen added.
Brooks' rural nature was mentioned time and again during interviews. Renee (Lange) Devine attended Brooks in the 1980s. "It was a rural, tiny little school," she remembered. "Park Village was the only subdivision around. Animals grazed at recess and once we even saw a horse give birth off in the distance."
Renee's mother Linda Lange was a parent at Brooks before teaching kindergarten there from 1990-2009. "When I go back to teaching, I want to teach there," she remembered thinking, impressed by the small community feel and friendly atmosphere.
By 1977, today's administration wing was built, but the current staff room housed kindergarten. Christina (Ginney) McColley went to Brooks and now her two children attend school there. She was in the kindergarten class that moved from the staff lounge. "The new kindergarten room was really state of the art," she remembered. "I was in awe of everything! I still get flashbacks when I take my son to school now."
Calahan is in kindergarten and her daughter Rylee is a second grader.
"My kindergarten teacher was Barb (Crittle) Ryder. We called ourselves Crittle's Critters," McColley said. "Ms. Crittle played the ukulele and was so amazing. She is definitely the reason I became a teacher."
By 1980, there were still no homes surrounding the school, but the gym and E building were built and five portables were added. "The original library was a portable," Lange remembered. "The floor sunk in."
By 2001, Brooks was beginning to look like it does today, though Jensen said she thinks it's never lost any of its charm. "With its park-like setting, I do believe William Brooks is still the most beautiful school around," she said. "When you look at it 50 years ago, it was this building on barren land, no trees or anything. Nothing. I think that's what's so amazing."
One less visible, but equally dramatic, change took place in 1992 when Brooks staff changed its mascot from the badgers to the bears. "They were opening up new schools around town," said Jensen. "The staff went on a weekend teacher's retreat to Tahoe and thought it might be nice to have a fresh start too."
Lange was one of those decision makers. "We got talking about our mascot," she remembered. "Wouldn't it be easier to be bears? Kids know what bears are and we see pictures of them all over. They're much cuddlier seeming than a badger too. We didn't think it was that big a deal."
Yet there's a legion of alumni who only recognize the original mascot. "One of our parents went to Brooks and still has a Brooks Badgers T-shirt," said Jensen. "She has her son wear it on spirit days … and in the kindergarten room there's still a pennant that says Brooks Badgers."
"I still have a hard time with the bears," said McColley. "I am a badger to the core."
Look closely at the mural outside the gym and you'll see one badger on the left among a score of bears, a nod to the school's colorful history.
McColley remembers how quiet El Dorado Hills used to be. "There was one stop sign from my house to Brooks," she said. McColley lived on the south side of Highway 50 and in 2006 moved back to El Dorado Hills with her husband to raise their family; they even bought her childhood home from her parents. "I wanted my kids to have the same experience I had growing up and I love that Brooks is a small country school and there's still no fence."
Memorabilia will be displayed in the library, including an office typewriter, chairs, a record player and an American Flag framed in plexiglass hanging in the library. The flag was donated to the school after it was flown over the nation's Capitol between 1964 and 1967.
Today 479 students attend Brooks. Undoubtedly their experiences will add to its rich history.
"William Brooks Elementary is a school where memories have been made for 50 years," said Jensen. "Our current students will remember each year as it brings new friendships, new opportunities and new challenges for educational opportunities to their lives. Hopefully some of them will come back for the next celebration, when we celebrate 75 years."

subset: commoncrawl


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I noticed Reboot Illinois promoting this recent quote by Republican candidate for Governor Kirk Dillard.
That got on my nerves. I guess the implication is that another Governor like Edgar could have balanced the current state budget without tax increases.
Let's recall that Edgar served as Governor from 1991-1999. He entered office during a recession and governed during the Clinton economic boom of the 90's. The recession decreased state revenue when Edgar first entered office. As the economy improved, tax revenues increased.
Of course Edgar balanced the budget and increased revenue! A monkey could have had a state budget surplus in the 90's. Let's also remember that the economy improved after Clinton raised taxes on the rich and increased the minimum wage; policies most Republicans oppose.
I'd like to hear more if Dillard is writing a thank you note to Bill Clinton. Otherwise, I'd like him to talk about things that were more directly under his control. For example, Edgar's decision to underfund the state pension system. It's not nice to brag about a budget surplus when you achieved it by screwing the state workforce.
as Jim Edgar did. Witnesses in the Ryan trial testified they were continuing the same practices that existed when Edgar was Secretary of State. Anyone from Springfield knows many stories about how the corrupt patronage system operated while Edgar was Governor. I'd like to know Dillard's role and if that's the kind of governing style he would bring back.
Hopefully, Dillard will talk about that issue as soon as he's done taking credit for the Clinton economy and bragging about shortchanging the pensions of public employees.


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Wednesday May 26, 2010
2 kids playing in the sandbox,
1 momma painting the house,
1 baby lounging in the grass,
and you get 4 sets of dirty piggies!
very creative…love it!
Well I sincerely liked reading it. This tip offered by you is very practical for proper planning.
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
NlOirm Say, you got a nice article.Really thank you! Awesome.
Copyright © 2015 · Zinnia on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in


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This is the February 26, 2013 news archive. View today's Magic rumors and news.
Add Beno Udrih to the list of players that have had issues with Scott Skiles' coaching
yahoo.com Updated Feb 26, 2013
Beno Udrih complaining about Scott Skiles and his time with the Milwaukee Bucks as Udrih works as a new member of the Orlando Magic? This isn't the stuff that online advertisers dream about. This isn't a real clickable column, and there won't be thoShare Tweet
Expect Sixers to maintain investment in Bynum; more mailCNNSI.com Feb 26, 2013The Sixers expected Andrew Bynum to be their franchise cornerstone. Things have not gone as planned, but Ian Thomsen still expects Philadelphia to build around the 25-year-old.Share Tweet
Magic Snap Losing SkidFeb 26Magic hand 76ers sixth straight loss.
Sports Columnists
Ian Thomsen: Expect Sixers to maintain investment in Bynum; more mailFeb 26Andrew Bynum is inching closer toward a return. What's the best-case scenario for the Sixers? A healthy Bynum plays 15-20 games down the stretch, carries the team to the playoffs and re-signs in the offseason? As crazy as this sounds, it seems like the …
Adande/Gutierrez: Who's the NBA's most clutch player?Feb 26Which player gets the ball in crunch time? J.A. Adande and Israel Gutierrez decide.
Adande/Gutierrez: Who's the NBA's best closer?Feb 26Which player gets the ball in crunch time? J.A. Adande and Israel Gutierrez decide.


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Alabama has the houndstooth. Indiana has the candy stripes. And for North Carolina, it's argyle.
The baby blue and navy argyle pattern is synonymous with Chapel Hill. But according to Darren Rovell, the Tar Heels basketball team will be adding a new pattern to their basketball uniforms this season.
Jordan XX8 SE that UNC is slated to wear this season pic.twitter.com/gzAXl3qI0L— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 24, 2013
It is still unclear if the team will wear the shoes through out the season or for just a special occasion.
The Tar Heels last donned camouflage when they participated in the 2011 Carrier Classic against Michigan State. Those uniforms, however, were tasteful and looked authentic. These shoes look like somebody drizzled cans of paint all over them.
Camouflage and argyle doesn't match.


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Pull in Demand Driven Value Networks
03/23/2015 : 0 Comments
Gartner posted an article detailing the benefits of pull replenishment in Demand Driven Value Networks:
Demand-driven value networks (DDVNs) integrate processes and data to translate demand signals into a supply response that creates value and mitigates risk.
The manufacturing, retail, high-tech, life science and healthcare industries with demand-driven capabilities perform better in the long term than peers with traditional, cost-focused supply chains. These companies grow revenue faster, achieve more than 15% higher perfect-order rates and reduce inventory levels by as much as one-third. They leverage an outside-in view based on insights about customer value. They apply this view to their product portfolios, supply networks and service processes to deliver customer value and profitable growth.
Orchestration of value networks includes selectively collaborating with customers, suppliers and partners, as well as effectively managing trade-offs internally through cross-functional processes that synchronize product, demand and supply decisions for maximized value. Critical capabilities for orchestration include supply chain visibility, agile decision making in response to volatility and demand shaping to optimize profitable balance.
Invistics has been helping high-mix manufacturers and distributors design and implement their Demand Driven Value Network for over 15 years. Our Pull Design Workshop is a great way to get started using three steps:
1.) Reaching consensus on the type of pull strategy to be adopted, the production planning parameters that will be impacted and the process and tools to be deployed to ensure a systemic and sustainable implementation.
2.) Developing a relevant business case.
3.) Identifying processes and tools that will support the new approach on an on-going basis.
Kingsman's Equation and Your Plant's Utilization
04/20/2014 : 0 Comments
Our last blog post provided a general summary of Kingsman's Equation and how it relates to your manufacturing operation. Today we're going to delve a little deeper into the equation to prove that when it comes to lowering the Average Queue Time (or Average Wait Time) of your resources, Utilization is King.
For every system whether it's a single machine or an entire factory, the time a resource spends as raw material or work-in-progress can be divided into two parts.
- -Process Time. This is value-added time it takes per machine or machines to process the resource and churn out a finished product.
- -Queue/Wait Time. This is non-value added time the resources are set aside to wait at the queue of machine or bottleneck, on a machine's setup, etc
Lead Time = Queue Time + Process Time. In most manufacturing systems, the Queue time can comprise 80-85% of the lead time. This is all non-value added time that should be reduced in order to maintain a Lean operation.
Now let's take another look at Kingsman's equation:
AQT = Average Queue Time.
p = Utilization, expressed as decimal
Ca2 + Cs2 = arrival and process coefficient of variations.
τ = average process time
so what does this mean exactly? First let's look at some examples where utilization(p) is at .25, .5, .7, .9, and .99. For these examples, we'll just assume: (Ca2 + Cs2)/2 = 1 and process time(τ) = 60 minutes.
Case 1: If p = .25, Average Queue Time (AVQ) = (.25/(1-.25) * 60 = 20 mins
Case 2: If p = .5, Average Queue Time (AVQ) = (.5/(1-.5) * 60 = 60 mins
Case 3: If p = .7, Average Queue Time (AVQ) = (.7/(1-.7) * 60 = 140 mins
Case 4: If p = .9, Average Queue Time (AVQ) = (.9/(1-.9) * 60 = 520 mins
Case 5: If p = .99, Average Queue Time (AVQ) = (.99/(1-.99) * 60 = 5940 mins or 99 hours
In this example since (Ca2 + Cs2)/2 = 1, the STDEV of the respective variables would have to equal the mean to get 1. While such high variability does exist in the real world, it's not very common. But regardless, this example is enough to illustrate two very important take-aways.
1.) Despite such high variability in both arrival and process times. If the utilization of the machine(s) is low, as it is in case 1 or case 2, the Average Queue Time is still manageable. This is because in terms of reducing your AQT, machine utilization is by far the most important factor.
2.) As you can see from the exponential increases in AQT over the cases, it is very, very wasteful to run your machines at such high utilization because your Average Queue Time goes through the roof. Can you imagine an 99 hour Average Queue Time for each of your products? And the screeching of your customers or sales reps? No thanks.
One final thing I should note is that the AQT in Kingsman is not the exact AQT, but more of a likely upper bound of your real AQT. Though it's accurate enough to get the point across.
The King of Manufacturing Equations
04/10/2014 : 0 Comments
In queueing theory, Kingman's formula states that the mean waiting time is given by:
AQT = Average Queue Time.
p = Utilization, expressed as decimal
Ca2 + Cs2 = arrival and process coefficient of variations.
τ = average process time
So what are the practical, manufacturing take-aways?
- The longer the average process time is, the more important is the queue length. For example a process that takes a minute, with a queue of 5, is much better than a process that takes an hour with a queue of 5
- Utilization is king. If utilization is low (~50% or less), arrival variation and process variation will have a small impact. If utilization is high (80% or higher), arrival and process variation will matter much more.
- service, and assembly, extra capacity may not be as expensive compared to it's manufacturing counterparts. This is because it is easy to move/add employees between functions.
- Since many service processes are longer than manufacturing processes, variation is generally more tolerable in service than in manufacturing. In other words, it is generally much more effective to focus on reducing failure demand than variation when it comes to service organizations.
- Reducing time variation is generally less critical than reducing utilization. Utilization is affected by errors which generate failure demand or rework.
- Arrival variation should not be ignored. It is just as important as process variation. Can your arrival variation be influenced through salesmen, incentives, informing customers or reducing supply chain amplifications?
- The work release behavior of processes upstream of bottleneck is important. The smoother (less lumpy) the orders come in at those work stations, the faster the bottleneck will process the orders.
Additionally, the Theory of Constraint advocates 5 steps of improvement: identify, exploit, subordinate, elevate, and repeat. Kingman's equations gives these additional insights:
-To identify the constraint (bottleneck), it is easier to examine only the load and compare it with demonstrated capacity. Kingman shows that overload begins at less than 100% utilization, and that sensitivity variations is particularly important at high utilization.
-Exploiting constraints should include variation reduction in addition to other methods such as buffering with Inventory.
-Subordinating other resources should include looking upstream of the constraint to examine arrival variation coming into the bottleneck.
Kingman's equation ties together Lean, 6 Sigma, TOC, and service systems to show that there's not a one-size fit all when it comes to adding value to your operations. The key is in knowing when to apply each school of thought.
(Be sure to check out John Bicheno's "The King of Equations" in the Lean Manufacturing Journal for more information and tips related to Kingman's equation).
Lean Confessions: (Myth 1)
03/03/2014 : 0 Comments
Myth#1: Lean is a huge initiative that drains financial and human resources.
Believe it or not, many companies have opted to forgo Lean because of this very myth. The thought of overhauling their whole process puts them into a panic: trying to find where funding will come from and how much will it cost to train their employees.
In these economic times, everyone is looking for ways to cut corners and save. However, companies shouldn't worry about Lean processes draining their financial, or even, human resources. The interesting truth about Lean is that, if processes are implemented properly, it will not cost as much as previously feared. In fact, some companies have reported a substantial return on investment within the first year.
To conserve financial and human resources and proceed with a Lean implementation, the best thing is to start with a fast, low-effort pilot that will quickly make up for the resources used in the project. The benefits and savings that a company will see within a few months will ease financial fears and pay for any future expansion of Lean.
Has your company overlooked Lean processes because of this misconception? Have you tried Lean and run into any strains, either financially or worker related? We would like to hear your input. Let's discuss!
Are You Leading or Following With Lean? (Quiz)
01/15/2014 : 0 Comments
Leaders, competitors, and followers exist in all industries, and especially in manufacturing. How does your company rank? Is your organization operating on the model that others watch — or are you following others? Find out where your organization stacks up with this quiz.
Note: Only add the corresponding points if your answer to the question is "Yes".
1. Your company involves individuals from all business segments (including suppliers) in its business plans (add 1 point)
2. Your company focuses mainly on manufacturing areas & includes only a portion of those in aligned areas (add 3 points)
3. Your company focuses on the plant floor with weak support (add 5 points)
4. Your company has a broad use of metrics — some are automated and some are manual. (add 3 points)
5. Your company has a broad application of methodologies (i.e. Kanban, 5S) with wide access to real-time data (add 1 point)
6. Your company uses few Lean tools and has limited access to manufacturing data (add 5 points)
7. Your company's business processes are embedded in Manufacturing Execution Systems which ensures consistency (add 1 point)
8. Your company applies Manufacturing Execution Systems and continuous improvement programs (add 3 points)
9. Your company's metrics are calculated frequently by IT systems with high accuracy and credibility (add 1 point)
10. Your company has a several Lean tools and good access to manufacturing data (add 3 points)
11. Your company has a manual Business Process Management using tribal knowledge and is skeptical about new technology (add 5 points)
12. Your company has a few metrics that are manually calculated and not usually actionable (add 5 points)
If you scored 15 to 20 points, your organization is considered a Follower and there is room for improvement. Invistics offers resources such as free white papers, executive briefs, and hosts monthly webinars at no charge to help you achieve Leader status.
If you scored 9 to 14 points, your organization shows characteristics of being a follower and a leader, a status known as a Competitor. You are making the necessary steps toward Leader status. To help you on your path, check out the Invistics website for free information and monthly educational webinars to help you become a Leader more quickly.
If you scored 4 to 8 points, your organization is a Leader and on the right track. To keep up with the best practices in manufacturing excellence, follow us on twitter, and subscribe to our blog.
Honing the Competitive Edge in Pharma Manufacturing
12/06/2013 : 0 Comments
Steven Kuehn, Editor-in-Chief, recently published a great overview of the progress the Pharmaceutical Industry has made in the recent years in area of cutting waste and improving operations to be "Lean": http://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/articles/2013/honing-the-competitive-edge/?start=3
It's only been within the last 15 years that the Pharmaceutical Companies have begun to take the concepts of Lean and Six Sigma more seriously, mainly due to major cost constraints that were tightening profit margins across the industry. Kuehn writes:
"As mentioned, since approximately 2002 the pharmaceutical industry felt increasingly pressured by a number of new and relatively dramatic external and internal market forces (think patent cliff) and began to face up to its profligate spending sustaining inefficient drug development and manufacturing processes. With the cost of bringing a single blockbuster drug to market reaching some $1.3 billion and, according to Eli Lilly, the success rate of new chemical compounds falling from 12% a decade ago to 8% today, drug manufacturers indeed continue to have a tough fight ahead to remain competitive and sustain commercial success."
However, despite the industries best efforts to reduce waste and variability, Lean hasn't quite caught on. There were still many pharmaceutical professionals who believed Lean to be a cost cutting methodology. Nigel Smart, prinipal at Smart Consulting Group and author of "Lean Biomanufacturing" says:
Nigel Smart, principal at Smart Consulting Group and author of the just-released book, Lean Biomanufacturing, says, "For perhaps over a decade now, the pharmaceutical/life sciences industry has been attempting to apply Lean systems to its various process systems. Initially, there were attempts to apply the principles to manufacturing processes in an attempt to mimic the advantages seen in other industrial sectors, such as those in the auto industry. However, if one was to critically prepare a performance scorecard of the implementation of Lean throughout the [Pharma] industry, this analysis would at best give you a normalized score of perhaps 4/10."
The article is worth reading in full to see who and what others in the Pharma Industry are doing to achieve best-in-class manufacturing operations using Lean Six Sigma methodology.
Register for our December Webinars!
12/06/2013 : 0 Comments
Invistics has been providing educational Webinars on a variety of Lean Manufacturing topics since 2011. We strive to ensure our webinar presentations are up to date with the best practices utilized in the high-mix manufacturing world. Check back in every month for a variety of topics ranging from case studies, live demos, and best practices in inventory & lot sizer optimization (and more!). This month we're offering two topics:
Join Tom Knight, Invistics' CEO, for our new webinar, an in-depth case study on Dupont Pharmaceuticals. This particular facility was plagued by high-variable processes and products which lead to increased cycle-times, inventory shortages, and impacted customer service levels. Learn how Invistics put in place Lean processes that realigned product flows, established key metrics, and integrated this approach with IT systems in order to reduce cycle times, lower inventory levels, and improve service.
Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Time: 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Duration: 60 minutes
Join Xing Guan, Process Improvement Consultant, to learn Best Practices for Lot Size Optimization for high-mix manufacturers and see how industry leaders analyze & calculate the "sweet spot" between changeover costs, inventory costs, and customer service. The presentation will include a detailed case study of the project Invistics did for a major manufacturer as well as a live demo of Invistics Lot Sizer optimization software.
Date: Thursday, December 19, 2013
Time: 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Duration: 60 minutes
Register Here: http://www.invistics.com/resources/webinars/
Tom Knight, Keynote Speaker at IIE Conference
10/10/2013 : 0 Comments
Invistics CEO, Tom Knight, presented as the Keynote Speaker at the annual 2013 IIE Lean & Six Sigma conference held in Atlanta, Georgia. Tom presented on the topic of Lean Supply Chain with an emphasis on Pull Design for High-Mix Manufacturers.
Check our monthly Webinar page to see which Lean topics Tom and Others will be presenting in October!
Lot Size Optimization at Bayer
09/13/2013 : 0 Comments
The Challenge:
– Excessive working capital
– Suboptimal lot sizes led to:
- Excessive cycle times due to large lot sizes for many SKUs
- Too frequent changeovers due to small lot sizes for some SKUs
- Capacity concerns due to high utilizations
Bayer Material Science's Baytown facility was challenged to drastically lower working capital. Bayer initially tried using simple inventory analysis (include a link to the Inventory Advisor webpage), but quickly realized that this approach would fall short due to its lack of understanding of their critical capacity issues. One factor contributing to the high levels of required working capital were suboptimal lot sizes throughout the operation. Making this particularly challenging was the fact that some workcenter utilizations were at or near 100%- requiring excessive overtime to meet customer orders.
The team at Bayer realized that this excessive working capital could be controlled if they could take advantage of their knowledge of how lot sizes related to overall costs. As the familiar figure below shows, there are at least two dueling factors to consider when determining an optimal lot size:
1) A fixed component that increases linearly with the lot size. This is due to warehouse and logistic costs as well as holding costs. If only this component were considered, we would always try and have the smallest lot size possible to minimize overall costs.
2) An component that decreases exponentially with lot size. This component is due to yield loss, quality loss and unit reliability costs. If only this component were considered, we would always try and have the largest lot in order to minimize our overall costs.
In the simplified example above, the trick is to find the optimal point that balances both of these components and finds the lot size that minimizes our overall costs.
The challenge is that while these tradeoffs are easily understood, they are exceedingly difficult to actually sit down and calculate for a system of materials running through shared workcenters. In other words, like many manufacturing challenges, once a manufacturing process becomes 'high mix', simple techniques and approaches become significantly more challenging to implement. To be specific, the cost functions that describe the curves shown in the Figure above lack any reference to capacity, flow congestion, starvation, customer service level, or any of the needed factors required to make a fully informed planning decision. Clearly, a more sophisticated approach was needed to find the 'sweet spot' for Bayer's lot sizes.
The Solution
Step 1: Model the flow using Invistics' Lot Sizer
The team turned to Invistics to assist with the calculation of these optimal lot sizes. Invistics' 'Lot Sizer' uses a unique and patented approach to find this sweet spot between inventory, service, and changeover costs while taking the effect of increasing utilization into account.
Gather Required Data
The first step in the process is to identify the needed set of inputs for Lot Sizer. The diagram below provides a summary:
Using these inputs, Lot Sizer was able to model the flow of materials (including into and out of various storage tanks) through Bayer's facility.
Step 2: Perform Analysis in Lot Sizer
One the data model was built, Bayer was able to analyze the results in Lot Sizer.
Figure 1: Capacity Analysis from Lot Sizer
The first recommendation highlighted by Lot Sizer was for optimal lot sizes for the Packaging Lines. As is often the case, the current lot sizes in SAP were created years ago using a 'rule of thumb' – the specifics of which were now unknown to the team. As the table below shows, Lot Sizer's optimal values found that some SKUs currently had lot sizes that were smaller than ideal, while others had lot sizes that were too large. The result was an inefficient use of drum line capacity, which resulted in excessively high overall costs.
Figure 2: Partial list of output from Lot Sizer
In fact, even though the average lot size was recommended to decrease, as the figure below shows, there were so many examples of SKUS that had smaller than optimal lot sizes, that the small increase in inventory holding costs from these increased lot sizes was dramatically offset by the cost savings from the expected reduction in setup costs.
The figure below is a partial, but indicative representation of the recommendations from this project. As we expanded to the full product line, similar opportunities were seen for large inventory and overall cost reductions.
Step 3: Confirm Key Inputs as Needed Using Sensitivity Analysis
While most of the needed inputs were straightforward, at Bayer, some required a bit of additional analysis. In particular, the minimum allowable batch size (aka 'lot size') was an input that was up for debate. By running Lot Sizer multiple times, allowing varying 'Minimum Batch Sizes', the team was able to analyze the sensitivity of the results to the changing input (See Figure below). Doing so helped them realize that the range of their discussion (min batch size somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 kg, with a best guess of 8,800) wasn't particularly sensitive to the input, so it was determined that their best guess would work satisfactorily.
Step 4: Implement Recommendations
- At this point, the team decided to move ahead with the recommendations provided by Invistics' Lot Sizer. Somewhere between 80-90% of the recommended lot sizes were implemented (The other 10% required some small tweaks by the team before putting into place). To implement the lot sizes, the Bayer team simply took the lot size values and entered them into SAP, which then used these improved values in its usual MRP and APO runs.
- For the additional tank capacity recommended during the what-if analysis, the team again decided to move ahead and implement the changes. In this case, this meant dedicating multiple tanks from the tank farm to certain products, rather than having all tanks free to cycle between all products. Here, the change didn't end up costing anything as the team was able to accomplish the change via a simple management policy rather than through any piping or valving changes.
Within the next year, running with these improved lot sizes, the Baytown facility inventory levels decrease by $4.5 million without any sacrifice to customer service. These improvements were all realized by simply changing the lot size values in SAP to the values calculated by Lot Sizer.
In addition, overall costs were decreased by $500k annually. This improvement was due to a combination of the improved lot sizes and reconfiguring of the tank farm as recommended during the project.
At the time of this writing, Bayer is exploring the expansion of these techniques across their global supply chain.
Inventory Optimization in High-Mix Environments
06/12/2013 : 0 Comments
Over the past two years, having spoken to countless Inventory Managers and Supply Chain professionals, the same pain is being voiced again and again. It's particularly acute in high-mix environments where there's often a long tail of product variety & high-SKU count, and the additional challenges of having shared equipment in your production environment with a long, extended Supply Chain.
The pain is this: there's too much inventory of the "wrong" stuff, and not enough of the "right" stuff. The fallout is working capital is being tied down in stock that's often sitting wastefully on a warehouse floor, taking up space, and leading to higher percentages of obsolescence, damage, or even theft. On the other end of the spectrum, often simultaneously, we see that other SKUs aren't being stocked enough. This is much bigger issue as it can directly affect your customer service level and lead to firefighting & expediting or, worst case, a lost sale.
So how do you ensure your customer service performance in a high-mix environment without loading your stocks to the sky with excess inventory?
Over the years we've seen a variety of Inventory Management techniques. On the low end, we see what we call "acoustical" inventory management where whoever is shouting the loudest gets the orders pushed through. Don't need to be an expert to realize this often a stressful way to manage a business and leaves a lot to be desired in terms of root analysis of where the real issue lies.
The most common form of Inventory Management is "Rule of Thumb." Where a company will hire an experienced supply chain professional to analyze previous sales history, often comparing new SKUs with similar old SKUs in order to make a good educated guess how much they'll need to stock for their goods. Often with enough effort, trial and error, and Excel magic, an Materials Manager might get pretty close to optimal levels when stocking a good. However, as the SKU count grows, as new products are introduced, as seasonality rears it's ugly head, it becomes harder and harder to maintain such an approach. And what happens when that experience professional retires or leaves for greener pastures?
The real problem however is these approaches often neglect a key input that's necessary for accurate Inventory Management: Variability. A SKU with an average forecast or demand history of 50 units a week with a standard deviation of 5, can and should not be managed the same way as a SKU with an average demand history of 50 units a week with a standard deviation of 100. The coefficient of variation must be considered. The same is true for the supply side, where replenishment or production lead-time is often a fluctuating rather than a static number. This is the reason manufacturers are seen often purchasing from more expensive but closer-to-home vendors, rather than cheaper vendors in southeast Asia, where the variability of lead times if often much much greater threat than the cost of potential savings.
With this variability, and with the challenges of a massive SKU count in the thousands, the answer to good inventory optimization often lies outside Excel spreadsheets and with more complex, more robust forms of Inventory Analysis. And despite the LEAN principle of Keeping it Simple, often times software is simply necessary to crunch a large data sets of numbers, to account for variability in both Supply & Demand, and to return the optimal Inventory levels that will let you operate with high customer service levels and at the same time, just enough Inventory to meet those levels. No more, no less.
For more information, visit our Inventory Optimization page, and see if our company Invistics might be able to share our experience, and our software tools to lessen the burden of searching for and hitting that sweet spot in right-sizing your stock.


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Updated at 830 p.m.
Multiple fire departments responded about 9:15 a.m. Saturday to a fire in Hidden Trails apartment complex behind Big Lots, off Stewart Rd. and US-24. The Monroe County Chapter, American Red Cross, also is on scene.
Nearly 50 units were evacuated in the aftermath of the fire.
Witnesses reported that flames could be seen from the parking lot near KeyBank, McDonald's and Big Lots; and that smoke could be seen from the Mall of Monroe on Monroe St. and even as far as Dunbar Rd.
There was a kitchen fire in building 1515 of Hidden Trails Apartments a few days ago, on Monday, but damage from that fire was limited to one unit and one person had minor injuries.
See additional details at Several people rescued from apartment fire.
A network of community volunteer and agency efforts has begun to assist the 49 families affected by Saturday morning's fire at the Hidden Trails Apartments off Stewart Rd.
Those efforts ranged from pizza delivered by area restaurants to the residents and firefighters Saturday afternoon, to the apartment management sponsoring hotel stays on an emergency basis for its residents.
For the Monroe County Chapter, American Red Cross, which got involved almost immediately, Saturday's blaze is resulting in one of the biggest caseloads it has seen in years for any local disaster.
Laura Schultz Pipis, chief executive officer of the Monroe County Chapter, Red Cross, said her first volunteers arrived with the disaster team's truck about 10:30 a.m. By the evening, nine Monroe County volunteers and six others from the Southeast Michigan Red Cross region were on the assignment.
Red Cross services typically include helping fire victims with immediate needs such as a place to stay while other assistance gets worked out. The disaster team also helped coordinate canteen service on site to the firefighters and residents, as is part of its usual services. Ms. Pipis said area pizza restaurants were among those providing food at the apartment complex.
The evacuated families were first asked to meet with Red Cross disaster volunteers at nearby CrossPointe Church, 1675 Stewart Rd.
The Red Cross then called upon one of its community partners, Lakeside Baptist Missionary Church, 8270 N. Dixie Hwy., Newport, to provide a shelter space for any evacuated apartment residents who didn't have a place to stay. While the Red Cross has provided hotel nights for victims in smaller house fire situations, "we just could not afford to shelter this many in a hotel," Ms. Pipis said.
In response to that dilemma, the Hidden Trails management offered Saturday evening to cover the expense of housing the residents for a couple of nights in area hotels.
While the Red Cross had a high number of individual cases just a few months ago, a disaster scene involving this many families that hasn't happened since the June 2010 tornadoes in Monroe County.
In addition to the overnight stay, the evacuated families will be able to apply for a temporary debit card that will allow them to get food or clothing. For example, the clothing allowance, Ms. Pipis said, is meant to allow for two days' change of clothes to give the victims time for other help to arrive or arrangements to be made.
In cases such as this, Red Cross assistance is often combined with other community services. For example, Ms. Pipis said the apartment families were invited to get dinner Saturday at the God Works! Family Soup Kitchen event at Salvation Army. Hope's Closet has already offered its assistance, and she said there are likely to be other agencies involved as word gets out.
Ms. Pipis also learned late Saturday another local agency has offered to help coordinate offers of donations of clothing and shoes for the families, she said. Details on that effort will be available early next week.
Those who would like to make a financial donation to the Red Cross local disaster fund are asked to call (734) 289-1481.
Any business, organization or church that is assisting the families and wishes to report that information to The Monroe News can do so via our news tips link.


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QuarkXPress 9 to bring iPad, digital publishing focus
updated 01:05 pm EST, Wed February 23, 2011
Joined by assortment of new and improved tools
Developer Quark has formally announced QuarkXPress 9, a long-awaited upgrade of its flagship publishing suite. The software has traditionally been used to create layouts for print and web content, but in version 9 Quark is concentrating on smartphones and tablets, particularly the iPad. For the latter QuarkXPress now includes the App Studio, a component used to produce native iPad apps. Users can repackage existing content or create apps from whole cloth.
Also new is an ePub export tool, supporting a broader range of platforms including but not limited to iBooks, Kindle and Nook. Backing this is an added Reflow View, which manages layouts so they appear properly in any format which reflows. A platform uniquely supported by v9 is the Blio eReader, which runs in Windows, Android or iOS.
More general-purpose additions to the suite include an element cloner, a new bullets and numbering system, and "conditional" styles, which arrange content automatically based on a set of rules. Callouts move boxes and groups alongside text, and an ImageGrid option lets people quickly import and build grids of graphics. Similarly, the Linkster is meant to unlink or relink text boxes or stories. The Story Editor offers a word processor view of project text.
QuarkXPress 9 is scheduled to ship in April. The full suite will cost $799, although upgrades from v7 or 8 will be $299, and anyone who has bought v8 between January 1st and April 30th will be eligible for a free copy of v9. App Studio will not be included with the initial release, but rather pushed as a free update within 90 days after launch. Until then developers will need help from Quark's iPad Publishing Service to get a properly formatted app.


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TAMHSC's McKay Receives Distinguished Achievement Award in Librarianship
Marketing and Communications | October 08, 2012
Posted on September 5, 2012 by Sheila De Guzman
As library services coordinator for the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) Bryan and Temple campuses, Becky McKay easily navigates through the wealth of information housed in the Texas A&M University Medical Sciences Library (MSL). From journals to databases, she teaches students and faculty searching techniques, taking great pride and pleasure in helping with research.
For her efforts, the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students awarded McKay, M.A., MLIS, AHIP, with the Distinguished Achievement Award in Librarianship. The awards ceremony is in October.
Each fall, the association honors outstanding faculty members for their talent, expertise and devotion to conveying knowledge to students. One award is presented to reward, encourage and recognize a librarian who has made superior contributions to Texas A&M through outstanding accomplishment, dedication and service on behalf of all students.
"I am touched and honored to receive such a prestigious award," said McKay, a medical librarian for 20 years, the last nine at the MSL. "Helping people, as health care providers and students know, is extremely rewarding. To receive an award for a job that is such a pleasure to do is icing on the cake!"
The MSL manages library spaces in Bryan, Temple, Round Rock and Kingsville. McKay has interviewed and hired staff, helped coordinate the transition from learning resources, and planned and managed daily library operations. She continually promotes the library to students and faculty to make them aware of the great resources available through the MSL.
With an affiliate faculty appointment in the TAMHSC-College of Nursing, McKay annually assists a evidence-based nursing class with its small group research projects. She also helped an Aggie veterinarian who came to the library to find information on the type of cancer his brother had been diagnosed with.
"Becky is well-known for her work with students and is often mentioned by name in LibQUAL+ comments," said David H. Carlson, dean of Texas A&M University Libraries.
LibQUAL+ is a survey instrument used internationally to solicit library patrons' opinions of service quality. It is rare for any particular individual to be named in LibQUAL+.
McKay has a bachelor's in French from Centre College and master's degrees from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University.
Contact Information: Sheila De Guzman at firstname.lastname@example.com
The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides health education, outreach and research through its colleges and campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen.


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Ashley Cleveland Concert
Ashley Cleveland Concert
Date: Mon. Nov 11, 2013 7:00 pm
Location: Bloomington Area
Event Street Address: Jesus House, 724 W. Washington St. Bloomington, IL. 61701
Event Info Phone: 309.242.9097
Event Info Email: email@example.com
Event Website: http://www.thejesushouse.com
Ashley Cleveland will join us to celebrate 13 years of God's faithfulness to the Jesus House... Three Grammy Award's, Two Dove Award's and a dear Friend of the Jesus House Ministry...It's Fun! It's Free! It's all about Jesus!!! This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes! Psalm 118:23 For more information call or email


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I thought after Halloween we could use a little cheering up, so your one-day challenge this week is:
Make an awesome clown in HeroMachine 3!
Happy clown, funny clown, scary clown, evil clown, you name it, just make it great. You can do just a face, just a head, just the clown, or a whole scene, whatever you like.
You only get one entry — that's right, just one! So make it your best. Most of the other rules are the same as for a regular challenge, but instead of a whole week I'll announce my favorites some time tomorrow. Here's how to make an entry:
I'll pick one entry as my personal favorite, which will get to be featured in the side bar to the right for ultimate glory! As a bonus you're allowed to say you won the Internet for a few days.
Good luck!


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- KNIA / KRLS - http://kniakrls.com -
Knoxville 3rd In Pella Girls Golf Triangular
Posted By Sports On April 16, 2013 @ 5:57 am In Today's Local Sports | Comments Disabled
The Knoxville Girls Golf Squad placed third at the Pella Triangular yesterday at Bos Landen. Knoxville carded a 299, which was the first sub-300 round for the team this season. Pella won the event with a 233 and Pleasantville was runner up with a 240. Evy Wells led Knoxville with a 62 which was eight overall her best finish of the season. Coach Jason Carter was pleased with how all of his girls played knowing how difficult Bos Landen is. Currently he is telling his players to play the course instead of their opponents. He adds the girls cannot let one bad shot ruin their entire round. Knoxville is back on the links weather pending today in a triangular with Norwalk and Grinnell.
1. Pleasantville 233
2. Pella 240
Knoxville Individual Scores:
Evy Wells 62
Sierra Findley 64
Taylor Weldon 84
Rachel Morgan 89
Morgan Malloy 90
Article printed from KNIA / KRLS: http://kniakrls.com
URL to article: http://kniakrls.com/2013/04/knoxville-3rd-in-pella-girls-golf-triangular/
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2009 KNIA/KRLS. All rights reserved.


text: Strange Brew (2) tv-14 l Play video Select your TV provider to log in to have full access to videos Select your TV provider See all providers Don't see your TV provider? Learn more You can access this video on the free HISTORY® app. *You must verify your TV provider towatch this video on the App Your Parental Control settings do not allow you to view this content. Strange Brew (2 min) tv-14 l Mark loses his cool when he catches his youngest son Matt cooking up moonshine in the family kitchen.


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Person receiving a vaccine
- Filed Under
Back-to-school shopping is all about planning ahead - buying jeans in July and winter coats in August. Parents should also prepare their kids for school by ensuring that their immunizations are up to date.
Beginning this school year, the Iowa requires all students entering seventh grade (or those born after Sept. 15, 2000) to provide proof of an adolescent Tdap booster vaccine. This protects students from tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).
The Iowa Department of Public Health implemented the requirement after 1,700 cases of whooping cough were reported in 2012 - a 400 ...