working the city

I go to bed late.  Around 1 a.m., most nights.  

This morning I am meeting Gail for breakfast at 8:30 and am fearful of oversleeping.  I set my alarm for 7, and then wake up at 8:30.  Damn.  I must have turned my alarm clock off in my sleep.  I text Gail, get dressed, put on make-up, run to the subway, and am sitting across from her at Macaron Cafe by 9. 

We have a quick breakfast, do some catching up, and get to the screening of Citizen Four by ten.  We are done by noon, and I have a screening of Cake at six.  Gail suggests sushi but I decline.  My plan is to stay in midtown to try and recruit stylists and customers for J. Hilburn. It's an ambitious plan.

I start at Bloomingdales. I go to the Moncler coats where Easter works.  She's savvy, smart, not pushy, and knowledgeable.  I ask her if she'd be interested in joining my team (consisting only of me right now), and she says she'll think about it.  Easter would be fabulous, but I'm not sure this is what she wants to do.

Next I stop in the designer shoe department where Bill, one of my favorite sales people works.  I tell him about J. Hilburn and he responds, "I would never want to work in men's clothing.  I love women's shoes; I would never sell anything else. And especially not to men."

I stop by Apple to recharge my phone, but there's no one there to approach.  Everyone is too young and too hip.  Nice and helpful, but clearly more comfortable in a T-shirt than a button-down shirt.

I then go to Bergdorf's.  I wander from department to department, but see no one I want to ask.  

I grab a sandwich at Au Bon Pain and contemplate complimenting the two strangers next to me (well-dressed men) on their clothing.  I recently watched a video where this is a strategy to get clients.  But I'm not ready for such a bold approach. On the same video (shot in Dallas), a top J. Hilburn stylist  with a beautiful southern drawl, suggests a good way to meet men. "Ladies, one of the best places to find customers is the local shooting range.  I recently sold to three men on the spot, and signed up two more."  She doesn't mention anything about Au Bon Pain.

I go to the screening, and end up sitting next to a nice young woman who works at a production company.  She tells me her boss is an incredibly creative dresser "and might be perfect for J. Hilburn."  I give her my card.

4.9 miles of walking.  Two movies.  One possible stylist.  Another potential customer.  Zero purchases. Good day.