Canadian fashion icon, John Fluevog, guest blogs about his day-to-day business — which is more than just developing new footwear for his shoe fans.
John Fluevog for National Post’s Retail Therapy
Recently I spoke at a Public Salon event in Vancouver — I was one of 10 speakers. Each of us was given seven minutes. Our Vancouver ex-mayor Sam Sullivan hosted it. I learned that not only does Sam speak French, he also speaks Mandarin. I have heard the Governor General’s job is up for grabs … could be a fit? I love that Michaëlle Jean she is so capable (and way cute). She’s a hard act to follow.
I did ask myself what a shoe designer was doing speaking at a civic event. Seems that, like it or not, my job description is being expanded.
I spoke about how business can form and shape community and sometimes even create it. Seven minutes?! All that in seven minutes? I really enjoyed the other speakers — all variety of subjects, but the overriding theme was our actions matter. We need to take personal responsibility.
Now it’s off to New York City for a week. I need to chill and think about shoes. I feel the pressure building.
I just finished working on the foundations for spring 2011. I now need to cast my mind to fall 2011. Cast indeed! Way out there. I feel ideas floating around in my mind but it’s getting them to the surface and assembling them. Ideas don’t always come out at the appropriate time. Experience has shown me that I need time to let it all go and they pop out. That’s the loose theory. The customers get to vote in the end, but that’s over a year away.
So why worry now? But I do.
I can’t hang too loose or nothing gets done. Balance. Have I not read that in a book somewhere?
I like my job. It’s changing, but I still like it.