The first famous person we ever dressed in one of our clients dresses was Carrie Underwood in 2005 – things have changed considerably since then!   American Idol is now a mega-brand and Carrie Underwood is the most successful contestant in Idol history as well as one of the world’s top entertainers with a fashion style that women all over the world covet.   When we welcomed Carrie and her stylist into our client WDNY’s NYC showroom she had just scored her Idol win and client Warren Donner custom designed her dress for the Grammy Awards.  Carrie won big that night and the rest is branding and CIV history.   Today top designers vie to dress Carrie and stylist Trish Townsend has her pick of the best of the best…yet we still maintain a wonderful relationship and have introduced her to more clients as she continues to introduce us to more of hers!  Win-Win!  Everyday we score best-dressed kudos for new clients and help launch their brands as we add to the growing list of  super-stylists on our roster.  What does it take to forge these all-important alliances besides offering a great product?  Trust, integrity and stellar communication skills.  As a New York-based public relations agency (the majority of national media works out of NY, so I can never understand why a company would choose a LA based one!) we identify fashion trends and the up and coming next style icon before they peak and this is where we begin to earn trust with our style partners.  We don’t say no and pick and choose only to work with a-listers, we don’t send the same dress to 10 different actresses hoping they will all be wearing it for those “who wore it better” segments, and we don’t give the same dress to a competitive celebrity to wear.  What we DO do is keep to our promises, honor that value of celebrity branding and never assume any dressing opportunity is guaranteed and have as much of an understanding of the style, taste and need  of each woman we are trying to dress as their stylists do.   We also make sure our clients have the resources to create a custom dress, or alter an existing one and we move heaven and earth to get that one-of-a-kind sample to and from that last minute event — even though our ‘star” may or not wear it.  We also offer exclusives and will hold a certain style sometimes months until a celebrity can preview the design at an event.  Recently we partnered our client Sherri Hill with Miranda Lambert’s stylist Tiffany Gifford to custom design over a dozen pieces for Miranda as considerations for both red carpet and performance wear at the CMA’s, spending time and money to fit and style both short cocktail dresses and gala gowns for the big event. And while Tiffany, had gathered lots of other potentials looks for the big night – Miranda wound up wearing four Sherri Hill designs for red carpet, performance, and afterparty on the big night!  She was featured on virtually ever best-dressed list and helped jump start the talents and put Sherri’s name on the fashionista radar!   Every celebrity dressing opportunity doesn’t always turn out this successful – sometimes you win big and sometimes for too many reasons to count – the dress or item just doesn’t work.  But being able to keep on delivering fresh and new options, to concentrate on long-term relationships not short term results, to go the extra mile, and to always remain calm, cool and collected – gives you the edge not just for the Golden Globes, Grammy’s, Sag’s, and Oscars but for the long haul.  Keep your fingers crossed —  as i post this we are sending several clients designs as potentials to a lady that’s “Country Strong”, one that resides in zip code “90210″, another that is both fabulous and “Shameless”, a very “Modern Family”, and a couple of “Housewives”…my team at CIV earns top rewards from me!

I can’t tell you how many times I have said and wholeheartedly offered, a “win-win” to woo a new client and negotiate a deal.  In tough economic times especially, a little compromise leads to an agreement that works for both sides. Right?  Actually NO!  Ok, I have you attention now – especially because those of you who have known me for a long time know that I am a smooth negotiator and love saying YES.   I love and am passionate about what I do and sometimes that passion and drive to create is bad for business.   Compromising too much is not a win-win – and settling for only part of what you want is not good business!  Think about all those blockbuster movies you have seen with some crazed bank robber holding dozens of innocents hostages – does the FBI negotiate?  STICK TO YOUR GUNS!  When someone proposes that you compromise – SAY NO!  As a women of integrity and confidently knowing that I am one of the best at what I do – I tell the truth each and every time I am dealing with a potential client or business associate – and most importantly – I deliver on my promises.  If you cut your fees to gain a new client, you are setting yourself up for failure by being unable to deliver first-rate services at a second-rate price. And something will have to give.  I am confident in the services I offer and if I  set myself up in a compromising relationship  - I have sold myself,  my agency and my client short.  My advice?  Respectfully decline to slash fees – explain to the client that you would rather pass on the business than fail them by not being able to provide your stellar services at a bargain price.  Be confident, end on a high note – tell them that once that “cut-rate” competitor doesn’t deliver to call you.  This is a real “win-win” – clients usually respond by meeting our real, realistic fees.  If not – I believe in and live up to my agency’s own PR and know they will be back…