portfolio

Bridget Gillespie Undergraduate Portfolio Fashion Studies, Fall 2011 Columbia College Chicago

Contents

I.  Fundamentals of Fashion Design

II. Merchandise Management

III. Retail Buying

IV. Decision Making

V.  Internship

VI. Entrepreneurship Club

VII. Volunteer Work

VIII.  Resume

Fundamentals of Fashion Design

Objectives

•  Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental aspects of fashion

•  Gain an understanding of fashion drawings, flat sketches and portfolio presentation techniques

•  Understand the fashion design process and the various components required to create fashion collection

Merchandise Management

Objectives

•  Created a collection of product for the purpose of selling to a specified target market

•  Developed a merchandising assortment and delivery plan •  Implemented visual merchandising techniques in a

merchandising plan •  Designed a promotion plan and timeline for product line

Product: ‘Face It’ Cosmetics

‘Face It’ is the first line to combine pharmaceutical grade ingredients, natural infusions of organic botanicals, and humor to an otherwise predictable market. Our job is to help you embrace your age with grace and a bit of sass. The science behind our products is serious but we also think sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

Retail Buying

Anthropologie buying project – Jewelry Spring

2011

•  Formulate, interpret, and manipulate a six month business plan

•  Complete purchase order

•  Evaluate classification plan

•  Calculate costs and develop budget

Stock – to – Sales plan

Classification Plan

Purchase Order - Bracelets

Decision Making

Objectives

•  Practice professional decision-making techniques with community service agency: Macy’s Fashion Incubator

•  On-site service learning project with Concetta Cipriani, Cettina Designs

Timeline and Objectives for Service Learning Project

•  Promoted Macy’s CFI fashion show in Millennium Park: Tuesday, October 18th 2011

•  Assisted in pre-show preparations

•  Volunteered to staff front of house night of event

Events

•  Designed and planned visual display at Tocco restaurant

•  Set up window display prior to event

•  Promoted event •  Built newsletter using

MailChimp to send to clients, fans and buyers

Internship

Bianca Rose Shoes opened in downtown Elmhurst in 2005. This modern boutique carries hip shoes, clothing, handbags and accessories for women. Founder Bianca Ellis hand-selects shoes from fashionable standbys like Donald J. Pliner, charles david, and Cydwoq, and mixes them up with finds from more unusual, global selection of labels.

•  Maintained day-to-day •  Assisted in styling, buying,

and managing •  Assisted in store renovation

and developed new brand (logo, promotion, marketing)

•  Maintained vendor contacts and negotiations

Merchandised windows on a weekly basis in order to promote new merchandise

Responsible for three

new window displays

•  President, Fall 2011 •  Organized meetings,

recruited members •  Brought in four guest

speakers from the arts and entertainment industry

•  Raised money through a fundraising event in order to attend the Self Employment in the Arts Conference, February 2012

•  Attended panel discussions about entrepreneurs in the arts

•  Led discussions, sent out meeting notes and kept up to date with deadlines and paperwork

Entrepreneurship Club

•  Assisted in planning for “Charnival”, a holiday event hosted by Student Programming Board

•  Hosted a gingerbread making activity

•  Promoted Entrepreneurship Club and recruited members

•  Brought members to event

•  Promoted event using social media

•  Took notes to send to club members and posted on Facebook for a resource

Charity Work and Affiliations

Created “Lotto Ticket Dress” for charity auction,

$1500

Easter Seals Foundation and Charity Fashion

Show

Bridget Gillespie 120 Fellows Ct. Elmhurst, IL 60126

630.339.6784 blushwallets@yahoo.com

Objective

To obtain a position in the fashion industry where I can apply my creativity and skills to benefit the overall growth of a company. Professional, driven and experienced team member passionate about fashion and small business entrepreneurship. Education

Current Candidate for a bachelors degree in Arts, Entertainment, Media Management Graduation Date: Columbia College Chicago ` Fall 2011 Concentration: Fashion/Retail Management, 3.4 GPA Course Highlights: Retail Buying Developed a six month stock-to-sales and inventory plan Evaluated and selected merchandise for Anthropologie jewelry spring collection Merchandise Management Created a skin care line complete with visual displays, advertisements, packaging, a delivery plan, and specific product assortment Intro to Fashion Business Developed professional skills in marketing, sales, and advertising Learned to recognize and solve problems and maximize opportunities Entrepreneurship (in progress) Evaluate how various elements of an organization fit together to create a viable business venture Create a business plan that asses competition, outlines strategies and sets specific goals Professional Experience

BiancaRose Shoes, Elmhurst, IL May 2010 – September 2010 Attended StyleMax, Chicago, IL

Assisted owner in choosing merchandise assortment and vendor negotiations Assisted with store renovation, as well as graphic design work including a new logo and website Maintained social media connections via Facebook, Twitter and email contacts Established customer relationships to keep them up to date on new merchandise

Salon Estēm, Glen Ellyn, IL 2007 - 2010 Head Receptionist Exclusive interaction with clients Graphic design work including event flyers, promotional signage and product announcements Managerial tasks such as opening and closing duties, payroll, product orders and inventory counts Old Navy Oak Brook, IL 2004 – 2007 Sales Associate Exceptional customer service Visual display work such as dressing mannequins Skills Computer skills: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Complete working knowledge of the Internet and basic website design Affiliations

President of Columbia College Entrepreneurship Club May – December 2010 Chicago Craft Mafia

January 2010 – Present

Volunteer Organizations

Easter Seals, Lombard, IL September 2011

Created a “lottery ticket” dress to be raffled for the Easter Seals Foundation