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At Work
FunkyFrum.com
An online clothing e-retailer of modest
clothing for modern women
7337 Stanford Avenue, St. Louis
866-828-9178 toll
free, or 314-863-4026
www.funkyfrum.com
August 2005
Rachel Lubchansky, president and founder
“We are an online boutique catering to modern modest women
who have a hard time finding suitable clothing in stores to
suit their lifestyle,” said founder, Rachel Lubchansky.
“We mainly reach out to modest women – including
religious Jewish women.
“We cater to a broad spectrum of women who dress modestly
while maintaining their femininity. We have teenagers and women
with families and women well into their 50s who are shopping
our site. We have something for everyone with the brands we
carry at prices from $35 to $200.”
“We are fulfilling a niche for style. It’s a one-stop
shop. I had one call from a man in the UK (United Kingdom),
saying ‘I’m sick of my wife going out all day and
coming back with one item.’
“This is an opportunity for women to wardrobe themselves
in one place. It’s also a timesaving factor for shoppers,
because we carry many difference designers and manufacturers
– including Mac&Jac, Kenzie, Three Dots, French Connection,
Rinascimento, Hazel, XCVI Wearables.
“We want
to expand our range of merchandise and our price points. We
want to provide stylish clothing, regardless of the customer’s
size or age. We have quite a few avenues to grow into.”
“We have only been in business since August of this year.
What led me to this came as a result of me becoming more observant
and seeking out cloting to fit my more modest lifestyles as
a Modern Orthodox woman. I had trouble finding stylish apparel.
I didn’t want to sacrifice my old look for this new lifestyle.
I’ve always had a passion for fashion. I returned to St.
Louis after getting a BA degree in integrated marketing from
the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and working
in the business areas of the fashion industry. I found there
was a need for more fashionable modest clothing. I heard this
communicated among the peers in my community and I began working
on a business plan.”
“Starting a business with a preview trunk show in my home,
then opening the e-commerce site. The response has been overwhelming
with over 1,000 hits on the website in the first couple of months
and repeat customers already. Quite a few inquiries have come
from Canada and the UK. It’s become a very large word
of mouth business.”
“Before 10 years, we expect to be growing to carry sizes
for everyone, as well as developing our own line of stylish
modest clothing.”
“The importance of having a business plan before you start
a business. However, a great deal of what I learned about a
business was picked up during my childhood from my mom who’s
a good mentor. Her school – Beverly Milder’s Musical
Arts in St. Louis, specializing in voice and keyboard (piano)
– has more than 700 students and 10 teachers. I learned
about time management and had a lot of working experience. After
graduating from FIT and working in New York City, I moved back
to St. Louis to run the school.
“Since starting this business, I learn something new every
day. It’s not really a one woman shop. I work with wonderful
people on a contractual basis – a professional photographer,
graphic designer, web designer. It’s quite a team, and
having my hand in all efforts of the business helps me to grow
professionally and learn to be a successful retailer.”
“The fashion retail business is fun and ‘sexy.’
However, behind all of the beautiful merchandise is a business
like any other – structured by a vision, financial and
marketing efforts and lots of planning. So, my advice is for
the individual who is considering opening an e-retail business
to do your homework before diving in headfirst. I spend months
developing a business plan, which now serves as our road map
to making decisions and, ultimately, to success.”
“Nothing!
I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to merge my
love for fashion and my interest in business in a boutique which
actually provides a service to our customers.”
-Libby Barsky
The Jewish State
October 2005, New Jersey |
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