FMP Interview...

One of the final outputs for the FMP has to be a business interview with a key figure in the fashion retail industry. It needs to be presented in a format similar to that of a fashion business magazine. As a subscriber & avid reader of Drapers I made the decision early on that this was the magazine I wanted to tailor the interview to – more specifically their ‘This Fashion Life’ weekly feature – which interviews a figure of industry & questions their role, issues they may face & trend info. To compliment my project & be of real use to me it was clear I would have to speak to a John Lewis Menswear Buyer, who could hopefully give me a real insight in to the way the business operates & what is the ‘John Lewis way’. My first thought was to interview Peter Ruis (head of John Lewis Buying) and a name everyone in fashion recognises. I constructed a short list of questions & attempted to get in contact – several times! As a John Lewis partner I’d hoped this would give me the upper hand & I was able to email him direct. However after two weeks & three attempts to contact him I realised it was a lost cause. He’s a busy man & admittedly it was a long shot thinking he’d have time to answer a student’s questions. So I researched other John Lewis buyers & I found Carsten Skovgaard. Carsten is the Men’s Casualwear Buyer, & with a history at John Lewis as well as Harrods I knew he’d know his stuff! He replied to my email the very next day & provided in-depth & at times humorous responses that have given me a real insight in to the John Lewis Buyer’s way of thinking. Below is a screenshot of my final interview copy, which at this point is the sole final output of this project I have completed – it can only get better from here!

Now on to the next...