Happy Birthday FBC!

Happy 4th Birthday FBC!

An interview with Courtney Blackman and Alison Whelan,  FBC co-founders and chairmen.

What inspired you to start FBC?
CB - Alison was inspired to start FBC as the visionary and wrangled me in to make it happen. I thought it was a brilliant idea and LOVE making things happen!

AW - The inspiration behind FBC has always been about bringing people together. It essence it all began with Courtney and I coming together. Courtney invited me onto ASW and whilst on going through the site I noticed people working in the petroleum industry making plans to meet up. I thought it would be a great idea to start something similar for the fashion industry. Luckily, Courtney thought it was a good idea too (otherwise not much would have happened).

How has it grown in the past 4 years?
CB - Four years ago there were 25 of us crammed in a little room on South Molton Street. Now there are over 120 of us schmoozing around the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café, listening to the biggest names in the fashion industry being interviewed by our board members: Dolly Jones and Daisy de Villeneuve. In addition to the board, we have an amazing team of nine strong that make FBC happen, and we have our our television production company: FBCtv

AW - Membership has grown and I’m really happy about that BUT what really thrills me is seeing members renew - I know we are doing something right when people keep coming back. Professional interest has grown too - Courtney has worked had to secure the fashion establishment logo’s you see on our invites and it really started to turn around when Alexandra Shulman agreed to be interviewed.

What does FBC do for its members?
CB - FBC was designed to bring established fashion business people together so they can learn from each other, work with one another, and be inspired by the speakers. We basically wanted to bring the industry closer together.
AW - Everything we build we do for our members benefit - the meetings, the committee, the board, the blog, the venue, the speakers, the database and now FBCtv.

What changes can we expect over the next year?
AW - Well I’m depending on countless dress changes courtesy of Ms. Blackman! We are working on a revised business plan for FBC, renewing media partnerships and sponsors. Expanding FBCtv through new distribution channels and developing an online networking prototype. We’re also looking at franchising FBC and first term investment. The changes are all external developments, the heart of FBC will always remain the same - we’re bringing people together.

CB - We’re in talks to make FBCtv bigger and better and to increase the distribution, and we’re designing the prototype for FBC’s dedicated advanced social networking online portal.

The next meeting will be held Thursday, January 28 at FBC’s new venue partner for 2010: the Swaravski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store and Café on Great Marlborough Street. Come and celebrate with us and enjoy some organic and fairtrade cupcakes from Cakehole and chocolate from Godiva!

By Rebekah Roy

Photos by Dave Wise for FBC