Lazy Faire November 2011

For Business Students, by Business Students

November 2011

LAZY FAIRE

SAM

Lest We Forget Thoughts

DEAN! Movember never looked so good

from a modern-day soldier

the

Business of Apps!

RMBS Sign up now!

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Editor’s Note

Editors’ Note Ryan Jayatunge Design Editor rjayatun@ualberta.ca Karolina Zheng Editor-in-Chief kzheng2@ualberta.ca Lance Chung Content Editor lance1@ualberta.ca

Lazy Faire Team Content

Braden Lauer - Senior Contributor Breanne Pisani - Senior Contributor Eileen Lee - Senior Contributor Paul Lopushinsky - Senior Contributor Sally Au - Senior Contributor & Creative Director

Design

Emily Wong - Creative Director Jeff Mah - Photographer & Creative Director Jenny Truong - Creative Director Matthew Alexander - Creative Director Nitasha Happy - Creative Director Shirley Guo - Creative Director Tony Chaing - Creative Director

Projects, exams, and a crescendo of mounting stress can mean only one thing – November has arrived. But like the tale of Pandora’s Box, not all is lost, for with all these afflictions comes the distant promise of a long weekend that students can grasp onto. The theme of this month’s issue is Up Close and Personal - a collection of interviews and articles that encourage dialogue, debate, and the importance of a well-rounded portfolio. Our cover model this month is Sam Dean, a participatory extraordinaire that has immersed himself in a plethora of activities within the faculty, across campus, and in the community – a wonderful example for other students to follow. We were also able to land an interview with the style connoisseurs (and former business graduates) behind Indochino, learning from them the lessons that have helped make their company all that it is today.

Along with these individuals, we’ve included a variety of articles that will hopefully inspire you to get involved, challenge current issues, and pay tribute to those who have forged the way. So, with the spirit of participation in the air, we hope you’ll walk away from this issue feeling a little more inspired to grab life by the horns – in as many ways as possible!

- Lazy Faire Editors

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November Table of Contents

Academics Arts & Sports

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CALENDAR

10 11

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BUSINESS SEMINAR

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FASHION BLOGGERS

Business

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THE BUSINESS OF APPS

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ARAMARK/COCA-COLA MONOPOLY

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JDC CHILLIN’ 4 CHARITY

16 17

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: INDOCHINO

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: SAM DEAN

Student Life

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BLACK FRIDAY

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REMEMBRANCE DAY

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Calendar

Need a break from studying?! Check out this exciting event:

Coming up in December Dec. 1 BEA Nation 2 Nation Final

Sunday

Monday

Dec.2-4 BEA Ski Tri Dec. 5 BSA Christmas in Business

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

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November 1

2 BSA Anti-Burnout

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BBTC Weekly Toastmasters Meeting

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BBTC Weekly Toastmasters Meeting

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BSA Faculty Breakfast

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BBTC

MISC Gutterbyte

Rememberence Day

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BSA Case Lunch&Learn

BEA Nation 2 Nation

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BFA CFA Night

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RMBS Sign Up BSA Speaker Series BSA Cohort Event 1

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ashion is a fast-paced world full of perilous stilettos, rich fabrics, and hungry people. Many will agree that the industry, and a plethora of things associated with it, gives off a glare as intimidating as it is stunning. However, in recent years, the democratization of fashion has become a trend of sorts, with individuals rising up to speak their minds (and show off their pretty clothes). Rebecca Perkins (Major in Entrepreneurship, Minor in Marketing) and Kaila Imada (Major in Clothing and Textiles, Minor in Fashion Merchandising) make up half of the quartet behind C’est Classique, a fashion and lifestyle blog that dedicates itself to accessibility and a laissez-faire attitude. We sat down with the two to talk about all things blogging, the local fashion scene, and how they’ve applied their lessons from the SoB to their work!

What is C’est Classique? How did it start?

RP: The four of us (Jasmine, Charmaine, Kaila, Rebecca) grew up together as best friends. But once graduation came around, people started to move away, so we asked each other what we could do to stay in touch, and we came up with the blog! It’s very much a collaborative effort, and this way, we can keep ourselves updated from all different locations.

KI: It’s mainly a fashion and lifestyle blog. We like to include a good mix of things, from food to do-it-yourself projects to community events.

For your readers, what would you say is the appeal? What draws them in?

KI: A lot of our readers are interested in our lives, with a big portion of them consisting of people we know. So it’s a good way for them to see what we’ve been up to.

RP: I think another thing is that a lot of the blogs out there aren’t very accessible. We like to cover very day-to-day things and find ways for people to relate. We also have these features, where we’ll interview our readers and have a photo shoot with them, too. We like to interact with our audience.

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You are both located in Edmonton, one is in Arizona, and the other is NYC. What are they doing?

KI: Jasmine is studying Business at the Stern School of Business at NYU, and Charmaine is in Communications Marketing in Arizona. She’s currently on an internship with Victoria’s Secret as well! Which is really exciting.

RP: Individually and collectively, we’re all getting some great experience. Jasmine also attended the Teen Vogue Fashion University as well, which is this weekend where you get to meet the editors and see how the magazine operates!

What would you say are some advantages of having different writers from different locations?

KI: Different perspectives, for sure. For example, we just covered Western Canada Fashion Week here, which is the third largest fashion week in Canada, and Jasmine covered New York Fashion Week. She also writes for her school’s blog as well, which has opened a lot more opportunities for coverage and experience, too.

Any disadvantages?

KI/RP: No, not at all!

Who would you describe as your reader?

KI: They’re people who like to gain inspiration from others.

Have you learned anything from your experiences at school, specifically any business classes you’ve taken, that have helped you market your blog?

RP: The market research class that we took was actually very useful. It would help us out a lot if we were to conduct any kind of formal survey with our readers down the road. It would absolutely be applicable.

Do-It-Yourself: Studded iPhone Case Are there any specific lessons that you took from class and applied to your blog?

RP: Well, in business terms, we basically divide our potential target markets into different segments. Then we push out content for each segment, and revolve these posts around on our blog to cater to everyone.

KI: For instance, we won’t post five fashion posts in a row, because not all of our readers may be interested in that particular aspect of our blog.

RP: We have a very wide and varied audience, so instead of narrowing it down into a specific niche, we try to actually broaden our scope and cater to all our readers.

You also engage a lot with the community. Why is this important to you?

KI: For us, it’s important to be involved in our community because we grew up in Edmonton - it’s nice to be able to contribute back and participate in the scene. We also get a lot of recognition from locals too, so that’s also a great thing, for people to come up to us and tell us they love our blog and content.

RP: Another thing is that we represent the U of A. We grew up here, so in a way, we want to be able to influence the people around us. We want to have a say in certain matters, to have the same values that the U of A, or the School of Business, have and reflect some of the lessons that were taught to us in school.

Is your blog more of a hobby, or are you thinking of going further with it?

KI: Right now, it’s more of a hobby for us. But, I can definitely see us going further with it in the future. It’s crazy how big blogging has become, and how much influence it has now. Scott Schuman (of “the Sartorialist”) brings in over a quarter of a million dollars solely off of advertising revenue. If the opportunity ever came up for us to go further with the blog, I think we’d definitely be open to the idea.

And are you currently drawing in any advertising revenue? If you don’t mind us asking.

KI: Yes, we are. But, to be honest, I’m not entirely sure of how it fully works.

You have to reach a certain amount of hits before they will send you a check.

But we have had companies approach us to talk about their products. One even offered to send us all free shoes!

What are your thoughts on the Edmonton fashion community?

KI: I think the fashion community here is definitely growing, especially with the inclusion of all the bloggers, as well. They really want us to be involved.

There are also so many new designers and retail stores opening as well. There’s definitely a lot of potential there.

Why do you think fashion blogging, in particular, has become so big recently?

KI: The Internet is so accessible now, more than ever. People go online to find inspiration, and I think that’s one of the reasons why these fashion blogs have become so big.

RP: Also, when you’re reading a magazine, every single page is a different person. When you read our blog, people recognize and feel like they know us. We’re able to really develop and nurture a relationship with our readers, which is not always easy to achieve! And going back to what we’ve learned in business, you have to really be customer-driven if you want to retain and grow your client base. Our readers are our customers.

KI: Blogs also seem a lot less intimidating to readers than magazines that are filled with all these advertisements for brands that aren’t so easy to access. The other thing is that we’re all so diverse. We represent a little bit of everyone in society. In magazines, all the models you see are these skinny models, but with bloggers, there are so many of us out there that come in all different shapes and sizes. Everyone’s a little different, so people can relate to someone out there.

Who are your favourite designers?

KI: Phoebe Philo - I just love Celine. And I love Stella McCartney, as well.

And Christopher Bailey [Burberry]. And Alber Elbaz [Lanvin]. Oh, and Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCoullough [Proenza Schouler]. Oh my God, there are so many…

RP: I’m going to say that right now, because it changes every week, Balenciaga is my favourite.

It’s hard to pick just one, isn’t it? Thank you so much for sitting down with us!

RP/KI: Thank you so much for having us!

L to R: Charmaine, Kaila, Rebecca, Jasmine

To keep up with Kaila and Rebecca, check out their blog: www.cestclassique.blogspot.com

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Student Life

k c a l B y a d i Fr

n e v a e H Retail

n Lee

By: Eilee

Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days in the United States, occurs every year after American Thanksgiving.

The holiday generally marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and can perhaps be compared to a hyperactive version of Boxing Day here in Canada. There are many different interpretations of the name, but the most popular explanation deals with an old accounting method. According to how sales were recorded, red ink was used for losses and black ink for profits. For retailers who are operating at a financial loss all year, Black Friday marks the first day that they are projected to make a profit.

day, Canadian retailers are now encouraging consumers to spend their dollar at home in order to attract higher levels of business. If this isn’t your cup of tea, however, there’s always online shopping!

Furthermore, Black Friday has now expanded to “Cyber Monday”, which has now become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. On the Monday immediately after Black Friday, retailers offer additional deals and promotions via e-commerce that are made available to everyone, everywhere. Overall, Canadians can now look forward to the shopping days following American ThanksSo what does this mean for consumers? giving, as well. Mark your calendars because this year, It means great deals, extended shopping hours, and an Black Friday will be making an appearance on the 25th of early start to Christmas shopping. Some stores will open November! as early as 5am, while others will close as late as 2am, all for your shopping convenience. In the past, the only way that Some good websites to check out before shopping are Canadian consumers could take advantage of these deals http://www.redflagdeals.com/ and http://www.wishabi.ca/. was to cross the border. However, thanks to technology The former is always a good site to use for checking up and Canadian retailer competition, this holiday is no lon- on daily deals, while the latter tracks the price of items for ger an exclusive one for our neighbours down south. Black you. It also has a comparison feature, allowing you to find Friday has crossed borders, with local retailers now offer- the best method of purchasing, whether made available ing the same great deals typical of our American coun- online or at your local retail store. terparts. With the chaos and frenzy associated with this

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Arts & Sports

The Business Of Apps By: Paul Lopushinsky The rise of mobile apps in the last few years is one of the main reasons Smartphones have become increasingly popular and part of everyday life. The iPhone and the Android are the two frontrunners, offering customers thousands of apps that can be acquired for free, or for a small price of 99 cents on average. Mobile app developers are in high demand for their skills, and there are a large amount of software development kits and tutorials available to help those with little developing experience to get an app up and running. Take a trip to your local Chapters, look under “Computer Programming” and you’ll find shelves full of books on how to develop apps for the iPhone or Android. While it’s easy enough to create an app and release it, the amount of apps available make it difficult to stand out without a solid idea, time, and money.

Think you have a good idea for an app? There is a good chance that it already exists, and could be better than the one you have imagined. With 60 000+ apps available on the app store, it’s hard to stand out. Costs can vary, depending on the scope of the project and what the app does. Are you tech-savvy or willing to learning how to develop apps in your spare time with a few friends? In that case, your costs can be quite low. There are many free libraries and development kits to make the process of creating your app and releasing it fairly easy. If you’re looking to hire a developer, their in-demand skills can easily be over $100/hour. A well-designed app can take hundreds of hours, require a team of people with different skills, and can easily reach 4 or 5 figures to develop, depending on scope.

Once you have your app available, what are the possibilities of the revenue it can generate? Research and stats crunching have found that about 20% of the developers make 97% of the revenue generated on the app store. The bottom 50% percentile of iPhone game developers will make less than $3000 in their lifetime, a daunting fact for those who think they can quickly make an app and expect big bucks. What can a successful app mean? Angry Birds, now at 350 million downloads across all available platforms, is perhaps the biggest success of apps that have come out. What began as a simple idea has turned into a popculture phenomenon. Angry Birds has managed to capture the attention of many demographics, from children all the way to older adults who rarely spend time playing games.

What has the local community offered to apps? Fluik Entertainment has developed several games for mobile apps and now have downloads exceeding 8 million apps. Their best known app is Office Jerk (the premise of the game allows you to throw various items at an annoying co-worker), which has reached #1 in the app chart in several countries. Now, the mobile app hit-maker has released Office Zombie, taking the original core game and giving it an undead twist. If you have an iPhone or Android, be sure to check out this app if you haven’t already, and support local talent in the mobile app industry!

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Academics

RMBS 2012: Your Vision, Your Future.

R M B S

ocky ountain

usiness

eminar

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By Sally Au

What are you doing during reading week?

108 students, approximately 60 from the U of A and 40 from universities all across Canada, will be enjoying their reading week at the Jasper Park Lodge for the RMBS conference. At RMBS, not only will they be able to network with corporate representatives from various industries, but also with fellow business students through seminars and social events. We caught up with the individuals responsible for organizing the conference to talk about what students can expect to gain from the event!

The most unforgettable experience of my undergraduate degree 10

Could you tell us a little about yourself, what position you hold and why you wanted to be part of RMBS? Amanda: I’m the VP of Public Relations for RMBS and have always wanted to get involved in something in the business community. RMBS is great in that once you attend, you just want to come back and get everyone else engaged!

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Academics

Paige: I’m the Associate Public Relations for RMBS, 4th year of university, 2nd year of business. I wanted to be part of RMBS because the tight-knit, family feeling that comes with RMBS. Also, the conference itself was just such a positive thing, with its history, that it stood out to me the most amongst the other clubs, so I really wanted to be part it.

What kind of goals does RMBS hope to accomplish? What do you think are the most important values that RMBS communicates?

A: I know people always overstress networking and you feel like it’s been mentioned a billion times, but at RMBS, you are immersed in networking and the business minded community and so you really realize that you do have the power to develop yourself further. It is just really inspirational. You get to meet a lot of people within your own faculty at the U of A as well as people from all across Canada!

P: I would definitely stress the value of meeting people from all across Canada.

I found that the connections I made with the students outside of the U of A was probably one of the most important aspects that I was able to take away from the experience.

The ability to connect with someone from half-way across the world and maintain that relationship in the future is just so valuable.

There will also be corporate people there.

One great thing is that you get to dine with the people who you sit and listen to at seminars all day. When you are sitting down and dining with them you realize they are all real people and will get the chance to get to know

Remember to check out:

them on a more personal level. This will definitely help students when they need to network with various corporate representatives at formal information settings.

Can you tell us a little bit about RMBS? What kinds of events are held? Where and when does it take place?

A: RMBS takes place at the amazing Jasper Park Lodge. If you’ve never seen the Rocky Mountains, it’s a great opportunity for that. It’s held during reading week, so it will be during Feb 20th -24th of the coming year. There will be many seminar speakers, a hockey tournament, nightly events such as graffiti night, casino night and games night; every night has a different event.

P: Last year we had a hypnotist, which was very cool. At the casino night, you have a chance to win a lot of great prizes. One of the big prizes last year was an Apple iPad. All the events are very interactive and you get many chances to dress up into silly costumes and have some fun with all the people you’ve met during the day.

A: There’s a small case competition as well.

You get put into a group and get to know them pretty well. There are also prizes for it as well.

P: It’s especially good practice for people who have not had experience with presenting cases before. Overall, the RMBS conference is $525 with everything included: your room, transportation to and from the conference, and food

(three amazing meals every day). Everything is provided, so really all you need is your business casual and a fun costume.

How do students register for RMBS? Any tips and advice on registration?

P: On November 25th, we will be having our annual signup. So at 6am, we will release the secret location and basically it’s your responsibility to be here on campus and be one of the first 60 guys and girls to find us.

A: We release the secret location by Facebook, e-mail, and on the RMBS website so there are many options to finding the location out. It can be any place on campus so it’s a race, and can be a little competitive, but it’s a lot of fun.

P: Students from all years can register for the seminar. The only restriction is if you are graduating in De c e m b e r, then you are not able to attend. But if you are here for the whole year and you’re enrolled in the business faculty, you’re good to go!

What was the most interesting or funniest moment you had at RMBS? A: I really enjoyed the games night. Paige and I dressed up as debits and credits and ran around the hotel. It was funny because we are both in marketing; it wasn’t as nerdy as it sounded!

P: Yeah, games night was amazingly fun because you get to run around in a really fancy hotel, dressed up in a ridiculous costume, and the people who are staying at the hotel who aren’t part of the conference are just looking at you and are like, “what are these people doing?” People were really confused, but it was really fun at the same time. I also really enjoyed the graffiti night; I made everyone into a kitty cat with a marker.

Info Session #2 November 17 at Sign-up November 25, 2011 5:30pm in Bus 3-5 at 6am!

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Business

11am – 1pm. Registration will be online or you can just pop by the JDC West office announcing your intent to throw on your water wings. We will also be making classroom presentations to pump up the event, answer questions, and hand out a sign-up list. And yes, of course, asking for For those of you who are unfamiliar with Chillin’ 4 Char- your loose change (you will be too busy working on group ity, it is exactly as awesome as it sounds. Grab a group projects to go to Dollar Draft anyways). of 3 friends, raise $300 for the United Way, wear a crazy costume, and then “polar jump” into a pool. And the best JDC West is the largest business competition in western part, other than the hot tubs that await you after jumping, Canada. The charity comprises a huge component of the is that you get to hang out with a couple hundred other competition aspect, and your support allows our team university students the whole time for a great cause!!!! to be competitive and show 10 other schools in western Every single dollar that is raised goes towards the Unit- Canada who is the best. ed Way - this year, we anticipate surpassing our 6-year cumulative total and break $100,000! So, if you aren’t So, on November 16th, grab your friends and come have an accountant and haven’t budgeted your yearly charity an awesome time at Chillin’ 4 Charity. The money raised contribution back in April, this is the perfect opportunity goes to a great cause and you are helping represent the to fulfill your philanthropic duties and earn those feel- Alberta School of Business. Most importantly, by particigood stars. Short on cash? Why not guilt family members pating in Chillin’, you are proving to yourself and to everyone else that the Molson Canadian commercials aren’t or friends into sponsoring you? a facade and that everyone living in Canada is that aweChillin’ is scheduled for November 16th this year, from some. See you there!!

JDC West team members must obviously be from Canada – who else would think it would be a good idea to jump into a pool of ice cold water in the middle of November to raise money for charity?

Chillin’ 4 Charity 12

Any questions, just contact Mike Newton at mnewton1@ualberta.ca.

Student Life

O

n November 11, the nation celebrates Remembrance Day to commemorate the efforts of yesterday’s fallen. This holiday tends to get overlooked as it falls between Thanksgiving and Christmas, is right in the middle of a busy school semester, and happens to be attached to the U of A’s “fall break”. But it is one that deserves proper recognition and respect.

Here, we bring you a very personal account of one individual’s perspective on Remembrance Day, and what it means to him – a soldier currently serving in the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan. Even though he is halfway across the world, Lazy Faire was able to connect with him and learn about Remembrance Day through the eyes of a modern-day soldier*.

What do you feel is the most important thing about Remembrance Day? The most important thing about Remembrance Day is just realizing how hard the old boys had it. What we do here today is nothing compared to what they went through 60 years ago. Our country in the past several years has done well remembering their efforts. With the war in Afghanistan, the media plays a big role in providing information to Canadians. Almost everyone in our generation now knows someone who has been overseas and is serving their country. It has really made a difference in the way we look at Remembrance Day as a whole, and I love it. Now, being in the military and being able to be part of the ceremonies that take place, it is an honor and is amazing to be doing something specific to remember everyone from the past.

How would you celebrate if you were at home?

What about now that you’re on tour?

If I was home this year for Remembrance Day I would probably do what I did last year and volunteer to be on the “Guard of Honour”, which is basically standing in a drill pose as the whole ceremony goes on. We still remember while we’re in Afghanistan - the ceremonies will still go on, and I’ll probably volunteer to be the “Guard of Honour”. I think that this year everything will hit a little closer to home, being here in Afghanistan and seeing some of the guys who have lost friends. I can see this one being more emotional.

What has your experience been like these past few months?

My experience in the past few months has been eye-opening. I always believed in the mission and supported Canadian’s being here in Afghanistan. We are truly doing good work over here. All the people here respond to us differently. Some cut us off on the road on purpose or even give us the finger and laugh, but I think they realize we are here to help. It is a good feeling watching the children go to school everyday knowing I’m part of the change that is happening here. But the best thing about a normal day at work is seeing a smiling kid giving me the thumbs up.

What are you looking most forward to when you come back home?

I’m looking so forward to seeing my fiancé when I get home. Being able to come home and pick up where I left off. I’m excited to see all my family and friends again, and of course, start planning for my wedding.

One last question! Do you know why the poppy changed from having a green center to a black one? Was it for aesthetic reasons? Or perhaps more of a cost or branding purpose?

I’m not entirely sure why it changed, but I’m pretty sure it was purely cosmetic. An actual poppy has a black center... So, perhaps that’s it. *Our source wished to remain anonymous

: t m e o r g r o F s F t h e g u o W h t s e T A -Day L n r r e e t d h o M om Fig d e e r F

By Breanne Pisani

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Business

Issues with By: Braden Lauer, contributions from Alexandra Tarcu

If you ask students about their experience with the

on-campus catering service, Aramark, chances are their responses will be less than friendly. For students living in Lister Hall, the resentment towards Aramark can also run much deeper, due to the mandatory meal plan that all residents must adhere to. The perception of saving money through eating on residence does not last very long for students who are new to the university. The company is able to control a monopoly over the food service at the university by paying an extraordinarily large sum to secure an exclusive contract. The university is then able to gain additional revenue for food sales that stay within their services, while Aramark witnesses a large influx of funds due to pricing, their mandatory meal plans, and exclusivity.

Why are there mandatory meal plans?

It is a well-known fact that, to live in Lister Hall, students MUST fill their OneCard with mandatory meal plan funds. The Residence Services website argues that the plan frees up more time for students, provides variety and nutrition, and saves the hassle of cleaning dishes. Though these reasons are all valid and important, they simply do not apply to the capabilities of every single student.

Without the option to shop for and create their own meals, students are not learning the lessons of independence that they need from university. Another rationale for having the plan as a mandatory installment is that the food services at UofA come with a G.S.T exemption.

In order for a student to get the exemption, they must have paid for a minimum amount of on-campus meals.

Students are not asked if they can skip the exemption and opt-out of the meal plan.

Pricing A major complaint towards Aramark and their food services is their “monopoly-like” pricing. For three years (2007-2010), the minimum price of a meal plan for Lister residents was $2,310. In 2010, the prices steadily started to increase, with the minimum price jumping up by $318.

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By the 2013-2014 school year, the lowest priced plan will cost $3089. These prices were originally non-refundable, but residents will now, thanks to the Student’s Union, be eligible to get certain refunds back at the end of the year. After swallowing the costs of obtaining the plans, students then have to deal with Aramark’s expensive food prices.

Alexandra Tarcu, a former Lister Hall resident, complained that, “the prices for food just never seem right. To get five chicken fingers this year you need to pay $10.00 (up from $7.50 last year). Aramark keeps raising prices by large amounts and I just don’t see a matching increase in food quality.” Aramark likes to explain its price increase by saying it is a part of sustainability costs and that they are increasing prices to match an increased CPI. The costs of the plan and food, however, have increased by a drastically higher percentage than the CPI. Unaligned Goals The catering company’s website states that, “by deeply understanding and aligning with client’s goals, ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address the issues that are most concerning to universities and colleges today.” This seems like a fair goal that Aramark has put forth. However, Aramark’s website goes on to state that its food services create, “dining solutions that are cutting-edge, on-trend, nutritious, high-quality and profitable.” Profitable. That is, profits obtained from the student body. The goal of the university should also be to address concerning issues, but, in addition, emphasize availability of food for their students and provide the means to supplement success across a variety of platforms. It seems like this goal is put aside for the university’s self-interest of keeping its students, and their money, on campus. It is hard to find how student’s goals and needs have been considered when variety comes in the form of one large food supplier. While many of both the organizations’ stated values may remain questionable, one thing is true – students have, yet again, been sacrificed, and remain with a bitter taste in their mouths.

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Business

Meet Kyle Vucko and Heikal Gani, two bespoke connoisseurs (and business school graduates) that have managed to merge the worlds of technology and made-to-measure clothing with their company, Indochino. To the joy of sartorialists everywhere, the two have proven that mass customization is a concept that can, not only work, but also flourish in the marketplace. With the brand’s heavy-hitting investors (ex. Yahoo!’s Jeff Mallett) and all-star partnerships (ex. Steve Nash), it’s safe to say that Vucko and Gani are well on their way to the top. We caught up with Vucko and discussed the company’s offerings, humble beginnings, and any advice he could offer students interested in starting a business of their own!

How was Indochino born?

We started working on the concept back in 2006. Heikal and I were both studying at the University of Victoria and needed suits for an upcoming conference - and had a hell of a time trying to find one. A lot of the stores that we went to offered suits that were very expensive and looked outdated. Overall, it was a very uncomfortable experience. So, we came up with the concept of Indochino, which was a stylish suit that was affordable, fit you well, and could buy from anywhere.

How important was market and industry research for you?

It was quite important, from an informational perspective. The great thing about being university students was that we had access to all sorts of resources at the library. There were all these databases, industry articles, and research studies that you could get for free! We found that it was really great for understanding market size and industry trends, and really helped us meet potential investors and mentors. Ultimately, it ended up adding to our credibility when we were looking for funding.

What made you realize that there was a market for your business?

When we worked on building the business, we really worked on finding the general concerns that all guys experience when they try to buy a suit: they want to look good, they want something that fits, and they want something that’s affordable. With those issues being so commonplace, we felt that all guys would appreciate a service like this.

Why do you think it would be an asset for business students to consider made-to-measure clothing?

The thing is, is that people will make a lot of judgments about you the first time they see you, especially during interview situations or when you’re trying to separate yourself from a pack, like during an accounting recruitment session. You can look great in a custom suit because it’s made specifically for you. You’ll look better, and because you look better, you’ll feel better and ...

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Business

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT : INDOCHINO

by Lance Chung

a little more confident when you walk. That peace of mind for people makes all the difference, especially for guys who haven’t experienced that before.

It is fascinating to see the art of the bespoke suit applied on a mass-produced scale. Would it be fair to say that Indochino has merged both the artistic and business worlds of this art form?

I think that we’re marrying those aspects with technology, and with that, making it a lot more accessible to everyone. We were really excited about this digital technology because you’re able to take this concept and apply it to this really tight-knit niche. So now, anyone can afford a bespoke level of cutting, which is a really big step in the industry. It’s like the first iPod, which was available for $700 or something, and can now be purchased for $100. That’s all due to scale and technology innovation. Similarly, I think that’s what we’ve done. I don’t see it as us going after the tailoring industry or getting rid of the bespoke tradition, but more about us making this aspect accessible to more guys.

We know that you go to great lengths to ensure that your customers are happy, including your “Perfect Fit” promise [where additional local alterations can be made at no cost].

Why is this customer-driven aspect so important to Indochino?

Our goal is to have a guy with us for life. On a basic level, that’s just how you make money. But I also think that great service is an aspect that everyone wants. When you treat someone well, it makes the experience easier, more friendly and better than the competition. So, more than likely, customers are going to choose to buy from your company as well. The whole premise of Indochino is that we’re going to work with you to get a product that fits you, and we’re going to ensure that you get that every time.

During a heavy recession, your company was actually able to triple its revenue from the previous year. Why do you think your business was able to flourish during a time of diminishing disposable income?

I think it was a product of good timing. We have a strong value component with what we do, which is getting a custom suit for a fraction of the price. So, we actually benefitted from the recession.

There were a lot of guys that were the Hugo Boss and Armani kind of shoppers that, for the first time in their lives, decided to trade down on price point. They found us and said, “hey, this is just as good or good enough, and it’s custom made and I get an added monogram”. We were able to get a lot of guys from that higher tier and really wow them. In general, ironically, a lot of guys were also

either trying to keep their jobs or going into interviews for other jobs, which in the suiting business, wasn’t actually all that bad.

Indochino comes out with new products every week in order to push collections forward and address customer needs swiftly. How are you able to keep up at this pace?

It’s a result of how we run our business. Most apparel companies release new products twice a year with the seasons. That actually has a lot to do with an inventory and production perspective, where you have to make 100k units, ship it from China to a distributor’s store, and more. We ship from China directly to your door because we don’t invest in inventory and have our design teams in-house. We’re able to do things differently that way and feel that guys want to see stuff more often and more exclusively.

It’s an environment that encourages our guys to engage and come back to us. It’s a much more personable and interactive experience than what you would see in retail.

Do you have any advice for our readers?

I think that this is the best time to start. As a student, it’s not like you’re risking a mortgage or a kid or walking away from a six-figure job where you have to do a trade-off analysis. There are a lot of resources in college that are helpful. I went to the mentor program at my school and told them to introduce me to as many entrepreneurs as they could. At one point, I had a roster of about twenty individuals - four, of whom, became my angel investors. People are usually very excited to help students that are young and ambitious and doing things that they would like to see young people do. My learning curve went through the roof because of my experiences at school. I would suggest that anyone use college as the time to try stuff out, because it’s kind of a safe environment for you to play around in.

Great advice! Last question, what is your favourite product that you are currently offering?

Oh, I would say definitely the travelling collection. The concept of looking good while you travel isn’t easy to do. Having a suit that can hold up in that environment, where you can go through customs easily, is something that really appeals to me. I go to China probably once every two months, at least, so it’s something that’s been very practical!

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Business

Sam Dean

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I really enjoy what I do

By Karolina Zheng

S

am Dean is everywhere. Being heavily involved in an array of activities in the faculty, on campus, and in the community, he knows the value behind a well-rounded portfolio. He is currently leading the SoB’s Movember Campaign with UAMA, the BComm blogger, a campus recreational unit manager and more! Lazy Faire had the chance to sit down with Sam to learn more about what he does and why he does it.

Lazy Faire: You are heavily involved in a variety of different things on and off campus, such as being the campus recreational unit manager, meeting corporates with UAMA and working for Henry Singer. How did you get involved in such different things and what made you want to get involved?

Sam Dean: A lot of people get involved in a lot of different things throughout school to pump their resumes up a bit. But I didn’t do that, I really enjoy what I do. The campus recreation unit manager gives me the opportunity to organize my friends to play different sports. I really enjoy being with my friends and bringing them together. I just enjoy organizing things like that.

At Henry Singer, I really enjoy fashion and I enjoy dressing people. So, it is a lot of fun and I don’t see it as a job. I go in and make people look as good as they can look.

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LF: You seem to be a big blogger, how did you get into it and do you have any tips for those wanting to start blogging?

SD: I got into blogging last summer. The business school sent out an email about the blogger competition, and I thought it was a great opportunity . It’s not like people have to listen to what I have to say, but it is out there for people that want to know what I have to say. I think I have really good one-liners and funny inside jokes I can share with people.

Tips for people wanting to get into blogging, find things that are interesting in your life that you think would be interesting to other people and relate it to what you do in school and everyday life. The big part in blogging is that you really have to enjoy it otherwise you will have one blog post and never blog again.

LF: What is the Registar’s blog and what is your role and responsibilities with this blog?

SD: The Registrar found out that I was doing the one for the business school. So, how it works is that it’ll launch right now, and in November it’ll kick into high gear. It is run by the Registrar’s office and Admissions, and will be used as a recruitment tool for prospective students in high school. The thing behind it is asking us anything. Not questions about specific registration questions, but

more like, “ask us about university life”, and we’ll give you any advice and tips that we can offer. So, it is less like diary entries like the BComm one. It would be questions like, “which classes to take for enjoyment”, not “which classes to graduate”. Just advice for new students coming to the university, and certain university and city tips for students.

There are four of us - it’s is not just from business, it’s from all over campus. There are a couple students from sciences, and another from the arts. It’s going to be a pretty diverse view of campus life.

LF: Ok, you have to let us know, what are Sam Dean’s “5 Best Moustache-Growing” tips?

SD: 1. Start growing a beard, and then when it is appropriate, shave it down to form a moustache so you don’t have a terrible one to start.

2. Don’t listen to what other people say about your moustache.

3. Form a bond with other people growing a moustache.

4. Keep your moustache clean, there is nothing worse than something being in your moustache and drawing more attention to it.

5. Too much moustache for the man. Know your moustache boundaries! Know if you can pull off a handle bar moustache or a big moustache or a small moustache because you have to have the confidence to go with your moustache.

Business LF: What are some events and happenings you have planned for the Movember campaign this year?

SD: On November 1st everyone that is participating and growing a moustache, we want them to come by the UAMA office and have, first clean shaven picture taken, and then throughout the month, come by to take progress pictures. On the UAMA window we are going to have a wall of pictures where there’ll be a whole bunch of “family portrait” images featured.

We are trying to structure some unity throughout the business school and trying to promote unity.

So, that is the event and we are also raising money online through the movember.com website. We have a link for that which is coming out soon and we are team Ualberta School of Business.

Then at the end of November, on the 25th, we’re going to have a gala at the Billiards Club. It is really an event to come and show off your best moustache and bring your supporters out. There is going to be a number of great prizes and were giving out awards like best moustache, number one mow and just getting everyone involved. It is going to be a lot of fun because we are raising money and promoting awareness for a good cause.

LF: You created a Movember calendar last year, is that happening again this year?

SD: It started 2 years ago with two to three of my friends and my brothers. We went into the ravine with our moustaches, put on goofy vests and took a bunch of weird pictures, with a lot of weird looks followed. We put them on Facebook and a lot of people liked it. So, last year I recruited a few more guys and my brother and we did one on campus.

We took a bunch of photos and got a calendar made. So, this year, we are trying to involve more of the School of Business and hope to get people joined in. We want to release a calendar for 2012, with the 2011 campaign! You really cannot get away from moustaches all year round.

LF: What were some of the funniest responses you got about your moustache?

reminded that it wasn’t November, which I obviously already knew.

Last year, a lot of people were surprised that I could grow a pretty good moustache because this is two weeks’ worth of progress. A lot of people tell me that I remind them of their dad, which is kind of weird because I don’t know if people are into that.

I have also gotten ex-boyfriend, which doesn’t really make sense unless they have a moustache. I’ve had some weird responses, but the dad one is really common.

LF: You seem to understand the importance of a well-rounded portfolio. What lessons have you learned from being involved? What have you gained?

SD: You definitely have to be patient. Patience is key. I definitely struggled with that before because I can definitely be impatient. When working with corporate people and people from different areas, certain things take time and you have to be patient and listen to what other people have to say. You have to be more of a listener sometimes, which is pretty key because I realyl enjoy talking. Sometimes you just have to shut up and listen.

Around a year ago, I was probably the least-involved person you could ever meet and a lot of people would vouch for this. I got involved with UAMA around last march, during elections and thought this seemed interesting and, then it just snowballed. I really enjoy being VP External Relations, so I decided to put my name in for the BComm blogger and I really enjoyed that. Then the Registrar approached me, and I’ve had a lot of fun with them as well.

LF: Most important question, if you could have any superpower what would it be?

SD: I would say the ability to fly. I think it would be really cool because I hate waiting in traffic so I would just fly to places and you wouldn’t have to wait for anything. If I wanted to go to New York today I would just fly to New York!

SD: I definitely got a lot of weird looks growing a moustache before November. A lot of people

We asked some ladies what their thoughts were of Movember. Responses ran a wide gamut, ranging from obvious dismay to enthusiastic support!

“It’s the best form of birth control” - Viktoria B. “Great cause, horrible look” - Kirsten W. “It’s a great cause that encourages men to grow their mo’s for the betterment of society!” - Anna L. 19

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