Fashion GPS
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This article appears to be written like an advertisement. (July 2011) |
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| Headquarters | New York City; Satellite Offices: London, Paris, Milan |
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| Area served | Worldwide |
| Website | fashiongps.com |
| Registration | Subscription Service |
| Users | 800+ Clients |
| Launched | 2006 |
Fashion GPS is an enterprise software solution for the global fashion industry. [1] Fashion GPS a is a web-based suite of products that allows Fashion brands, designers and PR professionals to communicate on through one unified platform.[2] Headquartered in New York City with satellite offices in London, Paris and Milan, Fashion GPS's international clients includes Public Relations agencies and design houses such as KCD Worldwide, Bismarck Phillips Communications & Media, Paul Wilmot Communications, Chanel, Gucci, kate spade, Jimmy Choo, Diane Von Furstenberg and Dior.[3]
History
Creation
Fashion GPS was founded in 2006 by Eddie Mullon.[4] Having founded his own multimedia design firm, Mullon was approached by the management team at KCD Public Relations to develop a technological solution for controlling inventory management.[5] This system, now Fashion GPS, caught the attention of designer Marc Jacobs, who requested it be customized to meet his specific needs. The system then quickly gained popularity in the fashion industry, becoming the industry standard within a couple of years.
GPS Samples is part of the system that manages and tracks sample send-outs, press hits and credits, forecasting trends and creating virtual Look Books. Samples handles the entire process from the initial sample request to the final press hit to help minimize sample loss [6]
Fashion GPS has a service called Events. This software enables companies to create a virtual mailing list that is used to send and track invitations, RSVPs, media requests and attendance at fashion events, thus simultaneously enabling the virtual management of seating charts and rapid check-in at events.
Reaction
Fashion Week 2010 in New York City helped increase the public's knowledge of Fashion GPS. When New York Fashion Week made the move from Bryant Park to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in September 2010, Fashion GPS for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week became an integral part of the new location.[5]
"For the fashion industry, it's like going from the Stone Age to 2090," IMG Fashion Worldwide Senior Vice President, Managing Director Peter Levy. [7]
A barcode system allows invitees to scan in at the show, avoiding long lines that were once a staple of Fashion Week.[8] The barcodes are e-mailed to invitees in a digital invitation sent out by the designers or public relations agencies. For people invited to a specific fashion show, they are also able to print out their entrance barcodes from self-service kiosks or by the PR representatives at the “Designer Desk” located in the lobby of Lincoln Center.[9]
Other features of Fashion GPS for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week include RSVP management, color-coded seating assignment, and instant event reports all in real-time.[10]
Critics of the system say even the virtual software has not made the process greener, since invitees still print out their barcodes and seating assignments.[8]
Growth
In February 2011, Fashion GPS was nominated for “Next Best Thing in Tech” at the 2nd Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards, alongside Tumblr.[11]
Fashion GPS clients can use an iPad app at events and fashion shows.[12] The iPad app has become the virtual clipboard, allowing the public relation's team access to the event's seating and guest list.
"The Fashion GPS for iPad app allows us to take care of our clients' guests from when they receive their invitations to when they take their seat at the show in the most efficient yet personal way," -Rachna Shah, senior vice president of public relations at KCD.[12]
References
- ^ http://fashiongps.com/about.php
- ^ http://www.fashiongps.com/process.php
- ^ http://fashiongps.com/clients.php
- ^ Financial TImes, Crowe, Goldstein Lauren. Sept 22, 2008.
- ^ a b Forbes, Elliott, Hannah. Sept 2, 2010
- ^ Women's Wear Daily December 13, 2006.
- ^ Wall Street Journal, Smith, Ray A. Aug 19, 2010
- ^ a b Crain's New York Business Pasquarelli, Adrianne. Sept. 13, 2010.
- ^ New York Magazine Odell, Amy Aug. 19, 2010
- ^ Vanity Fair Stebbins, Meredith. Feb. 10, 2010
- ^ [1] Indvik, Lauren. Feb. 16, 2011.
- ^ a b [2] Hopkins, Tracy. Sept 14, 2010.
