My Inspiration
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A few words from Susan Barone, President, UniquelyMe.com:
How the Rosie O'Donnell Chub Club inspired
me to help all my full figured friends!
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My inspiration..... is all of you out there, like myself , who feel like our segment of the population has been ignored for way to long. I want to make a difference for all of us.In the beginning of 1999, I got to see just how evident this void was in catering to our segment of the market. The Rosie O'Donnell Show started a program for the Millennium called the Chub Club. Its motto was "Eat Less and Move More" get healthy for the Millennium. She started The Chub Club and over 300,000 people joined. As this program was going on I felt like there was more potential in catering to the Chub Club. After reaching the year 2000, I felt like the Chub Club should move on to the next level and "Eat Less, Move More, and Look Great". I thought the feedback on the wants and needs of 300,000 people would be rather influential in changing the face of the Plus Size offerings.
First, I thought I would market this idea to a specific Plus Size company. I wanted to be the liaison and they could make the product. After thinking about it more , I chose not to go that route, knowing what kind of red tape is involved in a lot of corporate situations. I knew what I wanted for the customer and I did not want anyone stifling my need to totally cater to the customer.
Then I thought I would pitch myself to Rosie and try and create a position for myself within her company. I chose not to go that route, anticipating the levels of people I would probably have to go through before reaching Rosie. I wanted to have a more solid creation of my idea before sharing it with others.
So...... I created my own company, incorporated myself and put together this website. I know how to execute what I want for the customer and I am going to give it my best shot. You can count on honest direction on where to find what you are looking for. There will be no red tape, just ideas and information that is acted upon. I am absolutely passionate about this and I want to make a difference.
I spent many years in the fashion industry and understand why we have been neglected. Unfortunately, the pressures of "the bottom line" has forced Retailers and Manufacturers to give little effort to the development of the Plus Size Market. It is not their fault. There is only so much time in a day and the majority of that time is spent on fueling the ends of their business that make the most profit. The buyers only have so much to spend. As a result, they buy a good portion of "safe and basic" items. In turn, this forces the manufacturers to only be able to cut the basic items on their line. The fashion items get canceled and are rarely cut.
But all this can change..........
If the manufacturers and retailers know what you really want, based on hard core evidence from our surveys, then the manufacturers could design and cut what you ask for and the retailers could buy what you ask for.
I look forward to gathering accurate information from all of you. I hope that you all are as excited about UniquelyMe.com,as I am.
