Last week

Hey guys!!

Sadly, my internship has come to an end. My last day was this past Friday. It was such an incredible experience. Everyone was so nice and welcoming towards me. I felt like a gained a family. It was a bittersweet moment for me. I made them throw a party for me lol. It was kind of amazing. It was almost like I asked for a party, but I didn't even know it was happening. They all pretended that they weren't going to do anything for me. 

Oh and they are hiring me!!! I will be working part time when school starts! Which is awesome, seeing as Bebenoir is very close to my school. It worked out perfect! So, although my internship ended, I was still content with the fact that I will start working there soon. The party was a 'see you later' affair. 

So on that note, am just happy it's over but it's really just the beginning.

This was again a great opportunity for me and I thank CSSP for the push!

Xoxo

It's almost the end...

Hey guys!!!

This past couple of weeks have been something else... Last week I wasn't able to attend my internship, because I was sick. Which is also the reason why I didn't upload a blog post. However, this past week I was much better health wise. It's also becoming a bittersweet time, since next week is my last week working at Bebenoir. This was such an amazing opportunity for me, especially that I have a passion for fashion. This internship gave me the opportunity to be a stylist, an assistant, and also a sales person. I loved every second of it all.

This week, I learned how to do inventory when it comes to new shipments of clothes, as well as how to print prices and labels. When we get new clothes, it's usually a lot of stuff and we have to make sure we know how many of each items we have, we have to put it into our system (with a picture of the item, so we know which style number goes with what item), them we lay them out in a particular order in which we ordered the items. After, we print the price and label, then we stem the clothes and then attach the price labels. Following those steps, we proceed to merchandising the floor and changing the mannequins. It sounds like a lot of work, and I mean it is. But at the same time, it's fun and I actually have a good time.

I also love that different and cool people come into my store. Yesterday, Yaya (a girl that was on America's Next Top Model) was in the store. I was so excited, I was telling my manager, that it's Yaya. She didn't know who I was talking about, but my coworker also recognized her and we were stocked!! A week prior, I also spotted another top model named Nik. I couldn't contain myself. Of course I had to, but it's fun just being surrounded by so many people in the fashion world. Designers, photographers, models, actors, everyone. It's really incredible.

I can't wait to follow up with my last week experience. Until then, have a lovely weekend guys!

Xoxo

Time flies...

Hey guys!!!

Sorry about the delay of this blog post. Last week I wasn't able to write it, but well am back now. 

First of all, this summer is flying by really quickly. In about two weeks and a half I'll be done with my internship, which is crazy because sometimes I feel like I just got started. 

So far, because my boss is out of town, my roles have shifted a bit as I am beginning to help out more and more on the sales side of things. Personally I don't mind, the office work type thing was starting to get boring to me anyways. 

Lately, I've been upfront meeting and helping customers. My favorite part of that is the relationship you end up building with people. What I've learned the most is that, for a business to thrive it needs support. Support comes from customers, and if the customer doesn't feel welcomed they will not come back. 

The other day, one of our customer invited us to their house party, we get invited to fashion shoots, and a lot of event which is super cool. It's almost like a perfect place to build relationships and meet new people. 

I am learning a lot as I go. It's not always easy. It gets annoying and stressful, especially during inventory time when new clothes come in. However, when I get through it, everything is gold. 

So far so good, so till next time.

Xoxo

Week Five

Hey guys!!

Sorry about the late post!

Last week was a good week. Bebenoir's cosmetic and nail polish line launched. It was kind of cool seeing a project that I've worked on come to life. Other than that, my boss traveled and so the store's dynamic changed, because was the one to always tell us what to do. So, it's our turn to take care of the boutique that she trusts us with. Everyone is however very determined and focused, so I think it'll be pretty alright.

The best part of working at the job is doing merchandising, which is re-arranging the store. But you have to do it in a beautiful way, where things are color coordinated and pretty to look at.  I also love the one-on-one relationship that you have with customers. They come in and tell you about themselves, and you become their friend. It's like family. Oh and yesterday, an actress came into the store. She looked very familiar, but I couldn't really pin point where I knew her. After she made her purchases, I looked up her name, and she was in the movie Sparkle, Think Like a Man, Stomp The Yard II and many more movies. I thought that was pretty cool :)

Here are pictures of some of our cosmetics line...

Till next week!!

Xoxo

Week Four at Bebenoir

Hey guys!!! :) 

As you know from reading my last blog posts, I am loving my internship! You also know that I was working on a make up an nail polish project, because the store is getting their own brand of make up an nail polish!! Well, It has arrived!! :) We have a new make up line called Bebenoir Cosmetics, with lipsticks, lipglosses, eye shadows, eye liners and all that. It's exciting because we rearranged the store a bit in order to fit in a space to display these new items. We also got a make up artist, who gets to doll us up, as well as customers who are interested. Kind of like a mini Sephora. It's really going to take off next week, so cannot wait to share some pictures with you guys :)

The store owners are Africans, and the idea behind Bebenoir, is to give African fashion a platform. So, all cosmetics are all named after African cities. :)

That's all for now. Things are running pretty smooth. I'll have a lot more to tell you guys next week, because we are hiring more people and it'll be a bit different working with someone new. Someone who will kind of share my responsibilities with me, so we'll see how that goes. 

Until then, 

Xoxo

Third Week

Hey Guys!!! :)

Wow can't believe it's week three already. Everything is going great at Bebenoir. The craziest days are when we get new clothes and accessories and we have to do inventory, steam and price the items. Bebenoir is a small boutique, so we usually order things in little quantities. For example, with most clothes we only order three sizes. A small, medium and large. So, if a customer comes and get the small, then that's it. We would have to order more before someone else that's a small can be able to buy it. We do that, so we know what sells and what doesn't. Bebenoir is it's own brand, so it's cool to also be part of the creative process of designing things for the store. This week I was able to dress the mannequins for the window decor. The window is what attracts customers, if it looks great then people will come in. If it doesn't then people will not be attracted to the store. This week I also polished a lot of jewelry. Which was kind of fun and relaxing actually. LOL 

You polish jewelry with a clear nail polish, so it was pretty doable. Right now, the store is getting their own nail polish and make up line, which is pretty awesome. I was part of the creative process, as well as helping come up with the names for the products. I believe we'll have it this week, and might even throw a little launch party/event! I cannot wait for it!! :)

So far, so good. Am loving my internship experience. Till next week!

XOXO

Week Two at Bebenoir

Hey guys!! :)

So far so good! I am loving working at Bebenoir. It's very new to me, but really fun as well. I think other than the whole fashion side of it, what really makes me feel at home there is the personal relationship the store has with the community. Everyday, a lot of people come in and out to say hi to the owners, or to ask how everything is going and if any of us need anything. It's so nice and humbling to see so many people care about the business and respect it. It's also really fun when we have local designers that come with their products and showcase it to the owners, to see if they would like to carry it in the store. 

This past Saturday we had a beach party event. So we had live models in the store wearing our bathing suit and clothes! It was a way to promote our store and attract customers! I did a lot of running around. I actually really felt like an intern, like the kinds I see in movies lol. 

First Week

Started my internship at Bebenoir Boutique this Monday, and so far it has been super cool. Bebenoir is a little clothing store located in Harlem on 116th street by the Harlem Tavern. They sell a bunch of really unique clothing items and jewelry pieces. It definitely catches your eye because, the inside is so colorful and attractive. The owners are Fatima and Ibrahima, they are a couple from Mali. They wanted to open the store to really inspire African youths that are passionate about fashion. Therefore, you'll find a lot of items from local designers in the store. The store also sells both men and women things. 

As for my time there so far, it's been great. I love fashion so it's a way for me to learn first hands-on things about fashion and how to style. My one thing is to dress manequins and with this internship I get to do that. It's been fun so far helping customers accessorize and style their outfits. Customers come in looking for an entire outfit for certain events and we help them put a look together. Or, they will come looking for accessories to go with an outfit they already have. Either way it's pretty cool. 

This week I learned how to polish jewelry, which is something I've never done before. I am also in charge of managing the store's networking sites. 

Had a great week so far, and looking forward to the upcoming ones! :)