SHOP Symposium/09 … it’s required!

You have to be at SHOP 09 this Monday, April 6, 2009.

Portland is the eye of the storm when it comes to all entrepreneurial success, green to go and small business triumphs – even in this economic climate, whatever that is.

Which means that you will hear more than 30 of those successful entrepreneurs share their expertise, inspire the masses and give back what they’re gotten from all their hard work.

SHOP Symposium 09 is a unique opportunity to hear people like Kent Lewis, founder of Anvil Media, Inc. one of the best SEO marketing agencies on the planet. Surely you’ve heard about Mindee Doney, co-founder of Little Busy Bodies, Inc. and Boogie Wipes. Her Boogie Wipes, amazing gentle saline wipes for tiny noses, are being sold in 30,000 retail stories across the country after only two years from the starting gate. Other speakers are no less well known – Marlynn Schotland founder of Mamapraneurs, Inc., Kathi O’Neil, publisher of Portland Picks and Alice Dobson who took Portland and New York by storm with her Sofada line. She has been featured in Lucky Magazine, Oregon Business, Fashion Ledge Magazine and in boutiques across the country, as well as here in Portland.

It’s amazing when you realize just how many savvy business owners and entrepreneurs are here in Portland … walking among us!

Here’s a list of other speakers who will share their expertise and savvy business experience:
Drew Force, Blackfish Creative founder; Jennifer Wong who owns the company called Muse, Lisa Johnson, Author and CEO of Reach Group; Mark Hayes, Founder and CEO of Flowerbud.com and Sarena Regazzoni, Director of Marketing for Oregon Entrepreneur Network (OEN) to name just a few.

You can find all the speakers bios online as well as news about the day, sponsors, itinerary and more details than you’ve ever wished for.

AND  there will be exhibitors of course, the likes of Missionary Chocolates for all of you chocoholics, the Portland Business Journal, Portland Business Alliance, Kaiser Permanente and Emma!

SHOP Symposium 09 will be held at PCPA Brunish Hall in downtown Portland. Checkin and registration is at 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. 8:30-9:00am

8:30-9 a.m. Keynote by Lisa Johnson/Founder & CEO, Reach Group

Please tell me you’ll be there? Pretty please?

Portland Fashion Week … Spring Summer 2010 dates set

Portland Fashion Week announced recently that they’re accepting designer applications for Spring/Summer 2010 Collections which will launch Oct. 7-11, 2009 in Portland from the bamboo-runway in the green building of 13 Square in the Pearl District in downtown Portland. According to PFW several internationally known independent and eco labels from around the country “and the world” are launching the season’s collections.

And I quote: “After being the first sustainable production of a fashion week in the world in 2007, this year Portland Fashion Week continues it commitment to eco-responsiblity and high fashion.” They are supporting Children’s Cancer Association this year according to the web site.

Jaysun Spieth "The Photographers"

Is it Fashion Week AGAIN?

How did that creep up on us? OK me. 

Yes, in fact, it is. In New York. Which seems so very far away here in Portland. If you don’t read Cathy Horyn’s NY Times Fashion Editor’s blog … well what can I say. She’s the go to woman for NY Fashion.

But there’s a piece today with a really different photo –I didn’t say I liked it I said it was really different. The cutline says Ukrainian Fashion Week? Erik someone. Come again? Why must they make women look either terribly depressed and gaunt or a just a little bit cuckoo?  At least Horyn is a bit more down to earth. 

Portland Fashion Week is Oct. 8-12 and they’ve already had an open call for models.

One of Sofada's basic dress designs.

I’m just saying … I was so excited to see Sofada, Lucia Apparel and Sameunderneath on the list of confirmed designers. Not that I travel in that crowd much but I’ve done a few stories one on Alice Dobson of Sofada and one about Sarah Wallace who owns and designs Lucia Apparel. And I just adore Sameunderneath. Speaking of which, I couldn’t believe it when I pulled up their list of press to do this blog. Holy cow! I had no idea they had gotten so much press! http://www.sameunderneath.com/Spring2008/press.html Sweet. Women’s Wear Daily and GQ! Impressive. 

Don’t forget Friday night is Dobson’s show to benefit Cares NW. See the Sept. 2 blog. So much fashion, so little cold, hard cash. Hhhmmmm.

Shop on!