FBC: Our Biggest Year Yet

FBC: Our Biggest Year Yet

For the past two years, a large majority of fashion-related brands and businesses have taken more than just a hit in terms of growth. However as theFashion Business Clubapproaches its fourth birthday in January of 2010, it’s not difficult to understand whyFBCis the biggest and most successful it has ever been, increasing in membership by 47% in 2009 alone.

In fact,FBClargely attributes the increase in membership to the current state of the economy. “When budget cuts no longer allow mass amounts of money to be spent on networking events and entertaining, fashion industry professionals have to find alternative means to make contacts to ultimately increase business. The sales, the buying, the selling, the shows, and the networking all still have to continue for a fashion business to be successful. I think word of mouth revealed the networking success that FBC members were having within the club, and others joined for the same benefits.” Myka Volney, FBC Director of Press

It hasn’t been the easiest path however, as it has taken 4 years, a team of 10, endless dedication, and a fantastic purpose behind the club, to get FBC where it is today.  And now… a chat with FBC co-founders Alison Whelan and Courtney Blackman, the heart and mind of FBC:

Q: So how did you two meet?

Courtney: We met through a forwarded Stella McCartney sample sale e-mail.  I invited Alison onto ASMALLWORLD (www.asmallworld.net) and a forum post about a petroleum business club sparked Alison’s brainwaves into creating a fashion business club, so we did it. Alison has always held the vision, and I’ve acted as MD.

Alison: Courtney introduced me to ASW in December 05 - Courtney is No. 1 networking queen.

Q: Most new members only know FBC today… where was your first meeting 4 years ago, and who was the first guest?

Our very first meeting was organised via ASW and took place at London’s Ice Bar on January 26, 2006. Seventy-five people turned up and we had two speakers: Brett Gregory Peakes, managing director of Frank & Earnest, which at the time, was a London-based lifestyle PR firm; and Sheena Morjaria, Director of Flick the Switch Ltd., a production company.  Sheena went on to become our first treasurer/FBC Finance Director.
    
Q: What has been the biggest hurdle thus far? 

Securing a venue for each of our six annual meetings with an ever-expanding membership base! The sheer size of the events and the coordination is a full time job and both of us run our own business besides FBC - we rely heavily on our FBC committee, God bless them all.

Q: How much has membership increased since FBC’s first year? 

A: Year 1: 40%,  Year 2: 44%,  Year 3: 47%  
    
Q: What has been the biggest change in FBC since its beginning?
 
The calibre of speakers. When we started pulling people in like Harold Tillman and Alexandra Shulman, FBC was elevated to a whole new level.
    
Q: What are you looking forward to most in 2010?  

Courtney: More amazing speakers! From our next guest speaker Tamara Salman of Liberty of London on January 28, 2010 at theSwarovski Crystallized™Lounge, to Marigay McKee from Harrods later in 2010. Also celebrating our fourth birthday in January of 2010, and we have big plans for the film arm of our business: FBCtv.
 

Alison: More great speakers for our members, more FBCtv and more of Courtney in front of the camera - she’s hysterical and super glam.

For FBC membeship information, please contact: membership@fashionbusinessclub.net