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Getting IN: Fashion PR Internships with Prada & PR Consulting

January 24, 2012 1 Comment written by Kalinda

There is no “off” switch for PR. Everyone in the industry is basically always working and you always have to be accessible and ready to handle anything at any given moment. -Ashley Santucci

Ashley Santucci left a school she loved in order to intern in the city she has loved since a child, New York City. To date she has had several internships that span across a broad range of different facets of the industry including journalism, styling, blogging, and PR. Although Ashley has tried many different options of the types of careers one can pursue in the fashion industry, it is in the constantly evolving and somewhat hectic life of fashion PR where her true passions lie.

What is your background?

I’ve lived in Long Island, New York my whole life. My family and I were always traveling into New York City because we lived so close, and I knew that I wanted to work and live there one day. After high school, I went to Binghamton University in upstate New York. Although I loved the school itself, I realized I really wanted to be close to the city again. So, I transferred back home to school on Long Island in order to commute into NYC for internships year round. I am  a Communications major and a Business Administration minor. To date I have interned at First Enterprise Securities, Cosmopolitan Magazine, emcBlue.com as a fashion blogger, Prada, and PR Consulting. I also am a contributing writer for USA Today College and occasionally do some assisting styling with Andrew Mukamal. Basically I love and breathe every aspect of fashion whether it’s PR, writing, or styling.

Why Fashion PR?

I have always loved fashion, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do with it. I’ve also always enjoyed aspects of the communications industry, like writing, event planning, and public speaking. Once I started interning in New York City, everything just clicked for me, and my amazing PR internship at Prada confirmed that fashion PR is what I wanted to do. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the aspects of PR such as writing press releases, pitching, event planning, ect., and I love being right in the middle of all the action in the fashion industry, I could never have a job where I do the same thing everyday so fashion PR is perfect because it is fast paced and is always bringing something exciting and different.

How did you land your position?

I just completed an internship at the fashion PR agency, PR Consulting. When I was deciding where I wanted to be for the fall, I made  list of all the agencies I wanted to intern at. I did tons of research on their websites to learn about the companies, their clients, and who I felt would be a good fit for me. Then I wrote personalized cover letters, e-mail my resume out, and interviewed! I really believe that if you put in the time and effort, landing a great internship isn’t hard!

What is an example of a typical day in the office?

There really is no “typical” day in fashion PR which I love! Although, every day ALWAYS consists of dealing with tons of e-mails! A calm day at PR Consulting consists of a lot of sample trafficking to major magazines, handling credit requests, and finding and circulating press to our clients. Other days can be crazy busy and filled with activities like creating press kits, planning huge events like shows for Fashion Week, coordinating 300+ person giftings, and anything else that pops up during the day.

What are your responsibilities?

My main responsibility as an intern was to manage the sample trafficking. Some of my other responsibilities included picking up/dropping off samples, creating and updating spreadsheets, helping with monthly and seasonal reports for clients, finding and scanning press clippings, coordinating giftings to editors and celebrities, and helping with any additional tasks that came up throughout the day.

What is a recent success story that you have been a part of?

One major event that I was just a part of was the Versace x HM fashion show and event that took place in November. Versace is one of PR Consulting’s clients and this was a HUGE (500+) person event for them. Beforehand, I helped with creating press kits, seating charts, show books, delivering invitations, ect. The week before the show was crazy at the office, and the hours were crazy as well! Everyone’s main focus was on preparations and making sure that everything was going to run smoothly. I loved working the actual event and seeing the progress from the initial stages of planning to the finished product. At the event, I helped set up, placing seating cards, and greeting and seating high profile guests. I even got to see Donatella herself! The fashion show and event, as everyone knows, was a massive success and I am really proud to have been a part of it!

What challenges are attached to your job?

One of my favorite parts of the job, the fast pace, is also one of the biggest challenges. There is no “off” switch for PR. Everyone in the industry is basically always working and you always have to be accessible and ready to handle anything at any given moment. It’s definitely been a challenge to handle this while being a student with 18-credit semesters, a part-time job, as well as writing and styling on the side (and staying sane!). I also don’t love my 1+ commute into the city on the LIRR. But, I love this industry which really makes everything worth it!

What aspects of the job requirements were a surprise to you?

I wouldn’t say anything was necessarily a surprise. Because I’ve had previous internships, I basically knew what to expect at PR Consulting. There are definitely differences though between in-house fashion PR and and agency PR. Although they are both great, the people, environment, and pace are very different, so that took a little adjustment. I would say, though, that I was surprised how easy it is to get close to the people you work with in such a short time. Throughout my internships, I’ve gotten really close to some of my managers, and I know I have made lifelong friends with some fellow interns!

In a few words, how would you summarize PR Consulting?

Innovative, hardworking, fast-paced.

 

Photo Credit Luxo Website.

Filed Under: Featured, Jobs & Internships, PR Couture Tagged With: , , ,
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Getting IN: People’s Revolution & Fendi to Starting His Own Fashion PR Firm

November 30, 2011 3 Comments written by Kalinda

Since I didn’t have showroom in Manhattan, I expected that I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a fashion PR. However, I have learned that if your clients make great clothes, you can let the products speak for themselves. -Zach Weiss

Zach Weiss has been carving his own path and relying on his tenacity and talent to excel in an industry he loves since the beginning. He has landed internships at top fashion PR firms such as People’s Revolution  and Lizzie Grubman PR as well as in-house with the high fashion brand Fendi. Weiss has used his experience, social connections, and social media to establish a firm of his own, Z. Weiss Public Relations. Currently, Zach balances school at Syracuse University while building his own public relations firm.

What is your background?

I got my first internship before my senior year of high school in 2009 at celebrity PR firm, Lizzie Grubman PR in Manhattan. I didn’t have any friends or family involved the PR field, so I really had to prove myself in the interview. I ended up being the youngest intern they have ever had in the office! I lived in Connecticut at the time (about 2 hours from Manhattan), and commuted to the city 3 days a week. I spent about 4 hours on the train each day, but it was totally worth it! At the same time, I began pursuing my own PR clients. I started with Tucker Blair, which makes fun, preppy needlepoint belts. I landed Tucker Blair as a client through a Tweet asking them if they needed any help with PR! Taylor Llewellyn, the company’s creator, had me start out on a trial basis, but it turned out to be a profitable venture for both Taylor and I. From there, I balanced my senior year of high school and Tucker Blair’s PR, and landed a summer internship at People’s Revolution before my freshman year of college.

After this, I took off to Syracuse University to study communications, and continued to balance the PR for Tucker Blair. I noticed I had a lot of free time in my schedule at college, so I decided to expand my client roster. That year, I found my second client, Jack Robie menswear, thanks to my boss at Tucker Blair. My most recent internship was last summer at Fendi, and it was an amazing experience. I definitely encourage every fellow fashion PR to try out a corporate PR internship. This is what gave me the tools to start my own PR agency last month, Z.Weiss Public Relations. As of last week, my group of clients has grown to 5 great brands: Tucker Blair, Jack Robie, Read’s Clothing Project, Sleevecandy, and Harding Lane. The agency’s website is basic at the moment, but a new one is in the works!

Why fashion PR?

Kelly Cutrone always says she loves fashion PR because “the clothes don’t talk back.” I certainly agree with that, since dealing with the PR for another person can become a battle that gets in the way of the publicity. The clothes are also something that shouldn’t be taken too seriously, which adds a lot of fun to the job.

How did you land your position?

A simple resume submission and standard interviewing process. It’s easier than you think, you just have to follow up!

What is an example of a typical day in the office?

A typical day “at the office” for me is fielding e-mail requests for all of my clients before I head off to class in the morning. I make sure I stay on top of this between my classes on my Blackberry. I also devote one day during the weekend to pre-draft the pitches for my clients to send out to specific publications about features, shoots, etc.

What are your responsibilities?

The 3 very basic facets of Z.Weiss Public Relations are public relations (duh!), strategic partnerships (bringing my clients together with other brands), and brand development (making sure every client’s brand has a clear identity to appeal to buyers). These are very basic, and can extend as far as getting a table for a client at a restaurant!

What is a recent success story that you have been a part of?

My most recent success story, other than finally launching my own PR agency, was partnering my first client, Tucker Blair, with the well-known boutique, Opening Ceremony. I oversaw the partnership from beginning to end, and the press response to it was great. We followed this partnership up with a press day packed with meetings at different magazines and department stores around Manhattan.

What challenges are attached to your job?

I am sure that most fashion PR enthusiasts can sympathize with the fashion months getting in the way. Since I do the PR for several fashion start-ups, they aren’t getting involved in the fashion week circuses just yet. This tends to hinder my communication with editors and buyers, so during this time we usually focus on partnerships and web presence.

What aspects of the job requirements were a surprise to you?

The biggest surprise has been the awesome response my clients have received. Since I didn’t have showroom in Manhattan, I expected that I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a fashion PR. However, I have learned that if your clients make great clothes, you can let the products speak for themselves.

In a few words, how would you summarize your PR agency?

Young. Forward-thinking. Original.

*Featured image taken from Tucker Blair 2008 look book.

Filed Under: Interviews, Jobs & Internships, PR Couture Tagged With: , ,
betsey

Getting IN: FIT Student Lands Betsey Johnson Fashion PR Internship

November 16, 2011 7 Comments written by Kalinda

The Betsey Johnson PR department has their hands in every project and works to support every single department – Brianna Saperstein


Brianna Saperstein left her previous university in upstate New York to answer her calling back in New York City. Since returning to the city she has landed several internships, including Michael Kors. Currently, Brianna is  an in-house fashion PR Intern for Betsey Johnson. Brianna is a perfect example of what it means to multitask – working hard to achieve her professional dreams by balancing a demanding PR internship while being a full-time student.

What is your background?

I grew up 20 miles north of New York City in Westchester county where I still live today. Living so close to Manhattan, fashion has always been a part of my life. I still remember the first time my grandmother took me to Saks Fifth Avenue and how mesmerized and inspired I felt at the tender age of eight. After I graduated from high school, I went to school in upstate New York, but after three semesters I was longing to be back near the city. Since January I have attended the Fashion Institute of Technology studying advertising and marketing communications. To date, I have interned at Marina Maher Communications, CocoKouture.com as Style + Trends editor, Michael Kors, and currently in public relations at Betsey Johnson.

Why Fashion PR?

I have been surrounded by the communications industry my entire life. My father and several other relatives work in the industry, so I have been interested in pursuing public relations since high school. I have always loved fashion so marrying the two was a logical choice for me. Fashion PR is my ideal career because it allows me to work with brands and products that I am truly passionate about.

How did you land your position?

I landed my current internship position through the internship center at FIT. They are extremely helpful with connecting students to great companies to get internships for college credit. Utilizing the connections your school has is extremely important!

What is an example of a typical day in the office?

There truly is no such thing as a typical day at Betsey Johnson, and that is what I really enjoy about working there. Some days can be calm and we can focus on sending out samples and keeping track of press. Other days we can be frantically preparing for meetings with editors, organizing events such as Fashion’s Night Out and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, or dropping everything to help out with a project Betsey is working on.

What are your responsibilities?

My day usually begins around 9 am and I am often the first person in my department to arrive. I take advantage of this rare quiet time to research, gather, and file press. My other main responsibility is assisting my supervisor with all sample requests for magazines, celebrities, and special events. It is also my responsibility to keep track of where our samples are at all times, especially our runway pieces, many of which are one of a kind.

What is a recent success story that you have been a part of?

One major placement I was a part of was securing Selena Gomez to wear one of our Spring 2012 runway pieces to host the European Music Awards. With magazines, issues are worked on months in advance so I haven’t been able to see any magazine placements that I personally have worked on. With Selena, I  hand-packed the box with the dress and sent it to her stylist. Seeing the dress on her [at the awards] was so exciting, I actually screamed when I saw it on TV!

What challenges are attached to your job?

We are a very small company and department with a lot of responsibility. The PR department ends up with responsibility in almost every project the company does. My bosses are all extremely hardworking able to adapt to everything that gets thrown at them, but it definitely gets overwhelming at times.

What I find particularly challenging on a personal level is balancing a full, 19 credit course load while only being on campus two days a week with interning 3 (sometimes very) full days a week. It definitely was an adjustment but it is an amazing experience and I learned so much about time management and prioritizing because of it.

What aspects of the job requirements were a surprise to you?

I don’t think any daily tasks were really a surprise, but I think I may have underestimated the amount of energy interning while being a full time student would require. There were of course some funny, one-time only tasks that will make for good memories. On my first day, about two weeks before our show at fashion week, my department was trying to brainstorm something the models could hold during the finale of our T&A themed show. If you didn’t see the show, “T” and “A” stand for prominent body parts on a woman. While this was being discussed, I was given the task of researching “tasteful blow up dolls.” Needless to say, we scrapped the idea, but it was a phrase I never imagined myself typing into Google!

In a few words, how would you summarize the PR department at Betsey Johnson?

I would describe our department as the glue that holds the brand together. That is not to say that we do not have brilliant designers and very hardworking employees, but the PR department really has their hands in every project and works to support every single department. Betsey Johnson the company can really best be described as a family. Everyone knows and cares about each other, and actually enjoys spending time together. It has been an incredible place to get a very in depth view of how fashion PR works.

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Filed Under: Featured, Jobs & Internships, PR Couture Tagged With: , , ,
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