Xanga is back!

Well, back in the sense that my IT guys have allowed access to it without telling me.  Even though I'm the director of IT here.... what's up with that?! 

Anyway, I'm such a Xanga noob now that it took me a *tiny* bit of time to actually find out how to start a new blog.  Dah! 

Sooo.... I get a phone call from this guy Rod, works for an IT consulting company and after I hear him out... I go, well my IT admin would arrange all that.  However, just before I transfer him, he goes... btw, I went to school with a guy named Kinsen... from Governor Livingston?    Man... really small world.  Soooo.... in one of his emails he says "Btw, I will NEVER forget a book report that you did for Ms. LeSage's class"    He's referring to my 10th grade english teacher and a oral presentation I had to do for a book report.  Anyway, seeing as she reminded me and I was desperate, I used a baseball book I picked up that week.  So its a professional ball player talking about "beaver".  Me being the sheltered kid with asian parents had never heard of the term.  And though I knew it was slang for something... I wasn't quite sure.  Its not like I could look it up on wikipedia seeing as the internet wasn't even a term to us back then.  So what do I do?  Why, I'll just do what my teacher asked me to do which is to read some excerpts from the book.  Now... this being almost two decades ago and my psyche having done a clever job of scrubbing this from memory.... I don't remember alllll the details of what I said but according to my friend, it pretty much went something like "beaverbeaverbeaverbeaverbeaverbeaver*deep breathe*beaverbeaverbeaverbeaverbeaverbeaver"  HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA.  I'm cracking up now at the memory of it but I really didn't know what it meant but I do remember thinking... why is everyone laughing?  I haven't even read the punch line yet!!  My english teacher was NOT pleased. 

Anyway... the moral of the story is:  Don't answer your phone. It could be your high school buddy trying to being back memories that your mind has suppressed.  Just kidding... I'm going to meet up with him and another HS buddy for drinks tomorrow.  Looking forward to it!

It's been a while....

Hello Xanga my old friend...

I've come to talk with you again.

Anyone know that song?  Sometimes when I listen to the radio these days... I wonder where the lyrical prose has gone.  Catchy beats abound... but those great songs which have those words that hook into your soul along with great music behind it seem so rare nowadays.  Nowadays.... that word makes me seem dated.  In a sense I am. 

I think i'm overly nostagic tonight because I watched Rocky Balboa.  hahahhaha... so cheesy but I actually enjoyed the softness of the character that was Rocky Balboa.  His response to a former opponent who someone else would classify as a "freeloader" and the talk with his son.  I think that's it... I'm a total sucker for father/son talks.  Maybe that's why I like movies like Big Fish. 

There have been so many things happening in my life, I'm not sure where to start.  I will take a moment to thank God for blessing me with great family and friends.  There is something so simple yet so satisfying to my soul to have friends over and enjoy good food and great laughs.  I hope that should I ever need to go thru a drought of those times that my heart will continue to be grateful that I've already been so blessed. 

Jobs!

As of 07/25/07 Lafayette 148 is seeking to fill the following positions:

·         Accounts Receivable Assistant

·         Information Systems Administrator

·         Production Planning Assistant

·         Sr. Merchandiser

·         Warehouse Coordinator

·         Warehouse Shipping Assistant

·         Assistant to VP, Sales

Send resumes to careers@lafayette148.com

Accounts Receivable Assistant

Job Summary:

(Entry Level position)  Under the supervision of the AR Supervisor, the Accounts Receivable Assistant has responsibility for:

·         Preparing deposits and going to the bank

·         Organizing and filing AR documents

·         Calling COD or credit card customers for approval to ship

·         Making collection calls for past due invoices

·         Researching and disputing unauthorized deductions (chargebacks)

·         Responding to customer requests for account information

·         Mail Monthly Statements to customers

·         Process returns from customers

Requirements:

·         4-year Accounting degree preferred

·         Attention to detail

·         Excellent organizational and communication skills

·         Strong computer skills including Excel, Word and Outlook

·         Strong work ethic

·         Sense of urgency

·         Team player

Information Systems Administrator

Job Summary:

·         Setting up, administering and maintaining Company ERP, PLM and other business intelligence solutions.

·         Becoming company expert on all aspects of these critical business management tools.

·         Providing internal training and support to users

·         Developing customized applications of above tools as required to enhance business productivity.

·         Point of contact for resolution of all issues related to MIS tools.

·         Primary interface to internal customers, and vendor support teams for timely resolution to all reported issues.

·         Sponsoring and driving initiatives related to expansion and enhanced use of MIS tools and features.

·         General IT and helpdesk support.

·         Some travel to China may be required.

Requirements:

·         5+ years’ IS experience in general IT operations and MIS including roles as Implementer or Project Leader in the selection, deployment and maintenance of ERP, PLM, and/or PDM solutions for the Apparel Industry.

·         Significant hands on experience with these systems coupled with ability to discuss them strategically.

·         Excellent communication and writing skills. 

·         Familiarity with any methodology for formal business process analysis.

·         Familiarity with Gerber, Lectra, or Lawson family ERP or PLM products is desired.

·         Chinese language skill is a plus.

·         Project management experience a plus.

Production Planning Assistant

Job Summary:

This position will be responsible for assisting the production team in tracking and planning for production garments.  It presents a unique opportunity to work with a direct manufacturer.  Responsibilities will include:

·         Balancing fabric ownership

·         Allocating fabric orders against sales orders

·         Executing reports to see progress of production

·         Providing reports for supervisor to plan capacity

·         Working closely with Sales Support team to resolve various issues such as replacement on returns, special request and delivery dates of customers

·         Working closely with production team in China to monitor orders, track fabric ownership, and follow-up on production problems

·         Working in detail on ERP system.

Requirements:

·         2+ years relevant experience

·         College degree

·         Strong analytical ability

·         Problem solver (creative thinking)

·         Extremely detailed oriented

·         Sense of urgency

·         Solid math skills

·         Intermediate level of EXCEL (macro, vlookup, pivot table)

·         Proficient with Microsoft Outlook and Word applications

·         Ability to multi-task

·         Cantonese language a +

Senior Merchandiser

Job Summary: 

This position will be responsible for specific Merchandising activities of Lafayette 148.  Responsibilities will include:

·         Analyzing product performance/sales trends to capitalize on future opportunities and ensure a well-balanced, properly assorted collection.

·         Shopping stores to gain insight/information regarding competitive brands.  Identify voids in market and future item opportunities.

·         Pre Costing collection to identify fabric price concerns.

·         Pricing the collection to ensure profitability and attainment of margin goals.

·         Creating and maintaining the line plan.

·         Projecting sales quantities.

·         Analyzing sales trends.

·         Using Edifice system to create retail selling to create relevant selling reports.

·         Actively participate in bi-monthly/monthly retail selling meetings with Sales and Merchandising.

·         Assisting in the coordination of Sales Tools for the Sales meeting.

Requirements:

·         3 - 5 years’ wholesale Merchandising experience (mandatory)

·         Strong analytical, communication, and time-management skills

·         Must possess a passion for Merchandising

·         Strong working knowledge of the apparel market and industry

·         Strong presentation skills

·         Detail-oriented

·         Ability to multi-task

·         Proactive attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit

·         Must be a team player

·         Prior supervisory experience a plus

·         Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Access)

Warehouse Shipping Assistant

Job Summary:  This position coordinates outgoing shipments for the Lafayette 148 warehouse.

Responsibilities:

• Invoicing for both major and specialty store accounts
• Processing UPS and FedEx label for shipping
• Applying packing list to cartons
• Scheduling pick ups
• Preparing bills of lading

Requirements:

• Administrative or Shipping experience a +
• Willingness to work overtime (some evenings/weekends)
• Extremely punctual, highly reliable

• Microsoft office experience
• Blue Cherry experience a plus
• Fluency in English as well as Cantonese or Mandarin a plus
• Detail-oriented

Assistant to VP, Sales

Job Summary:  This position will be responsible for assisting the VP of Sales in administrative and sales related activities.

Responsibilities:

·         Develops strong knowledge of line

·         Communicates on a constant basis with specialty stores, sales support and  external sales reps

·         Assists in showroom sales presentations

·         Prepares and updates specific selling reports

·         Drafts correspondence

·         Implements and maintains filing system

·         Manages calendar

·         Works closely with the Accounting department on credit memos

·         Utilizes Garpac to track major and specialty store selling

·         Occasionally assists in product knowledge seminars/trunk shows in the stores

·         Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Marketing degree preferred
• 1 – 2 years retail or apparel industry exp. preferred
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent Excel, Word and Outlooks skills
• Solid math skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Team player
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task

Sopranos (SPOILER ALERT)

Its funny, I don't even watch the Soprano's but I've been hearing about the ending all week.  Which isn't too bad since its only Tues. 

My sales VP said his wife yelled at him at the end and asked if the cable was out.

Here's an email sent to me today:

Subject: Tony - Dead

He was killed....

In fact, the ending was genius if you've paid attention to the show or are just a fan of well developed, well thought out plots that all tie together and have the memory of a champ to remember it all the ending was simple, he got killed, but let me tell y'all why and explain in detail... There was 3 people in the room total who had a reason to kill Tony.....the two black guys, they were paid before to kill Tony, but he was only shot in the ear, this was in one of the earlier seasons. Also in the earlier seasons, the trucker sitting at the bar stool, who the camera kept focusing in on, is Nikki Leotardo, Phil Leotardo's nephew. He was in one of the early season episodes where Phil and Tony have a sit down....  here's where the genius comes in....When Tony's walking in the diner, you see the camera focus on him, then  it switches to his perspective, and you see him looking @ the booth  he's gonna sit at...then the camera switches back to Tony's face, then it once again switches to his perspective, and it shows him looking @ the door and looking @ the people come in..... Everytime the door opens the chimes sound.......

Carmela walks in, Chimes,

AJ walks in chimes,

Then Meadow's parallel parking, still trying to get inside the restaurant....

At this point the camera switches back to the trucker who goes in the bathroom......

then it goes to a scene where Meadow finally parks and starts running in the diner....

the door's about to open, Tony looks up....and no chimes....

No Music............

Everything just goes black...............

In one of the early episodes of the Sopranos, Tony's talking with Bobby about what it must feel like to die….Bobby says "at the end, you probably don't hear anything, everything  just goes black"  part of that was revisited in the second to last episode during the last seconds of it, when Tony's about to go to sleep and he flashes back to the memory of him and Bobby on the boat... "You probably don't  hear anything, everything just goes black"  so in the end, the Journey song was playing, the chimes on the door sounded but when Meadow came in, the guy in the trucker hat came out and killed Tony...  its the reason you don't hear or see anything when he died.... it was from his perspective.... and everything went black, then the credits rolled.

Whooaaaaa..... given this explanation, the ending makes a lot of sense.  Though a lot of people probably just want a clear cut ending. 

Random happenings

Hello my peepos!  I've been super lazy about blogging but will try to blog more often.  Hopefully....

I'm heading to Cali at the end of the month!  June 29-30 in LA and then July 1-4 in the Bay Area (SF, Sac-town and Napa).  Wahhhooooo. 

So one of my dragon boat team mates changed in my car and left her sports bra in it.  I've taken great delight in saying:

YO SHARON!  YOUR BRA IS STILL IN MY CAR!! 

Usually in public places and around strangers... during dinner.  Or at a wedding.  Hahahhahahahah.

It has been one of THE highlights of my month.  Yes... I live a sad and immature life. 

Which reminds me - years ago when I first started working here we had these rolling racks that we'd put clothes on.  A lot of them were old though and sucked.  The wheels always caught so they weren't easy to roll around and were a pain to use.  Anyway, my supervisor saw one of the new interns rolling around a new one and remarks:

Supervisor: Wow...nice rack.

FEMALE Intern:  ...........

Supervisor:  Oh S@#$.  I didn't mean it that way...

Female Intern: (slowly backs away)

Ksiu1:  Nice.  Real nice. 

Share your stories where you said something that didn't come out right!! hahahahahhah